Review: The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: The Wager

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Book Two in The Bet Series
Published By: Forever (October 1, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary
My Rating: 5 Stars!

Book Description:
THE WAGER

Lose a bet, lose your heart...

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.


If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

*Amazon*Barnes and Noble*

My Thoughts and Review:

I have to say this first, I just have to, I. Love. Grandma. 

Oh my heck the woman was hilarious. I laughed out loud from her remarks after the very first encounter. She rocks. Seriously. This is one speak your mind, play shenanigans, love you to death, meddling,  heart of gold, feisty woman you do not want to miss out on. I would have read this story for her alone, although it was rather nice meeting they yummy Jake and wonderful Char too. 

Okay okay, truth be told, I should have already meet Grandma earlier in the first book in the series The Bet, but this time, this one, rare, time, I read a series out of order so I had no idea how much fun it was going to be meeting her, meeting all of them actually. And now, now, I must read The Bet next because I want to know all the characters. I want to know Travis and Kacey better but most importantly, I need more Grandma!

This story was perfect. I can't remember a time I had so much darn fun reading a book in the genre. Honest. Ever new chapter was a new adventure, a new prank, a new mishap, new laughter or a new heartfelt moment. I loved every single darn minute of it.

All I am going to say is this, if you haven't read this, if you haven't tried this author yet and are any sort of fan of this genre, go out and buy a copy of one of Ms. Van Dyken's books, you will not be disappointed. 


This was so witty, so entertaining and so well done on all accounts, to the fleshed out characters, to the realness, to the sweet storyline, it is one you do not want to miss out on. She has made a fan out of me, for life.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*




As always don't forget to check out the month long Something Wicked Blog Hop posts. There are some pretty fantastic giveaways, interviews, guest posts and review all perfectly themed for this Halloween season!

Today's stop is with Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings with author Misty Provencher!

Tomorrow look for:


Michelle@Snarky Mom Reads: Jamie Rush: Dragon Mine & Dragon Rising 

Blog Tour and Book Review: Lennon's Rain by Chris Myers

Title: Lennon’s Rain (Lennon’s Girls, #2)

Author: Chris Myers

Expected release date: September 30, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult (Sexual content)

Cover designed by: Books on the Edge, photo from Shutterstock

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

Sometimes in love, you choose wrong…

Eight years ago, Lennon lost his heart to Rain, and suddenly she’s back, all grown up and sexy as hell. At a sorority party, he convinces himself that outbidding every other guy for a body shot from Rain is for charity. But he knows better. He doesn’t want any guy, except him, tarnishing the memory of the little girl he proposed to in fifth grade.

Jinx loves Lennon and is past ready for him to make his move. With his sexual prowess, she worries why he hasn’t made any advances. She fears she is losing him, and the only way to keep him is to overcome her past and give him what he desires.

Rain knows Lennon is trouble. If she couldn’t say no to the gangly boy asking her to skateboard off some roof, how will she refuse Lennon’s seductive powers now that he is a man? Rain has many reasons to resist his charm. He has a girlfriend, he’s moving to LA with her, and Rain has no intention to march in the long parade of Lennon Tyler conquests.

Now, Lennon must choose. Someone has to lose, and that person could be him.

*Amazon*Barnes and Noble*

About the Author:

Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers, new adult, and young adult. She has a real job but would love to write full time. Her books have won and placed in the finals and semifinals for several awards including Paul Gillette, Rocky Mountain Gold, and Amazon Breakthrough Novel. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Author social media links:

 https://twitter.com/cmyersfiction

 http://www.facebook.com/chrismyersfiction www.chrismyersfiction.com http://chrismyersfiction.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.goodreads.com/review/new/17880816-lennon-s-rain

My Thoughts and Review:

Even though I loved Lennon's Jinx, I was very apprehensive starting this one. Not because I didn't think Myers could deliver but because I knew this would be an emotional read for me and more than likely make me very angry and very sad at times. I love Lennon and I want to see him happy but the thing is, I loved Jinx too in the first book and I became invested in their relationship and I was rooting for them the whole way through the first book.

To know that this one has someone from Lennon's past in it, someone that could destroy everything Lennon and Jinx worked so hard to build..well, I knew that it was going to be tough to read. Tough to love Lennon as much as I once did. I didn't want a love triangle, I wanted Lennon with Jinx and she with him. 

I was prepared for Myers to rip my heart out and for me to ultimately hate Lennon for it in the end. 

Poor screwed up bad boy Lennon. I want to hate him, I really do but alas, I do not.  I wish I could say I loved everything about this but the truth is, parts of it made me sad. I really liked Rain but like I mentioned before, I fell in love with Jinx in the first book and I was sad that they both made so many mistakes along the way that destroyed their relationship, their friendship the way it did. It wasn't right.

Even though I was rooting for Jinx, Myers made me like Rain as well. She wasn't a goodie goodie but she was a really good person and he did love Lennon so I couldn't fault her for that.

This story was good it really was and even though I didn't love everything that happened in it, it did make me see Lennon in a whole new light and parts of me loved him even more for it and other parts wanted to give him a good talking to. 

Overall it was a great look into Lennon and I really am curious what the future holds for him.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author, publisher or tour company. I was not compensated for this review.*

Something Wicked Tour Stops!

Because I have a scheduled tour stop today I am making a separate post for the  Something Wicked Hop,  there are still lots of great stops filled with the paranormal and awesome prizes you don't want to miss!

Full list of all the stops for this month long tour HERE!!

Once again a huge thank you to Heidi, Maja, and Candace for co-hosting this month long event, you girls are the best!!

Today's great stops include:

Maja@The Nocturnal Library: LJ Adlington: Night Witches

Ginny@Gin's Book Notes: Tori L. Ridgewood: Wind and Shadows

Susan@Taylor Made Ficition: Susan Arden: Collared for a Night

Diane@Strahbary's Fields: Robin Burks : Zeus Inc. 

Tomorrow will be with author Misty Provencher at Rainy Day Ramblings! 

Release Day Event: Watercolor by Leigh T. Moore

They fell in love in Dragonfly, Undertow revealed the secret that could pull them apart, but In Watercolor, it's the love story readers have been waiting for~

On Amazon

Early reviewers are saying: "I've been waiting for each book like it's my own personal version of crack. A truly FANTASTIC series about growing up, with some small town soap opera drama sprinkled in." --Jessica Watterson, Bend in the Binding Reviews "Moore paints a beautiful tale--a very satisfying, tear-jerking culmination of what began with Dragonfly." --Alyse Carlson/Hart Johnson, bestselling author of A Shot in the Light "Moore has done it again! A captivating love story of secrets, lies, family, and money all wrapped up in a coming of age story set on a southern beach." --Tracy Womack, founder Virtual Book Club Watercolor - out NOW! by Leigh Talbert Moore Love is stronger than distance... Finishing senior year is supposed to be the best time in a person’s life. Finishing senior year as Julian’s girlfriend should’ve been the icing on the cake. Knowing the secret that could change everything for him is the only thing threatening to spoil it all.  Until Jack returns. Anna and Julian are together at last, and it’s as hot and happy as they knew it would be. The only problem is The Secret. And Jack. But while Anna is determined to fight for the guy she loves, she could still lose Julian when he discovers the truth she’s been helping to hide.

On Amazon

Get Dragonfly (#1) TODAY for only 99 cents! “Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception Falling in love changes everything...

Dragonfly - 99 cents!

Three bad things I learned this year: -People you trust lie, even parents.  -That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.  -Things are not always how they appear. Three good things I learned this year: -Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.  -That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.  -Oh, and things are not always how they appear. Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy. Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew. Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father. A secret that could permanently change all their lives.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Undertow

Undertow by Leigh Talbert Moore "An incredibly powerful sequel to Dragonfly. I found myself riveted to the last page by the depth of feeling, loss, tragedy, and love in this gorgeously woven story. This is a definite must-read." --Jolene Perry, author of Out of Play Falling in love will pull you under... -Bill Kyser has a plan to take the sandy farms of his hometown and turn them into a world-class tourist destination--and become a billionaire in the process.  -Alexandra "Lexy" LaSalle has a plan to change her life by becoming a world-famous artist.  -Meg Weaver has a plan to hold onto Bill no matter what she has to do. Three friends, three dreams. One fatal decision will change all their lives forever. In Dragonfly, Bill Kyser gave Anna the three journals that held the story behind the powerful developer's seclusion and the damaged lives of his family members. Anna hopes to find a way for Julian to know the truth, but as she digs deeper into the tragic events of the past, she realizes silence could be the only option. Now she's in an alliance with the man she formerly feared. And if Julian finds out what she knows, she could lose for good the boy she's starting to love.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

~ The Dragonfly series ~ 

~ Fall in love, be pulled under, and then be swept away~

Enter to #WIN the signed, complete set, your own, signed copy of Watercolor, and more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Something Wicked Returns Tour!!

I am so very excited to be a co-host in this amazing month long tour along with Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings, Candace at Candace's Book Blog and Maja at The Noctural Library. 

We have so many great posts, books, challenges giveaways and author/character interviews scheduled during the whole month that it promises to be nothing but fun and maybe even a little spooky to help kick off the Halloween season.

But before we do all of that, what better way to start a month long tour than with a giveaway! 

So to kick off this great event, we the hosts are give you a chance to win an Amazon gift card so you can download any of the great books featured this month (or whatever else you would like to use it for).

I am so excited about this tour. Each day for the whole month there will be wonderful posts from authors and fabulous giveaways going on. Make sure and stop by each day to check them all out! A list of each stop as well as the grand prize giveaway of a $50 Amazon gift card will be posted at the end of this post!

Also, there is still time to sign up if you want to grab a spot!

Thank you to everyone who has signed up and especially to Maja, Heidi, and Candace for helping to put this all together for us!

$50 Amazon Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full list of all the stops for this month long tour HERE!!

Don't forget to check out Heidi's stop today with author Kendra Blake!

Tomorrow look out for  these great stops!
Maja@The Nocturnal Library: LJ Adlington: Night Witches
Ginny@Gin's Book Notes: Tori L. Ridgewood: Wind and Shadows
Susan@Taylor Made Ficition: Susan Arden: Collared for a Night

Diane@Strahbary's Fields: Robin Burks : Zeus Inc. 

Review: Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Even though this isn't your typical review for a month long blog hop with the paranormal in mind, this is a great read about just how real some monsters can be and that not all monsters are of the paranormal variety.

Be sure to check out the stops today at the bottom of the post for the Something Wicked Tour!

Title: Where the Stars Still Shine

Author: Trish Doller
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Bloomsbury Kids (September 24, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4 Stars!

Book Description:
Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.


Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

*Amazon*Barnes and Noble*

My Thoughts and Review:
I read a book similar to this one earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. Even though it was a really hard, emotional read, I enjoyed it immensely, which is probably why I was so willing to pick this up and give it a try.

Truth be told, I like emotional reads. Ones that have me crying like a baby and that make my heart break. Ones that make me feel for the characters in the way only a really good author can. This is one of those books. Be prepared, you have been warned.

Callie has not had an easy life. Always on the run with her mother, ripped from the father that loved her and taken away from the only family she would ever have, to say she has had it rough is an understatement. She has seen and done things a little girl and teenager should never have to see or go through.

When she get released to her father's custody and discovers that he has been searching for her this whole time she is scared, relieved and feeling guilty that her mother might be in trouble and not sure what to do or even really who she is anymore.

Callie is a tough girl, one that I liked from the very beginning. Even though she is damaged she doesn't let it get her down, she doesn't let it come in the way of her happiness and finally getting to know what it means to be a teenager and what it means to be a part of a family that loves her and wants what is best for her.

I have to say I loved Callie's father Greg. He was what a good loving father should be and I loved that he respected Callie and understood that he couldn't treat her like a normal teenager because she wasn't one. He knew there were probably horrors that she went through that he didn’t even want to imagine and he dealt with it all as best as he could. He was pretty amazing actually.

I loved the boys, so adorable and such a sweet and fun side to the story. I was so glad that Callie has them in her life to love and to learn from.

Kat and Alex were pretty fab too.

The only thing I didn't love about this was the way it ended. There was too much left undone between Alex and Callie and I felt too much left unsaid between Callie and her dad. While Callie stretched and grew a ton, I couldn't help but want more and to know that she would be okay. That is would all work out in every way possible. 


Honestly, I would love to see a sequel. To get more of her crazy Greek family, more of her brothers, more of Kat and Alex. I don't think her story is done, or maybe, I just don't want it to be over, either way, if the author decides to write a sequel, I will be the first in line for it.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*




Also don't forget to check out today's posts for the Something Wicked Returns Tour, lots of great giveaways, guest posts, reviews and interviews will be featured all month long!

Beth@ Curling Up With a Good Book: April Tucholke: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

And Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings: Laura Bickle: The Outside

Maja @ The Nocturnal Library: Carrie Harris: Bad Taste in Boys

(click on the banner to see the full list)

Tomorrow will be back with Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings with author Kendra Blake!

Something Wicked Returns: Month Long Tour and Giveaway!

I am so very excited to be a co-host in this amazing month long tour along with Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings, Candace at Candace's Book Blog and Maja at The Noctural Library. 

We have so many great posts, books, challenges giveaways and author/character interviews scheduled during the whole month that it promises to be nothing but fun and maybe even a little spooky to help kick off the Halloween season.

But before we do all of that, what better way to start a month long tour than with a giveaway! 

So to kick off this great event, we the hosts are give you a chance to win an Amazon gift card so you can download any of the great books featured this month (or whatever else you would like to use it for).

I am so excited about this tour. Each day for the whole month there will be wonderful posts from authors and fabulous giveaways going on. Make sure and stop by each day to check them all out! A list of each stop as well as the grand prize giveaway of a $50 Amazon gift card will be posted at the end of this post!

Also, there is still time to sign up if you want to grab a spot!

Thank you to everyone who has signed up and especially to Maja, Heidi, and Candace for helping to put this all together for us!

$50 Amazon Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full list of all the stops for this month long tour HERE!!

Make Sure and stop by Rainy Day Ramblings tomorrow with a guest post from author Laura Bickle!