New Release | Blog Tour: Moonlight Seduction by Jennifer L. Armentrout

MS_SBPR_BT
Y'all know that Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my main go-to authors. She just never disappoints. Whether it's YA paranormal, YA contemporary, new adult, or contemporary romance, she weaves stories that I fall right into and creates characters that I always connect with. So I'm pretty excited to be part of the blog tour for Moonlight Seduction, the second book in the de Vincent series. If you haven't read the first book, Moonlight Sins, what are you waiting for? And if you have, you know you're ready for Gabe's story. So grab your copy using the links below, check out my thoughts, and experience the de Vincent's for yourself.

Moonlight Seduction: A de Vincent Novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is available NOW!

The de Vincent brothers are back—and so is the intrigue that surrounds them—in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s sizzling new novel . . .

Nicolette Bresson never thought she’d return to the de Vincents’ bayou compound. It’s where her parents work, where Nikki grew up . . . and where she got her heart broken by Gabriel de Vincent himself. Yet here she is, filling in for her sick mother. Avoiding Gabe should be easy, especially when so much of Nikki’s time is spent trying not to be stabbed in the back by the malicious hangers-on who frequent the mansion. But escaping memories of Gabe, much less his smoking-hot presence, is harder than expected—especially since he seems determined to be in Nikki’s space as much as possible.

Gabriel spent years beating himself up over his last encounter with Nikki. He’d wanted her then, but for reasons that were bad for both of them. Things have now changed. Gabe sees more than a girl he’s known forever; he sees a smart, talented, and heartbreakingly beautiful woman . . . one who’s being stalked from the shadows. Now, Gabe will do anything to keep Nikki safe—and to stop the de Vincent curse from striking again.
Nikki grew up in the shadow of the de Vincent family home where her parents worked. As a child she tagged along after Gabe de Vincent, and as a teenager the crush she harbored deepened until it ended one night in heartbreak. Now back from college and filling in for her mother, Nikki does her best to avoid Gabe but quickly realizes that all her feelings for him are still there.

Gabe is still reeling from a shocking revelation from his past when, out of nowhere, Nikki, ten years his junior, is everywhere he turns. No longer the shy young girl he remembered, he finds himself unable to stay away. But a series of increasingly threatening events show that the de Vincents’s are once again a target. Or is Nikki the real target?

As with Moonlight Sins, Armentrout continues the gothic atmosphere in Moonlight Seduction with a constant edge-of-your-seat feeling, wondering what will happen next. I questioned if the danger was coming from within the de Vincent family or without and suspected nearly everyone. At the same time I was drawn into Gabe and Nikki’s push and pull relationship. Considering what was revealed about Gabe and his past in the first book, I was surprised at how little attention that issue received. Instead, this second entry felt much more relationship-focused. The relationships between the three brothers continue to be fun to explore. I’m already looking forward to the final book in the trilogy and, hopefully, uncovering even more secrets about the powerful but secretive family. 

Armentrout has delivered a solid romantic suspense that pulls the reader right into the lives of the mysterious de Vincent’s.


MS_AVAILABLE NOW
Download your copy today!
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2FBrHIW

E X C E R P T:
He moved forward, maybe a foot or two, but stopped like one would if they were approaching a rabid dog. A heartbeat passed. “Your hair . . .” He tilted his head to the side. “It’s different.” 

“Yeah, it is.” Her hair used to be a rather dull medium brown, but then she found this amazing hair stylist in Tuscaloosa and turned her brown hair into this array of blondes and browns, using some weird technique called balayage. “It’s basically just highlights and stuff.” 

“Stuff.” His gaze flickered over the bun. 

Uncomfortable, she scanned the kitchen. “And my hair is longer. A lot longer.” His brows lifted.

Was she really telling him the length of her hair? This was the most strained conversation she’d ever had in her life. And that was, well, it was sad. She peeked at him. It used to not be this way. Back before . . . well, before she ruined everything, he’d be teasing her and asking about her college. He’d be talking to her like he could actually stand being in the same room with her. 

She needed this conversation to be over like it was yesterday and she also needed to figure out how she could work here and not run into Gabe. The house was big enough that it should be possible. “I need to get back to—” 

“Planting your face against the over door?” 

Her shoulders slumped. “Actually, I need to finish the potatoes. So, if you’ll excuse me.” She started to turn away, praying that he’d just leave. 

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me? Because I have a lot I need to say to you,” he said. “Never in a million years did I think I’d see you here again.” 

Nikki’s spine stiffened like steel had been poured into it. Oh God. Her throat spasmed. 

“We need to talk.” 

“No we don’t,” she said quickly. “We do not need to talk about anything.” 

“Bullshit,” he snapped, and his voice was so much closer that she turned to him on instinct. 

Gabe was now at the edge of the massive island, only two or three feet from her. She stepped back into the counter. Her heart thundered in her chest as her gaze flicked to the kitchen door. 

“No one is coming near here,” he said as if reading her mind. Her gaze flew back to his. “Dev is in his office on the second floor, in a meeting and your father is out with the landscaper. No one is going to hear us.” 

A weird mixture of sensations assaulted her. One was a chill that skated down her spine. The other was a tight, hot shiver that danced over her skin. 

Gabe kept coming at her, not stopping until he was right in front of her, separated by a few inches. She sucked in air, catching the crisp, clean scent of his cologne. It reminded her of storms, of that night

That was the last thing she wanted to be reminded of. 

Like his brother, he was a good head and then some taller than her, so right now, her eyes were fastened to his chest. Thank God he was wearing a shirt. 

“I . . . I don’t want to talk,” she managed to say. 

“I do.” 

“Gabe—” 

“You owe me this.”

 Her body jerked as she pressed her lips together. He was right. She owed him a conversation. “Okay.” 

There was another beat of silence and then he asked in a voice so low she almost didn’t believe she heard him right. 

“Did I hurt you that night?”



Start the Series Today!
Moonlight Sins (de Vincent series, book 1)
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2EHHQLQ


About Jennifer L. Armentrout
# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins. 

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more. She is also the creator and sole financier of the annual Write Your Way To RT Book Convention, a contest that gives aspiring authors a chance to win a fully paid trip to RT Book Reviews.

Connect with Jennifer L. Armentrout:
Stay up to date with Jennifer by joining her mailing list today: https://bit.ly/2qBce5m

WWW Wednesday #12 | June 27, 2018


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
    
 I started this ARC of The Impossibility of Us a few days ago and read the first chapter, but there's been a lot going on and I haven't picked it up since. Hopefully things will settle down in a few days and I'll be able to get back to my regular routine. I really loved Upperman's Kissing Max Holden so I have high hopes for this one. 

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?
 I finished The Boy & His Ribbon last Thursday and I think I'm still slightly sluggish. It was rather dark, and super angsty, without a lot of good times. I really couldn't have picked a worse time to read it and, while I have to know what happens, I've put off reading the follow-up.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
    
I have no idea what's up next. My reading has slowed to almost nil over the past week or so. For the first time ever, I don't think contemporaries are doing it for me. So I might just pick up the ARC of Krista & Becca Ritchie's The Raging Ones next. Maybe a little sci-fi escapism is just what I need. :) 

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Series & Authors I've Given Up On

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Series and Authors I've Given Up On
Whether it's a series that didn't wow me or an author that I decided to break up with... you have to know when to say when.

T H E   S E R I E S
The Remnant Chronicles | Mary E. Pearson
I know a lot of people loved this trilogy but I read the first book and just didn't care enough to continue.
Sulfur Heights | M.S. Brannon
I made it through the first two books (Scarred Love and Tragic Love) when I just couldn't take the cheesy dialogue and over the top drama any more.
Wintersong | S. Jae Jones
I had high hopes for this one, but after making it through the slow-paced first book I couldn't work up enough interest to pick up Shadowsong.
Immortal Guardians | Dianne Duvall
I read the first book in this vampire series and I admit it was entertaining. But at the end of the day there just wasn't enough there to make me really want to continue the series.
Scorpius Syndrome | Rebecca Zanetti
I tried to read this one at what turned out to be the start of a months-long reading slump. So I'll never know if it was me or the book, but Mercury Striking turning out to be one of my very few DNF's. I gave up after roughly 50 pages and have no desire to try again or continue the series.

T H E   A U T H O R S
Jennifer E. Smith
After three of Smith's young adult contemporary novels, I gave up. All three stories felt so generic and forgettable to me.
Jane Green
This is a sad one because Green used to be one of my favorite go-to authors. Throughout the early 2000's I inhaled everything she read. But by 2010 things seemed to take a turn and her storytelling felt more generic, more bland and just uninspired. By the time I read 2014's Saving Grace I was done. It seems that I'm not alone because the GoodReads ratings for Green's last several novels are hovering around the 3.4 mark.
Jandy Nelson
It only took one book for me to realize that Jandy Nelson's writing is Not. For. Me. The number of 5 star ratings for I'll Give You the Sun is staggering, but the purple prose and artsy metaphors left me cold (or rolling my eyes). I won't be reading more from Nelson.
Debra Anastasia
I actually made it through the entire Poughkeepsie Brotherhood trilogy but by the second book it was mostly just so I could take copious notes for scathing reviews. Maybe Anastasia's writing is supposed to fall into the so-bad-it's-good category? But every character, every plot line and every line of dialogue was so absurd and so over the top that I just kept thinking "Is this woman for real?" 
Ann Brashares
The Traveling Pants series was a fairly entertaining YA contemporary series. Each of the four girls annoyed me to no end at times but it was okay. Then I read the miserable adult follow-up, Sisterhood Everlasting, in which Brashares turned every character into unlikable train wrecks. Then I tried her adult novel, The Last Summer, and almost DNF'd it multiple times. And finally came the hot mess that was YA dystopian The Here and Now. Ann Brashares, we're over.


What series or author have you abandoned?

Review: The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 2, 2018

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads

It's been twelve years since tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a few students survived that fateful night—a group the media dubbed The Ones Who Got Away.

Liv Arias thought she'd never return to Long Acre—until a documentary brings her and the other survivors back home. Suddenly her old flame, Finn Dorsey, is closer than ever, and their attraction is still white-hot. When a searing kiss reignites their passion, Liv realizes this rough-around-the-edges cop might be exactly what she needs.

Twelve years ago Liv was one of the few to walk away from a horrific school shooting. Outwardly she has moved on but in reality she is still crippled by the events that changed so many lives. Having reluctantly agreed to take part in a documentary, she returns to the town of Long Acre – and comes face to face with Finn, the only one she’s ever loved. Finn turned the high school tragedy into a life spent in pursuit of justice. But he’s just as scarred as Liv, crippled with guilt and desperate for redemption.

“We’re supposed to move on, but not too much. Be happy but not too happy. 
I’m tired, Finn. I’m so sick of it being like this. It’s like it’s all just sitting there, 
waiting to remind me how we can never really escape it. 
How the ones who got away never really get away.”

Both Liv and Finn are more than a little skittish about relationships when they first come together and the time they took to reconnect lent a feel of authenticity that I appreciated. The chemistry from when they were teenagers was still there, burning bright, but they’d both spent years locking down emotions and focusing on careers so there was plenty to work through. I wanted so much for these characters, both individually and together, and both circumstances and past trauma had me unsure if they’d be able to truly find happiness.

Loren did an amazing job of creating characters dealing with long-lasting issues in the aftermath of such a tragedy. From Liv’s PTSD and lack of close personal relationships to Finn’s alienation and overwhelming need for atonement, their struggles felt real and were utterly heartbreaking. They experienced horror that most never would and in each other had someone who could understand and offer meaningful support.

“I know you don’t need a protector. But if you’re with me, you’re getting one. 
I’m never going to be that guy who left you vulnerable again. 
I can’t offer much these days, but I can promise you that. 
I’ve got your back, Livvy. I can keep you safe.”

A real highlight was the strong female friendships Liv had with three of the other survivors. She, along with Rebecca, Taryn and Kincaid, had a real bond and once reconnected became a true support system for one another.


The Ones Who Got Away was one of those stories that totally took me by surprise because it was so much more than I bargained for.  The characters were more well-developed than I anticipated, the plot delved deeper, the emotions were stronger. If you’re looking for a contemporary romance that is filled with healing, meaning and emotion, this is it. 

4.25/5 STARS


Cover Reveal! Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

   
Welcome to the cover reveal for Katie McGarry's upcoming release, Only a Breath Apart! I adore Katie McGarry and she is one of my favorite authors. Not one of my favorite YA authors, but a favorite author - period. She has an amazing gift for creating characters that capture my heart and story lines that are heartbreakingly real. Every new release from Katie gives me cause for celebration and Only a Breath Apart is no exception. I'm already itching to meet Jesse and Scarlett and can't wait for January 22! In the meantime, check out this beautiful cover, read the synopsis, and see what Wendy Higgins, Tammara Webber and Kristen Simmons have to say about Katie's latest. And don't forget to pre-order your copy!

Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone?
 Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? 
Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?

“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART will be available on all retailers on January 22, 2019!
   

About ONLY A BREATH APART:

Jesse dreams of working the land that’s been in his family forever. But he’s cursed to lose everything he loves most.

Scarlett is desperate to escape her “charmed” life. But leaving a small town is easier said than done.

Despite their history of heartbreak, when Jesse sees a way they can work together to each get what they want, Scarlett can’t say no. Each midnight meeting between Jesse and Scarlett will push them to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other.


Amazon | Kobo | Google Play | B-A-M | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

   

Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.” ―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series


   

Add it to your Goodreads today!

ABOUT KATIE MCGARRY: Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram



   

WWW Wednesday #11 | June 20, 2018


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
    
 I haven't made a lot of time to read this past week but I am about halfway through The Boy & His Ribbon. It's a bit sad and a bit dark and it's probably the absolute wrong thing to be reading right now but, even so, I'm pretty hooked on the story. 

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?
 Till Death was further proof that Jennifer L. Armentrout never lets me down. I was on-board for the mystery, I was on-board for the romance... this one was an entertaining page-turner that really hit the spot.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
    
If my fragile heart is up to it, I might continue with The Ribbon Duet and read The Girl & Her Ren. More likely I'm going to need some rather mindless brain candy and I might go for super light and fluffy like Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze series. I've only read the first book so next up is Because of Low.

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.


This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
SUMMER TBR
I rarely make TBR lists (and it's even rarer that I adhere to one) but there actually are some specific books that I want to pick up in the next few months. A couple because their release dates are getting close and it's time to move them to the top of the list, and some just because I'm super excited to read them.


The Girl & Her Ren | Pepper Winters
Blind Kiss | Renee Carlino
The Simple Wild | K.A. Tucker
The Impossibility of Us | Katy Upperman
Deity | Jennifer L. Armentrout


The Raging Ones | Krista & Becca Ritchie
Steadfast | Sarina Bowen
Leah on the Offbeat | Becky Albertalli
What If It's Us | Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
All Your Perfects | Colleen Hoover


What's at the top of your summer TBR?

The Sunday Post #111


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:

Not much to say about this week other than it's been rough. There have been some nice moments, though. An impromptu family dinner after a hospital visit to see my father Thursday night. And my mom and my younger sister were at my house for dinner last night. Both were good times that helped lighten the mood and I'm thankful for them.
  

Monday, June 11
Review + Giveaway:
Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley

Wednesday, June 13
WWW Wednesday #10

Friday, June 15
Review: Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout

WHAT I FINISHED IN THE LAST WEEK:
       
The Fragile Ordinary - Samantha Young
Till Death - Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Fragile Ordinary fell into the good-not-great category 
but Till Death was a real winner.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
This one is dark and more than a little sad, and I have more than enough sad in my life right now, but the story is so good that I'm sticking with it (for now).

    
KINDLE BOOKS:
      
   
Ace of Hearts (The Cursed Ravens MC #1) - Chantal Fernando
Spinning Out (The Blackhawk Boys #1) - Lexi Ryan
Must Be Love (Jetty Beach #1) - Claire Kingsley

eARCS FOR REVIEW:
      
The Simple Wild - K.A. Tucker
Blind Kiss - Renee Carlino
The Impossibility of Us - Katy Upperman




How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!


Review: Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 30, 2018

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads

Julia Hughes has always played it safe until she learned a very painful lesson. Now Julia’s starting over with a job in the Louisiana bayou—and a scorching encounter with a stranger, only to discover he’s Lucian de Vincent... her new employer. The de Vincent brothers share a massive fortune and a dark reputation. Julia cares for their troubled sister, but a menacing presence in the mansion—and the ever-present temptation of Lucian—prove dangerously distracting.

Lucian’s grandmother claimed de Vincent men fall in love once—and hard. Apparently, it’s Lucian’s turn. Julia’s compassionate care of his twin makes Lucian want to lay himself bare. But some secrets are better for Julia not to know.

The recent “suicide” of Lucian’s father is the latest in a string of deaths on the estate. Someone is eliminating the de Vincents. And the best way to get to Lucian may be through Julia.

Moonlight Sins is the first book in Armentrout’s de Vincent trilogy, with each book focusing on a different brother. The de Vincent family is the epitome of old money and power – but money and power don’t always equate to happiness. And the de Vincent’s have had their share of tragedy.

Lucian, nicknamed Lucifer by the paparazzi, is the youngest of the de Vincent brothers. Known for his playboy persona, Lucian is charming but aloof. That changes when Lucian takes it upon himself to hire a live-in nurse to care for a family member – and the sparks fly. Julia needs a change in her life and taking a job in New Orleans seems like the fresh start she needs. She’s quickly drawn into the web of the mysterious de Vincent family. While she’s drawn to Lucian, the scandals and secrets surrounding the family cannot be ignored. And while whispers of a de Vincent family curse seemed far-fetched at first, the more time Julia spends surrounded by the enigmatic family, the more she starts to fear for her own safety.

It was easy to get sucked into the lives of the de Vincent family. From the complicated family dynamics, to the strange goings-on at the family’s mansion, there was plenty to keep me turning the pages. I warmed to Julia from the start. Caring and compassionate, hard-working and rational, Julia was determined to do her best for her patient while dealing with a past that keeps coming back to haunt her, and her growing attraction to Lucian. And speaking of Lucian (Mr. Dark and Brooding himself), I was so on-board for this guy. The flippant attitude and acerbic wit hid plenty of emotional baggage, so it was all the more rewarding to see him soften when around Julia and finally open up with someone. Armentrout did a great job at creating a consistent low-key foreboding atmosphere and I ate it up. An exciting climax, a big reveal and a great set-up for the next book has me so ready to continue this series.

Moonlight Sins is a tricky one to categorize. Contemporary romance? Definitely. But there’s also a gothic feel. And a bit of mystery/suspense. And perhaps just a hint of the paranormal? The jury is still out on that last aspect but I’ll be the first in line for the next books to find out.

4/5 STARS

Do you enjoy a little mystery with your romance?