Cover Reveal: JUST HUMAN by Kerry Heavens

Eeep! I can't believe it's time already! Cover reveal for Just Human by my beautiful friend Kerry Heavens hosted by Romance Addict Book Blog.

I met Kerry through Twitter when I did a guest post on The Book Lovers blog. We were guest bloggers on the same week (see her post or my post) and it was insaaaaane for me because she's a writer! Haha! I first read the blurb of her up-coming book on the same blog and I became instantly interested! Then my Twitter-stalking began and I landed a spot for this cover reveal! Yaay!

When I saw the cover earlier, my reaction was:

"%&$#@*!! Holy fuck this is one of the most beautiful book covers I've seen!!!"

Yep. True story. I am not saying this because I am kissing-Kerry's-ass or something. LOL! But because for me, it is indeed a beautiful cover!!!

So now I will shut up and reveal what is needed to be revealed!

Waiiiiit.......

Before I do that, let me just tell you that I somehow find a similarity between the cover girl and Kerry. I don't know. It's just the feels. :)

Now, yes! Onto the cover!!!

Just Human

Kerry Heavens

Release Date: July 22

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Add on:

Meet Liv and Danny…  

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her, so she lets him go without a fight when his parents make him move back to America. She knows she will never love anyone like she loved him, but she has to move on.  

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him, because she does nothing to get him to stay, so he goes quietly when his parents leave the UK. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her, but he has to move on. 

Twelve years on, they have made a good job of pretending, they may have almost forgotten. But when they get in touch via Facebook, it seems that it is all still there. They quickly find that they are intensely compatible in ways they hadn’t even begun to explore before they were forced apart.  

Can they put aside their fears and give it a go? Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear them apart?

About the Author

'I am what I am,' as the song goes. 'I don't want praise, I don't want pity. I bang my own drum, some think its a noise, I think its pretty. So what if I love each sparkle and each bangle. why not see things from a different angle? Your life is a shame 'til you can shout out, I am what I am." So here goes...I'm Kerry, I live with my family outside London. I am married to the love of my life and we have two amazing, beautiful children and a nutball Boston terrier, called Betty. I graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design with a degree in Fashion. I realised straight away that the industry wasn't for me, so I've been creatively frustrated ever since. I have tried a bit of everything to satisfy my need for a creative outlet. Nothing keeps me happy for long. Until I discovered writing. Writing a book has always been a dream, but I had no clue where to start. Then one day, parking my car at the supermarket, Liv & Danny came to me like a thunderbolt. I don't know where they came from, but I raced home and started making them real. Now I have two books to publish and lots more ideas to work on. I am extremely prone to crushes on boys in books...on trains, in the street, wherever. From my early infatuation with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing and Tom Cruise in Cocktail, to my recent obessions with book-boyfriends like Christian Grey, Travis Maddox and Kellan Kyle, I have always been the same. For the time it takes me to read a book I have an intense love affair with the characters, sometimes they stay with me for a week, sometimes its for life. Sometimes I feel like I will need therapy to cope with the fact that they are not real and will never be mine! Even though I am devoted to my husband, I'll never change, not as long as brilliant, creative writers keep giving me deeply flawed, yet perfect men to love... I hope, I dream, that these are the types of characters I can one day create to be obsessed over.
Stalk her: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads 

PREVIEW: KEEPING HER by CORA CARMACK

Okay, who wouldn't want some Garrick?! YOU? Oh no, maybe you're just confused. I'm pretty sure all of us want a little piece of him. Don't cha, huh? Don't cha? *wink*

Well here it is!
 
Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks
 
Also, Cora will be having a Goodreads chat on June 26th! Clickity here!

Aaaannnnddd there'd be some FAKING IT book club on Cora's Facebook page on the 27th! This is your chance to ask the questions you've been dying to ask! LOL

Nik reviews: LEO'S CHANCE by Mia Sheridan

Tittle: Leo's Chance
Series: A Sign of Love #2
Author: Mia Sheridan
Category: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

~Synopsis~

The follow-up to Leo, the USA Today bestselling novel by Mia Sheridan.

Does everyone deserve a second chance? Even someone who lies and deceives to get it?

Do we all have a second chance coming? Even if we play a part in our own destruction?

How hard would you fight to have a second chance at love? A second chance at life? Another chance to tell your own story?

Every love story has two sides. Evie told hers. This time it's Leo's chance.

Add on:

Purchase from:

amazon | barnes & noble

~Review~

So we all know the story behind this since this book is a re-told of Evie and Leo's story, this time from Leo's POV. Of course, we are all hungry for Leo's thoughts right? Who wouldn't want to read what's his take on things? :)

I loved Leo and it has become one of my favorite 2013 reads and became a fan of Mia Sheridan's writing. Leo is her debut novel and all I can say is this is how writers should write their debuts. Mia wowed me. If you want to read my review of Leo click here.

I got an eARC of Leo's Chance from Mia but life got in the way and I wasn't able to write a review earlier. Oh, I actually have a life huh? Didn't know that, either. ;)

Like the first book, Mia didn't disappoint with this one. To be honest, I loved this book more than the first. Maybe because I am partial when it comes to guy's pov? Maybe Leo is a better story-teller than Evie? Or maybe because Mia outdone herself? Or maybe all of the above? I don't know. You, be the judge once you read it. But one thing's for sure, this book is wonderfully written that you will find it eliciting emotions you are trying so hard to suppress. I shed a tear or two over this book. Okay, I downplayed that one. Fine, I ugly-cried. Yeah, yeah. Snot and all that. Why, I can't help it. A good story will do that to you, right?

Evie's story is so inspiring and having Leo telling the readers her story makes it more special. He adores her so much and it vibrates in the way he talks about her.

"She pauses and I hold my breath. The last time I was nervous about asking a girl out, I was a teenager and it was the same girl."

"This is the second most incredible kiss of my life. The first one was with the same girl." 

"It wouldn't matter if I didn't know any more than what it took to figure out in a week and a half. And I know that for a fact, because it took me fifteen minutes to know she was someone I was going to fall in love with when I was fucking 11 years old."

"She's my air, my reason for existence, the only thing that matters to me in this life or any other." 

"Home. All along I thought home was a location, and it turns out home is a person. Home is Evie."

Is it possible to worship someone and love them at the same time without adoration being confused with true love? There's a fine line between the two, but I am pretty sure it is. Leo showed us that possibility.

Now, Leo has some asshat side too. And I loved that. :)

"Did I really got through everything I did, all the hell, all the sessions with Doc, all the surgeries, all the struggles, to be sitting in my car, dying slowly of death by cloying perfume, with this clingy, uninteresting Fembot?"

"You're a spoiled, thoughtless bitch and so fucking boring, I can barely keep myself awake when you're talking. Christ, you should bottle your personality and sell it as sleep aid."

After reading Leo's Chance, I fell in love with Mia more. I love how she's able to make inspiring quotes.You know the warm feeling when you read something that touches your heart? Like a literal warm, fuzzy, bear-hug feeling? That's how I feel every time I think about Leo and Leo's Chance.

Both books are beautiful. I don't know how to describe her works exactly. I wish I could tear my heart open and let you all feel what I feel about this book. There's just something in the way it's written. Ugh. It's frustrating how sometimes you can't put into words how you're feeling. Maybe that's why it has taken me too long to write a review for this book, because I don't know how to write down my thoughts about it.

Thank you Mia for letting us read this wonderful story once again and having Leo tell it. This book feels like a complete bonus. Since reading Leo, this author has become an auto-read for me, meaning, any book she'll write - I'll read. This woman is one of the sweetest woman I know. Love you, Mia! ♥♥♥

P.S. Bonus quotes! Yay! These are some of the quotes that melt my heart. These would make good life lessons too!

"I realize now that there are a lot of paths in life. Some we choose, come are chosen for us. I was dealt some shit, just like a lot of us are, and I made a lot of poor choices too. I have to take responsibility for those. But the only thing we'll get from trying to figure out where another path would have taken us are questions there are no answers to, and heartbreak that can't be healed. Regardless of how we got there, all any of us can do is move forward from where we are."

"Knowing in your mind what the right thing is and doing it can be two completely different things. Realizing what is right is the first step, but the follow through can get hung up on so many personal variables."

P.P.S. Can't wait to hold these two babies (Leo and Leo's Chance) in my hands! Why do I have to live in the Philippines in times like these? I. NEED. THE. PAPERBACKS. NOW. lol

Rating:

DIAMOND AWARD

 

 

About the Author

Mia Sheridan is an avid reader, and now writer of romance and erotic novels. She live in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband who is a police officer and her biggest fan (not necessarily in that order). They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. When she's not sitting on her couch with her head buried in her Kindle, she can be found writing or doing anything creative from building a patio, to sewing pillows. The wild hairs she get know no bounds. Leo is her debut novel, but her head is swimming with more… Stalk her: Website | Twitter | Facebook

**PRE-RELEASE GIVEAWAY**

Five NA authors decided to have a pre-release giveaway, a week before their books come out! Ain't that sweet of 'em? :)

Go join!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY: April Showers by Karli Perrin

April Showers

by Karli Perrin

Add on:

Purchase on:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Synopsis

What happens when your head and your hearf pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to found out.

When April enrolls at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends... New crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus - with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds hersekf wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn'twhat it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she fins solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she's in control of her own destiny before it's too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life chaning journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

  BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Author Bio

Karli Perrin is a 25 year old English Languange & Linguistics graduate from Manchester. She has always been a big lover of books and is currently writing her first NA novel - April Showers.

She is a big believer of fate and is a sucker for a happy ending. She honestly believes  that there is a reason why you are reading this right now (apart from the fact that you are awesome!)

Her ultimate goal in life is to live in a house made entirely out of books with her best friend, who also happens to be her fiancé.

...Hogwarts is plan B.

CHAPTER REVEAL & PRE-ORDER: FRIGID by J. Lynn

Today is an exciting day - we have FOUR HUGE SURPRISES for you!

Jennifer L. Armentrout's (writing as J. Lynn) FRIGID is set to release on e-book at the end of July. If you're anything like us, you're probably on pins and needles and just cannot wait to get your hands on a copy of this book.

FRIGID has already been given the honor of being named a Romantic Times Top Pick and we're super excited for you to be able to read it as well! Well, there's good news! Are you ready for those four awesome surprises? Here we go!

• Due to all the excitement surrounding FRIGID, we have decided to run a special e-book pre-order promotion. We have worked out a deal with the distributor to release FRIGID a full two weeks early -- on JULY 15th!!! -- if we meet our e-book pre-order goal. EEEEP! That's right, if you are like the rest of us and want to be able to read FRIGID in its entirety before its original release date, all you have to do is PRE-ORDER THE E-BOOK NOW! What are you waiting for? GO! Pre-order it here: Barnes & Noble | Amazon 
  
• Need something to hold you over until FRIGID releases? Well, starting right now, you can read the first three chapters of FRIGID for free! Just read below!

Frigid Sneak Peek

• Can’t get enough of the hot FRIGID cover? Want to see some behind the scenes photos that are sure to make you swoon? You’re in luck! Below you can watch a slideshow of all the behind the scenes photos from the photo shoot! Go on and watch it. We’ll wait, because there is still one more great surprise! 
• And last but not least, if you live near Philadelphia, PA, you're in for a very special treat -- Jennifer will be in Philly in November signing not only FRIGID but also the last book in her immensely popular COVENANT series, SENTINEL! But that's not all, Adam, the super hot cover model from FRIGID will be there as well! So, yes, you'll get to meet Jennifer and Adam! Plus, there will be other great prizes that you seriously won't want to miss out on (dinner with the author and model, perhaps?)

Stay tuned for more details to come!

We hope you're as excited as we are!

So now....

Go pre-order FRIGID!

Go read those chapters!

Go watch that slideshow!

And Enjoy!

Nik reviews: LEFT DROWNING by Jessica Park

Left Drowning

Jessica Park

Release Day: July 16

Add on:

Pre-order here:

amazon | barnes & noble | tbd

 What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe? 

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning. 

This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content. 

Note: due to mature content recommended for Ages 17+

I was already committed to reading an eARC of another book by the time I received LD's eARC. I really had a hard time deciding which book to read first. I already started the other book but I wanted to start LD as well and weigh my emotions about the two books (cue music: torn between two lovers books). As I was expecting, Jessica had me gripped with her story on the first page. ON THE FUCKING FIRST PAGE. My dilemma has been solved by a freaking one page. What does that tells you huh? Well maybe that, THIS BOOK IS AMAZING.

Amazing story, amazing characters, amazingly written.

I'm not saying this just because Jessica is one of my favorite authors and that I made a pact to myself with my own blood (<< wait, don't take this literally) that I will read any book this author will ever write. I'm saying this because of what the book really is: AMAZING.

I don't know how to properly review this book without giving away so much spoilers but I will try my best to not spoil it for you guys who are reading this and haven't read LD yet.

Blythe McGuire - a nineteen year old college student in Matthews who has to go through a tragic event of losing her parents right in front of her eyes and destroying the dreams her brother James had happily weaved. She honestly believe that it was her entire fault, and so four years had already passed but she hasn't really moved on. She chose to detach herself from people surrounding her and decided to just watch her life continues from the outside. Just when she thought her life will just be this monotonous berating of herself, she met Chris.

Christopher Shepherd - a nineteen year old college student in Matthews who cares deeply enough for his three siblings that he chose to bottle-in all the pain he went through during his childhood. After leaving their pasts behind, he thought everything would finally be all right and he's in control now. But really, it was just the beginning for him and his sibs before their haunting pasts come crashing down on them.

Blythe + Chris - an inexplicable draw between these two characters could be felt the moment they first met. It was wonderfully emotional. I felt raw pain for these two characters trying to struggle against the pull of their fucked-up histories hoping they will both win, one way or another.

Shepherd sibs (Sabin, Estelle and Eric) - a set of colorful characters that guided Blythe toward the water's surface and helped her breathe again. Despite their own shitload pasts, they were able to save Blythe from drowning. Blythe found a family with this crazy bunch; a family that she thought was completely lost on her.

The conflict in this book was written in a way you could never imagine. I wonder where Jessica got it? Oh yes, of course from her wonderful brain that I wish I have an access to.

This book, by far, is the best book she has ever written. Every character, and by 'every' I mean ALL of the characters, will leave a mark on whatever will be left of your fragile heart after reading this novel. This book will tear you open like floodgates. So yeah, take that as a warning. It is one hell of an emotional ride that I wasn't ready to end.

Jessica has always had a way with words and writes like nobody else. And I would kill for her fucking humor, too. Sure, creative writing can be learned but this girl seriously has the gift of careening words to make a beautiful story.

And holy shit, can she write sex scenes! Like for real. Like, volcanic-hot sex scenes. This woman knows steamy. Yes. I didn't get much of it from FOL and FOM so when I was reading LD and I am on "THAT" part, I was like WTH it's seven-fucking-o'clock in the morning and I feel like needing the coldest shower with water straight from Antarctica. Holy mother of penguins-living-in-the-arctics. So if you are wondering what that note on the blurb is for, well you got the answer: sex steamier than your favorite ramen. Ooops. ;)

Below are my twitter antics when I was reading LD. Yep, that's me: bitch gone crazy.

I hope Jess didn't think that it was a ginormous mistake on her part giving me an eARC with all the tweet-bugging she experienced from me. LOL

And I just want to take this opportunity to thank Jessica for giving me the chance to read this book in advance before all the world read and gush about it. THANK YOU. You just made this month one of the best birthday months of my life. Seriously.

I decided not to include quotes, YET. I'm afraid I might quote the whole book and ruin it for you guys. Maybe I'll update this post and include my favorite quotes on the release day.

So there, if I haven't expressed how I loved this book so much the way I reviewed it I don't know how else to do it. Oh yes, maybe I can by giving a rating? I know there's a post somewhere in my blog about the ratings I give but I will make ONE exception for this book.

 one billion stars until you are all LEFT DROWNING

Note: eARC provided by Jessica Park. I don't know if for an honest review or she just found me annoying and gave me a copy so I can shut the hell up. LOL. Love you, Jess! *wink*

Nik rants about: LEFT DROWNING by Jessica Park

I am perfectly aware that this post SHOULD be all about my review for this amazing book by Jessica Park. But... Since this is my blog and you can't do anything, (Please, I am not threatening you to stop reading because eventually we'll both make it to the official review maybe by the end of this post LOL. Or if you don't really care click here and it'll take you directly to my official review. Haha!) I'm gonna do some story-telling first  (I love me some story-telling! Who doesn't?!) about how lucky I am to have an eARC of this lovely, lovely book.

WARNING: I might tear your ears off and leave you breathless reading this just like what I did to Jess when I "talked" to her through email.

So... I liked Jess's FB page waaaay before after reading FOM. Because why not? She's one of my favorite authors by then. I was at work on June 6 browsing her page. And no, I didn't get busted. Thank God, Facebook isn't blocked! Yay! So this is what I saw on her page:

And my reaction was something like "ohmygod is this for fucking real?!". But of course I didn't say that aloud because hello? I'm at work and my colleagues may have been scandalized. Haha. Or maybe I did say that aloud unconsciously and they all thought I was just working with some kickass data set? I am not so sure. LOL. But then the words started to sink in. Words like 'HARDCORE REVIEWERS'. Fuck me. I do have a book blog but it's a newborn, infant, maybe a fetus blog and I am not a hardcore reviewer because as much as I want to live in a literal book world where I can do nothing but to read and write reviews, I can't. I have a life where I get up every fucking weekday at 6:00 AM to go to work at 8:00 AM and be at home at 7:00 PM. (But hey! I am not complaining because the said job supports my bibliophilia! Haha).

Another set of discouraging words for me were 'THAT TELLS ME YOU REVIEW REGULARLY'.  Double fuck me. My happy bubble was completely deflated in a matter of seconds. Anyhow, I still sent her an e-mail with ZERO hope that she'll give me an ARC or least, reply to my message. This is how my e-mail went:

You see? I don't know why she even read that. LOL. But after ten minutes, she fucking replied! HOLY COW! Jessica replied! HOLY COW! Jessica replied! HOLY COW! Jessica replied! HOLY CO.... Okay enough. So yeah, here's her reply:

Finally, living in the Philippines doesn't feel like living in another world. Well at least in that moment. Hooray! And did she mention fangirly? Am I fangirly? I might have said in my e-mail that I was trying to lick Matty's butt (if you don't know who Matty is, WHY THE HELL NOT?!!! *glares*) but that doesn't mean I am fan-girling right? Right? Oh... that counts as fangirly huh? Okay, now that I think about it... it's actually borderline obsessive fan-girling.

We exchanged some more e-mails before I finally stop wasting her precious time and when I thought she's already convulsing over my lack of use of punctuation marks like this one that you feel like you're out of breath reading this and on the verge of choking while thinking why does this stupid girl talk write so much it's sickening. HAH! Breathe, people, breathe. *wink*

And that's how I got my eARC of Left Drowning. And I lived happily ever after. Ooops, scratch that line. Jessica is one of the sweetest author that I've come across with. I feel like that was the luckiest day of my bookworm life. I spent hours clicking on Rafflecopter shit hoping to win ARCs of books that I want to read but I never win. NOT EVEN ONCE. Honestly, I have no luck, as in zero luck, when it comes to giveaways or contests. But I still join them. Who knows, maybe someday, luck will finally knock on my freaking open door. LOL

Now I know you're all sick and tired of this nonsense. Yes, please believe me when I say I know that because I really do. That's why I'm shutting up right now and will give you my thoughts about this wonderful book. ;)

Click me! >> LEFT DROWNING REVIEW << Click me!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Like in my In My Mailbox post, I'm saying this again: This is my first time to do such meme. Haha! Can you now see how a noob I am? :)

So for my "Waiting on" pick is Killing Sarai by the NYT best-selling author J.A. Redmerski... Just because I can't get enough of bad-ass books like this one. ;)

KILLING SARAI

Release date: June 20

The Blurb

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years. 

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another. 

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead. 

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed. 

This is their story…

Exclusive excerpt from Aestas Book Blog

The flash of a silver blade catches my eye. I panic when I glimpse the knife in his hand and start to twist my body awkwardly. But he holds me down, putting the weight of his hand on the small of my back, the hand with the knife wrestling with my left shoulder. 

“What are you going to do?!” I shriek. 

“Victor, no!” 

I thrash around more violently, trying to roll over onto my back so that I can get up. Suddenly he’s lying fully on top of me, and his closeness, the warmth of his breath on the side of my neck, takes my breath away. My entire frame solidifies beneath him and then begins to relax, melting into his body as his voice dances along the shell of my ear. 

“I will be gentle,” he whispers and my skin shivers from my ear down the full length of my spine. 

He presses himself into me from behind, his hardness obvious behind the thin layer of his pants that separates us.

“I promise,” he says onto my ear. “But it has to come out. Do you understand? Do you trust me?” He presses his hips toward me again and I feel me moving against him involuntarily. I shut my eyes when the tingling sensation between my legs moves through my back and into my eyelids. 

“Yes,” I whisper. “I trust you." 

“Good,” he says softly and slowly raises himself off of me. 

I remain very still, thinking so much more about Victor and what he just did to me than the more imperative threat. A part of me doesn’t even care about what he’s going to do, that he’s about to cut into me with a knife, that it’s going to hurt like hell. And perhaps that’s the only reason he did what he did, knowing somehow that he could control my mood, my emotions, with the hope that he might touch me more than he already has. I feel like a toy and Victor knows every button on me which to push, to touch, in order to make me do whatever he wants, feel whatever he wants me to feel. And I don’t mind. I don’t know how he did it, but I don’t mind at all. 

“Bite down on the pillow if you have to,” he says. 

I reach up and grab the nearest pillow towards me, crushing it against my chest. I squeeze my eyes shut tight. 

Another exclusive excerpt from Vilma's Book Blog

She gets up from the bed and my head falls to the side to see her as she approaches. Not knowing what to do, unable to read her because I’m confused by her actions, I don’t speak. She lies down beside me. Her knees are drawn up and pressed together, her hands hidden between them, and she looks at me. 

“You should get back into your own bed,” I say. 

“I just want to sleep here. It’s not what you think. I’m just afraid.” 

“You fear nothing,” I say, looking back up at the ceiling. 

“You’re wrong,” she counters. “I fear everything. What tomorrow will bring and if I’ll be alive to see the end of it. I’m afraid of Javier or anyone else coming through that door and killing me in my sleep. I’m afraid of never being able to live a normal life. I don’t even know what normal feels like anymore.” 

“There is a stark difference between fear and uncertainty, Sarai. You fear nothing but are uncertain of everything.” 

“How can you believe that?” She seems truly confounded by my assessment of her. 

I look at her and answer, “Because you didn’t go to the police. Because you made no effort to contact anyone else that you knew and you have had dozens of chances to do so. Because you got back in the car. With me. A killer. Because you know that I will kill you without thinking twice about it and I would not be remorseful, yet you’re lying next to me. Here in this bed. Alone and willingly.” 

I reach over and pull the gun from the floor beside the bed and before she knows what’s happening, the barrel of it is pressed underneath her chin, forcing her head backward. I push my body against hers, our shoulders touching, the weight of my gun hand held up by her chest. My eyes study hers, the question and surprise within them, although faint. I look at her mouth, her soft and innocent lips pressed together gently. 

I lean over and whisper onto the side of her mouth, “Because you’re not shaking, Sarai.” And then slowly, I pull the gun away, never removing my eyes from hers. 

“I am not Javier,” I say. “You are mistaken if you believe you can manipulate me as you did him.” 

She appears offended, though it’s very faint in her eyes, I see it. It is exactly the reaction that I wanted. That I needed, to know that the accusation is untrue. 

Without argument, she looks away from me and rolls over onto her other side. She doesn’t get up and move back to her bed. 

And I don’t force her. 

“I wasn’t with Javier willingly,” she says with her back to me.  “I don’t have any reason to manipulate you.”  

A minute of quiet passes; only the shuffling of feet moving down the carpeted hallway outside the door disrupting it. 

“I’m glad you came back,” she says softly. “And Victor…I should tell you, I’ve been a liar for the past nine years of my life. Everything I said and did and expressed was a lie. I like to think I’ve mastered it by now.” She pauses and I don’t have to wonder long where she’s going with this. “I’ve noticed that every time you talk to that man, Niklas, about me, that you’re lying to him.” She cranes her head backward to see me behind her. “Thank you for helping me.” 

And then she turns away again and says nothing to me for the rest of the night.

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 20, 2013  

On release day June 20th, KILLING SARAI will be ON SALE for $1.99 for Amazon Kindle and at Barnes & Noble for Nook! One day only, folks! So snag your copy on the 20th before it goes up to regular price on the 21st! 

**COUNTDOWN + TEASER** Playing for Keeps by Emma Hart

ARE YOU DROOLING YET? ;)

In My Mailbox No. 1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, in which book bloggers post about the books they've bought, borrowed or received in the past week.

This is my first time doing this! I think I'm getting serious with my blogging. LOL

So...

This week I bought:

Paperback copies

• Hopeless - Colleen Hoover
• Second Chance Summer - Morgan Matson
• Flat-Out Love - Jessica Park
• Flat-Out Matt - Jessica Park

Ebooks

• Faking It - Cora Carmack
• Entwined with You - Sylvia Day

This week I received in my inbox:

• Leo's Chance (eARC) - Mia Sheridan
• One Tiny Lie (eARC) - K.A. Tucker
• Left Drowning (eARC) - Jessica Park

COVER REVEAL: April Showers by Karli Perrin

Release Date: June 14, 2013

Genre: New Adult

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The Blurb

What happens when your head and your hearf pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to found out.

When April enrolls at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends... New crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus - with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds hersekf wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn'twhat it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she fins solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she's in control of her own destiny before it's too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life chaning journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

 

Author Bio

Karli Perrin is a 25 year old English Languange & Linguistics graduate from Manchester. She has always been a big lover of books and is currently writing her first NA novel - April Showers.

She is a big believer of fate and is a sucker for a happy ending. She honestly believes  that there is a reason why you are reading this right now (apart from the fact that you are awesome!)

Her ultimate goal in life is to live in a house made entirely out of books with her best friend, who also happens to be her fiancé.

...Hogwarts is plan B.