Lost to You by A.L. Jackson ~ Audiobook Review & Swoon Thursday (@aljacksonauthor)

I've been told by a lot of people that I need to try A.L. Jackson, and now I have I think I'll be reading more of her work, because Lost to You was not enough! It is the first book in Christian and Elizabeth's story...

Title: Lost to You

Author: A.L. Jackson

Series: Take This Regret #0.5
Narrator: Andi Arndt

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: January 14th 2014 by Audible, Inc.
(first published January 15th 2013)

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N | Kobo

People come into our lives. Some stay, and many go. Some build us up, while most tear us down. They become our friends, our enemies, our lovers, our tormentors.

Christian Davison came into mine, and I knew I'd never be the same.

To Elizabeth Ayers, New York City had always been a dream. She's worked her entire young life to make it here.

Groomed to one day take over his father's law firm, attending Columbia University was Christian Davison's only option. Neither wanted anything more until they sat across from each other at a café table after being paired as study partners.

Christian wants her, but Elizabeth knows better than to give into their intense attraction. Yet there is little she can do to stay away.

Lost to You is the prequel to the best-selling romance Take This Regret. A new-adult novella, recommended for listeners 17 and up. It's unnecessary to have listened to Take This Regret to enjoy Lost to You.

I jumped into this book blind... I needed to try A.L. Jackson and thought I'd snap this freebie up and get the audio. Now if I'd looked into it properly I would've realised Christian and Elizabeth's story continued into the next book, in fact there are three books in this story. So you have been warned!

Christian and Elizabeth met as they both signed up for study partners for their American Government class. Christian was attracted to Elizabeth immediately, but he's a player and Elizabeth knows that he's a ladies man. They strike up a strong friendship and spend a lot of time together, studying and hanging out. The line becomes blurred between them and they both needed to work through their feelings to figure our what they wanted.

I liked both of these characters; Christian was pretty open and told Elizabeth about his family life and was relaxed around her. Elizabeth was comfortable around Christian, but take her out of that comfort zone she withdrew into herself. She's close with her family, but doesn't seem like she has many friends.

I felt that this story was very character driven. Not a lot happened throughout the story, there were a few big moments, but that was it. There was a lot of inner dialogue and I was told a lot of the story instead of experiencing it. I enjoyed the narration by Andi Arndt, she had a beautiful voice and alternated between characters perfectly. For my first A.L. Jackson, I did enjoy it, but I'm frustrated that it ended so abruptly. Now I need to get the next book to see what happens for them next!

*** Swoon Thursday was first bought to us by YA Bound. Since they are no longer with us, and with permission from Trisha Wolfe, I have decided that those of us that love to swoon need a central meet up point. So here it is ladies! I have a link up for everyone at the bottom of the post you can add your swoons to, and I’ll set it up every week! So tell all other swooners out there to come on over, link up so we can visit each other! ***

Short and sweet, but packs a punch!

“And tonight... I can’t even begin to apologize for what happened tonight. I can only tell you I don’t care what my dad thinks about us.” I brought my other hand to her face and squeezed in emphasis. “Elizabeth, I can’t lose you.”

Kindle Page 141
Originally inspired by YA Bound

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

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Waiting On Wednesday #209 – Nothing More / A Shadow Bright and Burning (@imaginator1dx, @JessCluess)

I have to get into the original series by Anna Todd, but I'll want this one too!
A Shadow Bright and Burning sounds like an interesting read too!

Title: Nothing More

Author: Anna Todd

Series: Nothing More #1

Genre: NA Romance

Expected Publication: September 20th 2016

Book 1 of a new series featuring After worldwide fan-favorite Landon Gibson as he leaves Washington to navigate love and life in New York City. At the end of the After Ever Happy, Landon got married—but readers everywhere have been wondering who will get to call the nicest boy in the After series their forever love? Read it and find out!

“I'm so excited for everyone to get to know Landon Gibson. Whether you're just hearing about him or already know him from the After series, I know that readers are going to love his story. He's kind and fiercely loyal, and when he falls in love, he loves hard.” (Anna Todd, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of the After series)

A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, #1)

Title: A Shadow Bright and Burning

Author: Jessica Cluess

Series: Kingdom on Fire #1

Genre: YA Fantasy

Expected Publication: September 20th 2016

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she's brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

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

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller ~ Review & Teaser Tuesday (@TrishDoller, @BloomsburySyd)

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller has now been released in Australia, and it was one helluva ride! I was drawn into this world, the mystery and the romance and I was hooked until the last page!

Title: The Devil You Know

Author: Trish Doller

Genre: YA Romance, Thriller

Published: August 1st 2016 (first published June 2nd 2015)

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Bloomsbury Aus

From critically-acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a powerful new psychological page-turner perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Sara Zarr.

Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving--the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

I'm not usually one for reading thrillers, but when The Devil You Know landed at my door I was excited to read something a little different. The book was focused on Cadie and the developing relationship's she established with cousins, Noah and Matt. There's romance, adventure and a touch of danger, and I was swept away in this world!

Cadie had been running her household since the death of her mother, so she decided it was time for her to have a break from her life, for just one night. She ended up at a camping ground with kids from her school where she met Noah and Matt, two guys on a camping adventure together. There were sparks between them, especially with one boy in particular, so she decided to take more time and travel with them for a while.

I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Cadie and one of the boys (I'm not dropping names, to keep it all a mystery for the reader). They hit it off from the start, opening up to one another and sharing stories. It wasn't long until they crossed the line and were making out and getting to know one another on a deeper level. As they travelled and got to know one another, the danger was building gradually behind the scenes. Cadie begun questioning what she knew about the boys as she pieced things together.

This is the first book I've read by Trish Doller, and she has found a fan in me! I figured out the mystery along the way, but it didn't take anything away from the story as the details were revealed. I found it to be an exciting and addictive read, and I was hooked to this story, especially in the end because I could not put it down! Despite what Cadie went through, I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up. If you enjoy a YA Romantic Thriller, pick this one up immediately!

Complimentary copy provided by Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review.

I have a couple of teasers for you today... Enjoy!

“I’ll stay.”
Noah reaches for my other hand and brings them both up around his neck. “Good,” he says, just before his lips graze mine. Goose bumps follow his hands down my arms, my sides, back to my waist. We balance there on the tree, kissing until it’s too dark to see—and beyond, now that we’ve learned each other’s mouths by heart.

Paperback Page 48

“How do I know you’re not the devil?” I whisper to Noah, my lips touching his. I can feel his smile against my mouth, even in the dark.
“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” he whispers in reply as his ﬁngers tiptoe up my back.

Paperback Page 132

Hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm

Trish Doller is the author of Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine. She's a former newspaper reporter and radio personality who now works as a bookseller at the Ft Myers B&N. She lives in Fort Myers, Florida, USA, with her two mostly grown children, two dogs, and a pirate. (For real.)

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Frozen by L.A. Casey ~ Audiobook Review & Quote-tastic (@AuthorLACasey)

I've been a fan of L.A. Casey's since I began her Slater Brothers series (which I am behind on, btw). I love her Irish touch and the humour she entwines throughout her novels. So I NEEDED something lighter and fun, and Frozen was just what I needed!

Title: Frozen

Author: L.A. Casey

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: April 19th 2016 by Brilliance Audio

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N

There’s one must-have toy this Christmas, and Neala Clarke has told her niece Charli she’ll get it for her. Never mind that she’s got less than a week and it looks like everywhere is sold out. She’s promised Charli a Fire Princess doll—and Neala is a woman of her word.

Darcy Hart is a people-pleaser. So when his adorable six-year-old nephew, Dustin, asks for a particular doll at the last minute, he says yes. Luckily for Darcy, there’s one left in stock at the local toy store. Unluckily for Darcy, he’s not the only person who wants it—and his rival is the one woman who’s immune to his charms.

Neala and Darcy have loved to hate each other since they were kids, and they’re both willing to do whatever it takes to get that doll. This can’t possibly end well for both of them…can it?

I've found a romantic comedy that has shot to the top of my all time favourite reads! I laughed hard while reading Frozen as Neala and Darcy bickered most of the way through this book. Their feud has gone back 15 years, so there's a lot of fierce hatred running between them. But we all know there's a thin line between love and hate...

Both characters were highly entertaining as they fought over a gift that Neala wanted for her niece, and Darcy wanted for his nephew. It was so funny watching them try and get the upper hand. Then to see it spill out past the store into their home lives, these two fought with a passion and were willing to bring in outside help to get what they wanted. As it carried on it was only a matter of time until these two were stuck together. Although in the beginning I felt sorry for Neala, because I thought Darcy was being a jerk to her, but after a while they started to be civil and it was good for them.

But as always, there are plenty of twists and turns and it wasn't a smooth ride for either of them. They are both hot headed and tend to speak before thinking things through properly. I liked seeing how close they were with their families and would move heaven and earth for them. Neala always has something to say and Darcy is a ladies man and can charm the pants off almost any girl.

Frozen was like listening to a movie, the characters voices were fantastic and really hooked me into the story. I loved that the story was told in Irish accents as it felt more real. Darcy's narration was done by Alan Smyth and it was like listening to Gerard Butler (and I love his voice!). Alana Kerr Collins portrayed Neala perfectly too, showing all the emotion and turmoil she was going through.

L.A. Casey did a magnificent job at delivering this story! I felt like I was right there watching everything unfold. I laughed a lot at what these characters did, and could feel the sadness and the turmoil that both characters went through. She did an amazing job at building up the world and I could see what she was telling me. I absolutely loved this book and I know I must read/listen to more of her work!

I couldn't help it... so many good lines and quotes in this book! Today I have three! Two funny, one sweet!

Neala Clarke.
The malicious little menace had managed to work her way into my sex life. She had just singlehandedly cock-blocked me . . . and she didn’t even fucking know about it.
“Bloody woman!” I snapped.

Kindle Page 83

“What did you mean when you said I should take you calling me the opposite of Laura Stoke as a compliment and not an insult?”
Darcy stared into my eyes, the corners of his own eyes crinkling slightly as a smile curved his lips. “Laura in her own right is sexy, but you . . . you, my Neala Girl, are beautiful. Anyone can be sexy, but not everyone can be beautiful.”

Kindle Page 177

I felt like my head, my entire body, had pulled a three-sixty and fucked me over.

Kindle Page 197

Hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup

L.A. Casey is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who juggles her time between her mini-me and writing. She was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoys chatting with her readers, who love her humour and Irish accent as much as her books.

Casey's first book, DOMINIC, was independently published in 2014 and became an instant success on Amazon. She is both traditionally and independently published and is represented by Mark Gottlieb from Trident Media Group.

To read more about this author, visit her website at www.lacaseyauthor.com

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Other reviews featuring L.A. Casey

Slater Brothers series

Dominic #1
Bronagh #1.5
Alec #2

Afterlife by Sandy Goldsworthy ~ Excerpt & Giveaway (@sgoldsworthy, @XpressoTours)

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Afterlife, the second book in the Afterworld Saga by Sandy Goldsworthy that was released this week. Going from the excerpt I picked, it seems like it will be kind of intense!

Title: Afterlife

Author: Sandy Goldsworthy

Series: The Afterworld Saga #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Published: August 29th 2016

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

AFTERLIFE is the highly anticipated sequel to AFTERMATH by Sandy Goldsworthy. This exciting Young Adult mystery romance is a must-read.

Everything seems perfect for Emma Bennett—she has a new set of friends she adores and a boyfriend she is crazy about. But when Emma sees a picture of her hunky boyfriend kissing another girl, she begins to question if his love for her is real. As she searches for the truth, will Emma be exposed to the dangers of another world?

Ben Parker enjoys the role of high school student and boyfriend to the love of his existence. Juggling his social life with his job in the Afterworld's Bureau of Investigation is supposed to be easy for the decorated undercover agent. But when some kid captures a photo of him in a precarious position, he's faced with lying to his girlfriend or erasing her memory. Instead, Ben makes the worst decision of his career. Now, forced to face the consequences, he loses the only thing that matters to him—Emma.

When seemingly insurmountable obstacles separate the lovers, will the two soul mates be able find their way back to each other?

Sheer Stillness

It was a moment of sheer stillness.

Between the impact of the crash and the point the victims acknowledged it happened, an ugly calmness flooded their minds. In that tiny interim of time, they couldn’t quite determine if they lived or died. When they slowly opened their eyes, humans were often afraid to look anywhere but straight ahead. Until their vision cleared, victims had trouble understanding if they were safe, injured, or if their condition was serious. It was the point of in-between when pain was not yet recognized and uncertainty flourished.

The exact same feeling occurred when one transitioned.

“Emma,” I whispered, removing the invisible web I cloaked over her prior to the accident. The intricate weave of the net held her in place during impact. She couldn’t see the neon blue glow, but I could, and so could headquarters. Severing my tether and going off grid to tell her the truth about me only worked when I wasn’t using excessive powers.

Crashing into a hundred-year-old oak tree was cause for use of excessive powers. Except, I hadn’t worried about the consequences—at the time.

“Emma,” I called again. This time, I put my hand on her neck. My fingers searched for her pulse. I pressed the tip of my forefinger on her vein and felt the slow, steady thump. Slight pressure increased her pulse to the speed of mine. In seconds, she opened her eyes. “Shhhh. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

She blinked. When she looked forward, all she saw was me. Moments passed as her mind recalibrated her location, the accident, and the escape from the tavern. When she teetered on recalling our conversation and the confusion of me telling her who I was, I knew I had to compel her.

It was the right thing to do.

I stared into her eyes and watched her pupils dilate. In that instant, she was mine. I could make her do anything I wanted—tell her a lie she’d believe as truth, make her forget I cheated, or have her remember our past life together. She was under my control.

“Ben?” Emma whispered. My concentration was broken by the softness of her voice. My chance to compel her was lost.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“What happened—?” Emma tried leaning forward, but the space around us was constricting. Emma’s door was crushed inward, her seat shifted to the middle of the vehicle. The front bench seat was now diagonal and further back than its original position. It rested inches from Emma’s knees. The 1980’s Chevrolet sedan was now a part of the tall oak tree.

“Shhh. We were in an accident. How do you feel?”

Emma looked around, her eyes widening. Panic crossed her mind, and I held her hand.

“It’s okay. Are you hurt?” I asked, although I already knew she was fine. I had protected her, after all. She calmed when I stroked my thumb over her fingers.

She shook her head.

Lights glowed from behind us. Distant voices sounded, and I knew it was a matter of time. I placed my hand on the inside of her wrist. Squeezing gently and only for an instant, I was able to increase Emma’s blood pressure long enough for the alcohol content to dissipate. A blood test would be the first test run at a hospital to verify if intoxication was a factor. It would be devastating in Emma’s mind if her aunt learned she’d been drinking. If only I could do the same to Lucas and Brinn.

A flashlight shone in the rear window, and someone yelled. “Anyone hurt?”

I cleared my throat and called back. “We’re pinned.”

“Aaaahhh.” A moan crept up, like a crescendo, from deep within Brinn’s diaphragm. She extended her hand toward Lucas, but she stopped when she realized the dashboard filled the gap between them. “Lucas?” she croaked.

He didn’t answer.

Grab book 1- Aftermath – for FREE:

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Sandy Goldsworthy was raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, blocks from the rocky shores of Lake Michigan. As a child, she fantasized about becoming an author. She jotted story lines in spiral notebooks and drew images of characters that never came to life. Her passion for putting pen to paper began when her high school English teacher inspired her to be more descriptive in her work. Ever since, Sandy dabbled in creative writing, searching for that perfect shade of red and that character you want to get to know.

A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Sandy is the YA author of the paranormal romance series, The Afterworld Saga. She spends her days managing corporate client programs, and her nights and weekends drafting new plot lines in spiral notebooks. She resides in southeastern Wisconsin with her husband, two children, and an energetic puppy. Learn more at www.sandygoldsworthy.com.

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The Debt by Karina Halle ~ Review & Swoon Thursday (@MetalBlonde, @InkSlingerPR)

Have you read a Karina Halle book yet? If not what are you waiting for? She sure knows how to entwine a difficult storyline into a sweet romance that I was hooked to! Check it out today!

Title: The Debt

Author: Karina Halle

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: August 29th 2016

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Her life changed in an instant.
And he's the only one who could have prevented it.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Pact and The Lie comes a new standalone contemporary romance about those McGregor men.

Jessica Charles shouldn't have even been in London when the unthinkable happened.
She should have been back at home in Edinburgh, perhaps hanging with her boyfriend, having drinks with her sister or doing yoga with her group of friends. She should have been going on in her normal, dependable life as always.
But on that fateful day in August, when a mentally-ill ex-soldier opened fire in public, Jessica's world changed forever.
Now single and crippled from the gunshot wounds, Jessica finds herself scared and alone, losing faith in herself and humanity with each agonizing moment that passes.
That is until a stranger enters her life. A stranger who makes her live again.
Keir McGregor has always been the strong, silent type. Throw in tall, dark, and handsome and you've got pretty much the perfect Scotsman.
Except Keir is anything but perfect. He's got a past he's running away from and a guilty conscience he can't seem to shed. But the more time he spends with Jessica, the more he falls in love with her.
And the more his secret threatens to tear them apart.
He may have been a stranger to her.
But she’s never been a stranger to him.

Karina Halle is one of those authors that has been on my reading list for a while, but I haven't read anything by her, even though I have a couple of her books on my Kindle App. I'm glad that I picked up The Debt, as it was a great introduction to her writing, and the intense emotions she can pull from me! It was quite a hard read, as the characters were both broken on the inside and wore physical scars on the outside.

The beginning of the book shattered me immediately! I watched as Jessica went through something that would change her life forever. Her world was turned upside down and she struggled daily with everything she had to do. When she met Keir at a local pub, she was able to focus on something else for a change and he brought a bit of colour to her bland life. But Keir was hiding secrets too, and it hurt my chest that he felt he couldn't share them with her.

It was sweet to see their relationship grow into something physical and that they could take a trip to get to know one another better. However, both Jessica and Keir had faced hard times and were suffering PTSD because of it. Jessica was trying to get help, but wasn't quite on the right path and Keir was trying in his own way. I wished he would open up, because I could see it festering and affected his everyday life. They both seemed to be doing better together, but it was only a matter of time before old demons would resurface.

For my first Karina Halle read, I was very impressed. I loved that the characters were older: Jessica – 30 and Keir 38. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and how Karina wove the darkness of PTSD throughout the story. It's a hard subject that is quite often ignored, and I could see the characters trying to forget about it, but it resurfaces without warning. The Debt was a beautiful read about two lost souls, trying to find their way in life after going through traumatic situations, and to find love at the end of the tunnel.

Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.

*** Swoon Thursday was first bought to us by YA Bound. Since they are no longer with us, and with permission from Trisha Wolfe, I have decided that those of us that love to swoon need a central meet up point. So here it is ladies! I have a link up for everyone at the bottom of the post you can add your swoons to, and I’ll set it up every week! So tell all other swooners out there to come on over, link up so we can visit each other! ***

This was a beautiful moment between Keir and Jessica... My heart swelled for these two!

“You deserve happiness, little red,” he murmurs, his eyes briefly going to my ear as he reaches over and tucks another windblown strand behind it. “You deserve to feel beautiful.” His fingers rest on my chin, holding me. “I want to make you feel beautiful. Will you let me?”
As if I have a choice.
Before I can mumble some sort of agreement he closes the space between us, smiling just a little before presses his lips to mine. The kiss is both soft and hard, a layer of caution hinting at the lust underneath. His mouth is warm and I can taste the whisky, the sweet burn of it as his tongue gently brushes against mine.

Kindle Arc Loc 2025
Originally inspired by YA Bound

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

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