Monday, June 17, 2013

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - TRAGIC by J.A. HUSS - ROOK & RONIN # 1 - NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY - 5 ROOK & RONIN WITH A SIDE ORDER OF SPENCER STARS!


Today on Novels On The Run I now have TRAGIC's blog tour stop with my review of this awesome book. 

J.A. Huss rocked my kazbah with this one!

LOVED IT!!!

I love her book trailers, they are edgy and energetic. Makes ya wanna pick the book up!

I am so looking forward to some more Ronin and Spencer in Manic, Ronin & Rook # 2. 


Michelle




Tragic by J.A. Huss
Publication date: May 20th 2013 
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance


Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera. 

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage.

Trailer:



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle: 5 RONIN STARS !

This book was not what I was expecting. I mean what was I expecting?? I didn’t read the blurb, I went on the cover.

I love the cover.

I knew it was a contemporary, but it is a contemporary with a difference.

J.A. Huss had me entranced. This was a really awesome read. The characters and sub characters had me turning the pages. Visually I saw this story play out rather spectacularly in my head. A really great Contemporary.

Rook Walsh is Tragic. Her life has led her to foster care, then to an abusive relationship, then to a homeless shelter... to model.

But this is not your typical Cinderella story.

This is the difference.

Elise smiles. “You’re not like the others, Rook. You’re calm and quiet, and a bit tragic, if you don’t mind me saying.”



“If ever there was a girl who is crying out that she’s TRAGIC, it’s this one. Just wait until you see her.”

Rook and Ronin are the two most likable characters. Ronin is something else. He really brings it in this story. At first you are trying to work him out, what is his game? 

Ronin works for his sister Elise, and her partner the rather moody photographer, Antoine Chaput. 

Describing him as an artist should really do the trick - he’s got all the stereotypical attributes like selfish, asshole, romantic, asshole, creative, asshole, temperamental, asshole. I could go on and on, but what’s the point. He’s an asshole.

Fate has Rook getting her hands on an invite to Antoine’s studio. She has no experience and nothing to lose.

“Except for the part where you got your hands on that invitation card and met us, of course. Because maybe tomorrow you’ll see this was a stroke of luck for you.”


I had favourite scenes in this book and they were mainly with the Cherry Blossom trees.


Every single cherry tree is filled with flowers, so many flowers every bough bends under the weight. It created a heaviness that transfers across the terrace and pulls me into the scenery. Ronin catches my gaze and stops for a moment. “We’re gonna take pictures of you out here tomorrow. It will be perfect, don’t you think?”

I stare at the trees a few more moments and then mutter, " They’re so beautiful I can barely stand to look at them.”

“I know the feeling.” His boyish charms are gone now as he looks down on me with a hunger I haven’t seen on a man’s face in a very long time. “And a picture of you surrounded by those blossoms will be enough to make a guy shed a tear over the perfection of it all.”



Tragic is a campaign that Antoine is the photographer for. He has chosen Rook as the model. But what has she got herself into?

Again, this is the difference.

But Elise has power in this house. Elise, no matter what Antoine says, wears the pants in their relationship because if Elise is unhappy Antoine cannot live with himself. He falls to pieces when they fight.

So we work on her for almost half an hour inside the office. We wear her down, we make promises. We will watch Rook, we promise. We won’t push her, we’ll be careful. We promise all these things if Elise will let us keep this girl.

We want her that bad.



I don’t want to do any spoilers so I will ssshhh up .

Enter Spencer Sturgis, biker, artist. He too wants Rook for the Sturgis account.

I love Spencer.

But, again, what has innocent Rook got herself in for?

I loved how Spencer explained to Rook what his campaign was about and she got an understanding of what he was advertising, if she signed on.

I must admit, I am still unsure about what actually the Tragic campaign is advertising. I totally get the photo shoot, clothes etc but what IS the Tragic campaign? I get that Rook has a bad past which gives her the look for the campaign. But what IS Tragic. 

I think what I was most impressed with this story, was Ronin, I am still getting to know him , but he has a great presence in this book and Rook is a girl you are rooting for.

I smile because he just sniffed me.

“I’m just checking to see if you’re drunk, ma’am.”

I giggle a little.

“And if I wasn’t so tired, I’d check you for drugs as well. Pat you down until I found your hidden stash.”

“I’m naked, remember?”

“Awwww, come on, Rook! I’m trying not to think about that. Be good now, or I’ll break my promise and bother you all up. Make you all bothered...” His voice trails off, already giving in to the call of sleep.


A very smexi read in a different way.

Yes, this was a book that I loved...it was different!

Rook & Ronin... they are dynamite when they are on the photo shoot...OMG! I love the way Ronin talks Rook the errrr, rookie model through her photo shoots and what he does!!!!!

“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her honestly. I want to take her face in my hands and kiss her so bad, but I make myself behave. “I hope you understand that. I’m a flirt and I joke a lot but - " I lose my train of thought as she starts breathing a little harder, making her chest rise and fall under the very sheer pale blue fabric that barely covers her breasts. "- but you stun me.”



“Most professionals would put that little bib thing on their clients, though. Right?”

“Only the ones who plan on getting their clients wet.”

“So... you don’t plan on getting me wet?”

He chokes down a laugh. “Be good, Gidget, or I’ll have to spank you.”



This book ends with the vibe of a to-be-continued. There is a villain of the story and I was kinda on edge the whole book ....waiting. When you are running from somebody, but you are a face of an advertising?? campaign, chances are the villain can now find you.

I am rather excited for Rook & Ronin # 2, Manic. Due August 2013. There is much more for Ronin and Rook to discover about each other and Spencer, well I am rather keen to see this biker lad again!

My only complaint , it was too short, I wanted to keep reading and reading and reading...
Michelle


AUTHOR BIO



J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.



GIVEAWAY TIME





Author links:





6 comments:

  1. Whoa that teaser picture is epic! I'm so glad you enjoyed it your reviews are always so entertaining! And it's like I can hear you and your enthusiasm telling me to read this book! haha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. * whispers* Giselle with a G read this book!!!!!!!!!!

      Dang I loved it!!

      :D

      Mich

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  2. Oh wow, your review is awesome! I love all the quotes - you chose some powerful ones! Thank you!

    Julie

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    Replies
    1. I like to find quotes that hopefully show that bit more to somebody deciding whether they will pick it up and read it.

      Thanks! You gotta throw Manic at me. I am dying here!!!
      :D

      Mich

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  3. Fantastic review and I really love this cover. Of course I believe in second chances,life is full of challenges and sometimes mistakes happen, so a second chance is always an option.

    Thank for the giveaway
    Katie

    ReplyDelete

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