Listen to this!!!

Posted by Random Book Muses

Do you listen to books?? I must admit, up til a year ago, the only audible books I listened to were Hank the Cowdog, with my kids. I’m dead serious. They’re funny as heck, but when you find yourself listening, in your car, ALONE, it’s time to be a grown up and listen to grown up books.

Around this time last year, I grabbed a ton of the classics, which were free at the time. But have I listened to them?? That would be a big fat NO. However, around this past March, a friend gifted me Maybe Someday, by Colleen Hoover. Since I already read the book, I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. But, I stinking loved it!! I fell in love with Zachary Webber, during this book. Seriously. That kid can read me the phone book and I would sit and listen to it.

Since then, I’ve found myself buying more and actually wanting to walk my dog and go grocery shopping alone, just so I can listen to some books. So far this year, I’ve listened to Flat-Out Love, by Jessica Park, Red Hill, by Jamie McGuire, Hopeless, by Colleen Hoover, and Divergent, by Veronica Roth. I started The Fault in Our Stars, but never finished and I’m currently listening to Outlander: A Novel.

But by far, the BEST BEST BEST audible I’ve listened to is The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. I’ve read the book a couple times and it’s in my top 5, but when I listened to it, I lived it. The guy who does the guy’s voice, Kirby Heyborne, did an amazing job!! He had such emotions I seriously thought he was crying. He sounded so believable. If anyone asks what audible they should try, I always tell them this one. Talking about it now, kinda makes me wanna go and listen again.

Sometimes the book is read by a single person, which can be good or bad. I’ve tried to listen to a few and found them quite annoying, but some I find, very enjoyable. My first experience was with Flat-Out Love. At first I wasn’t so sure I was going to like it, but after a little bit, I actually forgot it was only one person. That book was so sweet and funny, I actually startled a few people, in the grocery store, when I was listening to it.

Some books are read my numerous people. Red Hill, for example, was read by three different voices. Zachary Webber *sigh* was one of them. I actually had my hubby listen to this one, on our way to Chicago, in June. The story was so well written, that I was on the edge of my seat listening. My poor hubby kept getting shushed, even though I read the book before. I just wanted to listen to them, not him. The voices were so smooth I felt like I was in a trance.

So far I’ve only listened to books that I’ve already read. I think I enjoy the story more that way. For me, if I never knew the story, I think it would be hard to pay attention. I know I would miss things. My life isn’t always silent and I get distracted easily. So I think I’ll keep to previously read books. Up next, on my audible list, Ugly Love, by Colleen Hoover.

If you’ve never tried audible, I encourage you to do so. They’re always running deals. In fact, if you’re a new subscriber, I think you get 2 free books. That’s great!! And even paying monthly, is sometimes half of what an audible costs. It’s so worth it. And if you do try, let me know which ones you get.

~Melpomene

Buy Flat-Out Love

The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel

The Fault in Our Stars

Outlander: A Novel

Ugly Love: A Novel

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

Review: Ugly Love, by Colleen Hoover

Posted by Random Book Muses

I am a puddle on the floor. My pillow is soaked. My side table is filled with tissues. I.AM.WRECKED.

There are books that you’re so afraid of reading, not because they’re bad, but because you know that they’re going to be so good, you’re afraid you won’t be able to adequately find words that will depict how this book made you feel. This is what Ugly Love did to me. I had to pull out my trusty thesaurus and here are a few words. Paralyzed, distressed, ruined, helpless, speechless, awestruck, undone….You get the picture.

Tate Collins has recently moved in with her brother, while she works on her master’s degree, in nursing. She has no time for friends, let alone finding love. But sometimes love doesn’t always listen to us, nor does it go by our timelines.

Miles has a past, that he keeps close to his heart. He is content with being a pilot and hanging with his few buddies. He’s been alone for years and wants nothing to do with women or with finding love. His past has shaped him and he refuses to change.

When Tate and Miles meet, the attraction is almost instant. But neither one of them wants to do the relationship thing, so they just decide to have sex, with no expectations. Since they weren’t even friends, this should be an easy thing to do, right? After all, Miles has only two rules that need to be followed.

“Don’t ask about my past. And never expect a future.”

Sounds simple enough. But soon feelings start to get in the way. Hearts get shattered. Tate starts to have feelings but she knows that Miles doesn’t want this. But how can you stop loving someone, if they want you too? Is it even possible?

“If I were capable of loving someone…it would be you.”

Watching Tate put her feelings out there, and having Miles throw them aside, made me mad. He slowly chipped at her. He started to bring her down, without even trying. I wanted to believe he was good. I wanted to see him come to grips with his past. I needed him to. I knew he wasn’t the jerk he came off like. But his actions were proving me wrong.

But when his past is revealed, it broke me. I could never have imagined this. Many tears were shed. I was a mess. But Miles made more sense now. His actions were based on a past that was riddled with heartbreak.

“And I realized…just now…the God gives us the ugliness so we don’t take the beautiful things for granted.”

By the end of this book, you will truly know how ugly love can be. But even if it’s ugly, it’s beautiful.

“It’s not that I don’t like you, Tate… I just don’t want to like you. I don’t want to like anyone. I don’t want to date anyone. I don’t want to love anyone.”

Colleen Hoover is truly the master of creating heart healing, soul crushing, tear jerking, emotionally draining, redemption earning books. This book was no exception. I have no idea how she does it, but every book has the ability to bring me to my knees. But I gotta say, if Colleen didn’t love Happily Ever Afters, I doubt I would’ve recovered from this book.

Honestly, my simple words still didn’t do this book justice, when all I really wanted to write was:

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

~Melpomene

Release date: August 5, 2014
Buy Ugly Love: A Novel

Review: Forty Acres by Dwayne Alexander Smith

Posted by Random Book Muses

As much as I love reading with every fiber of my being, I’ll be the first to admit that the majority of my reading choices don’t lean towards the very deep or especially thought-provoking. This one was a complete departure from that typical experience.

Martin Grey is an up and coming lawyer who has everything going for him. He and his best friend own their own rising law firm. He has a beautiful wife he adores. And he’s just won the biggest case of his career. Now he’s asked to become part of the club-a group of elite, prestigious men who also happen to all be black. In fact, that’s a requirement for acceptance into this secret group. In a twisted attempt at avenging the crimes committed against their ancestors, these pillars of society have reversed the roles of slavery. At a hidden compound deep in the forest, they are the masters and abducted Caucasian men and women are the slaves. Although Martin is horrified by what he discovers, he quickly realizes that simply walking away is not an option. These men will stop at nothing to preserve their twisted secret. Will Martin survive?

Forty Acres was such an emotional, thought-provoking book for me that I had to let it simmer in my heart and soul for a few days before even attempting to write a review. I knew I wanted to say great things about this story, but at the same time I wanted to make sure my words did the story justice. The content is sure to stir up some controversy, and that alone is a good enough reason to add this one to your next book club list. It forces the reader to ask deep questions of both their own feelings and those of our society in general. Have we come as far in the area of equal rights as we’d like to believe? Is there justification in feeling slighted because of the actions of people from previous generations? And can we truly ever say that the past is behind us? For me personally the answer is no. This book reminds us that there is always danger in letting ourselves forget the sins of the past. Grab this one and settle in for quite a ride!

~Thalia

Buy it Now: Forty Acres: A Thriller

Review and Giveaway: Five Ways to Fall, by K.A.Tucker

Posted by Random Book Muses

I have enjoyed this series so much. I am very sad to see it end. It seems like I just started reading these, and yet, it seems like I’ve been waiting forever for Ben’s story. I have loved him from the way back in the first book, Ten Tiny Breaths. I knew he was special. Even though he was a bouncer at a strip club, there was way more to him than he was showing or telling.

Trouble maker, Reese MacKay, makes one wrong choice after another. And this time, it’s no exception. Too much Mr. Cuervo has turned her world upside down. Little does she know that her short lived marriage wouldn’t be the tipping point of her life.

Synopsis:

Sometimes you can’t change—and sometimes you just don’t want to. Discover Ben’s side of the story in this fourth novel by the beloved, top-selling indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths, One Tiny Lie, and Four Seconds to Lose.

Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

Ben is my absolute favorite character out of all of this entire series. He is the sweetest mam’s boy, who can charm the pants off a nun. After seeing his parent’s marriage struggle, he really doesn’t want to get involved with anyone. But once he Reese catches his eye, he falls fast. But he can’t really do anything about it, or he risks losing his job. But he just might be willing to take that risk.

I do have a certain love for Reese also. I think it’s the hair. 😉 She has lived with the fact that she isn’t good enough for her momma or her cheating ex. Her heart almost can’t take any more pain. She seriously tugged my heart. She doesn’t wanna fall for Ben, the man whore, but you don’t always get what you want.

This book can be read and a standalone, but I highly recommend you start from the beginning. You can see the entire dynamics of all the characters as they intertwine throughout the books.

~Melpomene

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Buy Five Ways to Fall: A Novel

Start at the beginning:
Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel

One Tiny Lie: A Novel

Four Seconds to Lose: A Novel

Pre-order the novella, In Her Wake: A Ten Tiny Breaths Novella, which is from Trent’s POV.

This happened.

Posted by Random Book Muses

This past weekend, was probably the highlight of my book life, so far. If it gets any better, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to handle it.

Saturday night was a book signing for my favorite author, Colleen Hoover, and combined with a concert with Griffin Peterson. For those who don’t know Griffin wrote the music for Colleen’s recent book, Maybe Someday.

To say I was excited was the understatement of the year. I mean seriously, I was driving my family crazy with how excited I was. I was so nervous that I was going to pass out at some point. I felt bad for my poor hubby. I apologized to him, in advance. Who know what was going to happen with me.

Hubby and I arrived Friday and spent the day sightseeing. Which I’m kinda glad we did, since I met up with some friends on Saturday and never saw him til almost midnight.

So let me tell you how this crazy day started out. I must warn you, it’s not my finest moment. But at least I didn’t scream, ok?

Hubs and I went downstairs, to get directions to a store we wanted, and I happen to turn my head and I see HER!!! Now any normal person would be cool. But I, however, am not normal. So what do I do?? I hit my hubby and whisper, “Dear!! Dear, it’s her!! It’s Colleen Hoover!!” Poor guy, just rolls his eyes and is like, “Ok?? She’s a person like you and me. Go say hello.” Duh!! That makes sense!!

So I tap on her shoulder and she turns, smile and says, “Hi, Jenn!” and HUGS ME!!!! She knew who I was!!! AND I didn’t scream or faint. I think I deserve a gold star for that. I knew she was busy, so I didn’t ask for a pic or anything. I didn’t wanna be one of those kind of people. I figured I’d see her in the evening.

A few hours later, after seeing her a few more times, I was chatting with some friends that I finally got to meet, and guess who walks out of the elevator?? You guessed it. And guess who finally got up the nerve to ask for a picture??

So my day is complete now. I can go home a happy girl. But it doesn’t end there. Oh no. I’m a part of many book groups, secret and not so secret. So when this signing/concert was scheduled, I was thrilled to be able to meet a few, that I’ve only chatted on FB with. It felt like going home. It was wild!! Going to dinner and joking around with them, felt like I’ve know them all my life, instead of only a few months. I’m the one in the front left.

THEN the concert. WOW!! Griffin and his band were awesome!! We were in the front row and I couldn’t sit still. I was too excited. I mean look at this face!!

Griffin had his dad there also. It was so cool to see him up on stage with his dad. They did a great job. This video isn’t the best, but what do you expect from me?? 🙂

Since I already have all of her books signed, I grabbed a few for friends and a couple shirts for me. And everything is signed by Colleen and the guys in the band, including Griffin’s dad!

Here are few more of the things that happened.

Yeah, I did this too. I claim temporary insanity.

There were over 300 people there. It was wild to see so many fans of both of them. They all signed books and things and took the time to snap pictures with everyone. I was so much fun waiting in line, chatting with the other fans. What was even more amazing, was that even though we were last, and the signing lasted three hours, all of them were still smiling and very friendly. It was great to see that. We’re their fans and they wanted to make us happy. And believe me, we left very happy. 🙂

~Melpomene

Buy the book, Maybe Someday

Buy the album, Maybe Someday

Review: All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Random Book Muses

How close to slipping over the edge is the average wife and mother? Everything looks nice and pretty on the outside, but can we truly ever know what’s going on in someone’s head? Work responsibilities, carpool duties, housekeeping, grocery shopping, household budgeting…these are all things that many women find themselves juggling. And they seem to do it all without batting an eye.

Allison Weiss is that woman. She’s a successful writer/Internet blogger whose name is steadily climbing the ladder of success. She has a beautiful, sprawling house in the suburbs. And she has a handsome husband who she adores as well as a precocious daughter. But she also harbors a secret. She gets by with some help from a friend in a little bottle. What started out as a legitimate excuse for a strained back has now worked its way into an everyday occurence. As her life becomes increasingly hectic, her prescription drug use escalates. Dad recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, mom lost without him, hubby becoming closer and closer to his “work wife”, daughter Ellie continuing to be a difficult five year old…these are all things that send her running back to her doctors time and again for a new prescription. When that fails to work,she discovers a world of online drug dealing. What once was a few pills a day habit eventually turns into twenty plus pills a day. It takes a near tragedy to bring Allison to her senses. But even then, the road to recovery is not an easy one.

This was an outstanding book for me. The author expertly explores the subject of prescription drug abuse in a highly believable manner. It’s easy to see how an average, run of the mill mom would spiral out of control. So many demands are placed on parents these days, with moms being held accountable most of the time. There’s a tremendous amount of pressure to live the perfect life and to keep up appearances to outsiders. The story also serves as a warning, without being preachy, for those who might find themselves at the edge of that precipice. This was my first full-length novel by Jennifer Weiner, but it definitely won’t be my last. Grab this one and stick it in your bag for the beach!

~Thalia

Buy it Now: All Fall Down: A Novel

Review: Craving Him, by Kendall Ryan

Posted by Random Book Muses

My Word!!! I have been anxiously waiting to find out what happens to Ben and Emmy. This books pick up right where Working It ended.

Synopsis
Emmy Clarke is no quitter. Toughened by her experience working for fashion heavyweight Fiona Stone, Emmy has come a long way from her country girl roots, embracing her fast-paced and unpredictable life in New York City.

Though that life comes with more than a few complications.

First there’s the mystery of Fiona’s pregnancy, which may or may not involve Emmy’s boyfriend, superstar male model Ben Shaw. Emmy has always known that Ben comes with more baggage than she can handle—and not the Louis Vuitton kind. Yet Ben is the only man who has ever loved Emmy for who she is, and she wants nothing more than to do the same for him, even if it means forgiving his past and overlooking their wildly different lifestyles.

But when a shocking secret from Ben’s past comes to light, unraveling all of their progress, Emmy must decide if their relationship is worth the fight, or if it’s time to ignore her passion for him and let go.

I loved Ben and his vulnerability. He is not used to caring this much for someone, and will do anything to keep Emmy happy.

“It was hard for me to admit it but I needed her. I’d never needed anyone, but this sweet southern girl was different. She had been from day one. Her refreshingly real attitude had knocked me on my ass-floored me right from the get-go.

But Emmy still has doubts at where her relationship is going. She loves Ben but she needs to learn to relax and let things just happen. She doesn’t feel like she is worthy of someone like Ben. So he will spend however long it takes to show her.

I loved the sauciness of some of these scenes. I loved the angst filled scenes. I loved the whole thing!! At one point I had to place my kindle down and take a deep breath. My nerves were shot and I felt horrible!!

Kendall Ryan is a master story teller!! And I can’t wait to see what more she has up her sleeve.

~Melpomene

Buy Craving Him: A Love by Design Novel

Sneak Peak: Forty Acres by Dwayne Alexander Smith

Posted by Random Book Muses

Clear your calendars for this one, friends! An edge-of-your seat thriller that’s guaranteed to cause controversy. Perfect for book clubs and sure to invite deep discussion. This one put me through the wringer! Hits the shelves on July 1, just in time to make your summer reading list. Look for my full review on June 30!

~Thalia

Preorder it Now: Forty Acres: A Thriller

Special Announcement from K.A.Tucker

Posted by Random Book Muses

OH MY WORD!!!!! This day is getting better and better. K.A.Tucker just announced that, on September 1, 2014, Atria will be releasing a prequel novella to Ten Tiny Breaths, called In Her Wake. It will be from Trent’s point of view. The BEST thing about it, is it’s ONLY 99 cents!!! I can’t wait!!!

SYNOPSIS
Cole Reynolds had it all. And then one night he makes a bad choice… and loses everything.

When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends. The best friends that have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.

Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. The all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip of what once was important-college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.

And there’s only one person who can give that to him…

Look at this cover!!!!!!!

This is turning out to be an exciting year!!!

~Melpomene

Pre-order In Her Wake: A Ten Tiny Breaths Novella

Get caught up with the series

Buy Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel

Buy One Tiny Lie: A Novel

Buy Four Seconds to Lose: A Novel

Pre-order Five Ways to Fall: A Novel

It’s a National CoHo day and giveaway!!

Posted by Random Book Muses

What does CoHo stand for, you ask?? Well, it’s Colleen Hoover, sillies. And today she has two new releases. Well technically one new one and one kinda new one. Maybe Someday is the brand new one. I have read it and I LOVED it!! Check out my review HERE. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It was a brand new reading experience for me.

For those who don’t know, Griffin Peterson wrote an album to go along with Maybe Someday. It’s a match made in heaven, I tell ya!! You click on the link or GR code, depending on which type of book you’re reading, and it will take you to the website with the music. Then, as you read the book, you click on the songs that go along with certain scenes.

It is just perfect. You’ll fall in love with the songs and his lovely voice. He is super talented and I am so glad he agreed to write these songs for Colleen. They complete this book. Like I said in my review, when I read song lyrics it’s hard to determine the melody. So when I can actually hear the songs as I read, I am blown away. My favorite song is a toss up between Maybe Someday and Hold On to You. Every time I listen to it, I think of the scenes they were played in, and I cry. Such a beautiful story paired up with beautiful music.

Also releasing today is Finding Cinderella. Now this book is already a free ebook. But as a true CoHo fan, I need her books in the dtb(dead tree book) form. So a group of us diehards bombarded Atria Books on Facebook and Twitter, begging them to print it out for us. For months we did this and it totally paid off!! Today the paperback of Finding Cinderella novella is being released. I know I’ll be stalking my mail man all day. Inside this book will be some of the texts that we sent, and bonus content that isn’t in the ebook. I am super excited to have this on my shelf!!!

GIVEAWAY TIME
Comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of the MP3 album Maybe Someday, by Griffin Peterson. You can download it to your iPod or phone and take his fabulous songs everywhere you go. Trust me, you want this. This music will make your heart happy. The contest will run all week, and I’ll draw a name on Friday at noon. US ONLY

~Melpomene

Buy the book Maybe Someday

Buy the soundtrack Maybe Someday

Buy Finding Cinderella: A Novella

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