BOOK COVER REVEALS - SOME BOOKS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO READING - Michelle - NOVELS ON THE RUN

26th NOVEMBER 2013 - PUSHING LIMITS # 3

HARLEQUIN TEEN

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane. 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

27TH AUGUST 2013

ENTANGLED PUBLISHING

LUX # 4

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

21ST JANUARY 2014

BALZER & BRAY

EVERNEATH # 3

No Blurb

23rd SEPTEMBER 2013
PERFECTION # 2

Woods had his perfect life mapped out for him. Rise up the ranks of the family business. Marry the rich girl of his parents’ dreams. Pretend that wealth and privilege was all he’d ever wanted. Then a girl named Della breezed into town, a beautifully imperfect stranger who captured his heart and opened his eyes to a new kind of future. Woods is ready and willing to sacrifice everything for her when the sudden death of his father leaves him with his mother to care for and a business to manage.

Della is determined to be strong for Woods, even as she’s quietly falling to pieces. No matter how far from home she’s run, the ghosts of her past have never stopped haunting her. Struggling to hide her true feelings from Woods, Della fears she can’t be his rock without dragging him down into the darkness with her. But is she strong enough to let go of the last thing holding her together?

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW: EVERBOUND by BRODI ASHTON

EVERBOUND

An Everneath Novel

by

BRODI ASHTON

Published by:

Simon & Schuster / Simon Pulse

MARISSA'S RATING

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Continuing from the fantastic first book EVERNEATH, Brodi Ashton guides us through the Everneath on a quest to find and save Jack.  With Nikki, Cole, Max & Ashe we are on an amazing fantasy adventure through the maze of the Everneath. 

Nikki shows some personal growth through this journey - learning to control her amazing emotion and passion for Jack whilst bonding with Cole on a level different from their time in the Feed. Could Cole be the direction that her heart veers her?

Cole remains an ever constant distraction and pain for Nikki - yet at the same time a friend whom she begins to trust (within reason!) now more than she ever has.  Throughout EVERBOUND, Cole gives us glimpses of his emotional side that I must say.....makes me more Team Cole than anyone else!!  I just love me some bad boy with a softish heart!!

With Jack being held in the Everneath, Nikki must make her way down there - but to do so, she needs the help of Cole to make it happen. Along with Cole comes Max and they enlist the help of Ashe who lives in the Everneath.  Ashe has a past that Nikki stumbles upon ...... could it have dire consequences for her mission?

True to all great stories, there are twists and turns and an ending to make you go WHAAAAATTTT THE?!!!

The Everneath Series by Brodi Ashton is a must.

Check out my review of the first in the series...Everneath.

ENJOY!

MARISSA   

BOOK REVIEW - EVERBOUND by BRODI ASHTON - EVERNEATH # 2 - SIMON & SCHUSTER - 4.5 CALCULATING COLE STARS!

By: Brodi Ashton

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Released: Available Now

Details : Paperback from Publisher, 358 Pages

RATING: 4.5 CALCULATING COLE STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I loved Everneath, there is just something about Team Cole. He is the dark, bad boy in more ways than one. As the reader we can’t help being drawn towards this handsome, guitar playing guy. But, as we found in Everneath, there is a lot more to Cole than meets the eye. 

And there was Cole. Fierce and beautiful and seizing all the attention in the room with one sure strum of his guitar. His onstage glory hit me fresh, as if I’d been in a rainstorm for the past few months and the sun had finally come out.


Everbound had my heart being twisted about. We spend our time with Cole , being the do gooder and Max, helping Nikki to rescue her boyfriend Jack, from the Tunnels, from the Everneath. A place these lads know all the tricks to get around, but they need the help of one other, Ashe.

I really enjoyed being in the Everneath, I love the map we get in the front of the book it helped me to work out where the places were in the Everneath. I enjoyed the dangers this trio plus the mysterious Ashe went through. They were all on a quest to follow the tether that linked Nikki to Jack. It was exciting all the challenges that lay ahead.


Cole’s love for Nik at times made me get all muddled about whether I wanted her with Jack or Cole. Brodi really pulls on the heart strings with Cole and his selfless act in helping the one who does not return his love. 


“So he earns your undying love by reading a book under a tree?” Cole says dryly. “Why didn’t I ever try that approach? I like books and trees.” 


Jack gets his airtime in dreams and we get reminded of him with Nikki thinking about all the times she has spent with Jack. I really do love Jack, more so at the end of this book.


Will is a great character, I really like him, although he can’t help Nikki, he is there for her when she needs him on the Surface.


Poor dad is having a bit of trouble coping with Nikki’s disappearing act. I don’t blame him. It would be hard for a parent to watch their child appear to be relapsing into something they did not understand or believe.

Some scenes were rather funny with Cole and his hand waving about.

“Cole?”

The hand went limp, as if exasperated, and then gave me an exaggerated thumbs-up signal. 

We find out how Cole became an Everliving. I had always wondered that and it is rather unexpected what he was before he became an Everliving. 

Cole is such a salesman, he has oodles of charm, but, sometimes we see something under that facade of his. 

I really loved what Brodi does to the reader with her Cole and Jack triangle. I loved it even more with where she is taking us for book # 3. The way she ended this book....OMG!!!! WT!!!!


“You’re a better person than this. You’re a better person than you think you are.” I grabbed his hand. “You told me that I had changed you. But it’s not just me. You have a good heart.”

He frowned, a wary look in his eyes. “I don’t have a heart.”

“You do have a heart. Maybe not one that beats, but you have one that defines your soul. And so what if up until now your soul’s been a bit on the darker side? This is your chance to redefine your soul.”

He took his hand away and rolled his guitar pick over his fingers, averting his gaze. “I told you a long time ago, I’m not a hero.”



“Have you ever known someone who got trapped in something like that?” I asked.

“Yeah. Me.” I turned toward him, and felt the movement. “With you. Always trying, but never getting you. I have ninety-nine years of that to look forward to.”

My cheeks grew hot. “You can’t still be trying.”

“I’ll never stop.”

...”Just what do you think I’ll owe you?”

He leaned closer to me. “For saving the love of your life? Everything.”

...”And then you’ll just run away again, and I’ll have to find another way to impress you; and that, Nikki Beckett, is the eternal loop.”

The Greek Mythology coming into play is always interesting. I don't know much about Greek Mythology, I find it a learning lesson for me when I read it in story lines. I love how Brodi uses it and weaves it into her books.

I am rather excited for the next installment because...... well I can't tell you that! 

Whahhhh!!!

That just brings a whole new thing to the story line.

Now where are my feelings...now??? Up a tree swinging in the breeze .

Good one Brodi!!

Michelle

BOOK COVER REVEAL - EVERBOUND by BRODI ASHTON - EVERNEATH # 2

EVERBOUND - EVERNEATH # 2

by BRODI ASHTON

Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett. That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice. All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late. All Cole wants is to find his queen - and he thinks Nikki is the one. Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to The Heart of The Everneath.

DUE FOR RELEASE

22ND JANUARY 2013

HARPER COLLINS

BALZER + BRAY

SIMON & SCHUSTER

I LOVE this cover!!

The Black Dress....black smokey ?? stuff....shades??? swirling about Nikki's feet.

I am really looking forward to more Jack and Cole!!

What Team are you currently ?

I am Team ........Jack , but there is something about Cole.

Oh the conundrum!


REVIEW OF EVERNEATH


Check left side bar for more on Everneath

Michelle

INTERVIEW WITH BRODI ASHTON & COLE FROM EVERNEATH

Interview with

BRODI ASHTON

author of

Today on the blog I have the pleasure of interviewing not just a wonderful debut author, but the sinister (yet sexy!) lead villain in the newly released novel EVERNEATH.  That’s right folks, Brodi Ashton and the conniving (yet alluring) Cole have joined us today and will answer a couple of questions.

Firstly, congratulations Brodi on such an awesome debut novel.  Praises and rave reviews are everywhere on the web! 

-Thank you so much!

1. How does it feel to be in such demand and to know that you created something that so many are enjoying?

- It feels surreal that something that started out in a little room - with just me and my computer - is now being read around the world. It’s amazing. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over getting emails from readers who connected with the story.

2. So now that Everneath is out…..how long are the masses going to have to wait for book 2?  Any chance you can slide in a sneak peak here to keep them even more at their wits end??!!!

- I’m just finishing up on revisions for book 2 right now, but since it doesn’t come out until January of 2013, I can’t say much. But what I can say is: If you’ve read the first book in its entirety, you’ll have a good idea of what needs to happen in book 2!

3. I checked out your blog post detailing your launch party (Brodi Ashton's Launch Party by Numbers). WOW! What a turnout!  You’d have to be pleased with such an awesome response.  Was it a little overwhelming standing up their knowing that you and your creation were the ONLY reason for that many people to be there?

- Very overwhelming! Everyone was so supportive. But it helped to have the Power Point presentation there, so I could give them something else to focus on besides my chubby cheeks.

4. Now your road to publication may be vastly different, or even at times similar to many debut authors…..what are some moments that were total StandOut awesome moments for you during your journey?

- EVERNEATH wasn’t my first book. I wrote another book that didn’t sell. When I showed my agent-at-the-time the first draft of EVERNEATH, he didn’t like it. Eventually, I split up with him because of it, and I thought that might be the end for me. But when I started querying again with EVERNEATH, I ended up with ten offers of representation. That was absolutely a defining moment, and let me know I had something special.

5. Now not to leave Cole sitting there any longer….you’d think he has somewhere to be!!  Welcome Cole to Novels On The Run and thanks for taking time out of your day to chat with us.  You do kind of look pretty nice draped over the arm of that hotel couch! Hmmmmmm…..oops sorry!! Where was I?....

-It’s okay. People often lose their train of thought when they look at me. It happens.

6. The Dead Elvises….great band name.  What a great front to allure the emotionally needy fans so you can strip their emotions and get “high”.  Is this the real or only reason for creating the band? Or do you and the other guys actually have a passion for music?

- I live for music, and so do the guys in the band. It’s why we all came together. We just merged our passion for music with our immortal lifestyles as well. We get to live our dream, and we never run out of nourishment.

7. What song would sum up The Dead Elvises? What would be the bands’ anthem song?

- I would say “Ulysses” by Franz Ferdinand. It’s all about taking that first trip, and then never going home again.

8. Is there any style of music or particular artist that you just put your down and refuse to play?

- We don’t touch Celine Dion. And Reggae is for pansies.

9. Where can we get the guitar picks???  They “Rock”!!

- As with many things in life, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.

10. Cole…clearly your time during the Feed with Nikki was pretty intense and even intimate..being entwined with her for so long.  The overwhelming need you find yourself feeling for her since you left the Everneath, could that be love?  Or just purely a side effect of the feed?

-If I’m not going to be straight with Nikki about my feelings, it wouldn’t be very crafty of me to spill the beans on your blog…  But the fact is, it doesn’t matter what I say about love. Until the object of my love believes I’m actually capable of it, my feelings will go unrequited. 

11. Cole, can you describe your own memory (emotional and physical) that you went through during the Feed?

-        The Feed is a very intimate, and personal thing for an Everliving. It is the moment we face the meaning of our lives. We stare down the fragility of our own existence, the cost of our immortality, and we renew our pledge to this life we have chosen.

-        At least, that’s what we are supposed to think about. During this particular Feed, all I could think about was the girl in my arms.

Well I am sure you both have plenty of places to go and things to do….so again, thanks so much for chatting with us.

- Thank you for having us!!

I hope you all enjoyed those few questions.  If you haven't read EVERNEATH yet, add it to your TBR list and grab a copy.  To find out more about Everneath check out my review HERE.

Also take the time to check out Brodi's own blog - Brodi Ashton

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK REVIEW - EVERNEATH By BRODI ASHTON - EVERNEATH # 1

By : Brodi Ashton
Published By : Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Simon Pulse
Released : 24th January 2012
Details: Paperback, 370 Pages

Thankyou to Simon & Schuster Australia

RATING : 4.5 JACK, HEROES DO EXIST STARS!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.


She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.


Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.


As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...


BOOK REVIEW:



Debut author, Brodi Ashton had me under a spell with Everneath. I felt totally compelled to keep reading Everneath until the very last page, I was swept away with this read.

I want more.

I want to know Cole the dark, dangerous, mysterious, smexi, persuasive, motorcycle riding, guitar playing, leader of The Dead Elvises, character more. Oh he is a bad boy, but we get this hint of a guy who has been changed under the surface by Nikki. I don’t think he even understands what he is feeling.


The Prologue had me so intrigued that the pages started turning, almost by themselves. I mean two people who wake up after 100 years, almost like their bodies have grown together, their skin stuck to each other. Eyes having to be peeled open, legs slowly pulled away from each other. The Feeding has finished.


100 years in the Everneath, is 6 months on the surface.


For 6 months Nikki had just disappeared.


Jack her boyfriend, we find through back story is consumed with finding her. His love is very strong for Nikki, but even he has his limits. He is such a patient character, who almost handles Nikki with kid gloves when she returned. I felt like he was afraid to spook Nikki, for fear of her disappearing again. I felt such compassion for Jack. He really is a great guy. He didn't push Nikki for answers to his list of questions. He waited, stayed close enough to share stolen glances, hoping to find the Nikki that he knew underneath the quiet, thin, damaged person she had become.


Cole has Nikki awake in the Everneath for a short time before Nikki remembers the boy that she left and she Returns immediately to the surface. For a hundred years Nikki saw Jack's face while the 'Feeding', happened.


To Nikki, she is a broken, damaged girl who left with Cole because he took away her pain. Her mother had been killed by a drunk driver, she feared her relationship with Jack was over, her father was too busy to spend time with her, she was in a bad place.


Nikki was preyed upon by Cole.


Nikki now knits, it is her calming thing she does.


Jack wants to understand Nikki, where she has been, he was frightened for her, but this isn’t the same Nikki he once dated. To everybody else she is a drug addict who disappeared and has now returned.


Nikki has 6 months to say her goodbyes, before the Shade that is inside her pulls her back to the Tunnels. She is now Forfeit. She gave up Cole and the Everneath. Cole hasn’t given up on Nikki, not in a long shot. He has found what he has been searching for and he doesn’t want to give her up.


I have never read about Hades, Persephone, Orpheus or Eurydice. I soon worked out Orpheus would be Jack, Eurydice would be Nikki. I want to now read more and understand this mythology.


Mary is an intriguing character who is frightened and yet brave, appears mentally lost, but is she?


I loved the way Brodi kept the reader intrigued by showing us the NOW of the story line and the backstory , keeping it clear to the reader. It all wove together to keep the mystery of what had happened to Nikki and how Cole came into her life and where it left Jack. Brodi takes us to where we need to be in her story, we as the reader follow.


Nikki wasn’t mentally a very strong character when she was with Jack, she had to grow through meeting Cole and having to decide if it was worth it to fight back. Not just to come back to say her goodbyes and disappear again on her family, Jack and Jules her friend. She had to want to fight through all the pain she felt and want to beat it, beat Cole, beat the Shades and the Tunnel.


There were a couple of great twists in this story which I really enjoyed and thought were quite clever.


Is it possible to escape Cole and the Everneath?


This is a great love story that I want to read more about. I feel like Nikki is going to have to roll her sleeves up ,dig deep and fight for what means most to her. It’s no longer about her pain.


When she thought she only had herself to lose..........

FAVE QUOTES:

  "Wait," he said.
I turned back. "What?"
  He shrugged, then spoke in a low murmur. "Just stop hiding behind your hair for a minute."
  I closed my eyes, but still I didn't turn away. "You're making things difficult, Jack Caputo," I whispered.
  "At least you remember my name."
  I remember everything. The first time he called me his girlfriend. The first time he told me he loved me. The first time I started to question whether or not I'd be able to hold on to him. The first time I knew I had to come back to see him again, at whatever cost.


"Why won't you help me? You could be a hero for once."
"Heroes don't exist. And if they did, I wouldn't be one of them."



Michelle

BOOK REVIEW: 4.5 Stars for EVERNEATH by BRODI ASHTON

Title:  EVERNEATH
Author:  BRODI ASHTON
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)
Pages:  384 pages (hardcover)
Acquired:  Received for review from Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date:  January 24, 2012



RATING:  4.5 CONNIVING COLE STARS!

Description:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.


As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Trailer:

Review:

Well this one caught me by surprise!  And it was certainly a fantastic surprise at that.   I was intrigued, enthralled and kept highly entertained as every page went by.

Nikki Beckett (Becks) is our leading gal!  She's been curled up in a cocoon for a hundred years (6 months in human time) with the Everliving Cole.  Cole feeds off her emotion to sustain his own life form.  Once out of the Feed, Becks wants back to normal - even if it is just for 6 months - so she can mend things with her father, say goodbye to her brother and see Jack Caputo.....just once more.  After 6 months is up....the Tunnels will come for her and she will no longer exist as Becks.

She is a shell of her former sell when she returns. And Becks struggles with her passion for Jack and her connection to Cole.  Does she have the strength to make a stand?  Delving into the stories of Greek Mythology, an answer awaits her and Jack.

Jack Caputo is Becks' love and oh yes.....her ex. She left on highly emotional circumstances with Cole - he could take her pain away.  Jack isn't sure what's happened to Becks but intends to find out....one little bit at a time. He hasn't given up on them even if he was "broken" when she left. He'd thought she was missing - even kidnapped......but then she came back.....  Jack still loves her but can he believe the story about who she now is and where she has been?

Cole...Cole....Cole.........you rotten scoundrel. Feeding off the emotions of humans to sustain yourself - no regrets - no concerns - no nothing!  Until he went into the Feed with Becks.....now he finds himself tied a little to tightly to his need for Becks and will do whatever it takes to make sure she chooses him in the end.

Brodi Ashton has delivered a fantastic debut novel.  Her chapters are set in the "Now" and also prior to the Feed.  Even though the story jumps back in time to give us more detail and understanding of Becks' circumstances......the forward motion and great pace of the overall story is kept up and adds to the complete enjoyment of Everneath.  This was a definite "Can't put down till finished" read!

Oh and yeah.........GREAT ENDING!!!

ENJOY!

MARISSA