ARC REVIEW: Possession by A.M. Johnson

*ARC given in exchange for an honest review

Title: Possession
Author: A.M. Johnson
Series: Avenues Ink Series #1
Release Date: February 16, 2017

S Y N O P S I S: 

Paige Simon was the only girl Declan ever loved. The only one capable of silencing his voices, the only person to ever have faith in who he was, until the day her faith turned to doubt and destroyed everything they’d made together.

Declan O ’Connell was the only person Paige could be herself with. The only one she could rely on, until the day she was forced to make a choice that would condemn them both.

They’ve had years apart, and second chances don’t belong to the damned. But when you come face to face with your savior, it’s almost impossible to walk away. In order to move beyond the sins of their past, and forever silence the demons in his head, they’ll have to risk it all.  

But with love, there are real reasons to be afraid and, sometimes… your salvation is your damnation.   

Other than a riveting plot and an engaging prose, I always look for depth each time I read a book. And wow, did Miss Amanda ace all those. In a book world filled with swoony billionaires and perfect prince charmings, here comes Declan O’Connell, a warrior of his own, slaying his demons even in his sleep.

I belonged to the abyss, and no chemical on Earth would drag me from its depths.

I’ve never quite read something as poignant and beautiful as Declan. He was an artist through and through. The depth of his character was so deep, he might as well be a living, breathing abstract. His loyalty, his heart, and his love were perfect components of his troubled mind and soul. A character cut from human imperfections and still, I fell for him perfectly. 

She’ll bleed you dry. Maybe… But, at least the poison would at last be free from my system and maybe then the death she’d give me would be sweet, because I’d have tasted what it felt like to live again one last time.

Paige had a depth of her own. A woman who loved fiercely but was persuaded by guilt and honor. Oh, how Paige will test a reader’s heart. She was a woman of her own strength and she fought battles at her own pace. A woman who made wrong choices but was never defined by them. 

“I love you. It’s my affliction, and I’ll never be cured of it, never be rid of how I feel about you.”

I wish I was articulate enough to form the perfect words for what this book made me feel. AM Johnson’s evocative prose was most stunning in this book. The story was so complex and yet every detail of the story was clear, palpable, and equally important. Every tinge of emotion was utterly felt. The characters were so moving, bearing unique depths that I’ve never ever felt from a book before. 

Paige’s inner light basked in Declan’s darkness. A couple from different worlds but were bound by each other’s soul. 

This book is a masterpiece.

COVER REVEAL: A Boy Like You by Ginger Scott

Check out the cover of A BOY LIKE YOU by Ginger Scott! Don't forget to preorder your copy today!

A BOY LIKE YOU

NA Contemporary Romance-Stand Alone

Scheduled to release: March 3, 2017

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B L U R B :

They say everyone’s a superhero to someone. I’m not sure who I’m supposedto save, but I know who saved me.

We were kids. His name was Christopher. And up until the day he pulled mefrom death’s grip, he was nothing more than a boy I felt sorry for. In ablink of an eye, he became the only person who made me feel safe.

And then he disappeared.

Now I’m seventeen. I’m not a kid anymore. I haven’t been for years. While death didn’t take me that day, the things that happened left me with scars—the kind that robbed me of everything I once loved and drove me into darkness. But more than anything else, that day—and every day since—has taken away my desire to dream.

I wasn’t going to have hope. I wouldn’t let myself wish. Those things—they weren’t for girls like me. That’s what I believed…until the new boy.

He’s nothing like the old boy. He’s taller and older. His hair is longer, and his body is lean—strong and ready for anything. I don’t feel sorry for him. And sometimes, I hate him. He challenges me. From the moment I first saw him standing there on the baseball field, he pushed me—his eyes constantly questioning, doubting…daring. Still, something about him—it feels…familiar.

He says his name is Wes. But I can’t help but feel like he’s someone else.

Someone from my past. Someone who’s come back to save me.

This time, though, he’s too late. Josselyn Winters, the girl he once knew, is gone. I am the threat; I am my worst enemy. And he can’t save me from myself.

A b o u t   t h e   A u t h o r:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, and Hold My Breath.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Social Media Links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor

Twitter: @TheGingerScott

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Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

COVER REVEAL: Rocked Up by Karina Halle & Scott Mackenzie

TITLE: Rocked Up by Karina Halle & Scott Mackenzie

Cover Designer: By Hang Le

Release Date: April 12th, 2017

Rocked Up is a STANDALONE rockstar romantic comedy and the fun and sexy brainchild of New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle and her husband Scott Mackenzie.

* * * * * *

I have been watching him since I was a child. 

He didn't notice me back then and it didn't matter. Brad Snyder, guitarist and singer for one of the world's greatest bands, was my entire life.

My father, the CEO of Ramsey Records, takes credit for all of Brad's success, trying to control him in the same way he's controlled me.

But I finally get an opportunity to prove myself. 

To be wild. 

To be free.

Today I'm auditioning to be the replacement bass player for Brad's band. If I get the job, I'll go on tour and work with Brad every day, in very close proximity.

There's only one rule: he's not allowed to touch the boss's daughter.

Remember when I said that Brad never used to notice little ol' me?

Well, Brad's noticing me now.

In a way that's going to get us both in trouble.

My name is Lael Ramsey and we all know how this will turn out.

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Smut, The Artists Trilogy, Heat Wave and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her rescue pup and her husband Scott Mackenzie, who co-wrote Rocked Up with her. That's right. It's like the book SMUT come to life! This is their first venture as a writing team. A lot of music was played. A lot of laughs were had. A lot of sex was...put in the book!

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Ever Over After by J.A. DeRouen

Ever Over After (The Over Duet #2)

Cover Design: DCP Designs

Release Date: January 9, 2017

 

Synopsis

Marlo … wild-eyed, untamed, and every single thing I’ve ever wanted from this life. I wasn’t ready for her back then. I was a stupid boy with adult feelings and no idea what to do with them. I squandered away every chance she gave me. 

Yes, love like ours either burns white hot or crumbles under the pressure. 

And now I’m back to sift through the rubble. 

Questions and excuses are two things I have in spades. 

What I need now are answers. 

Answers and Low. 

Always Low. 

 My name is Ever Montgomery, and this is my story of love resurrected.   

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2i7ck1T

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iRTUkc

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2irBw0P

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2jqVSeN

 Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250410/?

   

Now Available

Low Over High (The Over Duet #1)

ON SALE FOR 99¢!

 

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2fWZYdH

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eZuZsn

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2fiTh3z

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2fInplJ

       

About the Author

J.A. DeRouen lives in South Louisiana with her husband, son (aptly named "The Professor), and her furry friend, Scout. She holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and nursing.

When she's not writing or inhaling romance novels by the stack, she works as a women's health nurse. She's been an avid reader and daydreamer since childhood, and she's never stopped turning the page to get to the next happily ever after.

 

Connect with J.A.

Website: http://www.jaderouen.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2dFHwzC

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2c3Y2O0

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Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2e78EZu

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2eNra9f

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2eNrncx

 

BOOK REVIEW: Ever Over After (The Over #2) by J.A. DeRouen

Title: Ever Over After

Author: J.A. DeRouen

Series: The Over Duet #2

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Marlo … wild-eyed, untamed, and every single thing I’ve ever wanted from this life. I wasn’t ready for her back then. I was a stupid boy with adult feelings and no idea what to do with them. I squandered away every chance she gave me.

Yes, love like ours either burns white hot or crumbles under the pressure.

And now I’m back to sift through the rubble.

Questions and excuses are two things I have in spades. What I need now are answers. 

Answers and Low.

Always Low.

My name is Ever Montgomery, and this is my story of love resurrected.

*ARC given in exchange for an honest review* 

After meeting Marlo and Ever in Low Over High, I never got over the high. And that poignant pull continued with Ever Over After. This book brilliantly stirs the emotions and just goes straight through the heart. 

With one glance, I morph into that broken girl he threw away. I guess part of her will always live in me.

Marlo craved change. She needed a new place and some new people to deter her from the painful memories of her past. But then one part of her past never actually left and he has no plans of leaving. I loved the contradicting mix of resilience and vulnerability in Marlo’s character. She was not portrayed as a damsel-in-distress but a woman of strength who fought battles every day. She was fun and kind and sophisticated. But she also carries a streak of issues that added up to the weight of the story. 

I’m a better man when I’m loving you.

Ever needed a fix. A fix of his life, a fix of his family, and a fix of himself. He knew he was too broken to deserve and protect Marlo so he opted to leave. Only to find out that the fix he needed was the person he left. Ever was a refreshing break from perfect heroes. He was broken and yet equally swoony. I loved every crack of brokenness this man had. Because even with his bad life and bad decisions, he had the sincerest, loveliest intentions. He loved hard and fierce and I loved him back the same way. 

“Time passes, memories fade, but feelings are forever.”

This duet really pulled strong for me. Two characters fighting their own demons, trying to deserve each other. In Ever Over After, the emotional pull and attraction escalated beautifully. The pent-up heat and sexual tension that built up on the first book was poignantly fulfilled on this second one. The way JA DeRouen captures emotion is utterly addicting. I loved the words and the way it was fluidly written. The plot was not forced and scenes were timed perfectly. The story wasn’t all tears and brokenness. It has fun and cute streaks of smiles and laughter from adorable side characters. Whether it’s the pain or the fulfillment or the rage, this book just makes you feel, feel, and feel.