Naomi's Reading Palace

Teaser Tuesday #101 – The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan

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

The Mean Girl Apologies

Stephanie Monahan

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: June 2nd 2014

This was a read that hit close to home and I loved how much the characters grew in this journey. Here's an amusing moment from the book!

He managed to pull the car over into the breakdown lane. He got out and lifted the hood. “Well?” I asked when he got back inside.
He rubbed his hands together and blew on them. “I have no idea. I’ve seen people look under the hood before, so I thought I should do that. I got nothing.”

~ Kindle Loc 2490

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Title: Come Back
Author: J.A. Huss
Series: Dirty, Dark, and Deadly #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 21st 2014

“Secrets keep the darkness alive,” Harper tells me. But that’s not how I see it at all. Secrets keep me alive. The truth is overrated. Honesty is never the best policy. And everything you know absolutely can hurt you.

The contracts I fulfill are just agreements. Death is a business deal. Secrets are currency in my world. I pay my debts with them. I feed on them. They ground me in the present and they promise me a future. I’ve lived a life filled with secrets for so long—I forgot what it’s like to… feel.

Until I saw Harper. Until I saw how beautiful she’s become. How perfect, and pure, and innocent of all the ugly that goes on around her. And that dirty promise I refused the night her father turned me into a killer twelve years ago is suddenly on the table again.

Harper can be mine. No—Harper will be mine. All I have to do is complete the mission.

Death is a business deal.

And I just shook his hand.

Buy Now - Amazon

I am super excited about this book! I read COME a while back, but the review isn't scheduled until this weekend. It was such a thrilling and steamy read it left me wanting more!! I can't wait to read COME BACK!!

Title: The Mean Girl Apologies
Author: Stephanie Monahan

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: June 2nd 2014

You know that catchy song you keep hearing on the radio? It’s about you.

Natalie Jamison has spent five years trying to forget the girl she was in high school: popular, pretty…and, okay, mean. Now in her twenties and living once again in her small town, she’s right back where she was: following Queen Bee Amber and keeping secrets from her best friend, Sarah.

Secrets like Jack Moreland.

Everyone knows Jack Moreland—his new album, Good Enough, is everywhere. He’s famous. Impossibly handsome. Completely untouchable. But what none of Natalie’s old clique knows is that in high school, Natalie and Jack fell in love. And their secret relationship was incredible, painful—and earth-shattering enough to inspire an entire album.

Facing friends and enemies isn’t easy, but Natalie will go to great lengths to prove she is good enough—to her friends, to herself, and most of all, to the small-town boy turned worldwide heartthrob she never forgot.

Buy Now - Amazon

The Mean Girl Apologies was a sweet read and I felt that it hit close to home. It made me think of my high school days and how I was treated and how I treated people too. I think a lot of readers would relate to this book and I think that is one of the reasons why I enjoyed it.

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.

There isn’t a lot to report today. The kids went back to school and I was able to schedule some more reviews. I managed to read a couple of books that I grabbed from the library. I 1-clicked a couple of books that sound great as well… Like I don’t have enough to read! Have a great week all!!

read more "Nomi’s Weekly Wrap Up #97"

Title: Ravenous
Author: Eden Summers

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: August 1st 2013

She’s a small town caterer, he’s a big city chef, but they don’t need a kitchen to make things sizzle...

Erin McDonald likes her simple life in her small town: no drama, no fuss, no uncertainty...until Jesse Hackett breezes back into town. Erin never quite got over how he left for the bright lights of the big city, and took her heart with him.

Jesse never regretted his decision to leave small town life behind and chase his big city dreams, but he’s always regretted leaving Erin behind. No woman has ever compared, and once he convinces Erin to let him touch her again, he’s never going to let her go.

Sparks fly and fires are rekindled, but the basic divide still remains: what really matters in life — location or love?

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Ravenous is a novella that I really enjoyed!! It is set in a little town, not far from where I grew up in country NSW, Australia. I have been to the town numerous times, and have visited the places mentioned in the book. I think that because I had that personal experience, it really helped me connect with the book.

Title: Overwhelmed by You
Author: Nashoda Rose
Series: Tear Asunder #2

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Published: May 27th 2014

Love is ugly and secrets will destroy you.
KAT

I don’t beg.
I don’t cry.
And I don’t give second chances.

Ream, the lead guitarist of the rock band Tear Asunder, deserves a gold medal for best dick move ever when he ran the moment he discovered my secret after two days of hot sex. Then he brings some chick to my coming home party from the hospital—after being shot.
I hate him.

Until …

Ream’s six foot two frame unfolds out of the car after being gone on tour for eight months. I stared. And in my defense, any girl would stare. It would almost be rude not to because Ream was the type of guy who stood out. Not because he was loud and obnoxious. No, it was because he was the complete opposite. Subtle and dangerously quiet. If he spoke, you’d better hope he liked you because otherwise you’d be falling at his feet begging for mercy. Except me … I don’t beg—ever.
But when our eyes locked, it was Ream’s steady confidence that had my nerves shooting off like jet sprinklers.

Then…

Ream told me he didn’t need a second chance because he was still working on his first.

REAM

Sex is ugly. It’s using someone for your own narcissistic pleasure. I did it, but hated it—until her. She was unfuckinexpected. Then I had to wreck our beginning with my screwed up past. I don’t deserve her, but I’m selfish and I’m taking her anyway. This is who I am and it’s too late to change me.

*Warning contains violence, sexual content, and coarse language. Some scenes may be triggers. Mature audiences 18+
A contemporary romance with lots of angst.

Buy Now - Amazon

This is a dark series that I love and again Nashoda Rose took me on emotional journey that tore my heart to shreds. I thought that Kat was broken, but Ream… OMG, he is the one that is devastatingly broken. The way the story built up and the bomb was dropped… It shattered me!

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

Overwhelmed by You

Author: Nashoda Rose

Series: Tear Asunder #2

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Published: May 27th 2014

I love this dark contemporary series, and Ream is such a beautifully broken man that I loved to read about! Here's a sneak peek!

“God, Ream, kiss me damn it.”
“You just had your stitches—”
“If you don’t kiss me like you mean it right now, I’m walking away.” That was a lie and I suspected he knew that.
He groaned then flipped me around, and I staggered backwards until my spine was against the car. His mouth hit me hard, seeking, claiming, and finding me all at once. My hands slid up his chest to feel his heart hammering beneath my palms.
He pulled back for a second to look at me then tilted his head and his mouth slammed into mine again. It was two cars colliding, bent then broken now fusing together.
The ache between my legs vibrated as he pressed into me. I rubbed my thigh up against his and he grunted then slid his hands down my back to my ass and picked me up so I could curl my legs around him.

~ Kindle Arc Loc 1765

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Title: Thrive
Author: Krista and Becca Ritchie
Series: Addicted #2.5

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Published: July 18th 2014

Two years will change them forever.

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off series.

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.

Opposition

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #5

Genre: YA Paranormal

Expected Publication: August 5th 2014

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

Title: Blood White
Author: Ashley Nemer
Series: Blood Series

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Published: July 14th 2014

Do you wonder how the Algula race came to be? Or how Earth and everything we know have been manipulated over time and the world we think we know isn't even close to what reality is.

Take a step back in time with Blood Gold, the short story inside this book to discover the truth about our existence and how we really came to be called humans.

Also inside this book discover what makes the main characters tick as you take a journey into their thoughts with interviews with King Zayn, Princess Nikole, Princess Leigh and Princess Haydar. As an added bonus enjoy deleted scenes from the Blood Series Trilogy.

Buy Now - Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Smashwords / All Romance Ebooks / Bookstrand

Blood White is a great companion novel in the Blood series. It includes a novella, Blood Gold, which takes us back to the very beginning. It details how the earth, Alugra and the humans were created by the gods Habul, Na'ila, Isaf and Manad. There is an insight into Ishmael and At'Lat who were the first bonded King and Queen too, and I followed the struggles of their lives and their relationships with the gods.

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

Everlasting Sin

J.S. Cooper

Genre: NA Contemporary

Published: March 18th 2014

This book had some really sweet moments and this is one! I hope you like it!

“Close your eyes.”
“Why?” I stared into his eyes, feeling completely breathless.
“Because I’m going to teach you how to kiss and I want you to concentrate on the movement of my lips.”
“Oh, uh, okay.” I blinked rapidly, swallowing hard. I didn’t know what to say, and ‘thank you’ sounded too lame.
I closed my eyes and waited. I was unprepared for the warm feeling that filled me as I felt his lips pressed softly against mine. I lay there still and unmoving as he kissed me, and I heard him chuckle as he pulled away from me.

~ Kindle Loc 184

Title: Twisted Redemption

Author: Alexandra Webb

Series: Ever After Series #2

Genre: Fantasy (Romanitca/Xanadu)

Expected Publication: July 18th 2014

Behind the Gateway Arch lies a secret world and Belle will discover there’s more expected of her than she’d thought when she’d agreed to work for Sean. Dragged into a land she’d only read about in storybooks she quickly discovers Sean’s dark side and the beast lurking within. Though Belle swore she’d keep a professional distance from Sean, their instant attraction to each other is undeniable. Belle not only finds herself participating in hot sex with the man she holds responsible for her father’s death but suddenly everyone is telling her she’s the one who can break an ancient curse.

When the Pied Piper sets his sights on the couple and Belle’s life is threatened, Sean must defeat his beast and win Belle’s heart…not just her body.

But twists of betrayal, lies and death cause events to spiral out of control. Belle struggles to navigate her way through a paranormal land populated by shapeshifter wolves and other strange creatures, inside her own dangerously passionate fairytale.

This is the second book in the Ever After Series. This series has three books that have three different fairy tales entwined throughout. Each book is written by a different author as well. Book 1, Twisted Revenge by Mia Bishop is out already and is based off Little Red Riding Hood. Book 2, Twisted Redemption by Alexandra Webb is out Friday, which is a spin off from Beauty and the Beast. Book 3, Twisted Temptation by Phoebe Chase is an Aladdin spin off.

Don't they all sound like fun??

Title: Everlasting Sin
Author: J.S. Cooper

Genre: NA Contemporary

Published: March 18th 2014

Hudson Blake
Tattooed. Hot. My best friend's brother. Off-limits, except for that one night.

That One Night
Cannot be spoken of. Cannot be thought of. Cannot allow myself to daydream.

Daydream
That I’m going to become someone. That he can see me as someone.

Someone
To love. To forget. To believe. To taste.

To make me forget my everlasting sin once and for all.

Buy Now - Amazon

Everlasting Sin was a bit of a different read for me, but I really enjoyed it. The first part of the book is the building relationship between Riley and Hudson. It takes us back to the beginning, when they knew each other as children. Then each chapter jumps a few years each time so we can see certain moments in their lives that made their connection stronger. They were often sweet moments and my heart swelled with happiness for these two.

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.

It has been a pretty quiet last week of the school holidays. The kids went to my mother’s place for a few days, so it was unusually quiet around the house! When they returned, all fighting resumed and I realised how nice the peace was! Lol

I didn’t really jump on the computer at all though, I enjoyed some down time, and will be back at it this week, I’m sure!

Oh, I nearly forgot… Another distinction in my proofreading course *fist pump* Two down, one to go!!