Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Simple Steps To Help You Better Understand Make Money Online

Simple Steps To Help You Better Understand Make Money Online

Millions of people are financially strained or just want to have their own business. The unfortunate thing is that many don't know how to go about changing these things for the better. Online income generation is the key. This article will help you the basics of making money online.

Figure out your niche that you are in first.Are you good writer?Market yourself personally as a writer of online content. Are you skilled at graphic designer? A lot of folks might hire you to punch up their documents or document projects. Look at what you want to do.

Writers can make some money on sites like InfoBarrel or Squidoo.You can write about things that interest you and share their ad revenue. They also allow you to use Amazon's affiliate program to boost your earnings even more.

Think about what an hour of your time before working. What is the least hourly wage you will work for? People won't be willing to pay you in a cheap way.

It can take time before you find your right niche in the world of working online. One easy way to start is to get started is to find and participate in your areas of interest. Find an expert to counsel you and make sure any deal you enter is legitimate. Be open and you'll never fail.

Don't ever pay money online. A legit business won't charge you anything to work for start up money. They will most likely take your money and leave you out to dry. Stay away from companies such companies.

Try diversifying your sources of income streams online as much as you can. Earning a steady income can be difficult. What you're doing today may not work tomorrow. The best thing that you can do would be to have a few different income streams around. Doing this will ensure that you can fall back on multiple streams of income should one falter alone.

This is a great way for you to tell everyone what you know about a certain subject and earn money off of it in the process. Recipes are a great place for you to start talking about with your E-book.

Putting advertisements on your website is a great way to make money online. If your site receives a lot of traffic, some sellers may wish to pay you for having their ads placed on it. The ad drives readers to a site selling items.

Think of ebook publishing an income source. There are many options to choose from what you sell.

Publish a book to make money.If you are a writer, you can self-publish an e-book and sell it on Amazon. A lot of authors sell their work this way and they generate income.

Blogging is one of the more recognized ways to get into making money online. Many people blog for fun anyway, so use it earn some extra cash. Ads on your blog can bring in the income.

Any skill you have offline is a possible money online. Do you love reading group? Do you love crocheting as a hobby?Make some infant booties and sell online!

Selling pictures online could be a good way to make extra monely. Check out the popular sites and ShutterStock for guidance.

Start a blog that has an interesting theme. Use social media websites to direct visitors to your page. You will be able to attract advertisers when it becomes popular.When readers follow a link from your blog to an advertiser's site, you get a small percentage of the sales.

Making money on the Internet can happen in any number of shapes. Are you good at talking to others? Look for customer service or become a virtual assistant that you could do through VOIP. Do you have a knack for all things fiction-related? Sell your short story eBooks through Amazon! Are you good at removing stains or dealing with other sudden crisis situations?Write a how-to pieces and send them to DigitalOcean.

This simply thing can help you push ahead of the competition.

You can make money by making online videos if you possess the proper equipment and tools. You can then post them on Youtube.com. If any of your videos catch interest, either teaching a skill or providing a humorous outlook, people will start viewing them regularly. You can then add these advertisements to your page. These could bring in some money.

You can freelance work.Are you adept with a keyboard well? Try websites such as Odesk. Even if you are not a fantastic writer, you can still make cash by copy editing or by transcription. It can be daunting, but it is a good way to earn money online.

AdSense is a good way to make cash online through Google. This provides an avenue for advertising for others to market to their target niche while providing you with a bit of extra money.

Online tutoring is great for the right people. You do need to have the right degree to become a tutor. You are also likely going to have to submit a background check. However, if you jump through a few hoops at websites such as tutor.com, you can begin using a tutoring site to earn a living.

Make goals that you have short-term and long-term goals. Treat online endeavors like your other businesses. You must have a plan and goals to go after. This will help keep your earnings. Be sure to put them down too. Putting them on paper helps you clear your head.

Don't just concentrate on traditional blog posts to make an online income, but look into YouTube and also podcasts. Multimedia is among the more fun way to earn some dollars from the Internet. It's also very popular and has great revenue potential.

The stock market is risky, but there is money to be made from it online. Be cautious and don't put a lump sum into the stock market right away. You should also do the research needed.As you get to know more about it, you can easily exchange foreign currencies and stocks to earn some money.

Online money making is quite possible. Get started when you are done with this article. Just like many others, you can earn money through reputable online sites. Keep your mind open and you can make a lot of money.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Review: The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May


The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May
Book Three of The Falconer trilogy
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):


The long-awaited final book in the Falconer trilogy is an imaginative tour-de-force that will thrill fans of the series. Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against each other in a struggle that will decide the fate of the human and fae worlds, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her. Packed with immersive detail, action, romance, and fae lore, and publishing simultaneously in the UK, The Fallen Kingdom brings the Falconer's story to an epic and unforgettable conclusion.

What I Liked:

Oh my heart. This book took me through just about every emotion I could go through, while reading a book. Of the three books in this series, this one is the darkest, the most heartbreaking, but also the one that ends the best. Elizabeth May did this series justice with this conclusion novel, and with the perfect ending that was just the right amount of sad and swoony. 

This book begins with Aileana literally clawing her way out of the ground and finding herself in a dark forest. She has no idea who she is, where she is, or how she came about the immense power simmering beneath her skin. After killing an Unseelie faerie, an old friend senses her power and finds her - Derrik. Slowly she begins remembering who she is. When Derrick takes her back to what remains of the human lands, Aileana gets her memory back fully, with the help of Aithinne. It has been two months, and time has not been a friend. The lines have been drawn - Unseelie vs. Seelie, Kadamach vs. Aithinne. Aileana must stop Kadamach from killing Aithinne, but there are bigger problems; there is a book hidden in dark depths that may hold the key to stopping the war altogether, and preventing the necessity of either Kadamach or Aithinne killing each other and the survivor taking the dark throne. Finding this book requires one of Aileana's greatest enemies, and a sacrifice so painful she may not be able to survive the aftermath. But the end of the world is bigger than Aileana, and she won't hold back in trying to protect those she loves, and what's left of the world.

This book was nonstop action from the start, which was great for me. I'm usually terrified of conclusion novels and it takes me forever to pick one up and read it, so I'm grateful to Elizabeth May for starting this book off with a bang and keeping the action at a high pace (though not in an overwhelming way). The stakes are incredibly high in this book, and there is no time to waste.

I've always adored Aileana, in The Falconer and The Vanishing Throne, and this didn't change in this final novel. She is a tough lady and a strong fighter, and she is more ruthless in this book (though no less human). Aileana's resolve to save the world AND her friends AND Kiaran was amazing - often you'll find a heroine fixated on one of those things (usually save the world), but I love that Aileana thinks about all aspects and makes decisions based on trying to save everyone and everything. Aileana is lady goals and she is one of my favorite YA heroines of all time. 

If Aileana is one of my favorite YA heroines, then Kiaran is one of my favorite YA heroes. This book is told entirely from Aileana's first-person POV, and Kiaran doesn't show up until maybe the one-third point of the book, but he proves over and over that he is a favorite of mine. Kiaran turns completely Unseelie but he doesn't lose his love for Aileana or his extreme guilt for the darkness inside him. I love Kiaran's selflessness, but also his wickedness and his determination. He is just as stubborn as Aileana, and he has the same attitude of going after what he wants. 

And the rest of the cast! Aithinne is hilarious and probably my third favorite. I always liked Derrick and he is such a great friend and cheerleader. Catherine, Daniel, and Gavin make appearances, and they are supportive and don't blame Aileana for anything. I love the team of friends that surround Aileana, especially with the negative presences that Aileana has to endure (*cough* Sorcha *cough*).

I won't talk about the big things in details, like the book or the sacrifice or the climax of the story. Just know that once things kick off (I'd say around the one-third point, or whenever Kiaran and Aileana are finally face-to-face), you'll be biting your nails and slowly moving to the edge of your seat. The build-up is so well-written and intense. And dark. Did I mention how dark this book is? It gets intense and dark and at times, painful. 

But there are some very great aspects of the remaining two-thirds of the book, like the romance. Kiaran and Aileana have an undeniable bond and super hot chemistry, and they love each other greatly. Every scene featuring the two of them was either passionate and sexy, or tender and sweet. I adored these two, and their romance was beautiful. 

The ending is wonderful! There is a heartbreaking aspect, but overall, the ending is perfect. I couldn't have imagined a better ending. There is a happily-ever-after, and I will leave it at that.

What I Did Not Like:


I'm not giving this book five stars but I did love it. There were one or two things that made me a little sad but really, this book was fantastic. 

Would I Recommend It:


I highly recommend this book, if you've read The Falconer and The Vanishing Throne, or even just The Falconer (well, read The Vanishing Throne first - my favorite book of the series). This is a historical series (set in 1800s Scotland), with fantasy aspects (fae, magic, curses, realms). So if you like historical fantasy, definitely give this series a chance! And now you can binge-read the books.

Rating:


4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. This series is one of my all-time favorite series of YA lit! I had a feeling that I would fall in love with this series, when I first read The Falconer, and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. Elizabeth May is on my auto-read list!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!


Check out a swoon from The Fallen Kingdom:

Friday, June 2, 2017

Stacking the Shelves (#232)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!


So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, May 28th to Saturday, June 3rd?


(all links to Goodreads are provided!)


In the mail:


Shades of Magic book hugger, Ranmaru character card (from Flame in the Mist), Flame in the Mist sampler, Traitor to the Throne bracelet, #PenguinTeenOnTour poster

Thank you for the AMAZING trade, Ellen! This is so cool! 😍


From Edelweiss:


The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

I am so excited about this new series by Tessa Dare! I love her books.


Y'all! I have some exciting news! After ten years, I am FINALLY going on vacation! You heard that right - Alyssa is finally letting herself relax, for a little over a week. But I have scheduled blog posts to publish every day for the next ten days, so I'm all set. Please please please pardon the lack of comments over that time period! I will catch up and shower everyone with comments when I come back. 

In the meantime, you can enter my massive giveaway!

  

ETA: if you're having trouble entering your link into the Linky on Tynga's Reviews (I know I was), click HERE to access the Linky directly!

Exciting News + Massive Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I hope you are having a great weekend. I'm really excited to tell you all that I am going on vacation! YAAAAAAY!


Why is this such a big deal? Well, you see, I've not been on vacation in ten years. I've been a metaphorical slave to my education/academics, and while that certainly has paid off, I think I'm well overdue for a break of some sort. So. I'm going on vacation!

I won't be on Twitter or replying to comments or anything like that. I'm sorry! Where I'm going, there will be no wi-fi or internet for me to have access to social media or my blog. Please bear with me! I hope that I won't lose too many of you while I'm going for the week and a half. 

You'll also note that I've never missed a day of blogging since starting in December 2012. (You didn't know that? Now you do!) I've been working hard since graduating on May 24th to have at least one blog post ready for every day I'm going to be gone, and have all of the links scheduled to post on Facebook and Twitter. So I will only be gone in terms of my presence! My blog will be rolling along as usual. I'd like to hold on to that accolade (having posted every day on my blog since my start)! :D

In addition to going on vacation (so exciting!), I'm also moving out of my apartment. I also graduated a little over a week ago. Lots of great changes! Usually these things call for a giveaway. And I won't disappoint - I've got three prizes for you all!


The Giveaway:

Prize #1: win a YA contemporary ARC prize pack! It's a mix of old and new ARCs. Open internationally, ends on June 17th, 11:59 PM EST.


Gem & Dixie | Not After Everything | It's Not Me, It's You | Definitions of Indefinable Things
The Romantics | Break Me Like a Promise | The Lovely Reckless

Prize #2: win an adult romance prize pack! A mix of ARCs and paperbacks. Open internationally, ends on June 17th, 11:59 PM EST.


Too Hot to Handle | All Chained Up | Blood Kiss | Hard Beat
Mine | Looking Inside | Behind the Curtain | Make Me

Prize #3: win a book of your choice! MG, YA, NA, Adult, I don't care. Your limit is $17 USD though. Open internationally (as long as The Book Depository ships to your country, ends on June 17th, 11:59 PM EST. 

Suggestions:

(Pick whatever you want though!)

I may choose some runner-up winners, for other books that I want to clear off my shelves. These books will be "mystery" books not featured above. There is an option in the Rafflecopter to indicate if you'd be interested in the mystery prizes (if I decide to go through with them)!

Thank you and best of luck! =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Review: Enforcer by Katana Collins


Enforcer by Katana Collins
Book Three of the Harrison Street Crew series
Publisher: Swerve
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Worse than bad. Hotter than hot. These are the bad boys of the Harrison Street Crew, and they answer to no one. They take what they want. And what they want is you.

Ryan Gallagher is the one who does the dirty work. The brute force in the Harrison Street Crew, he lives to have the club all for his own one day. But the one thing he can’t have is Megan Mahoney—the one woman he’s loved since she was a teenager who needed saving.

Megan never forgot the all-consuming passion she felt for Ryan, her larger-than-life, wild teenage love. But coming from a hard, shocking past has left her broken and scared—and untrusting of the Harrison Street Crew. Ten years later, she’s back in Ryan’s world to claim a promise he made to her years ago. And even though she knows she shouldn’t fall for him, Ryan still has an explosive, sensual pull on her that she can’t ignore.

Ryan’s powerful love for Megan is the only thing that could ever soothe the tempestuous beast that roars in his soul. And when she comes back to him to aid her in a dangerous quest—a deadly revenge plot he swore he would be a part of years ago—Ryan can’t say no. He lives to protect this woman. He will die loving this woman. And as the stakes get higher, the love that they have kept hidden all these years explodes and goes further and deeper than either of them expected. But with a dark threat from Megan’s past thrust headlong into their lives, can their love win out?

What I Liked:

Out of the three books in this series, Enforcer is easily my least favorite. It wasn't bad, but it just didn't have the same zest that Ex-Con and Outlaw had. Sure, I loved the bicker and banter between Ryan and Megan. But when it came down to it, I wasn't sold on the romance overall, and the climax and ending had way too much drama. I really enjoyed the series as a whole though.

We meet Ryan and Megan in the previous two books, and we get hints of a past connection between the two. It turns out, Megan has been in love with Ryan since she was sixteen (ten years ago), and Ryan has been in love with her for just as long. On her twenty-first birthday, Megan decides to make a move on Ryan... and he rejects her. For Ryan, it's because Megan is Boots' daughter - and Boots was a father-figure to Ryan. But now Boots is dead and Megan is all grown up, and she is demanding that Ryan make good on this deadly promise that he made to her, ten years ago. He has protected her for all these years, and he'll keep doing so, even if he can't have her. But Megan is a fighter and she doesn't quit - and in this case, she won't give up on Ryan. 

I loved Megan - she is so tough and gutsy and she goes after what she wants. She survived a cruel and heartbreaking past, and she is stronger than ever. I like how she knows what she wants and follows through - not just with Ryan, but everything she puts her mind to. Megan argues with Ryan and HSC about everything, and doesn't let them push her around. Sometimes this could be a little annoying, but for the most part, I love how she never took no for an answer. 

Ryan is the enforcer of HSC - the guy who roughs up people for HSC, and does the dirty work for the club. He's been around the club since he was eleven, and his commitment to the club is respectable. As is his desire to protect Megan, and somehow stay away from her as well. I liked Ryan and I think he deserved the best (which, to him, is Megan). I didn't like the whole "I-can't-date-you-because-of-your-dad" thing, but I'm glad he dropped that after a while.

Ryan and Megan are good together. They argue and bicker a lot, and it's not forced or over-the-top. All of the bickering felt natural and perfectly appropriate, given both of their volatile personalities. These two are like fire and fire in terms of personalities and tempers, and chemistry too. 

I also liked that this book furthered the conflict between HSC and other gangs, and went deeper into several issues (Boots' murder, Remy's dealings, Megan's past). My heart broke for Megan, but also for Ryan too. 

Overall, this wasn't a bad book. And if it's the end of the series, not a bad ending. Just not that great either, compared to books one and two. 

What I Did Not Like:

I think most of my issues stemmed from Megan's personality, to be honest. Which, if you recall, I loved, but I also hated. Most likely I just didn't connect with her very well.

Megan seriously could have cut Ryan a break. I felt like she was constantly too hard on him and never once put herself in his position. She almost came across as selfish - yes, she goes after what she wants and is very hard-headed  and doesn't let HSC or Ryan push her around. But at the same time, she almost never thinks through what she is being stubborn about. She always steps into more trouble because she is too determined to be Miss Independent. Sometimes, it's smarter to listen to what someone else is telling you, man or not. 

At times, it almost felt overwhelming, how Megan pushed Ryan away when he tried to tell her to do this or that (and he was almost always right! Goodness!). Megan should have respected him enough to at least hear and understand him, instead of getting mad at him for telling her something, and then she goes and does whatever and people get hurt. It's kind of ridiculous.

There is a lot of miscommunication drama during the climax and the ending of the book. None of it makes sense to me - both Ryan and Megan fly off the handle on several separate occasions, and they act like they can't come back from these arguments and blow-ups. Megan was definitely being irrational and she overreacted a lot. Ryan, he was more level-headed and I could also see why he reacted badly to a few scenarios. In those scenarios, Megan was being childish and stupid. 

And the romance -- yes, there was chemistry between these two. Lots of arguing and passionate tension between them. But somehow, I just wasn't feeling this romance like I was in Ex-Con and Outlaw. I didn't really fall for Ryan and Megan as a pair, even though I wanted to see them end up together. AND there is only one real sex scene in this book! Two, but the second one is a bit hasty. For all of their chemistry, there was a distinct lack of sex. So. There's that. 

In general, this book seemed lackluster compared to the previous two. Not bad, but just not up to the same speed as the other two books. 

Would I Recommend It:

Eh, I don't not recommend it, but I think Ex-Con and Outlaw were better and I recommend those more. If you read those two and want more, this one won't be terribly disappointing. But you could also stop after Outlaw (mmm, that book was good). If you like motorcycle club romances (this is more of a car club romance novel), then you might enjoy this series in general.

Rating:

3 stars. I wish I had loved this book more! I didn't hate it though, and I'm not too disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high, given that I'd been dying to read Ryan and Megan's book since meeting them in the previous books. I wouldn't mind reading more from this series though!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

What I'm Reading at Book Expo: David Barclay Moore's The Stars Beneath Our Feet

Needless to say, you have to think carefully about what you take to Book Expo, the annual late spring convention that launches the fall selling season for publishers. Though it's hardly the targeted-to-booksellers convention it once was when run by the American Booksellers Association, I still find it a valuable tool to discover great books and writers. In fact, I've been been going since 1984, and I've only missed two -  1986, which was the year I moved to Milwaukee, and 2009, which is the year we opened Boswell, but don't worry, we sent both Amie and Jason in my stead.

I always have big plans to read ahead, but life and spring events generally get in the way. One book that I read very early that was being touted on Editor's Buzz Panel was Chloe Benjamin's The Immortalists, a January 2018 release. I'd like to credit Book Expo for another book I read early, Tom Perrotta's Mrs. Fletcher, but the truth is that I read that one for Winter Institute, which seems, well years ago (it was actually in the winter, of course). It comes out in August.

The truth is that I always think I'll get through my last book and get to pick something special to read on the way to the show, and some years that has actually happened. Jason reminded me I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo bound for BEA. I guess their promise that it was going to be kind of a big book was fulfilled.

But fortunately, the book I was reading when it was time to pack turned out to be an important book at the show anyway. I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the advance reading copy for David Barclay Moore's The Stars Beneath Our Feet, and it finally came about a week before the show. It's set in New York, and who doesn't like reading a book that's set where you're going? I think one of the reasons that Michelle Huneven's Jamesland is one of my favorite books is that I walked around the Los Angeles neighborhood it was set in while I read it. And both Jonathan Lethem's Dissident Gardens and Matthew Thomas's We Are Not Ourselves led me to Queens neighborhoods I had never explored, which was only weird because I grew up in Queens.

I'm going to appropriate my staff rec here for a little plot about The Stars Beneath Our Feet. "Wallace, better known as Lolly, lives in the Harlem projects. His parents are divorced, his brother is dead, his mom has a girlfriend, and two kids just outside the neighborhood are threatening him and his best friend Vega. The thing that keeps him sane through all of this is his Legos, lots and lots of Legos. One day, he stops creating replicas of the kits, and starts building his own stuff. When there’s no more room in the apartment, he turns to the after-school center in the projects, and that’s when he meets Rose, who though very different from Lolly and all his friends, bonds over their shared desire to build stuff. Lolly has to work through his grief over his brother, and still try to figure out how to navigate the projects so he doesn’t go down the same path." Yes, I'm quoting myself. Haven't any number of writers gotten in trouble for plagiarizing themselves?  I don't want to go down that road.

For a middle grade novel, Moore actually keeps a lot of balls juggling. Where is Mom's girlfriend Yvonne getting the Legos from? Why does the rival crew want Vega's cousin to join? Is that girl Sunny exasperated by Lolly or is it something else? What is actually going on with Rose? What did Jermaine do to get himself in touble? And how is Lolly going to come to terms with his love for his brother with the knowledge that he knows that he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?  I love how this young kid, a smart kid, but still very realistic, has to navigate some complicated adult situations, like who's at fault in his parent's separation? Both his mom and dad get a little time to make their case. And exactly how many mentors does a boy in the projects need? I think I can answer that one for you - as many as possible.

And the idea that Legos might lead a kid to develop a love of architecture? I told fellow bookseller Kay about the book and she told me that's exactly what happened with her son. He loved Legos and he's now in architecture school. Now my high school friend Francie, she loved Legos but her dream was to go to Europe and work for Lego. And she did, but that's another story (for which I don't know the ending, as we haven't talked in many years).

So I was headed to a reception, still thinking about finishing the book, and I passed the Lego store. I had Jason take a picture, but of course it turned out to be a rather un-Lego-y window display. No matter. You get the point.

I'm not the only one loving David Barclay Moore's The Stars Beneath Our Feet. It's been picked as one of the Middle-Grade Buzz Panel books of the show. And back at Boswell, we'll be hosting Mr. Moore for a day of school visits, and if you're excited about that, I'm sad to tell you that they are pretty much booked. If you're an educator, you really need to get on Todd's educator distribution list.  But if you want to meet Moore (and I think once you read the book, you will), we're working with the publicist to create some sort of public, after-school event. And of course you can reserve a copy by clicking on the titles and yes, we can get a copy signed for you this coming September.

If you're at the show, I highly recommend you attend the Buzz Panel on Friday at 11 am, in room 1E where you can hear more from the author's editor. Then Moore himself will be at a panel on Friday at 2. He'll be at the PRH booth at 3:30. I would go, but I have to head back to Milwaukee. I'm attending Chigozie Obioma's event at the Nigerian Community Conference Center at 7 pm (That's June 2, 7 pm). Yes, Milwaukee has a Nigerian Community Conference Center. How cool is that?

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Swoon Thursday (#227): The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May


- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting


This week, my swoon is from The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May!


"Tell me you're real."

"I'm real," I whisper. "I'm still here. I can ask you more questions, if you'd like."

"Later," he says.

Then Kiaran's lips are on mine. Hard. Desperate. Like he can't get enough of me; like I'm going to disappear. As if at any moment, he's going to wake up from this dream and I'll be gone.

Kiaran kisses me like he's about to lose me all over again.

He isn't gentle. There's no softness, no hesitancy, no delicate touches. And I don't want kind. I don't want gentle. My desire is just as fierce, just as demanding. I grasp the back of his shirt, digging in toughly with my fingernails. More. I want more. I need this. I need him. I pull back only briefly to yank off my shirt, the rest of my clothes, his. Then it's Kiaran's skin against mine and we're both burning, kissing, biting, clawing. It's a physical urgency, a devouring need, a benediction of yes, now, more.

- eARC, 33%




This conclusion novel was perfect! The romance was stunning, and one of my favorite YA romances of all time. May writes some really good swoons - I had my choice of lovely ones from this book! Kiaran and Aileana are a fantastic couple. =)

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday (#231): Busted by Gina Ciocca


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week, I'm featuring:


Busted by Gina Ciocca
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: January 1, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Marisa wasn’t planning to be a snoop for hire—until she accidentally caught her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl. Now her reputation for sniffing out cheaters has spread all over school, and Marisa finds herself the reluctant queen of busting two-timing boys.

But when ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, TJ, Marisa quickly discovers the girl TJ might be falling for is Marisa herself. And worse yet? The feelings are quickly becoming mutual. Now, she’s stuck spying on a “mystery girl” and the spoken-for guy who just might be the love of her life…



This sounds like it could be cute! Well, the fact that the protagonist is falling for someone else's boyfriend makes me sad (more so the fact that the boyfriend is falling for Marisa?), but I'm curious enough to want to see how things pan out!

Events: a daytime event with Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman, a Nigerian Community Conference Center event with Chigozie Obioma, Ladies Literary Night Out with Amy E. Reichert, Colleen Oakley, and Karma Brown, and last chance to get Sheryl Sandberg tickets at the Pabst.

Here's a week's worth of events. We're a bit slim this week, as a couple of us at are at Book Expo in New York. But wait till next week. And the week after!

Wednesday, May 31, 2:00 pm at Boswell:
Wade Rouse writing as Viola Shipman, author of The Hope Chest.

A great daytime event for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Mary Kay Andrews, Dorothea Benton Frank, and Karen White.

Viola Shipman is the pen name of Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist. Rouse chose his grandmother's name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose charm bracelet and family stories inspired him to write his debut novel, The Charm Bracelet, which has been translated into nine languages.

The discovery of one woman's heirloom hope chest unveils precious memories and helps three people who have each lost a part of themselves find joy once again.

Ever since she was diagnosed with ALS, fiercely independent Mattie doesn't feel like herself. She can't navigate her beloved home, she can't go for a boat ride, and she can barely even feed herself. Her devoted husband, Don, doesn't want to imagine life without his wife of nearly fifty years, but Mattie isn't likely to make it past their anniversary.

But when Rose, Mattie's new caretaker, and her young daughter, Jeri, enter the couple's life, happiness and the possibility for new memories return. Together they form a family, and Mattie is finally able to pass on her memories from the hope chest she received from her mother.

Friday, June 2, 7:00 pm, at Nigerian Community Conference Center, 8310 W Appleton Ave:
Chigozie Obioma, author of The Fishermen.

The first thing most people say is, "We have a Nigerian Cultural Center?" Yes, we do and what a great opportunity to visit it.

Chigozie Obioma is the winner of the 2016 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work (Debut Author), finalist for the 2015 Man Booker Prize, and winner of the 2015 FT/Oppenheimer Emerging Voices Award for Fiction.

Told by nine-year-old Benjamin, the youngest of four brothers, The Fishermen is the Cain and Abel-esque story of a childhood in Nigeria, in the small town of Akure. When their father has to travel to a distant city for work, the brothers take advantage of his absence to skip school and go fishing. At the forbidden nearby river, they meet a madman who persuades the oldest of the boys that he is destined to be killed by one of his siblings. What happens next is an almost mythic event whose impact-both tragic and redemptive-will transcend the lives and imaginations of the book's characters and readers. Dazzling and viscerally powerful, The Fishermen is an essential novel about Africa, seen through the prism of one family's destiny.

Obioma was born in Akure, Nigeria. His work has appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Transition, and The Millions. Obioma has lived in Nigeria, Cyprus, and Turkey, and currently resides in the United States, where he teaches Literature and Writing at the University of Nebraska.

Saturday, June 3, 7:00 pm, at Boswell:
Ladies Literary Night Out featuring Amy E. Reichert, author of The Simplicity of Cider, Colleen Oakley, author of Close Enough to Touch, and Karma Brown, author of In This Moment.


Join Boswell for an evening of literary delights, featuring three great authors, spearheaded by Milwaukee's Amy E. Reichert, author of the bestselling The Coincidence of Coconut Cake.

Here's Boswellian Sharon K. Nagel's take on The Simplicity of Cider: "The third book from Amy Reichert is set in charming Door County. Sanna and her father Einars own a large orchard that has been in the family for generations. Isaac and his ten-year-old son, Bass, are hired on as extra help. They become more important when Einars breaks his leg in an accident. Sanna is struggling to revitalize the orchard with her specially crafted cider. Things get complicated when she finds herself attracted to Isaac, who is trying find a way to explain to his son that his mother has died from a drug overdose. Quirky and romantic!"

In Colleen Oakley's Close Enough to Touch, the new novel from the author of Before I Go, Jubilee Jenkins has a rare condition: she's allergic to human touch. After a nearly fatal accident, she became reclusive, living in the confines of her home for nine years. But after her mother dies, Jubilee is forced to face the world and the people in it that she's been hiding from. New from the author of the acclaimed Before I Go comes an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart, perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jojo Moyes and Jodi Picoult.

And finally, a little about In This Moment from Karma Brown, author of Come Away with Me. Meg Pepper has a fulfilling career and a happy family. Most days she's able to keep it all together and glide through life. But then, in one unalterable moment, everything changes. Soon Meg's picture-perfect life is unravelling before her eyes. As the painful secrets she's been burying bubble dangerously close to the surface, she will have to decide: Can she forgive herself, or will she risk losing everything she holds dear to her heart?

Monday, June 5, 7 pm, at the Riverside Theatre, 116 W Wisconsin Ave:
A ticketed event with Sheryl Sandberg , co-author of Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy in conversation with Jane Hamilton

Join Sheryl Sandberg, co-author of Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, in conversation with Jane Hamilton, as they talk about building resilience and moving forward after life's inevitable setbacks.

Here's a little more about Option B, which was written with Wharton professor and bestselling author Adam Grant, and will be released April 24, 2017. After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. Her friend Adam, a psychologist at Wharton, told her there are steps people can take to recover and even rebound. Option B combines Sheryl's emotional insights and Adam's eye-opening research on finding strength in the face of adversity. Sheryl will share what she and Adam learned together about helping others in crisis, developing compassion for ourselves, raising strong children, and creating resilient families, communities and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to ordinary struggles, allowing us to build resilience for whatever lies ahead. They will discuss the capacity of the human spirit to persevere... and to rediscover joy.

Sheryl Sandberg is chief operating officer at Facebook. In addition to Option B, Sandberg is also the international best-selling author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Prior to Facebook, she was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. She previously served as chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department and began her career as an economist with the World Bank. She received B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. Sandberg serves on the boards of Facebook, The Walt Disney Company, Survey Monkey, ONE, and Women for Women International, and also chairs the board of the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation.

Jane Hamilton lives, works, and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin. Her short stories have appeared in Harper's magazine. Her first novel, The Book of Ruth, won the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Award for best first novel. It and A Map of the World were both named selections of Oprah's Book Club. Of her latest novel The Excellent Lombards, now available in paperback, Ann Patchett wrote: "This is the book Jane Hamilton was born to write, and it is a book that thrilled me to read. The Excellent Lombards is, in fact, magnificent."

Please note that there is no autographing line for this event, and we cannot take signing requests for this book. You can purchase your ticket, here.

Please visit Boswell's upcoming event page for more info on more great author appearances including our ticketed signing with Al Franken on Sunday, June 11, Scott Turow at the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center on September 25, and Adriana Trigiani on July 12 at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield. David Sedaris's reading is sold out but the signing is free and open to the public. Be prepared to wait: Mr. Sedaris gives quality signings!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert


Welcome to the release day blitz for Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert! Today is the publication day, so you can get this book now. Enjoy!


My review:

You can read my review of this book HERE! The publisher sent a galley in advance, and I couldn't resist. I absolutely loved the book! Possibly my favorite in the series (tied with The Marriage Contract). :D

 My other reviews of the O'Malleys series --

 The Marriage Contract | The Wedding Pact | An Indecent Proposal


About the Book:


Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert
Book Four of the O'Malleys series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: May 30, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

All Sloan O’Malley ever wanted was a simple life—and now she’s finally got it. She’s left everything behind in Boston—her family, her money, even her name—and set herself up in a tiny seaside town in Oregon. What she doesn’t plan for? Her mysterious and painfully attractive neighbor, Jude.

Jude MacNamara has been many things in his life—pampered son of a prestigious family, only surviving heir to a lost legacy, hit man—but now he’s out for revenge on the man responsible for the death of his father and brothers—Colm Sheridan. He’s tracking Colm’s sister when he encounters Sloan living with her in her beach house. He’s a patient hunter and he’s willing to sit back and wait for his prey...he just doesn’t expect for this woman to give rise to emotions he hasn’t felt in years.

He doesn’t want to see Sloan hurt, but in order to protect her, he will have to turn his back on the one thing he’s spent his life pursuing—revenge. Even then, there’s no guarantee either one of them will make it out alive.



Check out the previous books:


The Marriage Contract | The Wedding Pact | An Indecent Proposal


Praise for The O’Malleys Series:

"It can be hard to make a ruthless assassin into a sympathetic character, but Robert handles the task with ease. She also deftly shows Sloan’s transformation from a pampered and protected naïf to a strong woman with a backbone of pure steel. A tension-filled plot full of deceit, betrayal, and sizzling love scenes will make it impossible for readers to set the book down."—Publishers Weekly on FORBIDDEN PROMISES

“You will finish it in one sitting and die after you’re done because the next book isn't out yet. This was one sexy ride!”—Reviewer Top Pick, Night Owl Reviews on FORBIDDEN PROMISES

“Two story lines end up converging into one explosive finale at the end.  A great read from the talented Robert!” —RT Book Reviews

“Katee Robert's has created a fictional underworld of such veracity, that one almost expects the characters to turn up on the front-page news. It never feels over the top or implausible; the author writes extremely well-crafted stories… The romance between Cillian and Olivia is very beautiful, tender and real.”—Fresh Fiction on AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

“Will keep you turning pages.”—RT Book Reviews on THE WEDDING PACT

“If you like angsty reads, this book is right up your wheelhouse.”—Heroes & Heartbreakers on THE WEDDING PACT

"Dark, dirty, and dead sexy."—Tiffany Reisz, bestselling author of The Original Sinners series, on THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT


About the Author:



New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension."  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


The Excerpt:

“I won’t hurt you, Sloan. I promise.”

There was no logical reason for her to trust him, but he’d been careful with her up to this point. Perhaps he’d be careful with her with what came next. She nodded mutely, watching as he rolled on a condom that he’d retrieved from his pocket. Her body hummed in anticipation and trepidation, but she didn’t let it show as he moved back to join her on the bed.

Jude palmed her between her legs, his big fingers exploring her. It didn’t seem possible that he could spark pleasure with a few specific touches, but it didn’t take much to have her relaxing, letting him once again take the lead. He kissed her neck. “Feels good, huh?”

“Well, I—oh.” Her eyes went wide when he pushed a second finger into her. It stretched her, the feeling not entirely pleasant at first, but he merely waited, pulsing the slightest bit, until pleasure took hold once more. She clutched his shoulders. “Kiss me again. Please.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” He took her mouth like he owned it—like he owned every part of her. Jude slid between her legs, his body rubbing deliciously against hers. His hard length slid through her wetness, creating a friction that sparked a tide of desire deep inside her. Again? I couldn’t possibly…

He nipped her bottom lip and then soothed the slight ache with his tongue. “Ready?”

There was no mistaking his meaning. She nodded. Despite the earlier orgasm and how good it felt to have him moving against her, she was so incredibly empty. Instinct had her hooking a leg around his hips and arching up to meet him, needing more, so much more.

Jude reached between them, and then he was at her entrance. He kissed her, tongue twining with hers as he pushed into her, just a single inch. It was too much and not enough and she couldn’t help but thrash, pinned in place by his big body, overwhelmed by her helplessness and what he was doing to her. “Jude, I—”

“Shh. I’ve got you.” He rolled, taking her with him. One second she was on her back, finding it hard to breathe, and the next she was straddling him where he sat with his back against the headboard.

Sloan looked down, daunted by the sheer size of him. “I don’t know if this is going to work. You’re too big.”

He laughed, deep and full-throated, the sound rolling through her like the tide. “You can take every inch of me, sunshine. I promise you that.”

Copyright © 2017 Katee Robert


The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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