Naomi's Reading Palace: April 2015

Review ~ Confess by Colleen Hoover

Title: Confess
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Published: March 10th 2015

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

Buy Now - Amazon

Confess began with Auburn and showed me how deep her feelings ran for her first love, Adam. She was 15 years old and the emotional connection these two had was intense. I cried in this first chapter because it was heartbreaking to see what they had and what they had to do.

Swoon Thursday is a super HOT meme created by the fabulous girls over at YA Bound.

Confess

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: March 10th 2015

This was an interesting read and definitely had it surprises, in typical Colleen Hoover style. Here is a sweet moment between Auburn and Owen.

The faint smile on his face disappears the closer his lips come to mine. My eyelids flutter and then close completely, just as his mouth feathers mine.

"I've been wanting to do this since the moment I laid eyes on you," he whispers. His mouth connects with mine, and at first his kiss is like the one I gave him in the tent. Soft, sweet, and innocent. But then the innocence is stripped away the second he runs one of his hands through the back of my hair and slides his tongue against my lips.

~ Paperback Pages 159-60

I was unable to bring you my review for The Phoenix Campaign last week, so I am bringing it to you today. It was a fantastic read and I am dying for the third and final book!

Title: The Phoenix Campaign
Author: Heidi Joy Tretheway
Series: Grace Colton #2
Genre: Adult Erotic Romance
Published: April 20th 2015

Fans of Scandal, House of Cards, and The Good Wife will love Grace Colton...

U.S. Congresswoman Grace Colton is the most famous woman in politics—and the loneliest—until a drawling, sexy stranger offers her one night: no strings and no regrets. And it rocks her world.

Grace wakes to an empty hotel room and a phone call. The dark horse for the 2016 presidential election, Senator Shep Conover, is considering her as his vice presidential running mate.

Before she can be selected, Grace must be vetted and coached by Shep’s political consultant, Jared Rankin, who already knows too many intimate details about her. He’s Mr. One-Night Stand.

Grace is torn: play nice with Jared to join the senator’s ticket, or play hardball and back the slick frontrunner? As the Democratic National Convention approaches, Grace must decide where her loyalties lie and if she can trust Jared with her future—and her heart.

The Phoenix Candidate is an adult erotic romance recommended for mature readers.

Buy Now - Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo

After reading The Phoenix Candidate, I had to dive right into the second book to see what happened next with Grace. It seemed her life was on track and she had the support of an amazing man. But one little hunch changes the game again and she is not sure what to do now.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where I have the chance to spotlight an upcoming release that I’m eagerly anticipating.

The Stars Never Rise

Author: Rachel Vincent

Series: Untitled Series #1

Genre: YA Fantasy

Expected Publication: June 9th 2015

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

The Sin Eater’s Daughter (The Sin Eater’s Daughter, #1)

Title: The Sin Eater’s Daughter
Author: Melinda Salisbury

Series: The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Published: March 1st 2015

I am the perfect weapon.
I kill with a single touch.

Twylla is blessed. The Gods have chosen her to marry a prince, and rule the kingdom. But the favour of the Gods has it's price. A deadly poison infuses her skin. Those who anger the queen must die under Twylla's fatal touch.

Only Lief, an outspoken new guard, can see past Twylla's chilling role to the girls she truly is.

Yet in a court as dangerous and the queen's, some truths should not be told...

Buy Now - Amazon

Firstly, I love the cover to this book! What you can see on it has so much to do with what happens throughout the story; the blood, the vile and the girl in scarlet that feels so alone. It is very clever!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

The Sin Eater’s Daughter

Melinda Salisbury

The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Published: March 1st 2015

I enjoyed this fantasy read. There are some great characters in it and I'm keen to continue the journey.

I was going to kiss you awake, like a prince in a tale, until you started smiling like a madwoman.” He leans forward and brushes his lips against mine, his fingers slipping into my hair as he deepens the kiss.

~ Kindle Arc Loc 2245

Title: Paradise City
Author: C.J. Duggan
Series: Paradise #1
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Expected Publication: April 28th 2015

There's bound to be trouble in Paradise . . .

When her parents decide a change will be good for her, seventeen-year-old Lexie Atkinson never expected they'd send her all the way to Paradise City. Coming from a predictable life of home schooling on a rural Australian property, she's sure that Paradise will be amazing. But when she's thrust into a public school without a friendly face in sight, and forced to share a room with her insipid, hateful cousin Amanda, Lexie's not so sure.

Hanging out with the self-proclaimed beach bums of the city, sneaking out, late night parties and parking with boys are all things Lexie's never experienced, but all that's about to change. It's new, terrifying . . . and exciting. But when she meets Luke Ballantine, exciting doesn't even come close to describing her new life. Trouble with a capital T, Luke is impulsive, charming and answers to no one. The resident bad-boy leader of the group, he's sexier than any boy Lexie has ever known.

Amidst the stolen moments of knowing looks and heated touches, Lexie can't help but wonder if Luke is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?

Buy Now - Amazon

Paradise City is set in Australia, and follows Lexie, a 17 year old girl, who moves from the country to live in the city with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for the final term of the school year where she will complete Year 11. I felt this was a good representation of life in Australia and dealt with normal teenage issues that affect girls not only in Australia, but everywhere… BOYS!!

Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up is a combined meme with the Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Bought, Borrowed and Bagged hosted by Braine @ Talk Supe and Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. I’ll share news, post a recap of the past week and tell you what will be happening on my blog in the week ahead. I will also tell you about the books and goodies that I have managed to pick up.

I had a pretty busy week running to and from school for little things for the kids. Being a parent is hard sometimes!

I’ve been trying to cram in the Marked Men series and realised at the end of the week I was missing a book I was supposed to review on Friday… sigh… so I am running so far behind on everything reading wise. But once these few are out of the way I will have some time for myself… YAY!

read more "Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up 134"

I'm reading The Phoenix Candidate (book 1) right now, and I tell you, I cannot wait to get to the second book. Grace is great and I love the dominant Jared! I will bring you my review next week. I hope you all check these out too!

Title: The Phoenix Campaign
Author: Heidi Joy Tretheway
Series: Grace Colton #2
Genre: Adult Erotic Romance
Published: April 20th 2015

Fans of Scandal, House of Cards, and The Good Wife will love Grace Colton...

U.S. Congresswoman Grace Colton is the most famous woman in politics—and the loneliest—until a drawling, sexy stranger offers her one night: no strings and no regrets. And it rocks her world.

Grace wakes to an empty hotel room and a phone call. The dark horse for the 2016 presidential election, Senator Shep Conover, is considering her as his vice presidential running mate.

Before she can be selected, Grace must be vetted and coached by Shep’s political consultant, Jared Rankin, who already knows too many intimate details about her. He’s Mr. One-Night Stand.

Grace is torn: play nice with Jared to join the senator’s ticket, or play hardball and back the slick frontrunner? As the Democratic National Convention approaches, Grace must decide where her loyalties lie and if she can trust Jared with her future—and her heart.

The Phoenix Candidate is an adult erotic romance recommended for mature readers.

Buy Now - Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo

Title: Eternal Sacrifice

Author: Stacey O'Neale

Series: Mortal Enchantment #3

Genre: YA Fantasy

Expected Publication: September 2015

Swoon Thursday is a super HOT meme created by the fabulous girls over at YA Bound.

Paradise City

Author: C.J. Duggan

Series: Paradise #1

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Expected Publication: April 28th 2015

This was a sweet moment between Lexie and Ballantine... those first touches are so sweet!!

My breaths were shallow; I glanced down at my feet, breaking eye contact from him, but it didn’t stop him from reaching out and tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, instantly causing my eyes to lift wide with the unexpectedness of it. ‘Do you have a boyfriend, Lexie Atkinson? Or is there a broken heart somewhere in the wastelands of Oz?’

~ Kindle Arc Loc 1185

Title: With Visions of Red

Author: Trisha Wolfe

Series: Broken Bonds #1

Genre: Adult Dark Romantic Thriller

Expected Publication: April 29th 2015

Criminal profiler Sadie Bonds knows blood. Her affair with the gruesome, dark world of killers began long before she started applying her analytical skills to investigate gory crime scenes. She gets inside the killers’ heads, breaks them down, relates to them on an arcane level. She prefers it this way—because it’s safer to ally herself with the villain than the victim. At least, that’s how she’s coped ever since she was abducted and tortured as a teen.

She will never be a victim again.

Now, she’s honed her skills in order to bring justice to these ritualistic offenders. Working alongside her colleagues, armed with sharp wit and a SIG, Sadie always catches her sadist. Until one ruthless serial killer gets inside Sadie’s head, turning the tables. He knows her secrets. Her obsessions. The darkest, most deviant part of her soul.

When she meets Colton Reed, dangerous stakes are raised as he threatens to unravel her control and reveal her darkest fantasies. The sexy-as-sin bondage rigger at an exclusive BDSM club pushes her boundaries, forcing her to acknowledge that side of herself she fears. Plunged into a realm of torture and suffering, pain and pleasure, Sadie balances on the razor-sharp edge of two intersecting worlds threatening to swallow her.

Passion and lust ignite. Dark and light battle. This explosive first installment of the Broken Bonds series sets the exhilarating pace for a cat and mouse game where no one knows who’s really pulling the strings.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where I have the chance to spotlight an upcoming release that I’m eagerly anticipating.

The Novice

Author: Taran Matharu

Series: Summoner #1

Genre: YA Fantasy

Expected Publication: May 5th 2015

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.

Even though each book in this series is a standalone, I am catching up on this series as we speak!! I wanted to get all the details in line before I tackled Bad Boy Asa's book. I hope to bring you my review in the next week or so. In the mean time, here is a sneak peek!

Title: Asa
Author: Jay Crownover
Series: Marked Men #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 21st 2015

Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Buy Now - Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks
Kobo / IndieBound / HarperCollins

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Dare

Allie Juliette Mousseau

Brothers of Ink and Steel #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: January 12th 2015

Josh is such a great character! I loved the fight in him and this was great advice!

“Don’t let the fear defeat you, Josh. We all fall apart, and we all lose ourselves in this life. You’ve got to dare to push through the fear. You’ve got to dare to find the broken pieces and put yourself back together. And when you can’t find all the pieces, you have to dare to be stronger, so new ones can grow in theirplace. That’s when you’ll find your true self and be whole again.”

~ Kindle Arc Loc 131

Title: Dare
Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau
Series: Brothers of Ink and Steel #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: January 12th 2015

Josh North is UFC’s Light Heavyweight Champion—but he’s about to meet his match.

Sophie Garner is a single mom who’s been raising her daughter on her own, fighting for both of their lives ever since going into hiding to escape her abusive husband.

When Sophie gets offered the job of a lifetime as the exclusive massage therapist for Josh “The Jackhammer” North’s team, it’s difficult to say no to the outrageous salary—and the bet—that Josh proposes. But for Sophie it’s a risk that could cost a lot more than just her heart – if she’s found, it could cost her her life.

Should she dare?

Josh wants to break through Sophie’s fortified walls, but is unwilling to put the jackhammer to his own and reveal his secrets and the side of him few have ever known or seen. To do that, he’ll have to confront the darkness of his past.

Will he dare?

Buy Now - Amazon

Dare is the first book in the Brothers of Ink and Steel series which is a spinoff from the original series. Josh North stars in this first book and he’s one of the brothers from the True North series. He has had a difficult life and it was hard for him to move past it. Seeing him now as a well trained, humble and put together person showed that he was able to move on.