Plastic Hearts by Lisa De Jong

5 Not so Plastic Hearts

After I read this book i had to sit and think about what I wanted to say in my review.

Almost immediately I thought of one of my favorite quotes.

Perfect. That quote is what this story is all about.

Alex Riley has had the perfect life. Parents that give her every materialistic object anyone could ever want. They bought and gave her a car, they gave her multiple credit cards, paid for her schooling, send her a rather large allowance every month. She grew up in a huge home with multiple nannies. She knew exactly what her future would be; Becoming a doctor, marrying a friend of the family who is ALSO becoming a doctor and raising little doctor children. 

But Alex wanted more than that. She didnt want the money. She wanted her parents unconditional love, she wanted freedom to be who she was and who she wanted to be. She wanted to be an artist. But Alex was afraid to go against her parents because she knew that if she ever did- they would disown her. So, she only did what they wanted. Leaving her depressed.

Until she met Dane.

Dane was the opposite of the type of guys Alex should be interested in. If her parents ever met Dane they would automatically hate him and tell Alex that she could not be with him... 

But Alex couldnt walk away. For once she was going to give into something her heart wanted more than anything.

What started with Dane was supposed to just be an "experience." It was suppose to just be a thing that Alex could always remember and say she felt something "real." But what happened changed her. She fell in love.

Dane is everything that balances out Alex. He's artistic. He's tattooed. He's confident and does whatever he wants to do. His childhood was very different than Alex's. His mother had to work two jobs just to keep them on their feet. His father left them. His little brother was a wreck. 

Both Dane and Alex never got the kind of love children deserve... But they find love with each other. A strong, passionate, neverending kind of love. 

But... What happens when Alex is faced with choosing between her parents and everything they have control over and true love. What if staying with the one she loves can only harm him more? What if she truly thought the only way to make other person happy was to let them go?

Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein

Love this Cover!

2.5 Stars

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I really appreciate it.

I wanted to love this book. When I read the synopsis- I was immediately intrigued by the story. It sounded different, new, interesting. I was ready to read something different than what I've been reading recently.

The story wasn't horrible. It really wasn't. But I just can't give it more stars and this is why;

Character development. It wasn't there. I didn't connect with any of the characters at all. I had a hard time relating to any of them. Cassie's personality was strange. Even when I found out why she acted the way she did- I still didn't think her attitude was a good reflect of how a person in her circumstances would react.
I don't understand why she was so mean and hateful even before she went through the things she went through. I can draw my own ideas and beliefs at to why, but I would rather be shown. I got that her dad wasn't around and her mom was a sad excuse for a mother- but if that were the case- I need more than just "her mom drank  lot" and  "her dad was in the military" which seemed to be the only reason as to why Cassie acted like a snotty b****.
I don't know why she made the decisions she made. Why she chose the friends that she did. I didn't get why she would go from being extremely hateful and mean to someone to kissing them or whatever. She was never actually nice to Ben. Ever. Unless you assume that kissing and holding hands can make up for angry words. It just seemed completely unrealistic that Ben would want a girl like that and that she could actually care for someone when the only things she says to him are un kind.

I wanted more there. I wanted to see her become softer in his presence. I wanted to actually see her walls start to crumble down. I think the author tried to show it... For me, it just didnt work. I needed for Cassie to say kind things to him, to open up to him, and to show him...

And another thing... This may seem silly... But the characters looks weren't described very well. I mean I read this entire book and have no idea what Cassie looks like. lol. For some reason that kept me from really get into this book too.

Positives?
This book consists of some very hard subjects to write about. A subject that is really very upsetting. And I could understand why Cassie would be so mentally exhausted and unforgiving of herself. I get that she needed to go on a journey to learn to forgive herself. I just think the journey could have been done differently.

Cover Reveal: Second Chance Romance by Sophie Monroe

Second Chance Romance by Sophie Monroe—re-release date 01/26/13 with edits and 12,000 words added

Synopsis:

Julia Kline, known by her friends as Jules, had a rough time growing up with a dad that travelled constantly and a mom that was anything but a mother.
When she’s six she meets her new neighbor Noah Sinclair. The pair quickly become best friends. He looks after her and when they're teenagers their relationship turns romantic. They didn’t account for Jules’ malicious mother stepping in and tearing them apart. Leaving Jules broken hearted.

Present Day:
Jules is going for her master's degree and working as exotic dancer at a high-end gentleman’s club to pay for it. She lives with her best friend from boarding school Ellie, who’s also a dancer. When her boss informs them that the club has been rented out for a bachelor party she thinks it will be just like any other night until she walks out on stage and sees Noah Sinclair. The boy that broke his promises and her heart. To make things worse he’s the bachelor. He tries to get her to talk to him but she’s stronger now and blows him off. But he wants answers too. Throw in a crazy fiancé, a couple of hilarious best friends and enjoy the ride. Will Noah and Jules get their second chance or will the past decide the future?

About the Author:

Sophie Monroe is a New Jersey native just starting out her writing adventure. She has always been a night owl with a creative side. Her books often reflect both her sense of humor and sarcasm.

She tries to communicate on the fact that "life's too short" in her stories. Bad things happen in life it's inevitable, but pick yourself up and dust yourself off and move forward. Nothing can hold you down, unless you choose to let it.

She also loves to incorporate meaningful quotes that she hopes will inspire her readers (or at least give them a good laugh.)

Find Sophie on:

Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/sophiemonroewrites?fref=ts

Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581511.Sophie_Monroe

Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Monroe/e/B00AY7W3YA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1359306782&sr=8-1

Blog- sophiemonroe007.blogspot.com

Buy Links:

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chance-Romance-ebook/dp/B00B6LRUOG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359306902&sr=8-2&keywords=sophie+monroe

Go here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7cff5621/

Cover Reveal for Bitter Angel by Megan Hand

Title: Bitter Angel

Author: Megan Hand

Expected release date: April 1, 2013

Genre:  Thriller

Age Group: New Adult

Cover Designer: B Design;  http://bdesignpublishingservices.wordpress.com/

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17181920-bitter-angel

Book Description:

Torn between two realities.

A choice that will mean life or death.

She won’t know anything… until she wakes up.

College sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two different directions.

Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be their only chance for survival.

In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends’ deaths.

As the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or was she there to save them?

The answer is just the beginning.

About the Author

At twelve, Megan decided to write a novel. A month later, she quit. A reading junkie by nature, she started writing again in her twenties as a way to get the voices out, because who wouldn't want to create a Real Living Person out of thin air? Megan also plays the piano and sings. She teaches little kids and takes pictures of pretty butterflies. She eats way too much chocolate, is sort of a mad scientist with her blender, and spends an unhealthy amount of time LOLing on Facebook and Twitter. She lives in Ohio with her husband and very smiley son. Bitter Angel is her first published novel.

Blog: http://meganhandwrites.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganhandauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/meganhandwrites

Cover Reveal of Plastic Hearts by Lisa De Jong

I'm am so very excited to take part in introducing Lisa De Jong and showing you her beautiful cover for Plastic Hearts. I think it looks fabulous! How about you?

 Plastic Hearts by Lisa De Jong Release
Date: March 1, 2013
Genre: New Adult
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16335098-plastic-hearts
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Lisa-De-Jong-Author/172608966217903
Blurb:

 My life has always been safe. I like it that way. I grew up in a fake society where plastic hearts rule. If our hearts are made of plastic, they can never be broken. My parents have expectations and I do everything I can to meet them, even if it means giving up on my own dreams.

 Now, all I want is to be free to make my own choices.

 Dane Wright is everything I have been warned to stay away from. We met one night while I was with my perfect, parent-approved boyfriend and I haven’t stopped thinking about him. I don’t want to like him. I am doing everything I can to ignore his pull, but my heart seems to want what it cannot have, what it has never had.

 Can he measure up? He may think I am too good for him, but maybe he is too good for me.

 Life is a series of choices and I have never been able to make my own. Until one day, when my heart decides to make a choice for me.

 

 Designer: Michelle Preast http://www.michellepreast.com/ https://www.facebook.com/IndieBookCovers

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: AWAKEN BY JAIME GUERARD

I have the beautiful privilege to introduce all of you to my friend Jaime Guerard! Take a look at her lovely cover! Isn't it just pure amazing-sauce? I sure think so! So make sure you head over to goodreads and add my friends book to your TBR list! You won't regret it! Oh become her fan too ;) TITLE: AWAKEN

AUTHOR: JAIME GUERARD

GENRE: YA PARANORMAL ROMANTIC THRILLER

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: MARCH 15, 2013

AGE GROUP: 14 - 20+

COVER DESIGNER: ALLIE BRENNAN (B DESIGN)

MOON IMAGE/TREE DESIGNER: STEVEN ASKEW (RED AND BLACK WALLPAPERS)

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Three things run through my mind at this very moment…

ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same.

TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist.

THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life and death.

Sixteen year old, Breanna Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her, revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming reality. Amongst the chaos of this new discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close. There is another secret kept- Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her feelings for Collin. Bre is faced with an almost impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS / ABOUT.ME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey

Seriously... Seriously. Seriously. Hold up. Did all of that amazingness just come from this book? Did it? Did it really?
 The things Camie says. bahhaha
  Well, naturally, I'm screaming in my head. Holy Exalted Naked Chest Batman!!!

 I mean, COME ONE> That's hilarious.

  I've got to pick my jaw up off the floor. I think while I'm down here, I'll pray and thank God for His glorious creation, because seriously, He does some damned fine work.

 I wish I would have marked every time I laughed- but that would have been nearly the entire book. So, I could not. But Camie was hilarious. Her thoughts, the things she says and does- Top notch, I tell ya. I am in love with how she speaks and intertwines any and every music or movie reference she can think of! Phenomenal.

And the fact that Tristan does the same thing. Totally hot. I dont know why, it. just. it. Now Tristan. Holy shiznit, he is a beautiful man. He's funny, got a little of that bad boy thing going on, he's difficult- but he is saucy and hilarious... And when he wants to- he says the sweetest things.

  Oh hell yes. Everything fades away until nothing matters anymore, not even breathing. Everything around us, the entire world and every little thing in it vanishes and nothing matters except you and me.

 That's right ladies, he said that. Are you swooning? I am.

 And let me just say two things that had me completing rolling from laughing so hard: 1. White Board 2. Gum Oh and can I also say the ringtone choices every one made was outstanding. I mean really and truly outstanding. Ohhhh and also how Camie refers to Tristan as her husband or fiance or fur baby daddy. bahahaha. Dying here. Can't stop. Won't stop. Laughing.

  Alas; Do not judge this book by it's cover. Unless you love the cover- by all means judge the book ;) But I think this book could use a better cover- Just my humble opinion :D