Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Salt to the Sea is a historical fictional novel based on real life events at the end of the second world war. The Wilhelm Gustloff was a real ship involved in the biggest maritime tragedy in history but unlike the sinking of the Titanic, most have never heard of this tragedy, close to ten thousand people lost their lives during that time.
Joana, Emilia, and Florian are among the thousands of refugees trying to flee at the end of World War II. Their paths cross as they are heading toward freedom and trying to board the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises salvation. Forced to unite on their journey through tough circumstances freedom is so close but tragedy strikes.
First, I should admit right away that I’m one of the ones that really did not know anything of the events that this book is based on. This time period isn’t one that I’ve read a lot about so I went into this really not able to say oh that’s a real fact or that isn’t but with the hope that maybe I could learn a thing or two.
My one complaint with this book though was I found the beginning to be a tad bit confusing for me to get into. The chapters are fairly short and each change the prospective of the characters involved so I found it a bit tough to get into and learn who each of them were with it going by so quickly. After you get into the story though it became easier to switch between them.
Overall, very well written and engaging historical fiction based on a true life tragedy during World War II.
Crow by Alexa Kim blitz with giveaway
Crow
Alexa Kim
(Life Tree – Master Trooper #2)
Publication date: July 25th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction
Crow has a lot on his plate as the new head of Sector A. Young and inexperienced as he is in his leading role, he still has to prove himself as a capable Alpha. Especially Strike is challenging him for rank.
Yet Crow is adamant about asserting his position, because only as Alpha can he finally have what has been out of his reach for so long – Leslie, a doctor and former head of Life Tree’s INBREED program.
Unfortunately for him, Leslie herself doesn’t make it any easier. Three years his senior, she still regards him as the young Trooper who qualified for INBREED. In her book, that’s two reasons not to let him into her bed.
When Strike catches on to Crow’s weakness and abducts Leslie, both men are out for blood…
Leslie is traumatized. In the blink of an eye, her world was turned upside down. She has gone from being a self-confident woman and head of INBREED to being property of a Trooper.
Although she likes Crow and feels drawn to him already, she simply cannot forgive him for trying to make her submit only so he can strengthen his position as Alpha and leader. Moreover, there is this secret she keeps… the reason she left Earth. If Crow were to find out, he would certainly cast her aside – a bitter experience Leslie has been through before. No, she’d rather ignore her feelings…
Sequel to:
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EXCERPT:
– Crow –
“You enjoyed tonight,” I start, trying to get back the comfortable mood, but it’s not really working.
“Yes. I’m glad Larona lives here now.” Leslie’s eyes shine vividly for the first time since I’ve laid claim to her.
“You feel comfortable in her presence.”
“I do,” Leslie admits guilelessly while we take the remnants of our dinner back to the kitchen. “Larona and I get along well. She’s my friend.”
I feel another stab of jealousy, and then I regrettably say something absolutely moronic, “You’d rather spend time with her than with me.” Leslie turns around and looks at me with a frown that makes me want to bite my tongue off. You idiot. You bloody idiot!
“Well, Larona isn’t smothering me with a compulsive need for control!”
Her words shatter my self-control. A haze of abstruse thoughts clouds my mind, courtesy of my eight percent non-human DNA. Leslie is still challenging my authority. She’s mine, and I know what’s best for her… but she doesn’t take me seriously. She doesn’t admit my claim on her! I have to get her under control! She has to submit! With those thoughts running riot in my mind, adrenaline gets pumped into my blood, putting me into a mood that’s a mixture of aggression and arousal.
Of course, Leslie notices – the ostentatious tent in my pants is hard to miss. However, this time, she’s not afraid. Instead, she seems rather peeved… and aroused, which I’m able to tell from her scent. A part of my heightened emotions is profoundly satisfied by that development – at least physically, there are no issues in our compatibility.
Still, Leslie tries being obstinate. She crosses her arms in front of her chest. Her eyes are ablaze, and her brown hair falls in loose waves down to her shoulders. I notice every detail about her… and her stubbornness only makes me want her even more! Right now!
Leslie is wearing one of her white bodysuits that hardly conceals any of her feminine curves… neither the dip of her waist, nor her long legs, nor her shapely behind. Every inch of her body is sending me a clear message, yet I doubt she’s even aware of it.
“You want to grab me and throw me onto the bed again so you can proof something to yourself?” Her voice is flippant and just a bit husky.
I decide to play along. “There’s no need for that.”
“Great,” she retorts, but now there’s a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Good night, then.”
Leslie turns to leave, but I’m not letting her off that easy. She hasn’t gone two steps when I grab her from behind, wrapping her in my arms. “I don’t need a bed to show you who you belong to… the kitchen will suffice.”
Author Bio:
Alexa Kim is a German author of hot sci-fi and fantasy romance books, usually with a dark touch. She used to be a regular with trade publishers for over ten years before she decided to try and make her own way as an indie author under the pen name Alexa Kim. In 2014, she hit it off with her MASTER TROOPER series, and she’s since been in Germany’s Amazon bestselling list on a regular basis.
When she’s not writing, she’s either indulging her hobby—singing—or spending time with a book and her two cats.
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Cover Reveal: Bound by Jen Colly
Bound
Jen Colly
(The Cities Below, #2)
Published by: Lyrical Press
Publication date: January 31st 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
The streets are a battleground for humans, vampires, and demons alike—where survival is a skill, love is a weapon, and the most dangerous act is to care for another . . .
Keir is an assassin devoted to Lady Arianne, the last of her royal bloodline. He is sworn to protect her, and that means eliminating any threat to her life. But while on a mission, he is set upon by a pack of demons, barely escaping with his life.
Cleopatra lives by a set of rules so rigid she no longer knows her true self. But her kind and loving nature resurfaces when she finds a man, bloodied and dying. Moved to help him, she risks her future and her life to save a stranger far below her aristocratic station.
Their attraction to each other is as powerful as it is forbidden. But even as their love grows, Keir keeps his true identity a secret—and this lie is not the only threat to their love . . . or their lives.
Sequel to:
Author Bio:
Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires. She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, one big fluffy dog, and four rescued cats.
Once Upon a One Night Stand (Lover, #1) by D.N. Hoxa
Once Upon a One Night Stand by D.N. Hoxa
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
London Reeves has had a crush on a co-worker for a while but it’s really not headed anywhere when he sees her as a friend that he can share details of his other dates. On her birthday though London’s friends plan to hold an intervention to take London out and convince her to find a hot guy to have a one night stand since it’s been three years since London last had sex.
Picking up the hottest guy London can find in the club that night she brings him home for one steamy night even refusing to exchange names. But much to London’s dismay Liam shows back up in her life since he is a client that was just signed on at her job and she now has to work with him.
Once Upon a One Night Stand is a fairly quick read with some great ideas but unfortunately this one fell a bit short for me overall. It starts off at a rapid pace tossing the reader into the middle of London’s life which seemed a bit frantic to try to take so much in in the opening chapter including the fact London had her own “voices” in her head that she would argue and debate with herself which ended up I didn’t really care for, perhaps if it had been implemented a bit differently I would have found this cute but it started off strange.
As the story went along I started to like it a bit more as it did have a cute plot line tossing this couple together even with my hesitation to like London in the beginning. But unfortunately then Liam had a scene in the middle of the story which completely turned me off of the relationship continuing between this pair.
So in the end, 2.5 stars for Once Upon a One Night Stand for me. A cute idea that unfortunately fell short for me when I ended up not liking the characters overall.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Graham by Natalie Decker blitz with giveaway
Graham
Natalie Decker
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: July 26th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Graham Nichols’s main goal in life is to forget. Getting high, completely wasted, and running through a string of sexy blonds daily helps him achieve this task. But one night of partying lands him in a heap of trouble and sent back to the confinements of his hometown. Things can’t possibly get worse, right?
Sarah Morris can’t seem to run fast enough away from her past. She’s spent months trying to amend her ways, and is doing a pretty good job. She’s getting good grades, isn’t acting like a spoiled brat, and even works at the local grocery store. The last thing she needs is a distraction.
Enter Graham Nichols, the one mistake Sarah can’t escape.
EXCERPT:
I sling back another plastic cup of beer and chug all the contents down. Cheers fill the crowded room as I discard the empty Solo on the stained rug underneath the beer pong table. This place feels like a sauna from all the heat generating off the crush of people surrounding the game. I wipe a trickle of sweat from my brow. At the other end of the table my opponent stares me down like we’re in a draw or some shit. I have to stifle back my laughter. He twirls the small ping-pong ball in his hand and then it sails through the air.
It bounces twice and dings off the rim of the cup in the front, then rolls off the side of the table. Everyone makes “ooo” and “ahh” sounds. I smirk at the punk. I’ve only put away two cups, which weren’t completely filled, so all in all, one and half beers. Being that I’m no stranger to drinking or a lightweight, I’m practically sober. So his ass is going down. Him and his stupid Sigma Pi brothers. And yes, I’m going to make a show of it because I’m just that kind of person. Competitive and cocky.
I’m about to make my move when a tall blond with a display of cleavage slinks up to me. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, yourself,” I say. Her delicious lips look like they need to be kissed and bitten right now.
She runs her tongue along them, and I gaze like it’s the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen. Someone shouts, “Let’s get on with the fucking game, pussy, or are you wimping out over there?”
Snapping my attention from the sexy blond back to the asshole at the end of the table, I say, “Jealous a pretty girl is talking to me and not you, limp dick?”
He flips me off with a growl. “Better watch it, running your mouth, freshdouche. You’re in our house.” Wow, and to think this is the best insult this troll fuck has, such a shame. Probably wise of me not to keep goading the little bitch on. Seeing as I am in “his house,” as he eloquently put it. But here’s the thing about being me: I stopped giving a fuck a while ago. So this guy and everyone else here can kiss my ass.
I flip him off just to show him how much his piss-ass threat sunk in.
The pretty girl leans into me. Her scent of cinnamon and sugar assaults my senses, and then her lips touch my ear while her hand skims my crotch.
“I can be your good luck charm, handsome.”
I turn to her mouth and capture it with mine. Then I pull back. “Damn right you can.” I smack her ass with my free hand and toss the ball. It drops, swoosh like, right into my opponent’s cup.
And this is how my night went. At least that’s how I remember it.
Author Bio:
Natalie Decker is the author of the bestselling YA series RIVAL LOVE. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a huge Denver Broncos fan, loves football, a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and misses her dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
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