Cover Reveal: Are You Mine? by N.K. Smith

Human connection? Who needs it?

Ever since she can remember, wealthy but weary Saige Armstrong has felt different from her peers in Pechimu, New Jersey. With only one good friend to her name, she has navigated the complicated halls of high school and is now faced with the timeless question: Now what?

Fox Harrington, a fun-loving, socially charismatic graffiti artist uses his passions to color his world exactly how he wants it. He knows exactly where his life is headed. That is, until he meets Saige.

A summer project links the two together, making a tentative friendship bloom into romance, but despite their affection for each other, fundamental beliefs and ways of thinking threaten to destroy all they have built.

In this tender story of young love, N.K. Smith delivers a striking tale of two people standing on the precipice of adult life.

Expected Publication: August 7 2013   Add to your TBR on Goodreads  

TEASER

   Before I know it, he’s really close to me.  Our bodies so close they are touching.  He moves his hand from my wrist, so now our palms are together, fingers interlaced.  Fox’s other hand is against the small of my back.  My cheek rests against his chest. I hold my breath.

   It’s awkward at first, but as I relax into his body and allow him to move us, I can see the private dance for what it is.  An exchange.  I breathe in and feel his chest rise against mine.  He’s giving me a little bit of his calm.  I don’t know if it’s on purpose or if I’m making it all up because I’ve spent too much time talking to Val about his new-aged hippie ideas on energy, but for some reason, it doesn’t matter right now.  All that matters is that I’m pressed against him in this little basement where no one can see us, and he’s holding me like I’ve never let anyone do before.

Based in the American Midwest, N.K. Smith is a Technical Writer for a Fortune 100 company. The author of the Old Wounds Series, Ghosts of Our Pasts, and My Only, she is a mother of two who finds the time to write very early in the morning when the rest of the world is still fast asleep.

An avid lover of history, art, music, books, and people, she is interested in telling stories that speak to the human condition.

Find N.K. Smith on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website

Swoon Thursday #22

Who doesn't love a good swoon?
The ladies over at YA Bound have created this hot and fun meme!
If you want to join in here's all you need to do.
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling and your stomach fluttering?

Then pick a smaller portion of your swoon and tweet it, just don't forget to add the #YABOUND Hashtag to your tweet!

I thought he had decided against whatever he was doing he waited so long.  I began to pull back in disappointment, but he reached behind my neck gently and pulled me to him.  The barest of touches was the best way to describe our first kiss.  It wasn't really a kiss at all.  His bottom lip barely brushed my top one.

When he leaned back and opened his eyes, he must've seen the confusion and frustration in my face.  He chuckled.  "I just had to taste that coconut..."  he licked his lips, "but I don't want to kiss you when you've been angry with me and I messed up our date.  I want to kiss you when, if we go another second without it, one of us will combust."

My breaths were raging.  I tried to calm myself. "I..."  I failed.

"I want to give you back your first kiss, the one that jerk stole from you.  And I want it to be something that even a coma can't make you forget."

What is your swoon worthy moment this week?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know so that I can come and check out your blog in return!

Waiting on Wednesday #24

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is a perfect way to highlight books that we are waiting patiently to be released... it is also a sure-fire way to watch your TBR pile grow!

IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Expected Publication: October 22 2013
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Why am I so eagerly awaiting this release you ask?

Holy cow, I can not wait for this book.  I simply fell in love with Ethan in The Lost Prince.  This cover has only recently been revealed and I must add that I love it.  It fits with the rest of the series and to be honest that is about how I would picture Keirran, although maybe a little younger.  And of course we all know what another Iron Fey book means?!?  The chance for more Puck.  Woo Hoo.  This makes me very, very happy.

What is your Waiting on Wednesday?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know!

Top Ten Tuesday #10

Hosted by Broke and The Bookish

This Week's Topic is:

Top Ten Tuesday REWIND -- Pick a past topic you missed or one you want to revisit!

 I am a cover whore lover.  There I said.  A cover is not the only reason that I pick up a book but I can say that a poorly designed cover sure does make it hard for me to see beyond it. 

So, I of course picked a topic that centered around covers.  I have so many favorites so I picked my Top Ten Favorite Covers, but in my case I only picked from books I have read in the last 12 months.

Die For Me

I could have easily put every single book from the series on this list.  They are spectacular.  The coloring, the scroll work, Paris backdrop, Kate's dress... honestly it is just perfect.  I could happily print and frame each cover to hang on my wall.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

When I first started reading Mara Dyer I thought that there was something that was going to be connected to water in the story but there isn't.  Every cover in the series is underwater but even though water plays no real part... it is perfect.  Because in a way Mara is drowning, just not in water.  And this cover is amazing, the coloring and the pose are perfect.

Clockwork Prince

This cover is perfect for this book.  Why?  Because that IS Jem Carstairs.  Even if I had not been given this visual on the book, he is exactly how I would have pictured Jem.  I am sure it also helps that I love Jem with all my heart and therefore I love this cover model.

Anna Dressed in Blood

Both Anna books have amazing covers but the first is my favorite of the two.  Love the black and white, love the use of color on Anna's dress.  This book has a spook factor and the cover helps to set that mood.

Warm Bodies

This book has a lot of different covers to pick from but this is my favorite of them.  I love the image of R walking and the red coming from his head.  I had never read a zombie related book before but I have to say I was drawn to this cover.  I really do love it.

Obsidian

I love all of the Lux series covers but I think Obsidian is my favorite.  Why do I love the Lux covers?  That man.  Pepe Toth.  Again, there is no way that anybody else could ever be Daemon for me.  This is exactly how I picture Daemon in my head while I am reading the books.

Twisted Perfection

Could there be a better Woods?  Not a chance.  These cover models are perfect for Woods and Della.  In the book Woods is always described at having scruff on his face... perfect.  And I love the font that is used here and again the color pops.

A Discovery of Witches

You know... red is not a favorite color of mine but it appears that I love covers that use red.  Go figure.  The first book in this series, A Discovery of Witches, takes place mostly in Oxford England and I love the black and white photo of the university at the bottom along with the ribbons of red across the top.

Connected

This cover is just hot.  I saw that cover and immediately knew I wanted to read the book.  Thankfully the book itself is just as excellent as this gorgeous cover.  I was drawn to the pearls on the cover model and you will be happy to know that the pearls are actually part of the story.

Apollyon

I love every cover of the Covenant series but Apollyon is my favorite.  Each cover shows a different flower and this one is just stunning.  The color used just makes the flower come to life and it just jumps off the cover.

  So there you go... this weeks Top Ten! What is yours?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know so that I can come and check out your blog in return!

Review: Wide Awake

A girl.
A coma.
A life she can't remember.

When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.

Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

Title: Wide Awake
Author: Shelly Crane | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Publication Date: March 22 2013
Publisher: Self-Published 
Length: 216 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US / Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Love the cover, the colors are perfect
Point of View: 1st person, following Emma

My Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this story.  I couldn't imagine waking up in a hospital and not having any idea as to who I was or who the people around me were.  To remember music, words, books, etc.. but not anything about your actual life.  Scary.

“The things we should focus on in any life shouldn’t be what we’ve lost, but what we’ve gained” 

I found Emma to be a strong character.  Not knowing who she was before and the pressure from her family and friends to try to conform to who they wanted her to be now.  They want her to remember herself as before and they try their hardest to force her to think and act a certain way.

However the more Emma learns about her 'old' self the more she realizes she doesn't really like the person she was before.  To be frank she was a spoiled brat.  Rude, needy and one of the mean girls at school.  This is not the Emma now and the drives she obviously felt before are no longer there.  She doesn't care about fancy cars, money, designer purses, or being a part of the 'it' couple at school.

“It doesn't matter who you were or what you've done in the past.  The only thing that matters is who you are right now.”

Enter Mason.  Mason is Emma's physical therapist and helps her after she wakes up.  I know what you are thinking... eewwwwww... Her physical therapist?  He is only a few years older than Emma and nothing inappropriate happens while she is in the hospital.  I was at first worried that the feelings she was having toward Mason was because of him being her carer but thankfully it never came across like that.  He is always sweet and kind to Emma and is the one person that tells her it is okay to be who she wants to be.  She doesn't have to be who her friends and family are trying to force her into being.

“I'm going to take you somewhere and kiss you until you can't think or move or breathe.”

My only issue at all with Wide Awake is that I did feel a few of the side characters were a bit unrealistic or a little over the top.  For example... in the hospital the psychiatrist that is 'helping' Emma seems to be giving her terrible advice and it appears to be stemmed from the fact that she may or may not have feelings for Mason.  And the head doctor seemed to be a little weird as well.  Emma's family has a lot of money and it just seemed like the facility had a few shady characters...  These small issues in no way stopped my enjoyment of the story but I did just want to mention that I felt some of the interactions were a little 'off'.

I recommend Wide Awake for a quick, enjoyable read.  The love between Emma and Mason was really sweet and it does have a lovely story.

“You're the girl that I'm falling madly in love with."

I felt all the breath leave me.  My mouth fell open, but no words escaped.

He chuckled.  "A speechless Emma.  That's really cute.”

MORE QUOTES FROM WIDE AWAKE