Don't Fall by Rachel Schieffelbein (Blog Tour)

Goodreads Summary:

In this contemporary retelling of Rapunzel, seventeen-year-old Anya leads a secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn't go to public school, doesn't even have a best friend. But Anya doesn't seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams and would do anything to please her mom.

Until one day at the library, the only place Anya is allowed to go alone, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy. Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she's going to have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.

Covers

Thank you so much for being part of the blog tour, and having me today! I’m going to talk about how we ended up with the cover for Don’t Fall.

First of all, covers are one of the best parts of being published. For real. Getting to see something beautiful that captures the mood of your story, and has your name on it, is pretty great.

For Don’t Fall, Georgia McBride and I decided to do a cover contest. The entries came to me first and it was so much fun seeing them come in. There were a lot of beautiful ones. A lot of very creative, unique ones. And a few odd ball ones. Lol.

From there Georgia, and Mandy, my editor, and I all picked our own favorites and eventually narrowed it down to the top three. This was not easy! Then those three covers all got splashed all over the blogosphere and people voted. I honestly really liked all three covers, and didn’t try to influence the voters, but this cover was my favorite.

I loved it the first time I saw it in my inbox, and I’m glad the voters agreed! I see this as Anya letting go of her fears, her restrictions, the burdens she’s put on herself. It’s a beautiful, free falling sort of moment. 

Author

Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

How to Seduce a Band Geek by Cassie Mae (Blog Tour)

Sierra Livingston’s got it bad for her sister’s best friend, Levi Mason—the boy who carries his drumsticks in his pocket, marches with the school’s band, and taps his feet to whatever beat runs through his head. Sierra racks her brain for ways to impress the sexy drummer, but the short skirts and bursting cleavage don’t seem to cut it.

When Sierra gets paired with Levi’s sister, Brea, for a mentorship program, they strike a deal. In exchange for Sierra keeping her mouth shut about Brea ditching the program, Brea lets Sierra dig for more info on Levi to help get the guy of her dreams.

But when Sierra discovers Levi no longer plays the drums, his family has moved into a trailer, and he’s traded in his Range Rover for a baby blue moped, Sierra’s not sure if she can go through with violating his privacy. She’ll have to find the courage to ask him straight out—if he’s willing to let her in—and explore other ways to seduce the school’s band geek.

My Thoughts:

Cassie's books always make my cheeks hurt by the time I'm done. This book was just freaking adorable and filled me with all the happy feels. It is definitely a book that I would pick up on a bad day just to lift up my spirits. I really don't think anything I write can do it justice but I will try. :) 

I really didn't think after HOW TO DATE A NERD that I could find another nerdy little couple that I would think we're absolute perfection...boy was I wrong! Sierra and Levi are the cutest ever! Her with all her rambling awkwardness and the way she puffs out her cheeks when she's nervous, and him with his piccolo and scratching his nose when he's nervous. Match. Made. In. Heaven. I love the slow build for their relationship and how they had this crazy chemistry but took their time and didn't just jump into anything. Let me just say...EPIC first kiss. EPIC. 

While Sierra and Levi's relationship was one of my favorite things about this book, the book also focused on Sierra becoming comfortable with who she is and just being herself. Sierra has to deal with a quite a bit of mockery at school and I thought she did a pretty good job of basically ignoring it. (Even though I really was screaming "Girl, shove that donut in her face!") She grows quite a bit in this book and I enjoyed seeing that journey.

Two of Sierra's friends that I want to mention are Adam and Sydney. They are also social outcasts and that is something that has brought them all three together. I adored Adam. I really hope there will be a book about him coming soon! He is such a great friend to Sierra and had her back so many times. Sydney on the other hand I simply could not stand. This girl does some things that made me want to reach through the book and throttle her, seriously. 

I was super excited to see Zoe and Zak quite a bit in this book. I love that we got to know a little more of what happened to them and what their future holds. Sierra and Zoe's relationship has definitely evolved since HtDaN and I love how they are now. Zoe helps Sierra out quite a bit and I love how Sierra tended to turn to Zoe when she needed advice about things.

This is definitely another hit from Cassie Mae and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next! I majorly recommend this book for anyone who wants to have a smile put on their face. 

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles Blog Tour: Character Interview + Giveaway

Thank you YA Bound Book Tours for letting me be apart of this tour! I hope everyone enjoys this cute character interview and make sure to leave Veronica some love and add TWELVE STEPS to your TBR list! 

 Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK, maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said that done, but worth the effort in the long-run. 

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina’s flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

Add It:

Goodreads

Buy Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy.   When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.  TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel. 

Author Links:

Web | Twitter | Facebook

Character Interview:

12 Questions with Laina Andersen

1.      If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?

I guess I’d want enough food and water to keep me alive. And my journal and purple sparkly pen. (Does that technically count as four things?)

2.      Describe your perfect day.

I wake up in the morning, without even needing an alarm clock, and there’s a thick fog covering everything, making the whole world beautiful. Jarod and I go for a long walk, and just talk about everything and nothing at all. Then, when the sun comes up and burns the fog away, I come back home and curl up in my reading chair with a great book and a fuzzy blanket and no distractions for the rest of the day.

3.      What is your biggest fear?

I worry that, no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be good enough. I wish I could be more like Andi, breezing through life without a single care in the world. Everything comes so easy for her. She never has to work for anything, whereas I am always one step away from total failure.

4.      What is your biggest pet peeve?

Swearing.

5.      If you could fly or be invisible, which one would you choose and why?

I’d be invisible. Sometimes, I wish I could just melt away into nothingness. I guess that’s what I love about the fog.

6.      Who is your hero?

Honestly? I’d have to say my little sister, Andi. She’s so smart and beautiful, and everything I could never hope to be. But don’t tell her I said that. She kind of has an over-inflated ego, and I’d hate to make it worse.

7.      Favorite movie?

27 Dresses – The sisters in that movie are just like me and Andi. But I’m not quite as compulsive as the older sister in the movie.

8.      Favorite song?

That song Andi sings in Cinderella, where the stepsisters complain about the beautiful girl who steals the prince’s heart. I understand exactly how they feel. Every guy I know thinks Andi is gorgeous. I think even Jarod has a secret crush on her.

9.      Favorite book?

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll – Although, I guess that’s technically two books, isn’t it?

10.  Favorite food?

Smoked salmon with steamed asparagus

11.  Favorite drink?

water

12.  Favorite cartoon character?

That’s a tough one. I’m not really into cartoons. Can I just choose Alice, from the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland? 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Up For Grabs by Heather Young-Nichols COVER REVEAL

Up For Grabs
by Heather Young-Nichols

NA (17+) CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
SwoonRomance

Book Summary:

When Flannery Tate left home for a college halfway across the country in Michigan, she'd only planned on getting an education. But when Cain Dorsey walked into her life, she had no choice but to fall for him. However, what’s a girl to do when her scholarship well runs dry? Return home? Get a job? 

Flannery gets creative. She decides to sell the most precious and valuable thing she call - her virginity - to the highest bidder. When Cain discovers her plan, their world crumbles. Will they be able to move past her betrayal and find a way back to each other? Or, is this the beginning of the end? 

UP FOR GRABS is a story of love, heartbreak and truth.

My Thoughts:

I think this cover is just the cutest thing. I'm already intrigued by this book just reading the description and this beautiful cover of perfection just tops it off. It looks fun, flirty, and playful. I can't wait to get my hands on it :-)

About the Author:

Heather Young-Nichols lives in Michigan in a house full of activity and has a degree in Sociology. Which means she's gotten used to reading and writing in the midst of chaos and is always observing people.

Author Links:

   


What do you think about the cover of UP FOR GRABS? Do you think you will read it? 

COVER REVEAL: Seven Day Fiance by Rachel Harris

I have been SOOOOO excited about this book and I'm so glad I get to participate in the cover reveal. It is simply gorgeous. Thank you YA Bound Tours. 

Seven Day Fiancé (Love and Games #2)

by Rachel Harris 

Release Date: 10/14/13

Entangled Bliss

Summary from Goodreads:

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Pre-Order Buy Links:

    

Excerpt:

Angelle stopped beside a folding table boasting boxes of fresh, crispy cracklins and selected a thick piece. Cane watched, mesmerized, as she puckered those gorgeous lips and blew on the sliver. With a flirtatious glint in her eyes, she held it up to his mouth, and he opened.

Holy crap.

He’d had cracklins before. Fried pork fat was a standard gas station treat, usually shrink-wrapped and stale as shit. But this, fresh from the pot and piping hot, was unbelievable. Cane widened his eyes, and it was possible he even moaned. It was thatgood. And as he swallowed, Angel rewarded him with a rich, throaty laugh.

“Ca c’est bon?” she asked, grinning when he grabbed another handful.

He touched her nose and popped a piece in his mouth. “Good would be an understatement.”

Grinning, she took a fried morsel for herself and sent the balding, overweight gentleman tending the table a wink. “Now that’s what we like to hear.” Then she closed her eyes as she savored the treat.

The sounds of Angel moaning, and watching her face soften in the throes of a foodgasm, had to be the sexiest damn thing Cane had ever seen. His pants tightened, embarrassingly so considering he knew the audience was still watching, but what pushed him over the edge was when her eyes opened. The pleasure in them was his undoing.

Feeling the weight of the crowd’s disapproving stares and not giving a damn, figuring now was as good a time as any to give the people the show they clearly wanted, he grasped her hip and tugged her forward, pausing only to inhale her gasp of surprise before brushing her mouth with his.

It was like setting off a damn forest fire.

Angelle, his shocking little hellcat, pounced. Forgetting all about their audience, or maybe not giving a damn either, she wound her arms around his neck, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him back with everything she had. Cane had intended to steal a quick taste, take the edge off his craving for her, and prove their point with the town’s people. But hell if he was gonna be the one to back down now. Tightening his grasp on her slim hips, he brushed his thumbs across the smooth, exposed skin near her waistband. He deepened the kiss, thrilling over her telltale shiver. Whimpering, she yanked on the hair at his nape and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. Hot damn.

Okay, now he had to start backing down. With all her male relatives watching, not to mention the knives and axes still lying around from the butchering earlier, if Cane valued his life, he needed to wrangle control of the situation. He’d heard patience was a virtue. That was a line of bull—he’d always sucked at waiting for anything he wanted. But for Angel, he was willing to try.

Loosening his grip on her belt loops, Cane slowed the intensity of the kiss. He smoothed the hem of her shirt down, grazed her lips one last time, and, placing his forehead against hers, inhaled through his nose. Sunflowers mixed with cayenne may be his new favorite scent. Angelle released a heavy breath, a flush blooming on her cheeks. She darted a glance at the crowd, then looking into his eyes, grinned lazily. “My goodness. If anyone doubted we were a couple before, I guess that showed them.”

About the Author:

I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. 

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!

Author Links:

   

Cover Reveal Organized: