Monday, August 12, 2013

i*Heart* NA (and i cannot lie...): A Bloggerversary + New Adult Celebration + GIVEAWAY (DAY 2)

Hello lovely readers!
Welcome to day TWO of the incredibly awesome New Adult Celebration!

As some of you may know, I recently participated in the NA Crush Tourney held by the spectacular NA Alley Blog! I got to revisit all of the reasons I love the New Adult genre and also, meet and be introduced to SO many fabulous authors and books. So, I wanted to keep it going! In addition to celebrating my 6-month (well, now 7!) bloggerversary, I wanted to give you readers a chance to learn more about these fantastic books and give you the opportunity to win some awesome prizes!

Thank you to all of the wonderful authors, publishers, and publicists who have helped make this event possible. And especially, thanks to you, the book community, for welcoming me with your kindness, your passions, and your friendship!

So, without further ado, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!

Today is Day 2: The NA authors and books you MUST read! 

I didn't want to just stop with the NA Crush Tourney nominees, because there are SO, SO MANY absolutely phenomenal NA authors that have been releasing books lately. They deserve just as much recognition, so today, I'm featuring some of my favorite authors that I didn't feature yesterday. I'm sure these authors will be making an appearance in the tourney next year!


Be sure to check out all of the awesomeness that took place yesterday! Day 1: The NA Crush Tourney Top 20! GO HERE FOR DAY 1 of the Celebration!
The contest will last from AUGUST 12th to SEPTEMBER 7th! You will have opportunities to enter daily.




Lost & Found
by Nicole Williams
Publication Date:May 7th, 2013

Synopsis:
There’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.

After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.


Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.

Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.

When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.



Where to purchase & learn more:


Need more! Don't worry, book 2 was JUST released! Go get Near & Far right NOW! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17937144-near-and-far




Subject to Change
by Alessandra Thomas
Publication Date: June 25th, 2013

Synopsis:
Joey made her dad a deathbed promise that she would become a doctor, and dedicate herself to fighting the very cancer that took his life. There’s just one problem -three years into her pre-med classes, she's struggling to stay on top of the curve, let alone prove she's dazzling enough to earn a spot in an Ivy League medical school. In a Hail Mary move, she throws a basic Business 101 class into her semester schedule, banking on a perfect score to boost her GPA.

That is, until she’s paired for a final project with Hawk, the bartending, motorbike-riding, gorgeously bedheaded loser who falls asleep in class and communicates in one-word sentences.


Hawk does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, which sets Joey on edge – in every possible way. As they get to know each other, her urge to scream at him is curbed only by her fantasies of tearing his clothes off. Soon those fantasies become reality, and Joey realizes Hawk makes her feel more fully herself than any of the rich boys her mother and sorority sisters approve of.

But the promise to her father hangs over her head, and the harder Joey tries to succeed in her chosen career, the faster everything falls into a hopeless tailspin of bad grades, broken promises and guilt. It doesn't help to have Hawk sitting like a devil on her shoulder, insisting she should be free to live however she wants to live - like he does.

The only thing Joey knows is that her neatly organized life is crushing her - and Hawk's bad attitude might be the only thing that can save her.



Where to purchase & learn more:


This is Alessandra's latest, but check out her first book of the series, Picture Perfect! (Don't worry, each can stand on its own!) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667605-picture-perfect




Inhale, Exhale
by Sarah M. Ross
Publication Date: May 4th, 2013

Synopsis:
Jillian had a plan: celebrate the end of her first year of college with an amazing summer full of beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. When her mom insists she needs a summer job, and her boyfriend spends more time with his band than with her, Jillian’s plans go down the drain.

Grant had a plan: finish his Masters, get a great job at Google, and get the hell out of Georgia. He might be giving up some of the fun of his youth, but he knows his all work and no play method would be worth it when his dreams came true.


But things never go according to plan.

When temptation brings them together and tragedy tears them apart, Jillian and Grant will be forced to choose: fight for their dreams, or fight for each other.



Where to purchase & learn more:


Interested in something a little paranormal? Check out Sarah's Patronus series! http://www.goodreads.com/series/90727-patronus




By Referral Only
by Lyla Payne
Publication Date: May 23rd 2013

Synopsis:
After being unceremoniously dumped freshman year because of her family’s “new money” status, Ruby Cotton has taken care not to put her heart on the line. No matter how enticing Emilie and Quinn make it look, relationships are scary and hard—while a string of flings is easy and fun. That’s what Ruby wants. Easy and fun. The only problem is, when it comes to satisfaction in the sack, most of the boys at Whitman are nothing but pretty window dressing and false advertising.

Ruby takes it upon herself to make campus life more fulfilling, creating a referral database that allows female students to rate their sexual experiences, thereby informing girls of what they’re getting into before agreeing to a date.


When her acting partner, Liam Greene, finally shows some interest, Ruby figures she won’t need to utilize the helpful gossip. He’s handsome, fun, and most importantly, not a guy she’d ever fall for hard enough to let him break her heart.

Not only that, but dating Liam gives Ruby the perfect excuse to say no to Cole Stuart.

As a star swimmer and heir to honest-to-God Scottish royalty, Cole sits at the top of Whitman’s A-list—but he’s also the lowest rated referral on Ruby’s website. The ratings make rejecting his repeated requests for a date a no-brainer, but her real reason for avoiding Cole runs deeper than a string of unsatisfied exes.

He’s gorgeous, he oozes sweetness and charm, and the electricity between them could power half of Whitman, but Ruby knows it will only last until his family or friends convince him she’s not good enough.

Before she knows it she’s falling anyway, waiting for the other shoe to drop but clinging to a tentative hope that Cole might be as different as he seems. When the secret behind his low ratings comes to light, that hope is torn apart, and Ruby wonders if she was right to give him her heart…and whether she has the strength to let him keep it.



Where to purchase & learn more:


This is Lyla's latest installment of the life and loves of Whitman University, but be sure to also pick up the first book in the series, Broken at Love! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17280224-broken-at-love




Escaping Me
by Elizabeth Lee
Publication Date: July 30th, 2013

Synopsis:
All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.


Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.



Where to purchase & learn more:


Please check out the absolutely unique and wonderful Give Me Something! The story of a con artist torn between her partner and her latest mark will ...ahem, steal your heart. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16488227-give-me-something




All of You
by Christina Lee
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013

Synopsis:
Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.


Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.



Where to purchase & learn more:


This phenomenal debut novel will be released soon, so be sure to pre-order NOW! You won't want to miss this one.




No Attachments
by Tiffany King
Publication Date: April 30th, 2013

Synopsis:
Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.


Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?



Where to purchase & learn more:


This is Tiffany's first New Adult book, but if you're in the mood for some excellent YA, how about checking out her Daemon Hunter series, starting with Jordyn? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17225270-jordyn




The Hazards of Skinny Dipping
by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Publication Date: May 17th, 2013

Synopsis:
This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.


Where to purchase & learn more:


Want more fabulousness by Alyssa? Check out her The Crescent Chronicles series! http://www.goodreads.com/series/77424-the-crescent-chronicles




Unbroken
by Melody Grace
Publication Date: March 11th, 2013

Synopsis:
"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane...."

Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Beachwood Bay—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now.


Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Beachwood to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty.

A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken?



Where to purchase & learn more:


Discover the start of Emerson & Juliet's love story in the prequel novella, Untouched. Then get ready for the next book in the Beachwood Bay series, Unafraid, coming August 27th. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667474-untouched http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18039804-unafraid




If You Leave
by Courtney Cole
Publication Date: August 6th, 2013

Synopsis:
26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.


They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.



Where to purchase & learn more:





Be sure to read the start of the series, the beautifully written, If You Stay! The books stand alone, but the characters from If You Stay play important secondary roles to If You Leave. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17032328-if-you-stay





Suddenly Royal
by Nichole Chase
Publication Date: March 30th, 2013

Synopsis:
Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.


Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.



Where to purchase & learn more:


The follow up, Recklessly Royal won't be out until early next year, so in the meantime, pick up the wonderfully magical FLUKES! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18172470-recklessly-royal http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15831627-flukes





Off the Record
by Sawyer Bennett
Publication Date: June 8th, 2013

Synopsis:
The sparks of dislike burn hot, but the sparks of mutual attraction burn even hotter.

Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded, and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word.


Lincoln Caldwell is the hot goalie for the New York Rangers. At twenty-four and a rising star, he works hard and he plays even harder. He’s gorgeous and carefree—the ultimate charmer. Ladies fall at his feet and the single life has never been lived the way Linc Caldwell does it.

When Ever publishes an article about Linc containing information that she received off the record, she finds herself on the receiving end of the athlete’s fury. Rather than basking in the glory of exposing Linc as a shameless user of women, she finds herself at his mercy when he demands and receives retribution. Required by her editor to trail Linc for six weeks, Ever is forced to look at the real Linc Caldwell.

And she just might find that she has misjudged him.



Where to purchase & learn more:



One of my favorite series of smoking hot guy books, check out the rest of the Off Series (each book can stand on its own!) and be sure to pick up the recently released OFF COURSE! http://www.goodreads.com/series/101253-off-series http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18136455-off-course




Vain
by Fisher Amelie
Publication Date: February 7th, 2012

Synopsis:
If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.


Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.



Where to purchase & learn more:


GREED, Book 2 of the Seven Deadly Sins series is coming soon! Fall 2013! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17795023-greed





And lastly, a big huge THANK YOU to the absolutely FABULOUS KP Simmon of Inkslinger PR! If you are a blogger and you want to take part in some awesome blog tours, I HIGHLY suggest you follow her. She has some of the best authors around, and there's a reason why they flock to her:








THE PRIZES (See column 2, For column 1, see yesterday's post! Link at the bottom of this page):

NOTE: SWAG PACK Giveaways are open Internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOW, GO BACK AND ENTER THE GIVEAWAY for DAY 1!! There are entries that can be earned daily!



all the best, dear readers!
 

3 comments :

  1. Love this giveaway. You have some great books on this list!!!! :) (Especially Christina Lee's)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is awesome, my TBR list is piling up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete