Sunday, September 28, 2014

Nico (Book 3 in The Leaves Series) by J.B. Hartnett Review!

"Shut up and listen. She took the breath right outta me. I looked at her, didn't know a thing about her, but my lungs burned from trying to catch my breath again. Then she smiled and that was it." J.B. Hartnett, Nico



Of The Leaves book series, this book is my absolute favorite! Yes, I love Anika- she's a talented, amazing survivor. Yes, I love Cole- he broke my heart hearing his story and restored it with how fiercely he loves Anika. But, Nico... Nico will leave you speechless. He carries the weight of the world, or at least his Birds, on his shoulders, all the time. He's so strong, so fierce and independent but everyone needs someone. Everyone needs that person that can hold them when they break and throughout this book, we get to observe Nico realizing more and more how badly he needs that someone in his life.



Let's rewind back to the beginning though, shall we? Nico was just a little boy. He led a pretty happy childhood, blessed with two sweet, wonderful parents. Dad was a hard worker and devoted to his wife. Mom spent most of her life trying to help others. She was working at a battered women's shelter at the time. That day, she took Nicolas to work with her. There, he had an experience that would forever shape his world. He met a little dishwater-blonde haired girl and they soothed each other during the most traumatic day either of them had ever experienced. They held onto each other, she took Nico's nightmares away, and he gave her his magic bear. 


Back to present day, Nico has spent his life trying to take away a little bit of hurt from women who are struggling and have experienced something that's really wounded them. He can see their sadness and he tries to offer his help by giving them a kiss, a hug, and a beautiful tattoo. He offers them a safe place to go and tries to take some of the pain away. 


Nico spends so much time worrying about his birds and taking on that burden, he doesn't really take notice of what it's doing to him. Those stories start to weigh heavily on his heart. Nico starts drinking and having sex anytime, anywhere as a way to cope with all that's bottled up inside of him. He gets into trouble in a couple of situations, after trying to help one of his birds and also during one of his drunken nights. Those instances really help him realize he needs to start getting serious and finding a partner in life. In walks Lark. She takes his breath away. It's an instant attraction, but he's hesitant because he doesn't want to screw it up. Even so, he approaches Lark and they start a beautiful relationship. Nico restores Lark's faith in men, after being hurt badly by first her father, and then her ex-fiance. Lark calms the storm in Nico's heart and she's the person who brings him that peace he desperately needs. 

Then, enter Dee. UGH. For most of the parts of the book Dee is in, this is my general feeling towards her:


She's so harsh, condescending and seems like she just doesn't want Lark to be happy. It's like she's trying to sabotage this beautiful partnership that Nico and Lark have created together. 

Not too long after that, we find out why...


Why do Nico and Lark have to be the last to know?! That was so infuriating! Although, I kinda called this story from the beginning. However, it was still beautiful to read, even if I wasn't that surprised at the ending. 

Anyway, I'm skipping ahead a little bit and I did that, purposefully. I want you to be intrigued. I want you to feel Nico's pain and the peace Lark can give him. I want you to understand how much I LOVE a man who can be so sensitive and empathetic, who can be so self-sacrificing trying to help others. Agh, Nico- be still, my heart.

Y'all just need to read it. Such a good story-- hope to hear what your feedback on the book is! Job well done, J.B. Hartnett!



Cole (Book 2 in The Leaves Series) by J.B. Hartnett Review!

"When I wake up, it's to his kiss on my forehead. He tells me I'm beautiful every day. He's always gentle with me. He knows my pain and I know his, and neither one of us is afraid to swim through the darkness of the other. The world could be falling down around us, but together we would be impenetrable. He is the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul...without him, I'm incomplete." - J.B. Hartnett, Cole


So, we start off Cole with a tragic situation! It's intense, scary, and the reader can see Cole slipping farther and farther away. Will he be able to hold it together for Anika? He'll do everything in his power to do so. Knowing that he won't be able to do it alone, Cole reaches out to the last person in the world he's wanted anything from in the last several years...his father. 


Cole's relationship with his father has not been a good one. He's been scarred and hurt by his father. He's never felt good enough and never followed in the footsteps dear-ol-dad wanted him to. At one point, his father totally traumatized him and Cole has cut himself off ever since. 




Will Cole be able to put aside his feelings towards his Father in hopes of working together? We shall see. 





I am purposefully being coy and short in writing for this review. I want you to read it. I think it is worth the read and you won't regret it! While I enjoyed Inky, I loved this book. I love that this book is about Cole. His story, his feelings, his battle, and his love. I love the continuation of Cole and Anika's love story, but I love hearing about Cole's family, too. This book really answers a lot of questions I had from the first book and it only shows the love between Anika and Cole grow and grow. It's intense, exciting, and a great read. Definitely check it out! 



Inky (Book 1 in The Leaves Series) by J.B. Hartnett Review!

"Then let's be scared together, Anika. Let me love you the way you should be loved. We'll take each day as it comes, but we have to talk... Don't walk away." -J.B. Hartnett, Inky




First off, SO sorry about the delay in writing! Life seems to be getting in the way lately, but I've been wanting to get back into writing so I decided to sink my teeth into this book and have at it!

We're initially introduced to Anika "Inky" Redding. Inky has not had an easy life. She went through a traumatic childhood, which is heartbreaking to read about. She will tug at your heart strings, share her panic with you, and blow you away with her skill in singing and painting. She is a true artist and just wants to share her love with others.

Next we're introduced to Evan... aka jerkface... aka Inky's fiancé. Inky is crazy about him. She's been crazy about him for forever, always settling for what he was willing to give her. I am NOT an Evan fan and I don't think you will be, either. Inky thought the sun rises and sets with Evan originally, but then...

She met Cole. Ah, Cole. Sparks fly at the first meeting between Anika and Cole, but she felt the sadness radiating off of him after his horrible divorce.

Cole kept reappearing in her life after that first night. He fell in love with her art. He fell in love with her voice. He calmed her. He loved her, instantly.



As Inky's art career is flourishing, her relationship with Evan crashes and burns. There's betrayal, lies, hate, and at the same time, a necessary evil. Not only is Evan trying to break her, but someone from her past comes around and tries to destroy the life she's making for herself. Inky is heart broken, but as the reader, I could see there was something much, much better in her future...


The love between Inky and Cole was instant. This was the only part of the book I wasn't completely sold on. I'm all for the idea of love at first sight, but I still enjoy a little courting, a little love-in-the-making story. We definitely get to see Cole and Anika's love develop as they grow together as a couple, but the first time she goes over to his house, she never leaves? Just seems a bit rushed to me.




Still, the love between Cole and Anika is wonderful. They fit each other wonderfully. Anika can pull Cole out of his darkness and he can give her a true family and a soothing calm in the storm. These are the things they've both always wanted and needed and they can find that in each other. It's inspiring, romantic, and a unique love story they share. I loved reading about Cole's backstory and the demons he's faced. I loved Anika's talent and only wish I could see some of the paintings described as they sounded fantastic and truly beautiful.


Things seem to finally be looking up for Anika and Cole. They've found one another and all seems to be right in the world. It sounds as if we're getting our HEA that we all love, right? Wrong! Stay tuned... this book has a HUGE cliffhanger, but thank goodness book 2 is not far behind ;)








Monday, September 1, 2014

Fighting The Fall Cover Reveal!!

So the day is here my friends and I cannot contain my excitement! It's the cover reveal of Fighting the Fall, the fourth installment in the Fighting Series by JB Salsbury. I'm not going to beat around the bush because I am THAT EXCITED so without further ado, here's the cover for Fighting the Fall:


I absolutely LOVE IT! It's simplistic yet powerful and let's not forget sexy as hell! Fighting the Fall will be released on November 4, 2014. The fourth book brings us the story of Cameron Kyle and Eve Dawson, two people who swear they don't need anyone to get through in life but as their worlds collide, will they be able to fight their feelings or fall for it all?

 I feel his eyes on me, and when I turn I almost recoil at the intensity behind his stare. “Can you stop acting like we’re two old friends shooting the shit when you know good and fucking well you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
My mouth falls open and I force it shut, only to have it drop open again.
“I’ve had my hands and my mouth all over every inch of that gorgeous body, Eve. You think I can’t read you? Know what you’re thinking about right now?”
I swallow hard. “What am I thinking about?”
“Same thing I am.”

 I cannot wait to get my hands on this book because I know I will devour it just as I have with the other books in the Fighting Series. I have loved Eve Dawson since we were first introduced to her in Raven and Jonah's story, Fighting for Flight. She's sassy and independent and doesn't take sh*t from anyone, especially men! Cameron has been a bit of an enigma in all the books because we really don't know anything about him so I am ready for this book, SO READY!
Goodreads Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21537883-fighting-the-fall

If you haven't read the other books, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!?!? GET ON IT FOLKS! I promise you won't be disappointed! If you're unsure which books are in the Fighting Series well let me just help you out! I will also add the links so you can get "one-clicking" on this series!


#1 Fighting for Flight
Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1lzQxgW
Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1dOw1S2

#2 Fighting to Forgive
Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1u4PwNj
Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1gsjoiV
iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1lvZ0La
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1mhbZq7
B&N:  http://bit.ly/1iqmQuv

#3 Fighting to Forget
Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1u4PIfu
Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1ocfCz0
iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1qfUuH5
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1lOFjmO
B&N:  http://bit.ly/1rTOHWS

Now that all of that is out of the way, let's meet the woman behind this incredible series, JB Salsbury!



JB Salsbury, New York Times Bestselling author of the Fighting Series, lives in Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.
Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.
Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released November 2014.
For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads page.

 AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/JBSalsburybooks

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/JBSalsbury

Goodreads:   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6888697.Jamie_Salsbury
Website:  http://www.jbsalsbury.com/


GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway for 5 x $10 Amazon gift cards.
Rafflecopter Link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd55136