After Math

Title: After Math

Author: Denise Grover Swank

Publisher: Createaspace

Publish Date:  12 March 2013

Pages: 250

ISBN:  9781482658644

Source:  AToMR tours

Genre:  New Adult, romance

Series:  Off the Subject

Other books in series:  Redesigned (10 June 2013), Business As Usual (late summer/early fall 2013)

Other books by author:  Rose Gardner Mysteries series, On the Otherside series, The Chosen series, Twin River Falls

Rating: really liked

Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him.Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

What happens when you mix a socially introvert with the school’s most popular jock?  Scarlett never thought this would ever happen to her.  The only encounters she has had with Tucker, the college’s star soccer player, was running into him outside her class and occasionally seeing him on campus.  She was alright with that. 

Scarlett got anxious in social situations.  This happened when she was put in situations that were outside of the norm.  She was fine tutoring in the Math Lab.  Math equations calmed her.  Then one day, her world was turned upside down.  Tucker came into the lab needing to be tutored.  He had to do better in his Algebra class or he would risk losing his soccer scholarship. 

Scarlett didn’t want to help him as soon as he walked into the room.  She wasn’t that lucky, though.  He came to her station.  She helped him and thought that that was the end of it.  Then the director of the Math Lab informs her that the Chancellor of the college requested that she tutor Tucker on a regular basis.  Scarlett doesn’t want anything to do with this, but she is told that the math department is counting on this to get a program that they need.    Will Scarlett be able to get over her anxiety and tutor Tucker?  What will happen between Scarlett and Tucker?  Will Tucker be able to save his soccer scholarship?

When I heard that Swank had written this book, I was anxious to read it because I had participated in the blog tour of Here and it was well written.  I wasn’t disappointed in this book.  It seems that the New Adult category is just blossoming and there are a lot of books in this category.  The storyline starts out as the classic: the jock is being tutored by the “nerd” in order to stay on the [insert sport] team.  There are twists and turns in the book that make it worth the read.  Scarlett has some skeletons in her closet that have given her the anxiety disorder that she has.  She finds out that Tucker has some also.  I liked the way that Swank wrote in the discoveries of these skeletons.  As with a lot of books, I was disappointed that the book ended.  

There is an excerpt posted on Goodreads of After Math.  Here is the link:

Deity

Title: Deity

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Publish Date:  06 November 2012

Pages: 330

ISBN:  9781937053147

Source:  bought

Genre:  YA, paranormal, romance, mythology

Series:  The Covenant Series

Other books in series:  Daimon, Half-Blood, Pure, Elixir, Apollyon, Sentinel (02 November 2013)

Other books by author:  The Lux Series, Cursed, Wait for You Series, Gamble Brothers Series, Obsession (31 May 2013), Frigid (30 July 2013)

Rating: really liked

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

What will happen to Alex now that she has returned from the Catskills?  That is the question that is on her mind.  She didn’t like the things that happened and now she is trying to deal with them and move on.  She is getting closer and closer to her eighteenth birthday.  That means that she is getting closer to awakening and becoming a full Apollyon alongside Seth.  She is starting to doubt whether or not she wants that to happen.

A lot of things are different since returning from New York, and some are the same.  She is training with both Aiden and Seth.  Lucian, her step-father, is still head of the Covenant and on the council board.  Marcus, her uncle is still trying to protect her.  Telly, a member of the Council, is still after her.  She is unsure of her feelings toward Aiden and Seth.

Some things are different, however.  Alex is starting to realize that Seth doesn’t always tell her the truth.  For that matter, Aiden doesn’t either.  The place where she always felt safe before, the Covenant, suddenly doesn’t feel so safe.  The people she trusted before are suddenly not that trustworthy.  What will happen between Alex and Aiden?  Between Alex and Seth?  What will happen when Alex awakens and becomes the second Apollyon?  Is the prophecy going to be fulfilled of “one to save and one to destroy?”

I love this series!  I love to read about the turmoil between Alex, Aiden and Seth.  It seems like since Half-Blood, Alex and Seth have not liked each other and both have wanted Alex.  Now, as the time for the awakening of the second Apollyon gets closer, the series is getting even more exciting.  Every time one question is answered, ten more pop up in its place.  I like Alex.  She is not perfect and she knows it.  She has a hot temper and has a tendency to fly off the handle rather than sit back and think about things.  She has a lot on her plate and is dealing with it fairly well.

Aiden versus Seth. That is the old debate.  There are people backing both boys.  Aiden is a Pure and Seth is the other Apollyon.  I have always like Aiden more than Seth.  Seth just seems too full of himself.  Yes, he is the Apollyon, but he is not God.  He may think differently though.  Aiden is trained as a Sentinel and is used to thinking about others first.  That is not always a good thing.  Sometimes you just have to show some emotion. Ilike that the Greek Gods make an appearance in this book.It’s interesting to see their take on the whole “two Apollyons prophecy.” I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

Here is the official book trailer for Deity.  Out of all of Armentrout's trailers, this one is probably ranked up with my least favorite.  Why?  It's so plain and doesn't really explain what the book it about.  I guess with being the third book in the series, you should already know what's going on.

The Summer I Became a Nerd

Title:  The Summer I Became a Nerd

Author: Leah Rae Miller

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publish Date:  07 May 2013

Pages: 258

ISBN:  978-1-62061-238-5

Source:  ARC from publisher

Genre:  YA, contemporary

Series:  none

Rating:  Really Liked

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

**I received this book in trade for an honest review**

 
How would you react if you were humiliated because of something that you loved?  That is what happened to Maddie.  She loves comic books and when she was in junior high, everyone made fun of her at a Halloween festival because she dressed up like her favorite comic book character.  Ever since then, she has been a closet comic book reader.

Now, she is ending her junior year of high school and is popular, but she is not happy.  She has to pretend to be something that she is not.  She pretends to like a singer and fakes all the motions to stay in her social ring.  She is a cheerleader and is dating Eric from the football team.

Her love for comic books has never gone away and she is eagerly waiting the #400 edition of her favorite comic, The Super Ones.  This is going to be the last edition.  Normally, she would download her issues, but the author had only wanted the final issue to be in print, so Maddie waits for the mail to receive it.  Only to be disappointed because she is put on a wait list because it is in such high demand.  She thinks that she cannot wait for it so she goes to The Phoenix, the comic book store in town, to see if they have a copy.

Only problem is that she doesn’t want to be seen at the comic book store.  She has worked hard to overcome the incident that happened in junior high and doesn’t want her social status to suffer.  She puts a disguise and head to The Phoenix.  After unsuccessfully attempting to get someone else to go in and buy it for her, she bites the bullet and goes in the store.  She looks for the comic in its normal spot with all the other issues, but doesn’t see it.  She asks the guy at the counter, only to realize that he is reading it.  He says that there aren’t any more and she then points out that he is reading it.  It only takes a few moments for her to realize that this is Logan Scott, the guy she’s had a crush on for a year.  Logan says that it is his copy, but he will loan it to her.  He gives her his number to call him when she is done reading it so she can return it.  Maddie thinks that her disguise worked and that her reputation is saved, but then she reads what Logan had written on the note along with his phone number. 

Summertime is Maddie’s “free time” where she doesn’t have to pretend as much to fit in.  Because of this, she is drawn to Logan and his family, who own The Phoenix.  She wants to be able to do what makes her happy, but she has that fear in the back of her head of what happened to her in junior high.  Will Maddie be able to be her own person?  What will happen between Maddie and Logan?   What will happen between Maddie and Eric?

I really liked this story.  I think that a lot of people will be able to relate to Maddie.  Not necessarily that they like comic books, but that they like something that they are afraid to admit because it would make them not part of the “in crowd.”  High school is famous for pointing out these oddities.  That’s what makes these stories so believable.  Maddie thinks that she is all alone in her struggle to fit in.  She doesn’t let anyone else in on her secret: not her parents, not her brother, not her best-friend Terra, and not Logan.  None of them understand why she thinks the way she does and what is going on with her.  Maddie’s path to discovery is a good one.  I liked the LARP of Ages game that Logan brings Maddie to.  That seems like it would be fun.

Logan, what can I say about Logan?  He is the guy who got suspended from school for wearing a supposed “porn” shirt, when it was actually a comic drawing.  He has good character. That is a broad statement.  He doesn’t care what other people think.  He has good, loyal friends.  He gives Maddie multiple chances.  Even though he doesn’t understand what she is going through, he still tries.  I think everyone needs a Logan in their story. 

The Summer I Became a Nerd kept me intrigued from beginning to end.  I had to finish this book.  I fell for Logan.  I felt for Maddie.  This is Miller’s first book.  I think she will do really well if all her books are like this one.  

Mother, wife, and YA author living on a windy hill in Natchitoches, Louisiana. I love fuzzy socks, comic books, cherry coke, and brand new office supplies. THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD coming Summer 2013 from Entangled Teen. Stay cool!

He stand and hugs me like he hasn’t seen me in years. “It doesn’t matter what you like to read, you know that, right? You’re so smart, I don’t see how you got this idea in your head. Who cares what other people think?”

“I know, it’s just…It’s high school.”

“It’s not just high school.People are going to judge you for all kinds of reason for the rest of your life.  Because you vote one way or the other, because you go to one school or the other, because you look a certain way.   It’s a fact of life: you can’t make everyone happy.  But you can make you happy.”

Blog Tour: Friends and Lovers

Title: Friends and Lovers Trilogy

Author: Bethany Lopez

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN:  978-1482729559

Source:  book tour

Genre:  New Adult, romance

Series:  Friends and Lovers

Books in series:  Make It Last, I Choose You, Trust in Me

Other books by author:  Ta Ta for now!, Ciao, Nissa, xoxoxo

Rating: liked

Make It Last (Book #1)

Released: November 2012

In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.

Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.

I Choose You (Book #2)

Released: December 2012

Up until now, Nicole's life has been mapped out for her. She'd go to college, marry Jake and become the upstanding minister's wife. When she leaves that life to begin again in a small town in Texas, she finally has the freedom to live as she chooses. There, she meets Kent, a guy whose charm and passion make it hard to stick to her morals.

Dodging his father’s fists and protecting his twin sister made Kent into the man he is today. He learned by watching his mother stay by his father’s side that it’s better to keep relationships simple. Then he meets Nicole. Her sweet smile and genuine response to him land like punches to his resolve. After a lifetime of learning to protect his heart, can he finally let down his guard?

Trust in Me (Book #3)

Released: February 2013

Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband's fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she'll find her path. When the town's local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams...and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.

Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that's just what he's doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies' man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he's willing to prove that he's serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he's more than willing. But she's taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are over and that she can trust him with her heart?

**I received this book in trade for an honest review**

The book that I received for this blog tour was an omnibus, meaning that all three of the books were in one and I think it made it easier to transition from one to the other.  I liked the fact that you knew the characters in the books from the previous ones.  The main characters in the books, Briana, Nicole and Roni are all strong female characters.   They are all really well developed and even when you aren’t reading “their” story, you get a sense of who they are.  I liked the fact that these books take place in a small town where everyone knows everyone.  At times, I felt that the stories were too sweet, like Disney sweet.  Meaning that it seemed if there was a problem, the answer was on the next page.   

Overall, I liked the books and the way Lopez portrays characters and gets you to feel what they felt.  More specifically, I liked how each of the girls were dealing with their own demons, so to speak.  Briana had dropped out of college, was now working in a bar and was saving to go to culinary school when Colin reappeared in her life.  Nicole's life had been planned out for her: she was going to marry Jake and they were going to start a church.  That all changed when Nicole realized that wasn't what she wanted, told her parents and Jake and then left town.  Roni had been married to an abusive man when her twin brother, Kent, came and helped her leave.  The abuse that Roni suffered caused her to be unable to have children.  It also prevented her attaining her dream: dancing.  Will Briana, Nicole and Roni find love?  That is the question that the Friends and Lovers trilogy answers.

Click on the tour banner for more stops and tour specifics

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

There is a giveaway sponsored by Bethany Lopez and AToMR tours associated with this tour.  It is for 3 signed copies of Friends and Lovers.


a AToMR tour giveaway