Tag Archives: TBR

BOUNCE by K.M. Jackson

Bounce - a novel by K.M. JacksonI’m super-excited to showcase BOUNCE by K.M. Jackson here today.  I’ve read both of K.M.’s previous books and BOUNCE is burning a hole in my kindle right now!  I love the title, I love the premise, I love K.M.’s writing.

Without further ado, let’s BOUNCE y’all!


Hi Irene, thanks so much for having me here to talk about BOUNCE. Writing BOUNCE was really a labor of love. Being a wife, mother or twins, and having lived the life of both a stay at home and work outside the home mom, I know the struggles of both and the feeling of the grass is always greener. Writing Sabrina’s story was a pleasure and I hope that readers will enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it.  

 

BOUNCE

Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a fascade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kid’s parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting sshamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself?
 
BOUNCE can be purchased at Amazon here and Barnes and Noble here
K.M. can be found at www.kwana.com

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What to Read – Young Adult Fantasy

Confession time – I’m a total cougar.  Well, a book cougar.  I love young adult fiction.

I’m not sure why these books appeal so much.  Maybe it’s because when you are young, everything, everything is important.  Earth-shatteringly, world-endingly important.  Also, good books are good books.  They appeal to every age.  Why should I pass up a good read just because it’s shelved in the Young Adult section?

Here are the books at the top of my Young Adult TBR pile right now. I’m not picking a favorite – although if I did the edge might go to The Lair (because The Farm totally left me wanting more).  No wait, Scorched (because, hello! Dragons!)…. no wait…The Burning Sky (did you not read my FanGirl rave on Sherry Thomas?)…no wait…..

Seriously, I can’t decide where to start!

The Lair - Young Adult Vampire Fiction by Emily McKay

THE LAIR

By Emily McKay

This is the sequel to The Farm which totally captivated me because 1) Vampire Apocalypse 2) more twists and turns than you can count and 3) Kick-ass female protags.  I could go on, but I suggest you just buy the books.

(If you really want to start at the beginning, Emily also has a short prequel, The Before, at a very attractive price).

Blurb:

NOTE: (If you haven’t read THE FARM, this blurb contains spoilers)

In the battle against the vampiric Ticks, humanity was slowly but certainly headed for extinction. For months, twin sisters Lily and Mel had been “quarantined” with thousands of other young people being harvested for their blood—food for the Ticks. Finally escaping with a few friends, the twins are separated—and must continue the fight on their own . . . 

After making it to a resistance base camp in Utah, Lily learned to survive at all costs. But when a Tick attack decimates the fighters, Lily and her pregnant friend, McKenna, decide to make the hard trek north to Canada—and safety.

Meanwhile, Mel is being taught how to survive by the very vampire that turned her. Living without her sister is hard, but dealing with the fact that her autism was cured by the vampire bite is an even bigger challenge.

But when a monstrous betrayal places Lily in mortal danger, Mel must set out to find her, save her, and begin to unravel the empire of destruction that the Ticks have built.

Buy on Amazon

Escape the Farm

Visit Emily

Scorched - Young Adult Fantasy by Mari Mancusi

SCORCHED

By Mari Mancusi

“Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.”

If that doesn’t make you hit the BUY button, I can’t help you. I suppose I am a little prejudiced because I got a look at an early-early draft of the first chapter in a critique group some time back.  The premise (and engaging writing) stuck in my mind and I’ve been waiting to read more. Plus, I’m a huge sucker for DRAGONS!

Blurb:

Trinity

Don’t leave me here…

When Trinity first hears the voice, she thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandfather firmly believes he just brought a genuine dragon egg to their dusty little West Texas town.

Connor

He’s from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb

He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving the dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon who won’t be tamed…

Buy on Amazon

Visit Mari

The Burning Sky - Young Adult Fantasy novel by Sherry Thomas

THE BURNING SKY

by Sherry Thomas

This is Sherry’s first fantasy novel.  I can’t wait to dive into a world entirely of her making.

Blurb:

It all began with a ruined elixir and a bolt of lightning.

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she’s been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of the Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.

Guided by his mother’s visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.

Buy on Amazon

Visit Sherry 

P.S. – For those of you who prefer your fantasy in a more adult format – that post is coming up!

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What to Read – Historical Romance

Still adding to my TBR pile!

Here are some of my historical picks from fellow Austinites.

 

The Luckiest Lady in London - Historical romance book by Sherry ThomasTHE LUCKIEST LADY IN LONDON

by Sherry Thomas

Right after I joined my local chapter of RWA Sherry Thomas’s first book was released.    I wanted to get to know my chapter-mates and figured reading their books was the best place to start.  Sherry’s first book, Private Arrangements, had just been released and sounded interesting. Since it was her first release, I figured she was sort of a ‘newbie’ like me.  Hey, it was her first book.  Probably not that great, right?

After reading I almost stopped writing.  Seriously.  I was completely intimidated.  I still think if I can ever get one-tenth the amount of emotional impact in one of my own stories that Sherry packs into an opening paragraph I’ll die happy.

If you haven’t figured it out, that puts Sherry’s latest release at the top of my historical TBR pile.

Blurb:

Felix Rivendale, the Marquess of Wrenworth, is The Ideal Gentleman, a man all men want to be and all women want to possess. Even Felix himself almost believes this golden image. But underneath is a damaged soul soothed only by public adulation.

Louisa Cantwell needs to marry well to support her sisters. She does not, however, want Lord Wrenworth—though he seems inexplicably interested in her. She mistrusts his outward perfection, and the praise he garners everywhere he goes. Still, when he is the only man to propose at the end of the London season, she reluctantly accepts.

Louisa does not understand her husband’s mysterious purposes, but she cannot deny the pleasure her body takes in his touch. Nor can she deny the pull this magnetic man exerts upon her. But does she dare to fall in love with a man so full of dark secrets, any one of which could devastate her, if she were to get any closer?

Buy on Amazon

Visit Sherry

Vivien Jackson’s Regency novella A Christmas Caroline also falls into this category – but I mentioned that in my last post.

FURTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Forbidden Love Trilogy - Historical Romance by Robyn DeHart

FORBIDDEN LOVE SERIES BUNDLE

by Robyn DeHart

Okay, so the stories weren’t originally released this past two months, but this fantastic new bundle was.  Three books for one low price!  You get A Little Bit Wicked, A Little Bit Sinful and A Little Bit Scandalous.  I call that a little bit awesome!

Blurb

Three unconventional women determined to live life on their own terms and the three men determined to possess them.

Set against the glittering backdrop of Victorian Society come three stories of forbidden love. Roguish Marcus Kincaid is hell-bent on seducing Vivian March, but what will he do when he discovers she’s a fallen woman? Prim and proper Clarissa Kincaid fancies herself in love with the perfect candidate for marriage, but then why does she keep falling into the wicked embrace of gaming hell owner, Justin Rodale? Mathematics prodigy Caroline Jellico uses her skills to best all the men in London, but when it comes to her guardian, Monroe Grisham, she just might lose her heart.

Buy on Amazon

Visit Robyn

New Re-Releases from April Kihlstrom:

I’m a sucker for Regencies.  The Scholar’s Daughter and Miss Redmond’s Folly were originally released in 1988 and 1989 and are now available again after being out of print for some time.

Miss Redmonds Folly - Historical Regency Romance by April KihlstromMISS REDMOND’S FOLLY

by April Kihlstrom
Waterloo, Wellington, what happens in France AFTER Waterloo, all of these play a role in Miss Redmond’s Folly.

Eleanor’s only fault is loving too easily. Taken in by the notorious Comte de Beauvais, Eleanor finds herself on the way to Brussels, taken under the wing of the kind Mrs. Milford and her brother Mr. Frederick Leverton. In the shadow of the Battle of Waterloo and travel from Brussels to Paris after Wellington’s victory, Eleanor must decide whether to continue to guard her heart from Mr. Leverton or to take the safest route of never loving again.

Originally published as a Signet Regency in 1988.

Buy on Amazon

Visit April

The Scholars Daughter - Historical Regency Romance by April KihlstromTHE SCHOLAR’S DAUGHTER

by April Kihlstrom

Calista’s father, in life, never wished to dispense with her services as his assistant. In death, however, he has contrived a plan to force her into marriage as quickly as possible. His will not only thus tries to dispose of her future, but Mr. Frederick Leverton’s as well. Unfortunately for his scheme, Mr. Leverton is already married but his friend, John Witton is not. When Mr. Witton agrees to accompany his friend to visit Leverton’s new wards, he has no notion he will fall in love with one of the daughters of the house. But is Calista the sweet young woman she seems or is she as scheming and manipulative as the woman he and Leverton both once loved?

Originally released as a Signet Regency in 1989

Buy on Amazon

Visit April

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