Darker Days Cover Reveal & Excerpt by Jus Accardo

Darker Days (Darker Agency, #1) by Jus Accardo

Synopsis

Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course…

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

 Seven deadly ones, in fact.

 They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they’re recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing…

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

And Now for the Cover…..

Excerpt

“So not your biggest fan at the moment,” I said, closing the office door behind me. The runofffrom my jeans had soaked my sneakers pretty good. With each step, I gave a slight squishing noise accompanied by an annoying squeak against the old tile floor.

From across the room, Mom stared. “What happened to you?”

“It attacked me.” Tossing my bag on the couch, I sank into her chair and made sure to grind my butt into the cushion. Got it nice and wet. I was all about sharing the love—and right now, the love was soggy.

She laughed, waving a folder in my direction. “Surely you’re overreacting. It was one little zombie. They don’t attack people.”

“I’m serious, Ma. It tried to drown me. And the client assaulted me with ugly footwear. As far as punishments go, I’d say we’re probably square. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“You’re serious?” Amused expression now replaced by concern, she crossed the room and leaned over her desk to get a better look at me.

“As a coronary.” Once I was sure the chair had sponged up all it could, I stood and huffed past her. Pulling at my favorite T-shirt—the word Fate inside a blood red heart, is a four letter word on the back—I said, “Child welfare would not be happy to hear you tried to feed your only child to a walking corpse…”

“But why would it attack? Did you provoke it?” Folding her arms, she frowned. “Insult it, perhaps?”

I winked at her. “Provoke it? Sure. I went and wiggled my ass in front of it yelling lunch just to see what’d happen.” I’d called it Stinky, but that didn’t count as an insult. Something couldn’t be considered an insult if it was true, right?

Right eyebrow twitching, she fought against a smile. “But you’re okay, right? No bites, broken bones, head injuries, possessions…?”

I smiled and did a little twirl. “All in one piece and still me.”

Mom had a checklist she went through at the end of each job. I was known for taking almost as much damage as I inflicted.

“Oh, and you’re probably going to get a call from the client. I sorta smashed her fence in the process.”

Mom groaned. “I told you to be more careful.”

“It’s not like I tried to break anything.”

“Something tells me you didn’t try hard enough not to break anything, either.”

“In my defense, it wasn’t a simple trap and slap…”

“We can’t afford this.” She reached down and pulled a white envelope out from under a stack of papers. “This is the bill for that Mercedes you smashed.”

“Oh! So not my fault. How was I supposed to know that Spring Heel was gonna land on the car? If it makes you feel any better, I think he was aiming for my head…”

“If you keep this up, we won’t even be able to afford the rent.”

She was right, of course, and it made me feel horrible. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a wrecking ball wrapped in blue jeans. Take my cut of this job and put it toward the repairs. Keep my paycheck for the next month, too.” A good start, but it didn’t feel like enough. Sure, it would cover the damages—I hoped—but I felt guilty about upsetting her. The bills that were piling up kept her awake at night. This was only going to make things worse. We got a fair amount of business, but the overhead in our line of work was sky high.

As much as I hated the idea, I knew what would cheer her up. “I’ll even throw in pet possessions for the next month.”

Find Darker Days

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17370021-darker-days?ac=1

About Jus

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

 Find Jus

Website:http://www.jusaccardo.com

Blog: http://www.jusaccardo.com/category/blog/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JusAccardo

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

Dare You To by Katie McGarry ARC Review

To be published May 28, 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear.“Dance with me, Beth.”

“No.” I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again….

“I dare you…”
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….

My Thoughts….

Katie McGarry took the YA world by storm with her first book Pushing the Limits. Did we think that she could top that one? I bet not, but, she has done it again! She is giving her readers another beautiful love story in her second book of the series.

I honestly loved the first book in the series and didn’t think that I could love another one as much. I was sadly mistaken because I can honestly say that in my opinion, this book was better!

We don’t get to see this type of story line often. Usually, we all get to love the “bad boy”. That is what made this book so different. We get a “bad girl” and a very good guy!

The story starts out on a dare. Ryan and his friends are always daring each other to get girl’s phone numbers. Ryan NEVER loses a dare. EVER! But this time, he may have met his match! This girl is not going to let him win that easily.

Beth has had a rough life. She has to take care of her addict mother, whom has an abusive boyfriend. She lives with her Mom’s sister and her aunt is not really the best parent either. All of a sudden out of nowhere, her uncle shows up whom she has not seen in years. He decides that now he wants her to live with him. Sooo not what she had in mind.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Beth and Ryan. I loved the way she makes him work for it and doesn’t just give in right away. I think they were really good for each other. They each put something into the relationship that the other needed. Beth gave Ryan her gift of taking risks and being able to stand up for himself. Ryan gave Beth the idea that there is love out there and people that you can actually count on no matter what. Each half literally made them whole.

I must take a moment to comment on the cover! Love, LOve, LOVE the cover. Who wouldn’t want to be Beth in this situation? Hubba Hubba!!!

I can’t wait to see what Ms. Mcgarry has in store for us next! With Crash Into You coming in November 2013!

Book Trailer For Pushing The Limits

Above by Mackie Burt ARC Review, Waiting On Wednesday & Free book by J. Gurtler!

Published March 13, 2013 by Carthay Circle Publishing

Callie Lane is your typical all-American teenager, struggling with issues of love and jealousy, boys, schoolwork, picking out the right clothes, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil and navigating her way through the straits of “growing up.” The only difference is that Callie is dead. And her world is now ABOVE.

When 17 year-old Callie’s life is suddenly cut short, she “wakes up” ABOVE, and soon discovers it’s not exactly what she expected. Still reeling from the fact that she is, in fact, no longer living, Callie learns that she’s also part of a select group of recently-passed teens fated to become Guardians.

Not only does Callie have to go to Guardian school, her dead grandmother happens to be the headmistress and the curriculum includes revisiting every mistake she’s ever made. And since no one seems to want to give her a straight answer about anything — including the mysterious empty room next to hers — Callie comes to realize that life ABOVE is even more confusing than the life she just left behind.

Callie must come to terms with her Watched resisting her guidance, her feelings for Logan, a boy she’s drawn to but who withholds from her, and the knowledge that she is a target for the evil that exists ABOVE. But her hardest lesson will be to understand that she has as much to give as she has to learn. Callie must choose to acknowledge and accept her gifts, embrace her fate, and become a Guardian who can make a difference that will impact the worlds below, ABOVE and beyond.

My Thoughts:

First of all, I must commend Ms. Burt on her fantastic writing skills. She wrote this book as a young teen. Imagine the possibilities that could arise as she matures and her writing skills just keep getting better and better. She is definitely one to watch out for!

Normally, I tend to shy away from afterlife stories. They always tend to be the same thing! Either they become an angel, get a second chance or meet up with a long-lost relative. I was pleasantly surprised at the story line with this book though!

One of the best parts of being a Guardian is that we get a chance to grow and change. We get to exist in both worlds. We know the secret of life and have the knowledge of death

Callie has woken up “above” and she has to deal with the fact that she died and has been chosen to be a guardian. She has to go back to guardian school which is run by her grandmother AND her cousin, Blaize had died with her. So not only does she have to deal with her own death, but she feels responsible for Blaize’s death too!

I loved all of the secondary characters! Frankie is Callie’s roommate and she is a pip! Definitely like a cheerleader that has eaten tons of cotton candy! Ansley is such a cutie, he is the first person Callie meets when she gets to the school and he is friendly enough to take her under his wing and show her around.

This leads us to Logan. Oh Logan, he runs hot and cold and Callie has a hard time reading him. You can really tell that he struggles to control his emotions and every once in awhile, he lets his guard down. He drives Callie crazy!

The story really tied itself together and I never expected it to go the way that it did. There were little surprises around every corner. Some of my favorite parts were when Callie was reminiscing thinking about her family. You could tell that they really meant a lot to her and she was having a hard time grasping her death.

It was not really a cliffhanger ending but, the book eludes to the fact that there are bigger things to come for Callie and I am patiently waiting to find out:)

Waiting On Wednesday

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

To Be Published May 31, 2013 by Entangled Publishing

He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something… unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life…or is it Hunter?

I WANT THIS BOOK! I NEED THIS BOOK! I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS BOOK!

Free Book Alert

“For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy…” 

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

TO READ MY REVIEW GO HERE

You can get your copy of I’m Not Her from the Ibookstore until May 27th using the following link:

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/im-not-her/id514614411?mt=11

The Program by Suzanne Young Review

Published April 30, 2013 by Simon Pulse

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

My Thoughts:

This was the saddest book that I had read in a long time! Don’t get me wrong, I loved it!!! This was exactly what a great book is supposed to do for you. It leaves you with a ton of jumbled up emotions; I felt like my heart was breaking, I fell in love, I was confused and I laughed! This book definitely makes one of my top favorites this year so far!!!

Okay, so here’s the story…..

Sloane, James and Miller live in a time when suicide had effected so many of the young people. The government believed that suicide was an infection and it could be contagious. So, they created “The Program”.

The Program basically was set up where everyone would keep watch and if anyone noticed any changes in one of the town’s young people, they would call the “handler’s” and that person would be taken to the one of the rehab centers to start their working towards getting better. Also, they make each student fill out an assessment at school with crazy questions like:

Have you felt lonely or overwhelmed recently?

Has anyone close to you committed suicide?

Sloane, James and Miller think they have the system all figured out. They try to stay off the radar and keep all attention off of them. The problems start when Miller’s girlfriend, Lacey gets released from rehab and she doesn’t remember him at all. They know her memory has been erased, but they wonder what else had happened to her. What they don’t know is that they have no idea of what it is really like on the inside of a rehab center. But, some of them will soon find out.

I cannot even express the feelings that I had while reading this book!

 

Sloane and James are a couple and their story is fascinating yet a very sad one. They share a tragedy that really, no one should ever have to witness. I think that is what holds them together so closely. I do believe that they adore each other and there were times that they gave me a chuckle, especially when Sloane was reminiscing! They also ripped my heart out. I found myself literally sobbing at some points!!

Suzanne Young, I bow to you for creating a superb storyline and characters that are real and very likeable! Although, I still am not sure about this Michael person??? I find it amazing and I really can’t put my finger on it, but, some authors have the ability to literally pull us in with their characters and make us feel like we are a part of their story and we feel the pain and anguish right along with them. This was one of those times and I THANK YOU!!!

Highly recommended Read! Now, the long wait for the next book:(

 

Meet PS & A Giveaway!!!

Priscilla here!

I know you guys are really used to Heather, but you’ll love me soon. Trust me.

Anyway, I’m supposed to let you all know a little about me and my life. So, here goes:

I love neon orange, but have to refrain from calling it bright orange (everyone always “corrects” me). I can be OCD at times, like when I’m walking I sometimes have to, like, take seven steps no matter what, or tap my foot seven times, or just write my name seven times.. pretty much, when I think about doing something seven times, I have to do it or my life, like, uhh, ends. They call me crazy for a reason. Lol:) And every morning when I straighten my hair, I always have to tell myself: “Okay, Priscilla, it’s X:XX in the morning on *insert day of week*, *insert month and date*. YOU ARE UNPLUGGING THE HAIR IRON.” The funny thing is, I end up worrying about it anyway. #GirlGotProblems

As long as my nails are painted I feel pretty, no matter what. Seriously, my hair can look terrible, but when I look down and see my pretty, painted nails..? My troubles are gone. Legit.

I love Fall Out Boy and Paramore, but other than that I mostly listen to Country. Country’s awesome, but I really feel like *some* artists are trying to make it like rap. Me no like rap, Jason Aldean.

I strongly support gay marriage and animal rights. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 3-4. I hate tofu, so don’t ask. Because I do get asked. Often.

It’s not easy to get me upset, but once you start joking about killing animals.. just don’t. Violence shall ensue. But you won’t joke, ’cause we’re all buddies now. #amiright

When it comes to pretty colors, I’m like that stereotypical bird that sees something shiny.

I LOVE Fall Out Boy. And, yes, I know I already said that. But I want to make it a point of their radiating awesomeness.

I have three cats, three dogs, and two sugar gliders. I had three fish, but one of my cats nearly killed the female, Bella (yeah, after Twilight), so I gave them to a local pet store. It still hurts. *cries*

My favorite movies: Twilight, Titanic, The Ugly Truth, Soul Surfer, and Dare Devil.

My favorite books: Of Posiedon (Anna Banks), The Selection (Kiera Cass), Shatter Me (Tahereh Mafi), Unravel Me (Tahereh Mafi), If He Had Been with Me (Laura Nowlin), Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire), Touched (Corrine Jackson), Willow (Julia Hoban), and Tithe (Holly Black).

I like to write. And read. *takes in your shocked expression*

Oh, and I’m in love with a lotion from Victoria’s Secret called “Hello Darling”. Seriously, go. Smell it.

Also, I purposely like to make my floor as cluddered and hard to walk through as possible, so when I wake up in the mornings and hear that alarm clock, I fall or stab myself in the foot at least once. It wakes me right up. But I have to cludder it in a different way at least once every three days or I end up finding a safe route. There can be no safe route. I have no will power. Pain is the only way. Haha.. when I re-read that I feel like I sound a little insane…

Yeah, you’ll love me. I can feel it. *evil laugh*

 

Giveaway:

Okay, This is how it works:

We each have posted a picture of us reading our favorite book. YOU have to try to figure out which book it is??? Fill out the form below and one winner will be chosen from each of the correct entries. That is right, 2 ways to win! USA only…Sorry:( The contest will end on June 1st at midnight, Eastern time. Winner will be announced on Monday, June 3rd. Good Luck!!!

H. Lee:

The winner will win one of my favorite books, Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams.

Imagine your name is John Lennon, only everyone calls you Beatle.

And then you meet your Dream girl and her name is Destiny McCartney.

But what if you’re already with the perfect girl?

A novel about change, chance and everybody doing the wrong thing.

P.S.

The winner will win a copy of North Of Beautiful by Justina Chen

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You’re the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face? 

It’s hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She’s tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably “flawed” face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob’s path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty.

Exciting Changes Coming!!!

Heads up! NightlyReading will be experiencing a lot of changes in the coming weeks. One huge change is that I now have a partner and she has A LOT of great ideas! I can’t wait! We also may be changing the look of the blog and of course will have LOTS of reviews!!!

I would personally like to thank all of you for continuing to follow the blog even in my absence these past few months. Life just kind of got in the way, but, I am ready to get back into it and very excited for what NightlyReading has in store for all of you;) i hope you are too!

Enemy Within by Angeline Kace Review

Published on April 30, 2013 by Accendo Press

Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl’s curse ultimately save her? 

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world’s most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she’s not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what’s left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend’s life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

First of all, thanks Angeline for the review copy!!! I felt like I had waited a lifetime for this book! I had actually started reading it and got through the first chapter, thought to myself, I have no idea of what is going on???? I had to go back and read Descended By Blood all over again! But it was sooo worth it!

The first book left us with with Brooke figuring out that her Dad basically was trying to kill her. In this book, we really get to know her father and see a little bit more of how much Brooke would like his approval. Since not having a father her whole life, she cannot help but want to have a relationship with him and get to know him.

Whether you are Team Mirko (me! me!) or Team Jaren, you will get to see a lot of them both. Mirko is as overprotective as ever and Jaren is just as sweet and loving. Brooke DOES pick whom she wants to be with, NO! I can’t tell you! You will just have to read it yourself!

So much happens and you really need to pay attention. We get to meet a few new characters, Kaitlynn has a little change and Brooke is trying to learn to control whom she is and her new powers.

This book leaves us with an even BIGGER cliffhanger and now I probably would do anything to get my hands on the next book! Until then, I will be happily sleeping with dancing Mirko’s in my head!

 

Angeline is an awesome writer and I cannot wait to see what else she has up her sleeve? Her characters are very likeable. The storyline is very unique and fascinating AND…… She has 2 hot guys in her head! What more could a girl ask for???