NOVELLA REVIEW - TORMENTING LILA by SARAH ALDERSON

 TORMENTING LILA

(Lila #2.5)

by

SARAH ALDERSON

Format/Acquired:  Digital from Author

RATING: 5 SHORT AWESOME STARS!

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve.

But just as things start heating up news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted.

A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer.

MARISSA'S REVIEW

True to Sarah Alderson's writing skill, I became engrossed in Tormenting Lila from the start.  

It was great to be back reading more Lila and Alex - and as the story progressed (though short) it certainly became evident that there was a whole lot more to come for these two.  So much so that when I got to the last page.....I kept flicking back and forth seeking more pages to read...."No - it can't end there"!  I had been sucked in and so engrossed, I had forgotten it was a novella!!

Looking for some R&R after an awesome bad guy take down (!), Alex and Lila head off to have some "alone" time on Nantucket. Well, alone as can be had when your super power buddies end up in the same place.  Oh, and Alex has some rules for what is allowed to happen during your alone time!!! Lila is not impressed and no amount of girl swagger can change his mind!

But with all things Lila, nothing is simple and danger seems to saunter up and slap her like a wet fish !  Seriously - can a girl get some down time please?!

The clever introduction of new characters has been used as a launch to Sarah's newest and stand-alone novel The Sound. With the introduction of Jessie into the storyline, fans of Lila Series should be jumping out of their skin for The Sound. My eyes will be devouring that one for sure......Jessie sounds like Alex's competition in the hottie department!!

In a nutshell people - if you love the Lila Series, Tormenting Lila (as with previous Lila Novella's) is a must read. If you haven't delved into Lila's world - go....go now and don't return till you have all available books/novella's......and have yourself a Lila fest!!

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK REVIEW: GONE WITH THE WOLF by KRISTIN MILLER

GONE WITH THE WOLF

by

KRISTIN MILLER

Published by:  Entangled Publishing - Covet

Acquired: From publisher for honest review

Marissa's Rating

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder has given up the search for his one true love. When he discovers that she’s a secretary in his company, Drake’s primal instincts kick into overdrive.

What he wouldn’t give to have her fingers rake over his body instead of the keyboard…

Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. But when profits decline, she slips into a dress suit and secures a nine-to-five. After learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers.

Two can play the ruthless business game. If only her attraction to the boss wasn’t so intense…

When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate—he hatches a plan to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Emelia Hudson obtained her tavern the Knight Owl through true blood, sweat and tears.....and she'll be damned if the likes of Wilder Financial and it's control hungry owner Russell D Wilder will take it right out from under her.

Time to kick plan A into action - Emelia lands herself a job at Wilder Financial and before she knows it she's in the cellar of Russell Wilder's mansion being heavily kissed by a very hot stylish guy called Drake.  

Ding Ding Ding.....could that D in Russell's name be D for Drake?? !!!  Man o Man of all things pleasurable....what has Emmie gotten herself into?  How is she going to make Wilder Financial pay for trying to take the Knight Owl away from her?

Drake has found his Luminary - after decades of searching and about ready to give up, Emelia walks into his world and turns it upside down.  Here is a strong independent woman that not only has her eyes set on winning a war she waged on her own.....but one that ignites some seriously powerful raw impulse within him that he is barely able to contain. Containing his burgeoning pleasure around her is just one of many personal accomplishments he needs to achieve!    

High on the list is keeping Emmie safe from the evil claws of his twin brother. It just might not be Emmie that his brother is determined to eradicate.  

Though the characters are not overly deep, they are all enjoyable to read. Kristin's ability to make your toes curl and cold showers necessary help make this an easy read and I look forward to reading more of the Seattle Wolf Pack series.

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BLOG TOUR - TREMBLE (Denazen Book #3) by JUS ACCARDO

Welcome to our stop of the blog tour for

TREMBLE by Jus Accardo

TREMBLE is the third installment in the Denazen series.

Below you'll find not just my review of TREMBLE but also a sneak peak into a new series being released soon from Jus Accardo...

TREMBLE
by
Jus Accardo
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

MARISSA'S RATING :
 

Dez Cross has problems. She’s almost eighteen and on the verge of losing her mind thanks to the drug Denazen used to enhance her abilities. People close to her have turned their back on the underground and are now fighting for the wrong side. And then there’s Kale... Things couldn’t get any worse.

Until of course, they do. Denazen is about to start a new trial—this one called Domination—and it works. But that means out with the old and in with the new. The order has been given to terminate all remnants of the second trial—including Dez. The good news is that there’s a survivor from the original trial. A woman who’s blood may hold the cure for the second generation of Supremacy kid’s defect. But the underground Sixes aren’t the only ones who know about her….

Cross is willing to throw everything he has to keep Dez from getting the cure—including the one thing that might tear her apart from the inside out.

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Those eye's......it's me - I know it - he's looking at me!! LOL.  I love the Denazen series covers :)

So book 3, TREMBLE, continues after Kale has been taken back to Denazen......but how could this be? He's forgotten who Dez is and worst of all - he HATES her :(  What has Marshall Cross done to him now?

TREMBLE gives us Dez - still as fiery,brash, opinionated and at times unpredictable as ever.  Dez needs to locate Kale and save him from the evil clutches of her father and Denazen.  And the evil claws of her sister Kiernan - whom my hatred for clings to like lunch wrap!  

Whilst trying to save Kale, Dez and Alex are on the hunt to also save as many Sixes subject to the Supremacy trials as possible - Denazen's orders to terminate have been given and Kale will follow through if required.  Problem is....Dez is on that Supremacy list and the closer she gets to her 18th birthday, the decline in her health and other faculties becomes another issue she must deal with.  She just needs to stay around long enough for the Domination trial to be used on her to guarantee her survival.

With action, emotions, twists and turns, Jus Accardo delivers another installment in the Denazen series that kept me enthralled and definitely wanting book 4.  Thank goodness it's a 5 book series - I'm just not reading to say goodbye to some fantastic characters!   Jus has continual growth in each character and the introduction of interesting characters throughout the story helps to keep the entertaining level high.

Be sure to also check out FACELESS (Denazen #2.5) which gives us the story of Brandt Cross - Dez's cousin.

ENJOY!

MARISSA    

 Find Tremble

Goodreads: 
 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15811134-tremble

JUS ACCARDO

Jus Accardo spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing.

Jus is the bestselling author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction.

A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch was released in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is currently working on the next book in the Denazen series.

COMING SOON FROM JUS ACCARDO!

The first book in a brand new series!

DARKER DAYS by Jus Accardo.

Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

Find Jus Accardo

Website:  
http://www.jusaccardo.com

Goodreads: 
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4996736.Jus_Accardo

Twitter:  
http://www.twitter.com/JusAccardo

Facebook:   
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJusAccardo?fref=ts

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY - DOUBLE REVIEWS - EXCERPT - WEREWOLVES BE DAMNED by STACEY KENNEDY - ENTANGLED PUBLISHING

Today on Novels On The Run we have both of our reviews for Werewolves Be Damned by Stacey Kennedy and a giveaway and teaser & excerpt.

By: Stacey Kennedy
Published By: Entangled Publishing
Released: 15th APRIL 2013
Details: Digital Netgalley, 260 Pages

RATING: 3 BRIGGS & KYDEN STARS !!

Blurb : Goodreads

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull's-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I enjoyed the whole idea of there being an Otherworld. That would be the home of the Supernaturals, and the Guardians who police any bad behavior from the Supernaturals, and, as the character’s called it, Earthworld. That would be us, plain ol’ humans. When the shiz goes down in the Earthworld with Supernaturals, the Guardians step in, humans none the wiser.

Supernaturals do live amongst the humans, quietly and peacefully, but a lot remain in the Otherworld, travelling between portals.

I really liked the idea of Guardian's policing Supernaturals and solving murders in their eyes, but unfortunately that would leave a lot of cold cases in humans eyes. 

Nexi gets introduced to her new self, the non human, through the violent deaths of her parents. Not a great way to find out.

Nexi Jones finds out that she is half witch and half guardian.

Enter Kyden wearing his smexi leather kilt and not much else and his trusty sword, used to killeth the baddies, and a whole new life opens up to Nexi.

Nexi, Nexi, Nexi. I am going to say I did not connect with her character very well. I did try. I just felt she had some seriously dumbed down dialogue sometimes , considering she is 25 years old, then she became an overnight success in the , I can killeth the baddies all by myself, thankyou very much.

I really would have loved Nexi to have been given more time in the building of her character and in the Kyden department. Not much build up. Pretty insta. Don’t get me started on,( I can’t help but roll my eyes) her Guardian outfit. I couldn’t really take her seriously like other kickass lead chickie babes who command fighting respect and are worthy to hang out with the lads and kick baddie butt. That is just me. Everybody else is probably happy as larry to kick butt in a leather bra and kilt. Considering they are glamoured and nobody in the earthworld can see them, for what they are actually wearing. I shouldn't be criticising. 

I felt like Nexi was a pretty cheesie character, but in saying that, she did get better, I think. 

I loved Kyden. Not because he was all smexi in his kilt, but I thought he was written much better. Well, he was all smexi in his kilt, but.... I had more to grab onto with him. He showed me his character worth in his title, Elite Guardian.

Briggs!

Love the guy. Love how he calls Nexi, Darlin’. We sadly got not much of him in this installment which makes me wonder if book # 2 is his, after watching the speed relationship of Kyden and Nexi and her speedy training sessions to become the overnight success. I get that she hadn’t yet come into her powers. Maybe I just needed this book to be another hundred pages long, then I would not be all nit picky.

I do apologize for being a bit picky in this review.

I have read a lot of supernatural books and werewolves and vampires etc...throw witches in too, and I just felt like the story line was rushed too much. For the number of pages and how many things went down. 

That is just my personal opinion.

Nexi Jones is losing those she loves left, right and center in this book. I possibly felt like a lot happened within the size of this book. I think I would have liked parts to maybe have stretched on into book # 2. Leaving room for relationship growth and character growth.

Ok so how I understood the whole policing duties is:

Werewolves track offenders/  witnesses by scent

Vamps glamour mortal memories

Guardians hunt and destroy offenders - That would be Kyden and his sword.

Witches assist with their magic, memory reading of the deceased to play back how the person died and at whose hand, or claw.... fangs.... That would be the cutie pie Haven’s job. Loved her!

“A system that works,” he said, drawing her focus to him, then he added, “Once we’re notified of a killing by a supernatural cop, a guardian, along with Haven, will arrive and take over the assignment.”

Now for whatever reason, unless I missed something about Kyden and Drake barreling into Nexi’s earth home after her parents had been slaughtered. Why did Haven not come and work her mojo? She would be able to see the whole killing scene play out and then a tracker could be sent to find the remaining living villain. Haven came to every killing in this book, but that one? Every villain got caught and dealt with, pretty swiftly, but it took the whole book to find this baddie.

I think that is why I needed more pages to satisfy me. I did enjoy most of this book. I really think Briggs is going to be good fun and Caveman Kyden knows how to drop his kilt, but as far as story plot I felt that more work could have been put into it. But again, I may be the only one who feels this.

I love the cover, it is stunning and very eye catching and the title suited the story.

I really wanted to like this more. I was drawn to the beautiful cover.

Michelle

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Werewolves Be Damned was a fairly enjoyable read for myself. 

Our leading lady and wannabe avenger Nexi Jones - I'm just not too sure about her. I needed more than just a revenge seeking horny virgin guardian in training!  Though I did enjoy when her guardian skills kicked in for the first time when her rage took over. Plus....she has some good smart-ass witty comments.

Kyden is the other half of the dynamic hot molten duo.  Suppressing his love/lust for Nexi during her weeks of training must have been so "hard" for such a strong guy.  I liked him one minute and wanted to kick his cajoolies the next for being so macho possessive over his woman!    

Guardian uniforms - Seriously - only HeMan and Shera get to rock leather kilts and bras, or in Kyden's position bare chested other than a leather sword sheath!  But for quick access Mr & Mrs Smith style during a werewolf take down - the kilts came in handy!! Even if "she hadn't dry-humped anyone since high school.."!

I'm with Michelle on the whole first scene issue - why didn't Haven come in and use her skills to work out who killed Nexi's parents? 

Do I go to book 2? I will venture down that road - I'd like to read more Briggs - as does everyone it appears. There's a hint of roguishness and dollop of cheeky bad boy that gives Briggs a certain appeal.  I'd be more than happy to venture down that path!! 

ENJOY!

MARISSA 

Teaser with Briggs: 

I’ve found you, fur ball.

Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie.

Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection.

Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill.

The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see.

No damned werewolf.

She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained.

In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish.

Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them.

Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them.

To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus. All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back.

She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones.

She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch.

Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home.

Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back.

“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.”

The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…” 

“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward.

In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?”

“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.”

“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?”

“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.”

He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.”

His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity.

After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.”

“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?”

She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”

EXCERPT with KYDEN

“See, this is why you drive me insane.” Pacing in front of him, she huffed. “You go all caveman on me, get all bossy, doing this and that, always being so damn forceful with me—”

Kyden watched her in silent wonder. How had she gained the confidence she had in that very second? She had looked like a supernatural then, not a mortal any longer. Had he been underestimating Nexi and how far she’d come, as quickly as she had?

Perhaps.

Was her anger the key to her strength? Now that he thought it over, she fought the best when burning with hells-fire at him. She had killed Jaxon not for the assignment, but because Kyden planned to show her up. Had she unlocked the final piece to her training without knowing it?

Regardless of that bit of information he’d store away for later, and that he was damn proud of her, something else boiled his blood equally as hot as hers. She had no idea how much he had been controlling that side of his personality for her. How gentle he’d been, when it was not in his nature to take things slow and wait for her to make the first move.

It definitely wasn’t a guardian’s way to wait to claim what belonged to him.

Maybe seeing her supernatural side come out, allowed his to explode. She continued ripping a strip off him, but he heard none of it. He didn’t mind if a woman thought the worst of him, if he deserved it. He’d done nothing to Nexi to deserve it. Was really protecting her so awful?

He wanted her, in his bed, and in his arms.

He’d grown tired of this game.

Kyden took the two steps to close the distance, pressed his body against hers, and he walked forward until her back met the wall. “Listen up, real good, Nexi.” He cupped her soft face, staring in her wide eyes, and tangled his fingers into her hair. “I don’t intervene to belittle you. I don’t like watching anyone hurt you. My only thought is keeping you safe.”

Her lips parted, but only a wisp of air escaped.

He leaned down, his lips inches from hers. “However, since you seem unable to see my true meaning and are already punishing me for being the complete ass you think I am, then I guess there’s no reason not to act like one.”

Without waiting for a response, he pressed his mouth against hers. Shocking him, she kissed him back, with force. Her lips, her taste, were more than he’d imagined. She didn’t fight him for control through his kisses, but melted around him, eagerly accepting his kiss. Each brush of his lips against hers, each slide of her tongue, threatened to consume him.

Kyden forced himself to lean away when her soft moans filled the air. He breathed heavily, as did she. Moving his hands from her hair to her jawline, he tilted her chin up. “That, Nexi, is a man taking what he wants. Overpowering a woman with no care to how she feels or what she thinks. That is a man being an ass.”

He released her face and she was practically plastered to the wall, her cheeks rosy, and her lips puffy from his kiss. At her silence, he arched an eyebrow. “This is when you can use all the insults you’ve stored up, since I now deserve them.”

She didn’t even blink, and stayed quiet.

“Now you’re lost for words, are you, Álainn?” He leaned in and stared down into her huge, glossy eyes. “I am who I am, Nexi, and I make no apologies for it. You want to see what my forceful side truly looks like? Welcome to it, sweetheart.”

About the Author: 

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

Website - http://www.staceykennedy.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy

Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy



GIVEAWAY TIME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13095649-werewolves-be-damned

BOOK REVIEW: DARE YOU TO by @KATIEMCGARRY

DARE YOU TO

by

KATIE MCGARRY

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Acquired: Digital copy for review from Publisher via NetGalley

MARISSA'S RATING:

5 DOUBLE DOG DARE STARS!

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

 Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

 MARISSA'S REVIEW:

Katie McGarry does it again! 

After reading the first few chapters of PUSHING THE LIMITS,  I knew Katie McGarry was thrusting us into a series of NOT TO MISS books. Focusing on the damaged and flawed instead of the perfect and popular - McGarry gives us a set of characters that, individually, have amazing strengths and so many layers that each well deserves their own book.  And DARE YOU TO is Beth's story.......

DARE YOU TO captures the reader's mind and heart, gives it a hard shake and pours out a cocktail of emotions you only had reserved for watching The Notebook!

Beth Risk is a broken soul in need of mending.  She's had it pretty bad and as a result deals with life by not "feeling" - turning her heart and mind to stone when required makes moments pass without too much emotional damage.  She's a rough cut diamond that Ryan is determined to dig up and polish - and make his own.

Ryan Stone is a sports star in the making and with his dad's single minded guidance, will be the next big baseball star to come from their town.  His dad's persistence in staying on track has driven a wedge of resentment between father and son - one that a stubborn father refuses to see and a "good son" refuses to admit.  Life isn't always perfect and Ryan's family has a few home truths that can knock them off their pedestal.

Beth is placed in the care of her uncle, Scott Risk.  The only person left that can save her (well try) - but of course her reluctance is  understandable - her left and her mother when she was little to the unloving hands of her father (Scott's older brother)....he promised to come back and take them to safety but never did.  How can she possibly trust the one adult that she idolised a long time ago?  If it gets too hard will he just leave her again?

Beth's reluctance to be in Scott's care is compounded with her persistence that she is better off in her own world with best friend Isaiah.  They are each others' rock and survive their lives just fine.  

   

DARE YOU TO continues along the raw, gritty and emotional line that McGarry gave us in the first book PUSHING THE LIMITS.  Outcomes can sometimes never turn out as you pre-empted - and this is one of those instances.  But with that, McGarry gives us the desire and need to impatiently wait for CRASHING INTO YOU - Isaiah's story and book 3 in this series. 

ENJOY!

MARISSA