January 25, 2016

Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros



There are some debts you can’t repay.

Josh Walker is loyal, reckless, and every girl’s dream. But he only has eyes for December Howard, the girl he's craved since his high school hockey days. Together they have survived grief, the military, distance, and time as they’ve fought for stolen weekends between his post at Ft. Rucker and her college at Vanderbilt. Now that Josh is a medevac pilot and Ember is headed toward graduation, they’re moving on—and in—together.

Ember never wanted the Army life, but loving Josh means accepting whatever the army dictates—even when that means saying goodbye as Josh heads to Afghanistan, a country that nearly killed him once before and that took her father. But filling their last days together with love, passion, and plans for their future doesn’t temper Ember’s fear, and if there’s one thing she’s learned from her father’s death, it’s that there are some obstacles even love can’t conquer.

Flight school is over. 
This is war.


Hallowed Ground is available for purchase:



I was bawling my eyes out before I realized I was only 30% into the book. YEP. There was so much packed into the first few chapters that I had no clue what to expect for the remaining 70%. Boy did Rebecca not disappoint. There was so much that went down in the first bit of the book, I didn't know if my heart could take the rest of the story. That's something that RARELY ever happens. I just kept telling myself--Josh can't die yet, otherwise there's no story--just to have the courage to flip the page and read onwards. 

Hallowed Ground gave us what readers usually ask for--the "what happened next!?" after the heroes end up together? Unfortunately, it isn't always rainbows and unicorns. This book gives the reader a bit of insight on just how much turmoil military couples/spouses (in this case, Josh and Ember) go through in the course of their relationship. The military aspect just throws in that extra wrench--no, make that a sledgehammer--to make their stories that much more interesting. There's no shortage in gut-wrenching emotions, heartache and heartbreak. This is definitely not a light read...it had me trying to control tears from falling while in the waiting room at the doctor's office.

Having read through this entire series, I, like many others, was not ready for the series to end. That being said, it was the best possible ending...I think. It definitely wrapped up the series very nicely and ended it on a high note--couldn't ask for more than that. I recommend reading this series from book one (Full Measures) just to really fall in love with the characters and their stories...



Excerpt


I pulled her onto my lap, gently squeezing the sweet curves of her hips.

“Behave,” she whispered into my ear, but ran her tongue along the edge.

My fingers flexed, teasing under the edges of the black skirt that had slid higher on her thighs as she sat. I couldn’t help it—her skin was a magnet for my hands. “You like it better when I don’t,” I answered.

She locked those blue eyes on mine, and for that second, I wanted everyone to go the fuck away so I could get my remarkable girlfriend out of her clothes. Not a girlfriend for long. Not if I found the perfect moment for that little velvet box hidden upstairs.

Mrs. Walker. December-fucking-Walker. Sounded perfect to me.

“Earth to Josh and Ember,” Jagger called, waving his hand like he’d been at it a while.

“Yeah, yeah, a toast,” Ember said, wiggling against my now-hard lap. I locked her down with my hands, and she threw me a smug grin, well aware of what she’d done.

Jagger raised his beer. “To friends. Hell, that doesn’t even cut it. You guys, all of you...I wouldn’t be here”—he looked over to Paisley—“or even the man I am, without you. So more than friends...to family.”

We glanced around the fire at the family we’d made, and I felt it—one of those moments you can’t forget, the kind that stay with you when it’s long past, so you try to memorize everything. It was a deep peace, a contentment laced with the silent knowledge that we wouldn’t be together again for far too long.

“To family,” we all said in scattered rhythm, and I kissed the underside of Ember’s jaw.



About the Author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She's a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

When she's not writing, she's tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years. They finally can call Colorado home along with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog.

Connect with Rebecca Yarros on:

       



January 14, 2016

Excerpt Reveal: Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros



There are some debts you can’t repay.

Josh Walker is loyal, reckless, and every girl’s dream. But he only has eyes for December Howard, the girl he's craved since his high school hockey days. Together they have survived grief, the military, distance, and time as they’ve fought for stolen weekends between his post at Ft. Rucker and her college at Vanderbilt. Now that Josh is a medevac pilot and Ember is headed toward graduation, they’re moving on—and in—together.

Ember never wanted the Army life, but loving Josh means accepting whatever the army dictates—even when that means saying goodbye as Josh heads to Afghanistan, a country that nearly killed him once before and that took her father. But filling their last days together with love, passion, and plans for their future doesn’t temper Ember’s fear, and if there’s one thing she’s learned from her father’s death, it’s that there are some obstacles even love can’t conquer.

Flight school is over. 
This is war.


Hallowed Ground is available for purchase:



Excerpt

“I’ve never been able to hold back with you. It’s always been full measures or nothing. No halfway bullshit.”

She ran her fingers through my hair, and I groaned when she scratched her nails lightly over my scalp. God, it felt so damn good.

“I’ve always loved that about us. We’re all in. Always.” 

“Yes.”

“But that’s not ugly. Nothing you’ve told me is ugly.”

My stomach dropped, and we passed through the station on route to Peak Eight. I looked up to the green mountains, their beauty overwhelming, their sheer size distorted because we were too close to accurately gauge their mass.

“Even knowing everything we have, this incredible love that we share, our beautiful life that we’re building...” I shook my head and looked down at her knees.

“Josh.” She tipped my chin. “I’m here. No matter what you’re about to say.”

“Medevacing the wounded... Ember, I’ve found my purpose. I’ll always go when they call. How many deployments can you wait through? How many times can I leave you?”

Fear streaked through her eyes, but she masked it before I could question her. “As many as it takes. I would rather sit home and wait for you, than spend a lifetime with anyone else.”



About the Author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She's a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

When she's not writing, she's tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years. They finally can call Colorado home along with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog.

Connect with Rebecca Yarros on:
       



January 5, 2016

Betrayal by Aleatha Romig


One week. No future. No past. No more.

Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as "Charli," she is knocked off her feet by a sexy, mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined. With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.

"Some of my tastes are unique. They aren’t for everyone. I understand that.”

Lennox "Nox" Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive—he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her. Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one:

One week. No more.

When betrayal comes from those closest to Alexandria, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive. Choices are not always easy, especially when they involve the heart, body, and soul. After all, Infidelity is a business, and some rules are meant to be broken.

"Is it really cheating if you're doing it to yourself?"

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants, and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic dark romance will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. Have you been Aleatha'd?

BETRAYAL is a full-length novel and the first of five in the INFIDELITY series.


Betrayal is available for purchase:


I felt like the book was off to a slow start. The first half seemed to be really long and drawn out but that is to be expected with the intricate tales that Aleatha normally spins. Jumping back and forth between the past and present gave the story two different feels and, of course, perspectives.  I definitely enjoyed the "present" chapters more as it was the complex plot being spun while the "past" chapters was more the "action" part of this first novel. I've always been more of a story > sex kind of reader so I definitely appreciated all of the issues Alex faced at home and was running away from. It seemed like the more characters that were brought into the novel the more layers were being added on. I was back and forth on Charli's/Alex's character for the longest time. Part of me rolls my eyes as to how easily she fell into Nox's arms but part of me loves how strong she is to stand up to the bullshit put forth by her family. The ending was a bit of (expected) messed up and left me craving more story. As a fan of the author's other series, I was expecting a twisted plot with a cliffhanger-type ending and she didn't disappoint! 




About the Author

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These standalone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increased heat. In the fall of 2015, Aleatha will move head first into the world of dark romance with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series. 

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

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