Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A Terrible Love Blog Tour + Giveaway!!!


Title: A Terrible Love  
Author: Marata Eros
Release date: February 11, 2013 
Publisher: Self-Published 
Age Group: New Adult  
Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary romance  
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours 
Links to the book: 
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16052597-a-terrible-love
 Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/A-Terrible-Love-ebook/dp/B00BER9W20/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366838101&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-terrible-love-marata-eros/1114511757?ean=2940016196138


Blurb: Jessica Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She's left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. Jess soon discovers that passion can't be left behind; her own and that of the one man that sees who she really is. Whose presence caresses her soul in a way that may breach the peaceful life Jess has made for herself.
Devin Castile sees a young woman that is the missing puzzle piece to his existence and who is also the victim to a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. When the lies that Jess has made crumble before their attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life... or their very being.


Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Borrowers VLOG

Books mentioned in the vlog (links take you to goodreads):
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1) by Scott Westerfeld
Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2) by Scott Westerfeld
Getting the Girl (Wolfe Brothers #3) by Marcus Zusak
Kite Runner by  Khaled Hosseini
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The Lightrider Journals Blog Tour + Giveaway!



Joseph Hashimoto is happy with his ordinary life. A man who believes in fairness and just action, Joe’s greatest love is his family. But as he moves about his days, he is completely unaware that his actions are carefully observed. With one momentous decision, Joe’s ordinary life is about to transform into an extraordinary existence.
While attempting to save a little girl from danger, Joe is killed in a violent explosion. Instead of dying, however, his soul is brought before the elemental Architects of the Universe, who tell him he has been chosen for a sacred duty. Reborn as Lightrider, the earthly representative of Light, Joe is given leadership of the Elemental Knights, a group of half-man, half-animal beings. Charged with maintaining a delicate balance between good and evil, Joe must police both sides and destroy anyone who threatens to ruin it. As Joe struggles with his conflicting emotions and longing for home, he must face his greatest threat—the ancient Chaos Demons.
In this fantasy tale, a man inadvertently thrust into a world of cosmic forces must come to terms with change and accept what needs to be done for the good of all Buy Links: Available in ebook, paperback and hardcover from each site. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lightrider-Journals-ebook/dp/B00A65FU7W/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/192-4093272-1258846?ie=UTF8&qid=1352657481&sr=8-1 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lightrider-journals-eric-nierstedt/1113769298?ean=9781475956108


Monday, April 22, 2013

In Darkness We Must Abide: Read Along #3

The Arrival of Armando DeLeon (In Darkness We Must Abide, #3)
The Appearance of Armando DeLeon
In Darkness We Must Abide #3
by Rhiannon Frater


A mysterious new vampire appears in the life of the Socolis. Is he friend or foe?

In Darkness We Must Abide is the epic saga of one young woman caught in the dangerous world of the creatures of the night.

Already living in the shadows due to her albinism, Vanora is just a little girl when her older brother inadvertently unleashes a terrible evil from the family crypt that changes their lives forever.

As she grows up in a world where beautiful deadly beings hunt by night, one captures her eye and her heart. Yet, can she trust the mysterious Armando? For there is a powerful entity plotting to claim her when she reaches adulthood in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy, and her enemy has enveloped her in a web of deceit, casting doubt on all she believes to be true. Soon, she will have to fight not only to save those she loves, but also for her very soul.


Synopsis from Goodreads



This is going to be review and read along, all wrapped up into one. My thoughts on the book are so wrapped up in how I feel about Armando, that it would be redundant to write it all twice.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Tag Team Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa



The Eternity Cure: A Tag Team Review by L & L!


Title: The Eternity Cure
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: PNR
Release Date: April 30th, 2013
Source: We both received the ARC from Net Galley
Lori's Rating: 5 Stars
Lindsay's Rating: 4 Stars
Blurb: Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally. Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.


Our Thoughts

Friday, April 19, 2013

Review: Dare You To

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)
Dare You To (Pushing The Limits #2)
by Katie McGarry
Publication date: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."


If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....
Synopsis from Goodreads



Thursday, April 18, 2013

We have been here for a year!

So my one year blogging birthday has come and gone, and you may have noticed that it has been a relatively quiet affair. No massive giveaways, no big party and no tooting my own horn. Listen, I know, you know, we all know that I am an average blogger. The only thing I bring to the blogging community that is unique is my craziness, and believe it or not I reign that in. I don't want you all knowing how truly insane I am.
This past year has been crazy. There was a time, about half way through my first year when I almost broke. I almost quit. Then I chillaxed. The pressure that I felt, well that was me doing it to myself. So I just stepped back.
My blogging philosophy, do what you want to do, and f*ck all the rest. Seriously. Your blog is what you make it.
You want to do a thousands memes-go for it. But that's not my style.
You want to do blog tours/hops/cover reveals day after day- go for it. But again, that's not my style. I don't have the urge to fill everyday on my calendar. I post what I want when I want. That may sound kind of asshole-ish. But it's not. I have authors, bloggers and genres that I like to work with. Sometimes I will do a favor for a friend and fill a spot on tour they are helping with. That's fine, because sometimes I need that favor, and what else are friends for! I love my blogger friends. Finding reliable blogs to host for tours is hard. Am I a reliable blogger? I try to be, but sometimes I forget, sometimes my job gets in the way, or my book. My daughter most definitely gets in the way. If she thinks Mommy has spent enough time on the computer she comes and grabs my right hand and doesn't let go.
The truth is that book blogging isn't easy. But it is fun, if you let it be. The pressure us bloggers feel, yeah it can be overwhelming, but meeting new people passionate about the things I am passionate about-beyond incredible. Having an outlet for my crazy. Win!
The past year has all been a learning experience. I have learned what I am capable. I am writing a book, and everyday I grow more as a person. It truly has been a great year.
I happen to work for one of the best bloggers out there. Not just book blogger, but a blogger. Parajunkee works hard. I mean that. She works hard, and it shows. She pays attention to her rank, her SEO, her influence. And that's awesome. But I can't do that. If I did that I would spend most of my days crying in the shower. We here at Contagious Reads are small potatoes. But I do love learning from her, and I appreciate that she took a chance on an unknown blogger and gave me a place on her blog to promote indie authors and books.
So what have I learned from this past year. None of any of this matters if no one is reading it. True. I've also learned to just go with the flow. So one week I only post once. Big deal. I may lose readers that way, but I have a core group of girls that have been here since the beginning, and no amount of memes, giveaways, and blog tours can build a group like them. They put up with my foul mouth, my moodiness, my neglect, and my loca-ness. I've gained some of the best, most supportive friends from this whole experience, and I wouldn't trade them for page views or amazing ARC's. I love being on facebook and talking to them. Some of them are authors, some are other bloggers, but most of them are my readers. Most of them are YOU! And besides my daughter, and family. YOU are the best thing that has happened to me this year.


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Pretty When She Destroys Cover Reveal and a giveaway!!!

I have to tell you when Rhiannon showed me this cover a while back I died. Literally dropped dead! It's my favorite of all the PWSD series covers. Look at how bloody Amaylia is!!!!!!
Claudia really blew me away with this one. If you don't already, please go drool over her amazing art work HERE!!!!

So without further ado, I give you.....

Book Info:
Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater
Series: Pretty When She Dies #3
Publication date: July 23, 2013
Genre: NA Horror/Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:
Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14117250-pretty-when-she-destroys?ac=1 


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Review + Giveaway: The Girl in 6E



*This book contains graphic violence and sexual situations. Not intended for younger readers.*
Title: The Girl in 6E
Author: Alessandra Torre
Source: Review Copy provided by Author
Published: April 16th, 2013
  Genre: Adult/Contemp/Romance/Erotic
Blurb: I screw men for money. Not literally, think phone sex operator with a 15 megapixel web cam thrown in. They tell me their deepest, darkest fantasies while paying me $6.99 a minute. 
What would possess me to engage in such a business? Throw in a tortured past, 24/7 murderous thoughts, and a desire to keep the innocent people of my small town safe. 
I was contained, out of the way, sexcamming my way to utter obscurity until HE came along. A twisted client armed with a target's name. Annie. And in that name, everything changed.

Buy the Book on Amazon!
Lori's Thoughts: 4.5 Stars
I know, I know. What is this very adult sounding book doing on my non erotica blog. Well for starters this isn't a straight erotic book. It's so much more than that. It's dark, it's twisted, and I found it breath taking. It was heartbreaking and amazing. I couldn't stop myself from devouring it in one sitting. I need and wanted to know more about Deanna and her life.
This book kept me up all night. Literally, all night. I started it around 10 pm on Sunday night and was finished by 130 am Monday morning. It's a quick, hit you in the gut read.
The story follows the girl in 6E. Deanna as she explores herself both her mental and physical sides. She's a webcam girl, selling her body for money. It's not just for the the money though. She has issues, real issues. Like she can't leave her apartment 6E because she is drawn to murder. She literally thinks about murder, and sex, and more murder all day long. She's also hiding secrets. Then her UPS man enters her life, and nothing is the same. Let's just say the ways she enters society again is with a bang, or a slash.
I loved this book. It has everything I am looking for in a read. It's sexy, and a bit twisted. It makes you think, it makes you feel. Serious book hangover after I finished it.
The writing and editing was flawless. The characters were charming and I liked them. Flaws and all.
The world building is excellent. Yes we spend almost the whole book in 6E, but I never felt trapped. I could picture the apartment perfectly. The two beds, the box by the door with the knife. The lock on the outside. The camera's set up on one side. Deanna going between the two sides. Each a part of her, yet both totally separate.
Being a blogger and getting review requests is awesome. What makes it even more awesome is when your get a diamond like this book. It makes what I do so much more fun and easy when I get to read such amazing works!
Thank you Alessandra for letting me read Girl in 6E.


International
Ebooks of The Girl and 6E and 2 $20 B&N or Amazon Gift Cards (Thank you Alessandra!!!)
Please read the giveaway policy!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gravity by Dannika Dark Cover Reveal!





He twirled a lock of my dark hair between his fingers, bringing the soft tendril to his nose as he drew in a deep breath.

“Do I still smell like lemon cake?” I asked. My fingers wandered along the tight muscles on his arms, sliding underneath the sleeves of his light grey T-shirt.

He suddenly crouched low and ran his nose along the length of my body—close and inviting. God, I loved it when he did that.

Smelled me.

What a strange thing to love about a man. The gesture felt erotic and the tiny hairs on my arms would stand up. With each inhale, his soft purr rumbled and I pulled his face close to mine, planting a soft kiss on his warm cheek. He caged me with arms that had once climbed a thirty-foot tree with blinding speed to rescue me—his agile body leaping from branch to branch as he held me tightly to him.

“Put your mouth on mine, Little Raven. I’m ready for a taste of lemon cake,” he said in a deep and tumbling voice.

“Maybe I’m not so sweet,” I whispered, wetting my lower lip with a sweep of my tongue.

Logan’s eyes followed every movement, and he licked his lips in response. “I want your mouth… on my mouth. Do it, or else I’ll have to find something else to kiss.”



Sunday, April 14, 2013

Book Borrowers: VLOG

Book Borrowers: Reading on a budget

Books mentioned in the video (links take you to Goodreads page)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Dare You To by Katie McGarry (I'm a loser and can't seem to get this one right... )

Friday, April 12, 2013

Cover Reveal Breath Me by Alexia Purdy



Breath Me by Alexia Purdy

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New AdultPublisher: Lyrical Lit. PressRelease Date: May 31Synopsis:
Sometimes the one who broke your heart, needs the most saving.Piper Sandervale never thought she’d see Sasha Koval ever again. Not since he took her heart, ripped it out and obliterated it from existence. Now, six years have passed and she has run into him once more at the local fairgrounds in Las Vegas. He desperately wants another chance, and he’d do anything to get her back. She’s willing to give him a taste of his own medicine, if this is her chance for payback. But, will she find herself way in over her head?
Something has changed with Sasha and Piper struggles to justify the worth of past hurts to continue her quest for atonement.Who needs saving now?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Review: Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)
Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)
by Julie Kagawa
first published April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for…again.

Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.
Synopsis from Goodreads




I put up the picture of the new cover, which I think is a little better than the last one. Am I wrong? Probably. I think most people preferred seeing Allison on the cover, but it did bother me that the character was Asian, but the girl on the cover clearly wasn't. They definitely could've done something a little more amazing with the cover, but this was at least a step in the right direction to correct their previous mistake. 

I have heard a year's worth of raving about this book. As many outstanding reviews I heard though, I was reluctant to pick this one up for two reason. 1) My hopes would be raised because of all the reviews, and 2) I hadn't really loved The Iron King, also by Julie Kagawa.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Book Spenders Vlog + Giveaway!!!!


 Yep, it's been a year. So much learned, so much awesome, and some suckage too. Love all of you!!!
 Giveaway: US and Canada only.
 Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to claim prize.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway



Monday, April 8, 2013

Read Along: In Darkness We Must Abide - Episode #2

READ ALONG
In Darkness We Must Abide: Death in the Shadows
by Rhiannon Frater

Death in the Shadows (In Darkness We Must Abide #2)
Death has claimed a Socoli, but the family curse will not allow him to stay dead. Vanora and Alisha must battle the creature that stole their brother's life while fearing the possible resurrection of Roman.

In Darkness We Must Abide is the epic saga of one young woman caught in the dangerous world of the creatures of the night.

Already living in the shadows due to her albinism, Vanora is just a little girl when her older brother inadvertently unleashes a terrible evil from the family crypt that changes their lives forever.

As she grows up in a world where beautiful deadly beings hunt by night, one captures her eye and her heart. Yet, can she trust the mysterious Armando? For there is a powerful entity plotting to claim her when she reaches adulthood in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy, and her enemy has enveloped her in a web of deceit, casting doubt on all she believes to be true. Soon, she will have to fight not only to save those she loves, but also for her very soul.
Synopsis from Goodreads


The series is moving right along, and I am loving every minute of it!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)
Seraphina (Seraphina #1)
by Rachel Hartman
first published July 2nd 2012 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Synopsis from Goodreads 






Never a question in my mind that this book would be anything other than five stars. From page one, I was in its thrall.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Ever Winter Review and Giveaway!



Ever Winter by Alexia Purdy!

Source: ARC provided by author
Published: Feb, 2013
Blurb: Shade has been left all, but shattered. Travelling to the Ice kingdom, along with her 'body guard' Dylan-who continues to be bound to her-to where the holder of her magic dwells. The war of Faerie amplifies and her only chance to save it will be to resist the enchantments of the Ice King, one of the Ancient rulers of Faerie. But, he has his own agenda and will do anything to stop her from making it to the Summer Kingdom, with her family, to claim back her throne
These Ancients of Faerie don't want her to succeed, and the wards between the land of Faerie and the mortal world are blurring rapidly. Shade must face treacheries in every crevice of the land, even among the human mortals and trusted allies, before all is lost.
Author Goodreads Amazon**

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Book Borrowers VLOG

Book Borrowers: Reading on a Budget

Books mentioned (links take you to Goodreads page):
Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Code by Kathy and Brendan Reichs
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Dove Season by Johnny Shaw
The Lunatic's Curse by F.E. Higgins
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Now on BlogLovin!


Due to the changes google is making on the google reader and the rumors that GFC is going away I am trying to find another way for people to follow the blog. One of them is BlogLovin! Follow my blog with Bloglovin