Dreamland Book Blog: May 2017

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 1 comments

Cheater's Regret

Rachel Van Dyken

(Curious Liasons #2)

Published by: SkyScape

Publication date: May 23rd 2017

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken returns with a smoking-hot story about the satisfaction of plotting revenge on your ex—until he turns your world upside down again.

Austin Rogers’s dreams of domestic bliss involved watching Netflix and eating hot dogs with the love of her life. But then he cheated on her. And dumped her—as if the whole thing was her fault. To maintain her pride and restore her sanity, she decides to get revenge. It feels immensely satisfying to plot her ex’s downfall—but so does kissing him.

Thatch Holloway, a plastic surgeon straight out of residency, knows he ruined the best thing that ever happened to him. But not all cheaters are created equal. He got himself into this messed-up situation—true—but he has his reasons for what happened, and he’d do it all again to protect Austin.

He’s not over her. And she’s not over him.

Austin wants closure, but since Thatch refuses to give it to her, she takes matters into her own hands. She needs to write a human-interest piece for her MBA, so she demands the full plastic-surgery experience. Sparks fly as they’re forced to work together. But Thatch isn’t afraid to play dirty in return. And he’s still hiding something—something that has the power to destroy not only Austin but their second chance at finding forever…

This is *whispers* my first book from Rachel, but she blew me away with her sense of humor in the form of the brilliant Austin Rogers.

OH, I hate cheating. I hate a disloyal man who couldn't stay true to their woman and blame it on them for the breakup. Which is why I hated Thatch at first. But, I'm also a strong believer in second chances romance, so I decided to give the book a try.

I could only say, the story swept me away like a hurricane and caught in between of a messy family drama.

Despite it all, oh God, I laughed too much my cheeks are going to split open even more!

I've never met someone with such obsession with Moutain Dew and Moon Pies. And also an irrational fear of frogs. Although the story was heartbreaking, Rachel has a way of lacing humor in every situation *cue Austin*. If there's one thing I enjoyed most is the banter between Austin and Thatch. I couldn't even bring myself to hate Thatch! But only at the situation he was forced into. It all worked out in the end though!

I've never fallen in love with a plastic surgeon before and everything was PERFECTION. I'm blushing just at the thought of his office. You just have to read to find out ;)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. Thank you for the reviewing opportunity!

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017 3 comments

Loving Kalvin (The Kennedy Boys #4)

By Siobhan Davis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age category: upper Young Adult/ New Adult

Release Date: July 2017

A second-chance romance from USA Today bestseller Siobhan Davis. Standalone with HEA and no cliffhanger.

Lana

I knew it would end in disaster, but I didn’t listen to reason. I didn’t care. Because I loved him so much.

Kalvin Kennedy ruled my heart.

Until he destroyed it.

Shattered it so completely that I became someone else. Someone I loathed. Someone who repeatedly lied to her loved ones.

So, I ran.

From him. From myself. Desperate to hide my new reality.

But I could only run so far.

When he reappears in my life, I’m terrified. Unbelievably scared of facing the consequences of my actions.

Never mind that I still love him and want him so badly—there’s too much at stake now.

How can I trust him with the biggest secret of all when he’s likely to rip my world apart again?

Kalvin

Lana was always far too good for me.

Everyone knew it but her. I tried to stay away, but I was weak.

And I hurt her.

Crushed her until she barely resembled herself. Forced her to follow a path she would never have willingly chosen.

And then she was gone.

And my world has never felt as empty, as lonely.

She begged me to stay away. Not to find her. To forget she ever existed.

But that’s like asking me to slice my heart in two and toss half aside.

I’ve never believed in fate, but when I rock up to the University of Florida, I’m ready to eat my words.

Because she’s here. Like I hoped she would be. And I’m determined to prove I deserve a second chance.

You can find Loving Kalvin on Goodreads. You can pre-order Loving Kalvin exclusively on Amazon It will be available to read with Kindle Unlimited once released.

Previous books in this series

The first three books have to be read in order. The books after that can be read as a standalone and have a HEA and no cliffhanger. The Kennedy Boys series is free to read in Kindle Unlimited and book one Finding Kyler is currently available for only 0.99$ on Amazon

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling True Calling, Saven, and Kennedy Boys series. Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management. She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

You can find and contact Siobhan here:

- Website - Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Google + - Instagram - Goodreads - Amazon - Kennedy Boys Newsletter

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Monday, May 22, 2017 No comments

Friday, May 19, 2017 No comments

No Second Chances

Kate Evangelista

(Dodge Cove #3)

Published by: Swoon Reads

Publication date: May 16th 2017

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Natasha was DEVASTATED when Jackson, her first love, disappeared without a word only to pop up months later as a famous DJ. But now she’s over it―over him!―and ready to move on with her life! Isn’t she?

Jackson thought he was leaving Dodge Cove behind forever when he set off to LA to start his career as a DJ. But the one thing he had never been able to leave behind was the memory of his first love, Natasha, and now that he’s proven his success, he’s coming home to win her back…

Get ready to stop time, defy gravity and bring down the stars in this final book in Kate Evangelista’s Dodge Cove Trilogy!

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I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of No Second Chances provided by Xpresso Tours and the author! Thank you so much for making me laugh...and the reviewing opportunity :P

If you are looking for a light-hearted, funny read about second chances romance filled with grand gestures and Harry Potter obsession, look no further, you have arrived at the right destination.

Quick fun fact: My name is Natasha and my baby brother was almost named Nathan at birth! But... my mom thought otherwise and decided on Jarod. If you read the book, you'd also know that Natasha and Nathan are twins in the story. What a strange coincidence right?! Sadly, I'm no debutante and I certainly do not have a great sense for fashion :P

With the random fact aside, off with my review!

One look at the cover and blurb and I'm expecting some sort of bawl your eyes out kind of second chance romance, the first few chapters did sound promising, but when the Harry Potter reference made its appearance, I lost it.

YES, it was predictable. YES, it was cliched in every sense, but I have to give credit to Evangelista's writing because I snickered, smirked and swooned at Jax's multiple attempts to win back Natasha, . Jax's creativity knows no boundaries and I'm blown away by the length he is willing to go (of course being a billionaire helps to achieve some of that craziness) to prove that he wants Natasha back for real, literally. And God, Natasha's family did not give him an easy time. (Fav secondary character - Albert)

But in all seriousness, Jax was a romantic at heart and I love how vivid the writing was when it comes to describing their relationship. Although I wished that the author described their past even more and delve deeper into the heartbreak, it was a funny read filled with aww-worthy moments and holy-crap scenes.

Thoughts after finishing the book: I hope my boyfriend won't take my word literally the next time I asked him to bring me the stars (and that was actually my favorite scene in the book). Is that a spoiler?! I hope not! *insert close eyes emoji*

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is a graduate of De La Salle University – Manila with an Bachelor of Arts in Literature. She taught high school English for three years and was an essay consultant for two. Currently she writes full time and is based in the Philippines. To learn more about Kate, please visit her website at www.kateevangelista.com or follow her on Twitter @KateEvangelista

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Thursday, May 18, 2017 1 comments

Dominion

(The Enertia Trials #4)

Author: J. Kowallis

Publication date: May 19th 2017

Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

Genres: Dystopia, Suspense, Sci-Fi

WE ARE THE FIRST

WE ARE THE END

“I didn’t want to wake up. Sometimes I almost wished I hadn’t.”

With Reggie’s death, Nate and the others are forced to continue on in their attempt to defeat Roman with the help of The Rising—a rebellion movement thriving in the bowels of Public Two.

New faces and mysterious secrets—hidden technology, lies, and darkness—from within The Rising shake the balance of their trust.

When an unimaginable encounter infiltrates the rebellion, true identities are revealed and loyalties torn apart. In the end, there’s only one target that matters: Roman—and they’ll do anything to stop him from claiming dominion.

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Excerpt

“You’d think that somewhere in the time line since the year nineteen hundred, mankind would have learned to design formal clothing specifically for the purpose of comfort.” I pull at the fabric around my crotch and try to stop it from strangling my balls. “I mean, what the hell is this stuff?”

Nate looks at me. Leaning up against the wall near the doorway, he hasn’t even made a move to pick up the outfit that Su gave him. I don’t blame him. His is even worse than mine. At least mine doesn’t make me look like what I can only describe as a cross between a flashy mermaid and a hunter.

“I think if maybe I just shift everything to the right . . .” I adjust myself and my face pinches in disgust, mirroring the discomfort my pants are causing me. “Nope. That shit doesn’t work either.”

“You know, you can just refuse to wear it.”

“So I can stay behind with the little kids? No way. I’d dress like a chick for the chance to get out of here for the night. Speaking of which, you’d better put on your clothes, Princess.”

“Shove it up your ass, Roy.”

I smirk at him and reach over for the sheer, darkish-silver, shirt-thing that Su tossed me earlier. I can’t lie; the fabric feels like water. Cool, liquid, soft water coating my skin. “Holy shit, that’s nice,” I say, dropping my chin to look down. The fabric is designed to pull from underneath my left armpit and reaches up for my right shoulder almost like a lop-sided bunched neckline. The best part of the ensemble? The sleeves that have gloves designed into the cuffs.

“I can see your nipples.”

“I will shove your head up your anus. I swear I will.” I grimace.

Nate chuckles darkly, then his eyes wander over to his outfit again.

“It’s not going to change into camo and military boots, you know.”

“Think the harpy would come in and accidentally set it on fire for me?”

My lip curls, amused. “Watch it. That’s my harpy you’re talking about.”

Nate folds his arms and presses his lips together.

“All right. I feel like I’m vacuum packed, but I’ve got a damn good-looking mug to compensate. I’ll see you down at the entrance with everyone else. Get moving.” I grab the door handle and stop myself when he rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “What is it?”

He crosses his arms. “It’s nothing.”

“Good. And Nate?”

He turns to look at me.

I look out into the hallway, and seeing it bare, I close the door again and face him. “Look, I know we’re going into a night club tonight with the whole team. A whole team of people whose lives depend on you. There’s going to be alcohol in pretty much everyone’s hand. I’m going to warn you right now; if you have even a drop . . ..”

“I got it.” His words may agree with me, but I’ve learned that if I ever used that tone with Ransley she’d flame my ass. He may claim to be sober, but I’m worried. I’m worried this backdoor plan of his isn’t going to work. I’m even more worried that if he gets his hand on a drink, not only will something go wrong, but a lot of people will die.

“Swear to me. There’s not a chance in hell you’ll reach for a single drink while we’re there tonight. Because the only thing that matters is killing Roman. The only thing. You see Lobb, you let him go. You start hurting for Reggie, push that shit to the back of your mind. You get a craving for whiskey, you spit it out. We either leave with a dead Roman, or we leave with a dead Nate. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Nate rises to his feet, towering over me by a couple inches. His voice is dangerously deep. “I’ve got it, princess.”

"Years ago, we were designed to be the first of our kind, and today, we will be the end."

It's not every day you stumble upon a series that challenges your mindset and questions your existence. There's the kind that gives you the tingles, some wrapped around your heart like a warm blanket, others might induce a slight shiver, and then there's the kind that stopped you dead in your tracks, stunned you into a reading stupor and you, for once, felt goosebumps on your skin because everything,EVERYTHING, was earth-shattering and mind-numbingly good.

Requesting a reviewing opportunity for Afterimage was the best dang decision I have ever made.

Until today, I thank God for helping me discovering this hidden gem.

After my fair share of post-apocalyptic novels, there's a certain element that you ought to expect from a dystopian plot. But fair warning, I've experienced NOTHING quite like the Enertia Trials, J.Kowallis proved to be a brilliant mastermind yet again. From Afterimage to Encender and Duality, each book was so unique and cleverly written it has a voice of its own. I loved Nate and Reggie in Afterimage, Ransley and Roydon in Encender, and ended with a massive heartbreak in Duality. But Dominion, oh, it triumphed them all.

In the end, there’s only one target that matters: Roman—and they’ll do anything to stop him from claiming dominion.

With the devastating turn of events in Duality and that cliffhanger ending, I was more than ready to dive into Dominion, yet it killed me to just know that things will be worse than it already is. My heart ached for Nate, he who has suffered so much from the start only to have someone he loved ripped away from him once again. I wanted to read Dominion because I was curious enough to how the story would continue, especially with an essential character of the story gone (which was a first for me), but J. Kowallis has the superpower to catch you blindsided, her plot twists will catch you off guard and she did exactly just that with the prologue.

The world building was the one aspect that amazed me to no end. The detail in the setting was so vivid, I felt every word. Running through the Public roads, dodging attacks from the Public Guards, Roy splitting into gazillion Roys and Ransley setting everything on fire, it was action packed alright, I haven't had so much fun in ages! The mass destruction blew my brain to bits, no, I'm pretty sure Ransley fried them.

And if there's a person who could rock multiple POV's, yes! You found her! I've never read a book with so many characters and voices and still able to connect with them all at an emotional level. I couldn't bring myself to hate any one of them, not even Roman. I should probably add that Nate, Reggie, Roy and Ransley's POVS are my favorite (duh). I loved the fact that the characters are so diverse and unique, and we get a chance to see the story through their eyes, to understand who they are and what they are all fighting for.

Not to mention, the story kept you guessing till the end! Every chapter was a new mystery to solve and new crappy problems to deal with. Ugh. All the frustration and anger, I felt it deep in my bone, yet I appreciated the fact that the author does not sugarcoat the harsh reality to soften the blow, I ate it up like a kid starving for candy on Halloween and craved for even more. I was holed up in my reading cave, racing through the pages like a madwoman on a dateline, and trust me when I emerged 6 hours later, bruised and scarred yet with the utter feeling of contentment. IT WAS PERFECT.

One on hand, I am glad that it was all over, on the other, I'm not ready to let all of them go. It was sad that the series has come to an end, but their story will forever be one that is close to my heart (sappy much?)

The series shifted the paradigm of the dystopian genre, hands down, the best one I've read yet!

J. Kowallis grew up in northern Utah, graduated from Weber State University’s creative writing program, and lives in Utah with her Mini Schnauzer, Etta. She enjoys dreaming about, flying to, and writing about distant lands (real or unreal).

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