New Year's Blog Hop Giveaway

Happy New Year's from the Waves of Fiction Blog Team!!

Today, Waves of Fiction is so excited to participate in Carrie Ann's New Year's Blog Hop Giveaway!  

What better way to start off the year than with some reading fun for 2013? As part of the festivities, we are offering one lucky Waves of Fiction follower these two books:

Unravel Me and Make Me Yours by Kendall Ryan

Simply fill out the rafflecopter and be sure to share with us what book you're ringing in the New Year with.  This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!!

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Enter to win more awesome giveaways hosted by Carrie Ann's New Years Blog Hop Giveaway by leaving a comment on our blog. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Good luck!

Review: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
Published December 13th 2012

About the book
There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

My Thoughts

In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.

That was the night Callie saved Kayden’s life in more ways than one….

Wow!!l ~rubs face and expels a deep sigh~ This is probably one of my top five favorites for 2012. I’ve read a LOT of great books this year, but leave it to Sorensen to help me finish off this reading year with an emotional punch!!

This unlikely pair might come from the same town, where Callie plays the role of an outcast striving to disappear after a horrific incident; and Kayden is the superstar quarterback that hides a secret so prevalent, yet no one seems to notice. They’ve had plenty of opportunities to cross paths, as Callie is the football coach’s daughter, but it’s not until she stumbles upon Kayden during a sad, yet all to real moment that brand these two as possible soul mates…. Yes… yes… I believe in soul mates, destiny and everything that fits perfectly in a love story. ☺ So call this my brand of entertainment.

Then, when Callie goes off to college, she finally breaks out of her shell and this new person she’s become draws the attention of Kayden, who never forgot the part she played in saving him from an emotionally gripping moment. They slowly become friends, but not without the struggle of learning to trust one another. When they soon learn about each other’s past, it only serves to fuel the fire of possibilities between these two.

There was so much emotional charge infused in this novel that I could not get my mind off of these two characters the entire time I was reading their story. I loved everything about this book … from the alternating POV’s, to the perfectly flawed characters, and the gradual build up between Callie and Kayden. There were tons of obstacles these two had to face before they could even begin to let their guard down and begin a relationship.

From the moment I opened this book to get a glimpse of the length, simply to see when I should fit it in my ever mounting TBR, I read one page and that’s all it took to have me hooked. This book captivated my attention and captured my heart with its entire cast of players and their emotional journey. Despite a painful cliffhanger, which the author eased a bit by posting a book two teaser on her website, I am soooo glad I came across this story. I can’t wait for the second installment where I hope to see Callie and Kayden find their well deserved happily ever after. Loved it to pieces!!

5 Suns

Waves of Sunday #10

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR. 

Today we are spotlighting:

 

Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

Published on October 10, 2012 by Amazon Digital Services

About the book

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades...normal life.

Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.

Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life.

That together, they could face the world.

But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

My Thoughts:

This cover immediately caught my attention, I honestly wanted to read it just from that alone.  After reading the synopsis I know this is a book that I won't want to put down and I have a feeling it will stay with me for a long time.  Usually I shy away from books that will leave my heart in shambles but at this very moment I am in need of a book like this!  Dark, emotionally draining, romance, seriously what is not to want??!  I can't wait to dive into this book and you can bet I will have a box of Kleenex close by.

   

Holiday eBook Sale Event!

The Post-Christmas Holiday Book Sale, hosted by the Indie Book Festival, will kick off on December 28 and run through December 31. All books will be .99!! The Indie Book Festival will be posting the participating books to their Facebook page as well.

The Indie Book Festival website is the premier online website for seasonal ebook sales events! From Halloween to Valentine's Day – we'll celebrate it by bringing you bestselling books by today’s hottest Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal and Young Adult indie authors.

Indie Book Festival |Facebook | Twitter

You can also enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card now!

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Lightning by Taryn Kincaid

Today Waves of Fiction has the wonderful opportunity to review Lightning by Taryn Kincaid. Special thanks to FMB Author Promotions for allowing us to join in the fun!

Lightning by Taryn Kincaid
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Published by Decadent Publishing
Book Trailer: Here
Purchase: Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / All Romance

About the book
In mystic Sleepy Hollow, succubus Lily Night put her prom date, Campbell Jones, into a coma after a night of wild, unbridled sex. She has steered clear of mortals ever since, afraid of damaging them or worse, not to mention the inconvenience of knocking out the power every time they have sex.

Successful architect Campbell Jones has lived with strange powers and a sexy secret since that prom night. He’s buried himself in work to forget the woman who’d dumped him at the ER then vanished from his life without a trace.

Neither Lily nor Campbell have forgotten that night or the love they’d shared. Will a 1Night Stand help them bury their past?

Excerpt:

“A little higher and more to the left.”
Lily Night narrowed her eyes as the building maintenance man shifted her framed diploma on the freshly-painted wall opposite her desk. She tried not to ogle the firm ass encased in a pair of tight jeans or the way the man’s shoulder muscles rippled beneath his T-shirt.
Maybe if I pop an Altoid, I’ll have an excuse to wipe away the drool.
She refrained from jumping the handsome worker dude’s bones. The last time she’d dallied with a human, the encounter had not gone well. Vivid images of that long ago prom night bombarded her. Campbell Jones had been a young, strapping, hunk-and-a-half football player and they’d started their date full of hope and expectation and lust. When he’d adjusted the fragrant gardenia corsage on her wrist, she’d inhaled his crisp, citrus scent and thought she might swoon at the sight of him in his tux. The black material stretched across broad shoulders that mirrored the promise of the bruising man he’d be in his prime. But she’d all but sucked him dry as flashes of lightning crackled over their heads. By the time dawn painted the sky, she’d turned him into a mere shadow of his former self. Literally.
And briefly knocked out cell phone service in the lower Hudson Valley, as well.
She’d sworn off humans ever since. Instead, she pulled all-nighter after all-nighter to evade the dreams in which men called to her—and to avoid the university dating scene that inevitably led to frequent and addicting sex.
Mortals. Bleh.  

My thoughts:

I love that excerpt!
Lightning by Taryn Kincaid is filled with spicy fun!  If you are looking for a quick read full of quick dialogue, hot moments, and a guy that says all the right things then look no further ladies! 

Having had an unforgettable experience in more ways than one with a human, Lily has sworn off all men.  This wouldn't necessarily be a problem if she herself was a human but Lily is far from that.  Lily is a succubus and she needs well a good romp in the hay to survive.  When her sisters have enough of her withering away they sign her up at a dating agency called 1NightStand.  Lily agrees knowing that she needs this, but when her past catches up to her all bets are off.

From the first page I was glued to this story.  It has some of the best spicy moments I have ever read and let me tell you it was hilarious!  Lily and her sisters are a hoot, a little crass but a hoot nonetheless!  I would love to see a full novel developed around them.  This story though was a lot of fun.  I loved the tension between Lily and Campbell and it was great seeing them reconnect.  Campbell was very much the hawtiee he is described to be and I loved every minute they were together.  This is another case where the book was too short.  I read it and I was like NOOO I want MORE!  So this is my first Kincaid book, but it is definitely not my last.  The author can definitely tell a steamy story and I am ready for more!

4 Suns

About the Author:

TARYN KINCAID is a multi-published author of sensual romance. Her 1Night Stand series stories, LIGHTNING and THUNDER are available from Decadent Publishing and wherever eBooks are sold. Her Regency romance, HEALING HEARTS, for Carina Press; her erotic paranormal, SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS, for The Wild Rose Press, are also available wherever eBooks are sold.
Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Amazon Author Page

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Review: Undercover Professor by December Gephart

Undercover Professor by December Gephart

Published: November 19th 2012 by Carina Press

Purchase: Amazon

Rule Number One: Must not lie.
Rule Number Two: Must not live with parents.
Rule Number Three: Must have a job.
Rule Number Four: Must not be a friend's ex.

These dating rules shouldn't be hard for Lucy Benoit to follow—after all, she made them. But she didn't plan on falling for Andy Sullivan, a scruffy-yet-attractive man who lives with his mother and is between jobs. These should be deal-breakers, but in other ways Andy is just her type. And there's something intriguing about him…

Andy isn't the geeky gamer he claims to be—not by a long shot. But what seemed like a harmless social experiment has put his chances of a relationship with Lucy at risk. Even if she can get past the silly rules she has set for herself, will she ever forgive him for breaking Rule Number One?

My Thoughts:

Undercover Professor was not really what I expected, but it was a fun and sexy read, anyhow. 

I adore romances about social opposites coming together and falling in love.  I guess to some degree this was sort of the case. It was the case in Lucy’s mind when she fell for Andy.  Lucy is a successful hardworking responsible girl who’s been burned by love.  Because of this, she compiles a list of “don’ts” for men.   This way she’ll end up with someone who won’t stomp all over her heart and someone who is looking for the same things in life as she is.  Her number one rule is: does not lie. By all appearances, Andy lives with his mother, has no job and spends him time talking about or playing online games, so yes, completely opposite to Lucy.  But this isn't true. 

Andy breaks the most important of Lucy’s rules, don’t lie, because he hiding his identity and posing as something he is not.  Andy is in town undercover to do research for a gaming article he wants to publish. He’s a pretty famous professor in the gaming world and couldn’t do the research in his own town, so the fact that his mother needs care after hip surgery works out perfect for him.  He’ll stay with his mom to help her recuperate while posing as a between jobs gamer and be able to gather information incognito. What he doesn’t count on is meeting and falling for Lucy.  She lives in the same building as his mother and they immediately are attracted to each other with easy conversation, witty banter, and off-the-charts chemistry.  Lucy doesn’t want to fall for Andy because he breaks so many rules on her list, so she thinks.  But she can’t help the way they connect, and have fun together, and did I mention the off-the-charts chemistry?!! Well, that she can’t ignore. 

I had fun reading Undercover Professor, and it is a relatively short read, but for some reason, it felt like it took me ages to get through. There is a miscommunication with Lucy’s cousin, Becca and Andy in the beginning, where Becca, who is highly delusional, thinks Andy is going for her.  Lucy doesn’t want to hurt her cousin by carrying on with Andy until he gets it straightened out.  This goes on for about 50% of the story, and it annoyed the heck out of me.  I hate miscommunications that drag on and seem completely senseless. 

The relationship between Lucy and Andy was very magnetic, and I really liked them together, but the cover-up that Andy goes on with for his article seemed ridiculous.  I can’t imagine not fessing up with this sooner, especially if he really cared for Lucy.  I didn’t see the need for secrecy that would’ve made this situation believable.  At any rate, I do think this author can write captivating chemistry and characters, and some spice that got my blood pumping!  I look forward to what she’ll come up with next. 

A copy of this was provided by Carina Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

 3 Suns

Review: Back to You by Priscilla Glenn

Back to You by Priscilla Glenn
Published October 20th 2012 by CreateSpace

About the book

When Lauren Monroe first laid eyes on Michael Delaney back in high school, she had every reason to stay away from him; within minutes of their first encounter, his volatile actions confirmed his notorious reputation. But Lauren saw something in him that caused her to question his bad-boy persona, and against her better judgment, she took a chance. She had no way of knowing that the unlikely friendship they formed would become so important to her.

Or that it would end so painfully.

Eight years later, when Lauren begins her new job at Learn and Grow Day Care, Michael is the last person she expects to see. Refusing to revisit the hurt and confusion of their past, Lauren vows to keep her distance from him. But staying away from Michael proves to be more difficult than she thought, despite her lingering grief and her instincts for self-preservation.

As Lauren and Michael recall the friendship that changed them forever and the events that tore them apart, will they finally be able to heal? Or will the ghosts of Michael’s past prove to be too much to overcome?

My Thoughts

Back to You by Priscilla Glenn is a wonderful love story that does nothing short of pull at your heartstrings from the first few pages to its rewarding conclusion. I loved Glenn’s writing that takes her readers through a journey of past and present as two people confront some emotional events from their past to ultimately find their way back to each other in the present.

This story begins with Lauren taking a job at a local day care, as she works towards her postgraduate degree. She’s excited about the possibilities that face her with her new job, her studies that are going great, and the new love interest in her life. All of that comes to a sudden halt when a three year-old enters her day care room holding her father’s hand who also happens to be the person who broke her heart in high school. Despite what people say that time heals all wounds, the eight years that lapsed between Lauren and Michael’s last encounter is not enough time to erase the emotional hurricane ready to break her hard earned resolve.

This story is about friendship, love and most of all redemption. Back to You offers its readers a wonderful adventure between two characters, Lauren and Michael, that have a ton of emotional hurt hidden under layers of hard earned contentment. They’ve both attempted to move past the pain of their past and build a life that brings them measured happiness. However, despite their present happiness, there’s an underlying feeling of loss due to Michael’s choice to walk away eight years ago.  His decision, that at first appears selfish, is nothing short of difficult for him, as you witness the pain he endured as a child and the effects it had on his choices.  It was hard not to fall for this character and accept his hope for redemption.

I do have to admit that after learning of Michael’s decision and seeing the possibility of a relationship between Lauren and Adam, I was rooting for Adam through most of the story. But when two people have the history that Lauren and Michael have, it’s hard to ignore what feels right. I was happy with Lauren’s choices throughout the book and Michael ultimately won me over. There were moments of true heart where I found myself re-reading passes for the sake of not being ready to move forward.

Despite the narrative flipping between past and present, the flow was perfectly paced.  I achieved a full understanding of how they got to where they were, and what they experienced in their past to have them make certain choices.

Overall, Back to You is the great book if you’re looking for a break from paranormal, erotic or even young adult books. It’s a perfect and rare stand-alone in this never-ending sea of on-going series that seem to be flooding the book scene. Back to You feels real and is filled with emotional twists and turns with a realistic and well-crafted conclusion. Enjoyed it much!

4 Suns

Merry Christmas!

The Waves of Fiction Team would like to wish our followers, fellow bloggers, family and friends a very Merry Christmas. We hope you all got a little something from Santa in the form of reading fun, whether it be eBook gifts cards, books, eReaders... everything and anything that will fill your days with awesome reading adventures. 

Now for one Waves of Fiction follower, we have a...

This international giveaway is easy! Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share with us what book wish Santa granted you this season for a chance to receive a book wish of your choice from The Book Depository, US Amazon, or US Barnes & Noble. You can choose one (1) book or eBook not to exceed US $10. The winner will be announced on January 15, 2013. Good luck!

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

The Waves Team

Giveaway: Nora Roberts-Queen of Romance

So, you probably don't know but I, Crystal, have an obsession with Nora Roberts.  Before my Twilight phase and year of nothing but Young Adult I was glued to Ms. Roberts pages.  I have read several of her novels and I also enjoy her In Death series.  There is just something about the way she writes that totally sucks me in!  So, after reading my blog roomies (Brandi) review of her newest trilogy (Thanks Brandi!) I thought to myself  "Hey wouldn't it be cool to spotlight Nora on Waves for the next few months??!!" and so I am!  Once a month for the next few months I am going to spotlight a few of her books.  They might be one of her series' her In Death series or just a collection of books of hers that I absolutely love. Are you ready for the fun part....in addition to the spotlight we are going to giveaway the books that are discussed!  YAY!  I mean I don't know anybody who couldn't use a little Nora in her/his life =D  For this months pick I am going to highlight my all time favorite series by Ms.Roberts, her Bride Quartet series...

Being a long time fan of this author I knew a little of what I should expect when I picked up Vision in White.  After reading the first chapter I knew I was in for a whole different kind of story.  Yes this has your typical romance that, if you have read Roberts before, I have come to expect, but the main difference is the relationship between the women.  See this series is focused on 4 women who run a wedding service out of their home and their lives are very intertwined with not only each other but with their clients.  I love weddings which I know isn't surprising since I am a girl (HA!) so you give me 4 friends, a wedding business, wonderful men, and a strong bond by all and I AM SOLD!  I just can't describe the wonderful feelings I had while reading this.  I teared up many many times and I just feel that the author nailed this series.  There is not one thing that I would have wanted changed in any of the books.

The first book in this series is my all time favorite.  Mac and Carter are beyond cute and if you are a book nerd then you have to meet Carter.  Imagine this ladies tweed jacket, glasses, knows his books, and blushes  plus he is a cutie!  Sounds perfect right?    Well this is just the starting couple, you will also meet Parker, Emma, and Laurel and well I won't spoil who they end up with but you can count on very steamy moments with some hotties!  Plus again the relationship between these four women is beyond amazing and after reading this series I am seriously considering opening up my own wedding business just so I can have these kinds of friends =D

I think I have talked your ear (eyes) off so let me just leave you with the rafflecopter form that I know you will all fill out because I know you want to win all FOUR books!  Good luck!! Oh and this is open INTERNATIONALLY to anywhere The Book Depository ships!

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Waves of Sunday #9

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR.

Today we are spotlighting:

Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters 

Published December 21st 2012 

About the book
"Who gives a damn about their reputation? Oh, that would be me! Especially since mine had gone straight to hell in the span of thirty minutes".
 Maysie Ardin is soaking up the summer before her junior year of college, shopping, hanging by the pool and shopping some more. But when her black belt in spending lands her in trouble with her parents, she is forced to take a second job at a local bar to dig herself out of a deep financial pit.
 She thought she’d be miserable. But then Maysie didn’t count on Jordan Levitt, the hot, pierced and tattooed, drum playing bartender who also happens to be very interested in her. And the feelings are totally mutual.
 It had the makings of the perfect romantic set up. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy has girlfriend? Okay, maybe not.
 But attraction is a hard thing to ignore and soon Jordan and Maysie find themselves in the middle of a gossip induced firestorm. Maysie has to learn whether she can set aside her fear of public disapproval in order to be with the one she wants. Or will she let the opinions of others dictate her life and her heart?

My Thoughts

This book caught my eye for a few reasons. One being the eye-catching book cover. I LOVE the PDA they have going on there. Second being the fact that the male character is a drum player because there's just something about bad boy musicians that scream messed-upedness which is right up my alley of hot mess attraction. :) And lastly, the awesome reviews this book is getting. I can't wait to get my hands on this New Adult Contemporary to see what all the buzz is about.