Rainy Days and Pajamas: January 2016

He’s been making waves in Maryland’s underground racing circuit since he crossed the state line, and after speaking with him, we know he’s not hitting the brakes anytime soon.

So what exactly does it take to burn rubber and make a name for yourself in a world where the only rule is there are no rules?

You gotta be hungry…

You gotta have balls…

And you can never back down.

What’ve we learned here at GearShark?

Drew is all of the above.

We also know he’s got some secrets buried under his hood.

Secrets we think are loaded with octane and just might set the world of cars on fire.

Check out the full feature article inside…

Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house). Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo. Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC. You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website: http://www.cambriahebert.com.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Review: Priest by Sierra Simone

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Priest
Author: Sierra Simone
Series: Priest #1
Version Reviewed: Finished, eBook
Website: www.authorsierrasimone.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

There are many rules a priest can't break.
A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.
I've always been good at following rules.
Until she came.
My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I'm twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.
I am a priest and this is my confession.

Review:
I am a sucker for books that have a forbidden theme or a character or story that pushes readers outside of their comfort zones. I can't get enough of taboo, of reading things that most people shy away from. It's exiting, it's confusing and, sometimes, it's a huge turn on. Priest easily fit every single one of those categories.

As soon as I saw the cover and title of this book, I knew I had to read it. Without even reading the synopsis, I knew that it was going to suck me in. The idea of a man of God, a priest, so devoted to his parish and his rules of celibacy meeting a woman that turns everything upside down with just the sound of her voice? How could I not read that? I mean, everything about that sounds interesting and sexy.

This book definitely went there. It was sexy and fun but as serious as you would expect this particular subject matter to be. I don't think that the author was offensive or crude, I think she did the situation justice. It was interesting to see how Father Bell, or Tyler, found his way, even when he thought he was losing everything. It was inspiring to see how he found God in the simple ways of human nature and how he discovered that, to still be loved by God, he didn't have to fit this specific mold that he had forced himself into. He could still live his life for God and do his work in other ways. I think if Priest was anything, it was an example of how being one thing for so long doesn't mean that you can't broaden your life and find your purpose with something else.

I absolutely loved this book. I really did. I couldn't get enough of the story and of Poppy and Tyler. It was great in all the ways I've already mentioned but it was also undeniably sexy. The heat that rolled off these two characters... I needed a cold shower throughout the majority of the book. It was sinfully delicious.

Rating: 5 Stars.

Blitz & Giveaway: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

The Prophecy of Shadows
Michelle Madow
(Elementals #1)
Published by: Dreamscape Publishing
Publication date: January 26th 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!
When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers–and, to her dismay, by Blake–the school’s notorious bad-boy.
Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect–it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

“Elementals is going to blow your mind!”
-Crossroad Reviews, ★★★★★

“Five glittery stars for being such a compelling read!”
-Andrea Heltsley, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★

“A perfect mixture of magic and mythology. An entrancing story of trust, friendship and well naughty boys. WITCHES are not the only thing walking the earth!”
– BenjaminOfTomes, BookTuber ★★★★★

—

EXCERPT:

Everyone stared at me, and I looked to the front of the room, where a tall, lanky man in a tweed suit stood next to a blackboard covered with the morning announcements. His gray hair shined under the light, and his wrinkled skin and warm smile reminded me more of a grandfather than a teacher.

He cleared his throat and rolled a piece of chalk in his palm. “You must be Nicole Cassidy,” he said.
“Yeah.” I nodded and looked around at the other students. There were about thirty of them, and there seemed to be an invisible line going down the middle of the room, dividing them in half. The students near the door wore jeans and sweatshirts, but the ones closer to the wall looked like they were dressed for a fashion show instead of school.
“It’s nice to meet you Nicole.” The teacher sounded sincere, like he was meeting a new friend instead of a student. “Welcome to our homeroom. I’m Mr. Faulkner, but please call me Darius.” He turned to the chalkboard, lifted his hand, and waved it from one side to the other. “You probably weren’t expecting everything to look so normal, but we have to be careful. As I’m sure you know, we can’t risk letting anyone else know what goes on in here.”
Then the board shimmered—like sunlight glimmering off the ocean—and the morning announcements changed into different letters right in front of my eyes.

Author Bio:
Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.
Visit Michelle online at www.michellemadow.com, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on Amazon to get instant updates on her books!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #1
Version Reviewed: Finished, eBook
Website: www.jenniferarmentrout.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Review:
*This review was originally written in 2014 but wasn't posted until now.

Oh, hot damn. Yep, I said it. I don't think I've been this gushy about a YA series since Twilight. I've been dying to read this series for quie some time and I decided that it was finally time to dive into them.

I started out with Shadows, the prequel novella, and I have to say that I have no idea how everyone could have read Obsidian without knowing Bethany and Dawson's story beforehand. It would have driven me insane trying to figure out Daemon and wondering why all of the characters were acting the way that they were.

So, Jennifer L. Armentrout is now officially on my auto-buy list. Not many author's are, but she has now become one. From what I've seen so far, the Lux series is really well written. The characters are amazing and have a great voice and individual personalities to them.

Obsidian is very easy to get into. I was addicted to it as soon as I began reading. One of the ways that I judge how much I like a book is by the draw it has on me when I'm not reading it. This book hooked me so badlythat I feared I was going to hurt my Kindle because of how long and often I had it turned on. When I couldn't read it, it killed me because I wanted to be.

I think Daemon's initial jerk-ness would have bothered me had I not read Shadows but I did and I understood from the beginning why he was acting the way he was. I love him and his character as well as Katy's. I love that she isn't an innocent little character. She has strength and attitude.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Rating: 5 Stars.
Character: Katy and Daemon.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Blood of Hydra by Michelle Madow

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals: The Blood of the Hydra is the second novel in Michelle Madow’s Elementals series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

Title: Elementals: The Blood of the Hydra
Author: Michelle Madow
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: April 18, 2016
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Series: Elementals #2
Format: eBook and paperback
ISBN: 9781311296788

Synopsis:

A DEMIGOD WHO CAN KILL WITH A TOUCH. IT’S AN ABILITY THAT MUST BE KEPT SECRET FROM EVERYONE, EVEN FROM THOSE TRUSTED MOST.
Finding out that her new school had her in a special homeroom for witches was strange enough, but now Nicole must face the realization that she has the rare power to kill with just a touch. It’s a secret she needs to keep not only from the Head Elders, but from the super-sexy witch Blake, who she’s had undeniable chemistry with even before he broke up with his long-term girlfriend, the vengeful witch Danielle.
Now Nicole and the four others gifted with powers over the elements, including Blake and Danielle, must stop a series of monsters that they previously believed to be dead from rising once again and destroying the mortal world. Three magical items are needed, including the blood of the slain hydra – ingredients that they must journey to the dangerous, mystical islands in Greece to retrieve.
The monsters they face on this journey will be more threatening than anything they’ve encountered yet. But with the fate of the world on their shoulders, it’s up to the Elementals to return home victorious. Will they find the ingredients they need? Can Nicole and her friends pull off this mission while the tension between her, Blake, and Danielle threatens to ruin everything? And how long will it be until Nicole is forced to use her ability to kill in front of everyone, revealing the true darkness of her powers?
Find out in The Blood of the Hydra, and join the Elementals on their next journey in their quest to save the world – or die trying.

Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to Goodreads

And don’t miss the first book in the series, Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows!
Click here to learn more.

Giveaway:

Michelle is offering one lucky winner a signed paperback of Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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About the Author:

Michelle Madow has always loved writing stories, but the possibility of being an author used to feel
more like a dream than a reality. She didn’t share her stories with anyone until her junior year of college, when she signed up for an Intro to Creative Writing course. Her teacher and classmates read the first chapter of a book idea she had, and they loved it so much that they told her she had to finish the book so they could find out what happened next. By the end of the school year, Michelle finished that book, which would later be published as her first novel, Remembrance.

Michelle grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Review: Keep You From Harm by Debra Doxer

Cover Source: GoodReads,com

Title: Keep You From Harm
Author: Debra Doxer
Series: Remedy #1
Version Reviewed: ARC, eBook
Website: www.facebook.com/AuthorDebraDoxer

I received this book for free, from the author in exchange for an honest review.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Secrets…

They weigh you down. I’ve kept a secret all my life. It’s my mother’s secret, too. I inherited it from her along with a unique ability that only we possess. She’s gone now, another victim of addiction. If her death isn’t enough to bring me to my knees, her betrayal flays me to the bone. Because the secret my mother and I have been keeping is just one of many she’d kept. She never told me I have an older brother. And now he’s here, eager to be my guardian.
There is no one else. So I move across the country to live with this stranger, my brother. But experience has taught me that most situations are temporary and forming attachments only leads to hurt in the end. That’s why I’m determined to keep to myself in this new place, struggling to seem aloof while I’m quietly breaking apart.

Then I meet Lucas…
His magnetism is hard to resist, and most girls at school aren’t resisting. I don’t fall so easily though, especially not for guys who use their good looks as a weapon. From the start, our interactions are tense and volatile. I know it’s because I’m denying the unwelcome desire that grips me when he’s near. I think he feels it, too. He looks at me with an intensity that threatens to unhinge my resolve. Soon he’s trying to break through the walls that past hurts have built.

But I’m not what I appear to be, and it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with him. At least that’s what I tell myself. Until a terrible act of violence reveals that Lucas has a secret, too. It’s a secret that links us together and ties us to an evil history I could never have imagined.

Review:
*This book was originally written in 2014 but was never posted.

I won't lie, the cover of this book is what initally attracted me to it. It's absolutely gorgeous.
For some reason, it took me FOREVER to read this book. I have no idea why. It was really good and really well written but it just seemed like it was really long to read.

I enjoyed the story line a lot. It was very interesting and somthing that I can safely say that I have never read before. The only problem that I had was Lucas. I really liked Lucas but at the same time, his inital jerk attitude and mood swings annoyed me. I don't think it was the author's fault, I just think that my tastes are shifting a bit because a year ago I would have completely swooned over his character.

I did really enjoy Keep You From Harm and found it extremely interesting. I would love to read the next book.

Rating: 3 Stars.
Character: Lucas and Raielle.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Review: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

Forever My Girl (The Beaumont Series, #1)

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Forever My Girl
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Series: Beaumont Series #1
Version Reviewed: Finished, eBook
Website: www.heidimclaughlin.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

Review:
*This review was orignally written in 2014 but was never posted.

I heard about this book when it first came out but didn't pay much attention to it. I was looking for something new to read since I had been crashing through my TBR pile and this one popped up in my recommended reads on my Kindle. So I bought it... and finished it the next day. I could have finished it all in one sitting but I put it down once my husband came home from work. You know, family time and all. :)

I really enjoyed Forever My Girl. I liked the small town feel of it even though Liam is a rockstar in Los Angeles. The book was really well written, the story was great and the characters were easy to fall in love with. The only thing I wish could have been added was a little resolution between Josie and a character very close to her.

I really loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the Beaumont series.

Rating: 4 Stars.
Character: Liam.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Review: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Flawless
Author: Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars #2
Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback
Website: www.saracshepard.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives.
And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that.
At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago . . . but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracompetitive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing?
One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all.

Review:
*This review was originally written in 2014 but was never posted.

Starting this book, I wasn't sure how it was going to go or what was going to happen. I'm a really big fan of the television show but I'm aware that the majority of the time, the shows stray drastically from the books. A lot of it was the same but still different. There were a few things that threw me for a loop. Events that I didn't expect to happen, or at least not so soon.

I really like Toby's character on the show so I was excited when I realized that he played a larger role in Flawless. I think the book was well written and the characters have their own distinctive personalites, something that I think is kind of hard to pull off when there are so many different voices in one book.

I'm really excited to see where the series goes from here and I can't wait to read the next book. I really wish I had picked up Pretty Little Liars sooner.

Rating: 4 Stars.
Character: Hannah and Toby.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Review: Amazing Flower Birthday Candle

Hi guys! So today I have an awesome product to show you! I'm sure you've seen videos those awesome candles that look like flowers and spin as their petals open up. If you haven't, you've been missing out because they're super cute!

THE PRODUCT

Photo Source: Amazon.com

As Described On Amazon:

The most amazing flower candle used to celebrate your friends, lovers and your family's birthday , promotion and so on.
The flower bud will surprisingly unfold to a blooming lotus flower when lit, and then the party will be spiced up by the "Wow"cheers.
This multifunctional birthday candles can rotate and play the "Happy Birthday to you" melody automatically. You can also cut off the copper wire to stop the music as you want.
This brand new candles are adopted with the newest techniques of remote electronic music, of safe fireworks squirt blossom flame in candles, and no candle drops. Safety, Eco-friendly and Non-toxic.
A long easy-to-light match stick and the wonderful birthday candle are included in the box.

Amazon Price: $5.99 (not prime eligible)

Avg. Customer Rating: 4 Stars

[Purchase On Amazon]

REVIEW

Shipping Packaging:

I will admit that I was a little taken aback by the packaging that this product arrived it. It didn’t seem very “professional” as it was literally packaged in just Styrofoam and yellow packing tape. I’m all for recycling and reusing packaging material and stuff so, after thinking about it, this isn’t too horrible. I’ve just never received a product for review that has been wrapped so oddly. I also have a natural aversion to Styrofoam so that makes it a little worse for me.

Product Packaging:

The packaging for this product was pretty average. Just a cardboard box sealed with tape. There wasn’t anything special or outstanding about it but it wasn’t bad either. Looked like the packaging of a product of this nature that you’d pick up from any store.

Items Included:

In the kit you receive two items. The candle decoration and an “incense stick” to light it with. Instructions are written on the packaging of the product.

Appearance:

The product is pretty cute. It’s bright and colorful. I admit that it looks kind of cheap and flimsy but it’s decent for it’s intended purpose. I don’t think I’d want to stick anything heavy and hardcore on top of a birthday cake so this is actually a good thing.

Overall Review:

I actually really liked this product. It was cute and fun to watch. It wasn’t difficult to light or to figure out. Everything was pretty straightforward and simple. I could easily see how kids would go nuts over this but I would recommend letting small children get very close to blow the candles out since there are so many and the device does rotate.

The music was not as loud as I expected it to be, which I enjoyed, because I was expecting some insanely loud ear piercing song. It played softly however and accented the candle nicely. I did end up clipping the wire to end the music and it did take me a couple tries. I assumed that you could cut it anywhere and the music would stop playing but for mine, this wasn’t the case. I cut it in two or three different spots before the music stopped.

I continued to let the candle rotate and burn just to see how long it would take it to die out. It rotated for at least ten full minutes before it eventually slowed to a stop. I would advise you to blow out the candles before they burn down too low, however. I let them burn to see if they would go out on their own once they hit the metal piece that was holding them into place but they didn’t. They continued to burn and one even burned down through the thin plastic petal and fell off onto the cake. So I would definitely recommend keeping an eye on the candles if you’re going to be letting them burn for more than a couple of minutes.

I really enjoyed this product. It was fun to watch and I think kids and adults alike would enjoy watching it. I would honestly buy these again in the future for my daughter’s birthday or for family members.

NOTE: I received this item for free in exchange for and honest review.

Blitz & Giveaway: #Junkie by Cambria Hebert

#Junkie
Cambria Hebert
(GearShark, #1)
Publication date: January 20th 2016
Genres: LGBTQ+, Romance, Sports

Drew Forrester is a total adrenaline junkie.
His high of choice?
Cars.
The faster, the better.
He’s been making waves in Maryland’s underground racing circuit since he crossed the state line, and after speaking with him, we know he’s not hitting the brakes anytime soon.
So what exactly does it take to burn rubber and make a name for yourself in a world where the only rule is there are no rules?
You gotta be hungry…
You gotta have balls…
And you can never back down.
What’ve we learned here at GearShark?
Drew is all of the above.
We also know he’s got some secrets buried under his hood.
Secrets we think are loaded with octane and just might set the world of cars on fire.
Check out the full feature article inside…
—
*this is a spin-off of the Hashtag series but it can be read on its own.
**This book contains an M/M romance relationship.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Friday, January 22, 2016

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Wednesday, January 20, 2016