Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire - Review & Giveaway

BEAUTIFUL OBLIVION

Atria Books | 336 pages | Paperback ISBN 9781476759586 | eBook ISBN: ISBN 9781476759593 | On Sale: July 1, 2014

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

SYNOPSIS

Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.

REVIEW

The fact that you're reading this under the review section means that I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the publisher for an honest review. So here it goes.

I've been excited for this book for a VERY.LONG.TIME. I mean probably since when I first heard whisperings that Jamie McGuire was writing books on the brothers - so about a year and a half. That is a crazy amount of time to wait for a book. But it was worth it.

As a die-hard Travis Maddox fan, it took me a couple of chapters to wrap my head around the fact that this was not about him. Yeah, you get glimpses of him (and Abby), but the story is all Trenton and Cami. And boy, is it glorious. He's arrogant, yet vulnerable. He can be tough-as-sh!t and manipulative, but in every instance, you see that there's nothing but love, loyalty, or determination behind everything he does.

And then there's Cami. That's all I can say because I know something you don't know. But if even if I try to be vague about it, I'm petrified that I'll somehow say too much and my head will end up in a guillotine. Seriously - you'll read the book and have you mind blown.

I was on a complete high from Trent's complete and utter devotion to Cami. As a reader, this is what I crave. I desperately need that all-consuming-want with a dose of angst like I need my Kindle. I think anyone who reads (and loves) this story will realize that it isn't about who is better - Trent or Travis. It's about the fact that Ms. McGuire has given us yet another Maddox brother to love (and for our significant others to groan about because of the constant swooning).

FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL DETAILS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JAMIE McGUIRE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Beautiful Wedding, Red Hill, Walking Disaster, Beautiful Disaster, and The Providence trilogy. She and her husband, Jeff, live with their children just outside Enid, Oklahoma, with three dogs, six horses, and a cat named Rooster.

Website: www.jamiemcguire.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Jamie.McGuire.Author

Twitter: @JamieMcGuire

Instagram:  @JamieMcGuire_

Cinderella Screwed Me Over

Title: Cinderella Screwed Me Over

Author: Cindi Madsen 

Age: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

ASIN: B00BMKFPL6

ISBN: 1622660315

Goodreads

BLURB

Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.

Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?

Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.

EXCERPT

Jake looked down at me and I noticed again how blue his eyes were. My gaze moved to his lips.

Mayday, mayday, mayday.
I dropped my hand from his arm and swallowed.

“And what did I do to deserve the brush-off?” he asked.

The elevator doors opened and I let out a sigh of relief. Saved by the bing! I moved for the doors, but Jake beat me to them. Only he put a hand out to hold them open and turned to face me, eyebrows raised. So much for escaping the question.

I could feel every beat of my heart, and the walls of the elevator seemed to be closing in on me. “It’s nothing against you personally. You seem nice—you’re very charming, actually, which I’m sure you know. But you live in my building, and I’ve got certain rules about that kind of thing. Before I stuck to the rules, my life was much messier.” I ducked under his arm—damn he smelled good—and started for my car.

Jake stayed by my side, our footsteps echoing through the garage. “I live in the wrong place and just like that, I’ve got no chance with you?”

I kept my eyes on my car, afraid that if I looked at him, I might give in. And yes, last night I’d considered trying one little date. But he noticed too much, and he pushed against boundaries I wasn’t ready to let go of. It was time I pushed back. “Why have you chosen to pursue me? I’m not playing hard to get. It’s not some game you’ve got to win.” I pointed my remote at my silver Dodge Durango and pushed the unlock button.

Jake stepped ahead of me and opened the car door for me. “I’m sure plenty of guys hit on you. Obviously you’re beautiful. But there’s something different about you that makes me not want to give up.”

“You don’t even know me,” I said.

“And whose fault is that?”

“Cinderella’s.”

Two creases formed between Jake’s eyebrows. “Cinderella’s?”

“Yeah, Cinderella screwed me over.” Without any more explanation, I got into my car, pulled the door closed, and fired up the engine.

 Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes

Check out the Cinderella Screwed Me Over PINTEREST board!

GIVEAWAY

http://bit.ly/UuEXaK

About the Author:



Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the YA author of DEMONS OF THE SUN & ALL THE BROKEN PIECES, and the adult author of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE, ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME and CINDERELLA SCREWED ME OVER.

Twitter: @CindiMadsen | Facebook | Website

What Happens Tomorrow by Elle Michaels

This is a story of heartache, and not necessarily the kind that can be erased with a carton of ice-cream, a chick-flick, and your best-friend. Brooke is broken, and it seems that Tyler is just the person to bring her back and slowly help her mend her heart and soul.

This was a very sweet story with a lot of pain, but the one ray of sunshine was Jenna. She had me in stitches. In a story about overcoming insurmountable grief, it was a nice surprise to get a dose of humour. All the key secondary characters were doing everything in their power to help Brooke move on with her life - it really showed dedication to all the different kinds of love. I wish that there had been more about Tyler and Brooke's earlier friendship. By about 75%, I felt that the story was finally setting a good pace, but then I realized that it would be over very soon.

I think anyone who adores all-consuming romance (with very little drama) will like this one. 

COVER REVEAL: Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

We were introduced to Celeste in Flat-Out Love and readers wanted more! Well, more they shall have! Look at this amazing cover and take a peek inside FLAT-OUT CELESTE!

COMING SOON!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love.. 

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation. 

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.
Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him. 

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.

Excerpt

There was a knock at the door and Matt leaned in, swinging a brown paper bag in her direction. “I heard Mom made stuffed peppers tonight. Last time she made those, I nearly died from flatulence. I assume she stuffed them with her usual repulsive ground chicken, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate seed mix?”

Just the sound of Matt’s voice made Celeste relax. She smiled at him. “Based on the smell, I believe you’re right.”

“So you didn’t eat then? I was right!” Matt flopped onto her bed and lay down, his long body scrunching up the neat white comforter that she spent ten minutes arranging before she’d gone to school this morning. “I thought I’d take a break from studying and bring you something edible.”

“It smells like a burger from Mr. Bartley’s,” she said as she got up and took a seat next to Matt. “Hand it over, thoughtful brother.”

He tightened a hand around the top of the bag. “You have to guess which kind I brought you first.”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Close your eyes.”

She did as instructed and felt him move the bag under her nose. Sweet, spicy... a bit garlicky. “Aha! Boursin cheese and bacon! The Mark Zuckerberg burger!”

“And sweet potato fries and a bottle of iced tea, but you win. A burger named after ‘the richest geek in America,’ as the restaurant calls him.”

“You will be the richest geek in America after you finish your Ph.D. Program,” Celeste said through a mouthful of fries.

“If M.I.T. doesn’t land me in a psych unit first.”

“You only have this year left to endure. And you will hardly find yourself in need of psychiatric care, Matthew. You are doing stupendously.”

“I’m scraping by.” Matt reached into the bag and grabbed a handful of fries and opened her iced tea.

“You are not ‘scraping by.’ You are assistant teaching classes, excelling in your own, and in all ways performing to standards that exceed even the high ones our mother set for you.” She frowned as he chewed on the fries. “Did you not eat?”

“I did. A Big Papi burger and a Fiscal Cliff. But you can never have enough sweet potato fries.”

“I have a finite amount of my own from which you are stealing. But I shall not complain because this was very kind of you.”

Matt chewed and studied her. “Are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“No contractions. When you’re stressed out, they disappear.”

“I know. But most days I do not care to use them. If it is an effort, then I do not push.”

“Okay. I get it.” He chewed for a minute. “I heard your presentation went well. Did your friends like it?”

“It went marvelously. My friend Dallas took me aside to share quite the flow of compliments.”

“That’s great, Celeste.” He was downing half her iced tea.

“And then I bitch slapped her.”

Matt choked on the drink and desperately tried to clear his airway. “I’m sorry. You did what?”

She cocked her head. “I bitch slapped her.”

“That... that can’t be right,” he sputtered. “I mean, I hope it’s not.”

“I slapped my hand against her hand. Up in the air.” She looked at Matt blankly. “Is that not the right term?”

“Thank God, no, it’s not. I think you mean a high-five.”

“If you say so. Well, either way, it happened. You know I have trouble with colloquialisms, so I resent your shocked reaction.”

“I do know that about you, and I apologize.”

“Since we are on the subject, there is something else I would like for you to clarify.”

“Shoot.”

“What is meant by ‘nut bag’? Is that a testicular reference or merely the identification of a satchel of cashews or pecans?”

Matt groaned. “This conversation has gotten really weird. Could we just talk about— Wait a minute. Why are you asking me this? Did someone say that to you?” He looked angry.

Celeste picked at her fry. “No. Certainly not. I heard the term and had a natural curiosity.”

“Okay then...” Her brother crumpled up the paper bag and then smoothed it out in his hands. Then crumpled it again. “It’s the same as ‘nuts.’ You know, crazy.”

“Thank you for the definition.” She took the last bite of her burger and wiped her hands on one of the paper napkins. It shouldn’t matter what her classmates thought of her. Celeste would just be strong about this. She would move on.

PURCHASE LINKS

FLAT-OUT LOVE and FLAT-OUT MATT on Amazon
FLAT-OUT LOVE at B&N.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.


Please visit her at jessicapark.me and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicapark and Twitter @JessicaPark24

RELEASE DAY: Happenstance by Jamie McGuire

HAPPENSTANCE is finally here! Help us celebrate and spread the word! Be sure to check out the giveaway!

Title: Happenstance

Author: Jamie McGuire

Publisher: Jamie McGuire LLC (May 9, 2014)

Print Length: 100 pages

ASIN: B00JOPR0ZK

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon | iTunes | Smashwords

#1 New York Times Bestseller Jamie McGuire returns to self-publishing with this page-turning YA account of Erin Easter, one of three Erins in the small senior class of rural Blackwell High School who not only share a first name, but also their birthday. Easter, raised by a neglectful single mom, keeps to herself and admires Weston Gates from afar. The other Erins, Erin "Alder" Alderman and Erin "Sonny" Masterson are the darlings of the community: daughters of the two wealthiest families in town, best friends, cheerleaders, and everything Easter isn't--and they never let her forget it. Alder has even claimed Weston since the 8th grade.

Weston is a well-liked star athlete, and the son of two prominent attorneys. He struggles daily with the pressures of living up to his family name and secretly empathizes with Easter's feeling that she belongs somewhere else; in a different life. Not until he begins sneaking nights out with Easter does he gain the courage to buck expectations and acknowledge his feelings ... both for his future, and for her.

A shocking tragedy rocks the tiny town, and Easter's life is turned upside down in the best way possible. But when the truth is revealed and everything she thinks she wanted falls into her lap, life only becomes more complicated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times best selling author Jamie McGuire has penned the Providence series and contemporary romance Beautiful Disaster. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three children. She is an RT(R), a graduate of Autry and Oklahoma Northern College, and a full time writer.

Website: http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jamie.McGuire.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieMcGuire

Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines

I'll be honest here. My reasons for wanting to read this book didn't have anything to do with the good looking guy on the cover. Hell, he could have been wearing a paper bag, and I still would have trampled over the elderly and taken candy from children if it meant that I got to read what THE Rush Finlay was thinking when he met Blaire Wynn.

But those cute little grandmothers and those precious babies were all safe from me, because by some sort of literary miracle, someone thought I was worthy of an ARC. And while this review might not be the most informative...uh - where was I? Crap. I was thinking about how I'm so incredibly jealous of Blair and she's a fictional character. Can you say squirrel?

I'm not going to get into the writing style. I'm not going to dissect the structure. Because I don't care about any of that. I would have gladly read this on 8.5 x 11 in size 6 font. Heck, I could have even taken random words if they meant that I would get insight to Rush. I NEEDED to read this book because from the moment that Fallen Too Far landed on my doorstep, I've been obsessed. Hell - I wanted to read Rush Too Far because Rush is HOT. Because the way Abbi Glines writes Rush is HOT. Because the way that Rush and Blaire are together is HOT.

Seriously, you immerse yourself in all-things-Rush to forget the fact that it's late-April and still feels like winter. You read all-things-Rush because you NEED to remember why you wanted a Range Rover about a year ago. You buy the biggest container of peanut butter known to man so you can somehow feel closer to him.

Abbi Glines writes really great escapism.

NOTE: There are people who will vouch for my addiction to this series, but it still needs to be said that even though I received an ARC from the publisher, it in no way influenced my 'review'.

Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

You don't pick up a +Tarryn Fisher book and expect rainbows, unicorns, and rose petals scattered on a bed in the shape of a heart. If you do, you're in for an extremely rude awakening. Because instead of sugar and spice, and everything nice, you're going to get flawed characters who manage to make the most cynical of us running to believe in fairy tales to escape the brutal honesty in which Ms. Fisher's books are written.

Mud Vein.

I hated it because I felt like I was in the bottom of the deepest well, with no way out. Every word that I read was a bucket of water being dumped into this dark pit. By the time I was at about 80%, I felt like I was drowning. Tarryn Fisher was killing me.

I hated the way the writing made me think of unimaginable things just to escape the pain that was coming through the most expertly chosen words. I despised that I couldn't see the joy in anything in the real world.That this story had managed to overtake every aspect of my life. I hated that when I heard on the news that areas north of me were going to get snow, fear consumed me and I almost ceased to function.

I hated the way my heart broke. I hated the way that those broken pieces where further annihilated when Ms. Fisher's words slaughtered the remnants with what felt like dull box-cutters. The pain was excruciating. What little was left of my organ was scarped into a Vitamix and set on high on 15 minutes. Even the little bit of hope that was given to the reader did nothing to make me whole.

And yet, I'll do it all again.