Saturday 30 December 2017

Best Books of 2017!!!!! It's Finaly Here #bestof2017 #books #romancebooks #favoritesof2017

Best of of 2017!!!!


2017 has been a weird year for me.   I'm striving to find balance in my real life (job), blogger life, reading, family life and social life.  And I found this year incredibly tough to keep it all in balance, which has put me in a bit of read funk for 2017.  I still read about 300 books but I'm so behind on my reviews (Netgalley, amazon and Goodreads) that its sadden my reading spirit.   Over the last few years, I've noticed that the more I read, the more I get critical and the more stories get predictable.   

When I first started my top 10 lists of the year I had genre after genre and it took me forever to narrow down the list to 10 within each genre.  Now, its a struggle to find ones that wow me.   Which means if a book has made it on this list then it blew my socks away.   Each book on this list was read in 2017, but it doesn't mean it was released in 2017.   They are in no particular order they are just books that cut right to the feels and I absolutely adored them in one way or another.  



Autoboyography by Christina Lauren



AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN) | GOODREADS |  REVIEW TO COME

Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker




The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata



AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN) | GOODREADS | REVIEW TO COME

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon
 


AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN) | GOODREADS | REVIEW TO COME

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole



AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN) | GOODREADS | REVIEW TO COME

Strays (Urban Soul #2) by Garrett Leigh




The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre




Salvaged (Saints of Denver #4) by Jay Crownover




The Farthest Edge (Honey #2) by Kristen Ashley




The Deep End (Honey #1) by Kristen Ashley



https://livereadbreathe.blogspot.com/2016/12/best-books-of-2016-its-finaly-here.html


http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca/2015/12/best-books-of-2015-its-finally-here.html


http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca/2013/12/top-10s-of-2013.html


http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca/2012/12/top-10s-of-2012.html



Can't wait for 2018.  Hopefully its full of balance, time and lots of reading.





Tuesday 26 December 2017

Jay Crownover’s SHELTER - Release Day Launch #giveaway #excerpt #teasers #releaseday @JayCrownover @InkSlingerPR #getaway

   

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover returns with the second standalone title in her Getaway series, SHELTER. Check out the excerpt below and pick up your copy today! 

 

And that’s not all! RETREAT, the first standalone title in the Getaway series, is on sale! You can grab your copy for just $.99 for a limited time only.

 

   

 

About SHELTER:

 

His life is chaos and confusion. It’s a storm of uncertainty and raging emotion.

 

Sutton Warner is a mess. Everything in his life feels like it’s unraveling.

 

He’s let a lot of people down lately, including his daughter. Sutton always promised his little girl he would never disappoint her and that he would always be there when she needed him. Until he wasn’t.

 

The truth is, he’s used to disappointing the women in his life. First was his mother who couldn’t find a reason to stick around when he was growing up. Then there’s his ex. The woman who takes unbridled delight in making his life incredibly complicated. Luckily, his daughter is still young enough to believe her old man is some kind of hero. But, he knows the day is coming when she realizes the truth, that he’s just a man with some serious flaws and a list of ever-growing weaknesses.

 

Finally, there’s the woman he’s desperately trying to forget with every shot tossed back and each pill popped.

 

He more than disappointed Emrys…he almost got her killed.

 

Her love is steady and sure. It’s a shelter shaped by conviction and silent assurance.

 

Emrys Santos is lost. Everything in her life feels pointless and futile.

 

She’s been busy running away from her feelings and all the people who love her the most—including her best friend, the one person who knows exactly what she’s been through. They promised to always stick together and to lean on one another. It was a promise Em had to break so she could lick her wounds and figure out her next move. For once, there is no easy way out of the tangled web of emotions she’s caught up in, and right now, she recognizes that all roads lead back to Wyoming…and back to Sutton.

 

The man she nearly got killed.

 

Shelter is a standalone novel, the second book in the Getaway series, which features the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women who dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.

   

 

SHELTER is now available! Grab your copy today!

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Audible

 

 

Add to your Goodreads

 

        

 EXCERPT:
I’d been fooled once by the promise of quiet nights and serene days in the sunshine. I believed the brochure when it said I could leave my worries at home and escape to a simpler, quieter kind of life. I let myself be lured in by the picturesque landscape and stunning mountains. I foolishly fell prey to the temptation of leaving my current set of troubles behind in San Francisco while I hid away in the middle-of-nowhere Wyoming.

I now knew firsthand the glossy brochure that brought me to Wyoming the first time was nothing more than a bunch of pretty, packaged lies. I knew the bar brawl erupting in front of me was hardly the worst thing that could happen here. In fact, the level of bloodshed and violence was child’s play compared to what I’d witnessed the last time I’d stepped foot in this small, quaint town. Well, I hadn’t really been in Sheridan last time I was here. I’d spent most of my time in the backwoods that surrounded the Warner brothers’ ranch, which was still a good forty-five minutes outside of this tiny town. The ranch was where I was currently trying to get to so I could see my best friend.

When I left Wyoming, I told myself I would never come back.

Ever.

I told myself there was nothing here for me but bad memories and heartache. I was a pro at lying to myself, at telling myself exactly what I needed to hear to justify my actions. I could convince myself of anything, like it was okay that my last boyfriend stole my grandmother’s silver when I kicked him out because he needed it more than I did. I had no problem believing that pulling Leo out of the city was the only way to heal her broken heart even though she didn’t want to go. It was easier to distract her than it was to watch her wallow. I persuaded myself into believing what I needed to heal was space and solitude. I held onto that until time passed and I was still a mess. I was sick of my own company and of hiding from everything I was feeling. I was the one who always went out of my way to fix everyone else around me, it wasn’t exactly a shock to learn I didn’t have the skills to repair myself. I spent my days helping others focus on their goals, on doing better and achieving more, so I didn’t have to think about the lack of any ambition of my own. I turned thirty at the end of the year and I was still trying to figure out what and who I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d been aimless for a long time; the only direction in my life come from the fact I knew all the way down to my bones that I had to go back to Wyoming and face off with Sutton Warner.


         

 

And don’t miss the first standalone novel in the Getaway series, RETREAT, on sale for just $.99! Grab your copy today! RETREAT on Amazon RETREAT on Other Retailers

 


         

 

And preorder you copy of the third standalone novel in the Getaway series, ESCAPE, releasing January 30, 2018! ESCAPE on Amazon ESCAPE on Other Retailers Goodreads

 


   

 
           


About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.     
    

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

       

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Kristen Ashley's THE HOOKUP - Release Day Launch!! #excerpt #teasers

   

 

✮✮✮From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley, comes the first standalone title in the exciting, new Moonlight and Motor Oil series, THE HOOKUP! A rich, emotional love story, THE HOOKUP is available now!✮✮✮

 

Jump into THE HOOKUP and grab your copy today!

 

   

 

About THE HOOKUP (Moonlight and Motor Oil Series #1):

 

When the new girl in town, Eliza “Izzy” Forrester decides to hit the local drinking hole, she’s not ready to meet the town’s good, solid guy. She’s definitely not prepared to engage in her very first hookup with him.

 

Then Izzy wakes up the next morning in Johnny Gamble’s bed and good girl Izzy finds she likes being bad for Johnny.

 

Even so, Izzy feels Johnny holding her at arm’s length. But Johnny makes it clear he wants more and Izzy already knows she wants as much of hot-in-bed, sweet-out-of-it Johnny Gamble.

 

Floating on air thinking this is going somewhere, Izzy quickly learns why Johnny holds distant.

 

He’s in love with someone else. Someone who left him and did it leaving him broken. Whoever was up next would be runner up, second best. Knowing the stakes, Izzy will take what she can get from the gentleman that’s Johnny Gamble. And even knowing his heart might never mend, Johnny can’t seem to stay away from Izzy.

 

Until out of nowhere, his lost love comes back to town. He’s not going back, but Johnny still knows the right thing to do is let Izzy go.

 

And Izzy knew the stakes, so she makes it easy and slips though his fingers.

 

But that’s before Johnny realizes Eliza moved to town to escape danger that’s been swirling around her.

 

And that’s why Johnny decides to wade in.

 

That and the fact Eliza Forrester makes breakfast with a canary singing on her shoulder and fills out tight dresses in a way Johnny Gamble cannot get out of his head.

 

     

Pick up your copy of THE HOOKUP today!

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

 

Add to your Goodreads

 

       
EXCERPT:
“Izzy?” she answered.
“Hey, I’m home,” I told her.
“Okay, well…how are you?”
How was I?
Johnny’s behavior explained by the sad fact it was the anniversary of his father’s death, but still explained, and he was coming over for dinner the next night, not to mention, after not being affectionate (at all, unless you counted sitting me on the countertop, which I kind of did) after the last time we’d had sex, he made out with me at the door of my car for a good, long, happy while—I was great.
“I’m great,” I told her, opening Serengeti’s stall and moving in, lifting a hand to pat her jaw while she moved her nose to snuffle my neck and blow at my hair.
“Damn,” Deanna muttered.
My hand arrested on Serengeti and I focused on Deanna.
“What?” I asked.
“Damn,” she repeated.
“Damn what?” I asked.
“Well, just to say Johnny Gamble is Johnny Gamble.”
A specific area in my chest squeezed at the way she imparted that obvious but still confusing information.
“What’s that mean?” I asked.
“He’s Johnny Gamble of Gamble Garages. Did he tell you that?”
No he didn’t tell me that.
And suddenly I was embarrassed about something that I hadn’t liked all along.
But it was worse since Deanna knew more about a man I’d slept with than I did.
Serengeti was getting fidgety, so I used my hand on her to lead her out of her stall, and once in the corridor, she trotted out the open bay at the back, directly into her pasture.
I moved to Amaretto as I shared with Deanna, “No, he didn’t tell me that. I mean, we talked but we were also doing other things.” I let that lie. It did, weighty between us on the phone, before I went on, “I don’t know what that means.”
Even though it seemed like I did. Something seemed familiar about that.
“You haven’t lived here long enough,” she murmured while I opened Amaretto’s stall and moved in for some quick pats before I let him loose. Louder, Deanna said, “You know the gas station in town?”
Oh yes.
That was where I’d seen it.
“He owns that?”
“That and seven more of them across three counties. None in the city, just in the counties. Some of them are like mini-mart stores. All of them sell gas and do work on cars.”
Wow.
That was impressive.


         

About Kristen Ashley: Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning. Nothing's changed. Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.
   

Friday 15 December 2017

Cover Reveal!! Hidden Seams by Alessandra Torre


Check out the cover for Alessandra Torre's Next Release!
Title: Hidden Seams
Release Date: January 18, 2018
Genre: Erotic Romance, Standalone
Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creations

Synopsis:
A billion-dollar fashion empire, and it’s about to be mine…

I've worked a decade for this. I've sold my soul and my reputation. I've lived a lie, smiled for the cameras, and hated myself, all for this inheritance.

And then … she pops up. A mysterious heir with a rap sheet, combat boots, and a mouth that I want to pin shut with my—

It doesn’t matter. I’ve played this game for a decade. I can continue the charade a little longer, keep my hands to myself and her body out of my mind. I can keep my secret until the ink dries and everything is mine. 

Or not.
 
Preorder on iBooks: http://apple.co/2AmCNPm
Add to Goodreads: https://goo.gl/pp3Z3Y
 
About Alessandra Torre:
Alessandra Torre is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels . Her books focus on romance and suspense. Torre has been featured in such publications as Elle an d Elle UK, as well as guest blogged for the Huffington Post and RT Book Re views. She is also the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.com.
 
Connect with Alessandra:
 
Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2s4U9NI
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sm94G5
Instagram : http://bit.ly/2s4HCtF
 

Friday 1 December 2017

Darkness Matters by Jay McLean Blog Tour #giveaway #bookreview #teasers

Blog Tour

Title: Darkness Matters

Author: Jay McLean

Released: June 26, 2017





PURCHASE LINKS




BLURB
It’s the same old story, really.
Good versus evil.
Heroes versus villains.
Light versus dark.
For two years, college freshman Noah Morgan lived his life somewhere in the middle, fighting darkness and light, always searching for answers to a single question:
Why, Noah, why?
The same three words keep him up at night, struggling for air while gripping a plastic cylinder containing white pills to match the white label with his name printed in ink as deep and dark as his memories—memories that turned him into a recluse.
A shut-in.
An introvert.
Luckily for him, that’s not how the girl next door sees him.






GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a signed paperback of Darkness Matters, a $20 Amazon Gift Card or a $10 Amazon Gift Card.


AUTHOR BIO
Jay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New Adult Romance, and most of all, procrastinator. When she's not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, playing house and binge watching Netflix.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.
Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in a forever half-done home where music is loud and laughter is louder.




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35439835-darkness-matters?ac=1&from_search=true



Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author
Genre: NA
Standalone


My Darkness Matters Review . . . 

I wasn't sure what to except from this book.  The blurb doesn't give too much away, but its a Jay McLean book so I was all in, no matter what.

I have to admit the start was quite slow for me but the more I read the more I started to get encased into the story.  And then I was emotionally all in.   Thankfully I stuck out the start because this book had so much beauty in it. 

"You're fucking incredible, Andie, and I can't not look at you."

Andie and Noah have so much in common but don't realize it.  At first they are drawn to each other but each other's past and darkness keeps them apart.  From the beginning you are dying to find out what happened in both of their lives to create such darkness and slowly as the book progresses we start to find out what happened and all the puzzle pieces start to fit together.

~ And I realize now, in this minuscule of moments, that Noah Morgan isn't an enigma or a paradox or a complete and utter mystery.  
 Noah Morgan is a gift-giving, soul-sharing, heart-stealing boy next door . . .~

This book is not your typical love story.  It's outside the norm of this genre the way it was written and the story was set up.  However, its still a beautiful love story. 

"I learned that sometimes, there is no reason, and there are no answers.  There just is. We exist in this world where we know nothing.   Where we feel like we are nothing.  But we are. We are, Andie.  And everything we feel, the good, the bad, the dark . . . it matters.  And it may not matter to you , but it matters to the people around you . . ."
This book felt so different than Jay's others but just as good.  It was dark, loving and beautiful.

4 Beauty in the Darkness Thumbs up!

thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up

Lauren