Book Blitz + Giveaway: Impervious by Heather Letto

Impervious (Ascension, #1) 

by Heather Letto
Publication date: April 29th 2014
YA, dystopia

 

The residents of Impervious are the remnant, the survivors of the war of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in the corners, haunting the residents with its presence. The Beast, a mysterious and terminal illness killed off most of Generations One, Two, and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage, a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death incites a cultural rage. But Fran lives counter-culture, off the grid in true rebel fashion. With a life far from opulent, she scurries through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals with Pete while ditching the holographic security team. To her, it's a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can't steal her sliver of hope, a belief that she'll see The Epoch arrive before The Beast can pull her into its Fetid embrace.

 

Add on Goodreads.

 

Purchase your copy!

Note that the book will be FREE on Amazon for one surprise day during the blitz!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

Author bio

I’m a book-writing, selfie-taking, latte-drinking, social media gal. I’m living a good life on the road as a full-fledged Bedouin (Well, except, my tent is actually a fully-equipped RV.) Me and my partner-in-crime (Benj) tend to hunker down wherever the skies are clear and the temps stay in the 70’s. We call ourselves Gypsy Nerds because we aimlessly wander the U.S. with glasses perched upon our noses and faces jammed into computer screens (for the first half the day... The second half of the day is typically devoted to playing because we’re also somewhat immature.)

Like most authors, the characters I create are my extended family.  And like most readers, when the story ends, I get a little sad. In real life, I have two handsome, hardworking, grown-up boys who know how to make their Mama proud! *Waves to Joey and Mike!*

The Ascension Series is my debut into the world of YA fiction.

I’m living what I love and loving what I live! 

 

Website

Twitter

 

Giveaway! (INTL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

A Word from the Crowd

Today, we’ve rounded up the characters of Impervious and asked them all one question: 
In just one word, how would you sum up our main character, Fran? 

Pete: Arcs a brow while his mouth twitches to a smile. “Hot.”

Ted: While shaking his head. “Wickworm.”

Nissa: “Who, Wickerbug?” Waves a hand, “I don’t know… I think she’s mad at me.”

Chan:  “Messenger.”

Folsom: Squints into the light. “Who?”

Derrick: “Smooth. No, wait, I mean, cool. And brave.”

Random Council member:  Scoffs, “Rebel.”

Tanya: Scratches her head. “Interesting.”

Retter:  Shrugs, “Friend?”

Ruth: “My joy.” Tears glisten.

Ian: Chuckles. “Sarah-Fran? Oh, definitely Princess.”

Ben: “Fortunate.”

Ema: While patting Ben’s shoulder. “Oh, yes, she’s fortunate, dear. But I’d add delightful as well.”

Marcus: Sneers, “Mine.”

There you have it… the many marks Fran has left on her world. Read her story to find out which character you agree with!

Cover Reveal: Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Modern Monsters

by Kelley York

Release Date: 06/02/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something happened that night. Something terrible, unimaginable. And now, the victim has told the police that Vic did it. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, walking through halls at school filled with hostility and violence seething just under the surface. Vic is determined to find out what really went down at that party, even if it means an uneasy alliance with the victim’s best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened that night, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life…

Add to Goodreads

 

And now, the super awesome and beautiful cover!

 

Drum rolls!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

"I like unicorns and cats and games...and stuff..." - quality author quote by Kelley

 

Kelley York was born in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, step-daughter, and way too many cats, while fantasizing about moving to England or Ireland. (Or, really, anyplace secluded.) She has a fascination with bells and animals and Disney. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or to at least write about them. She occupies her spare time with video games,designing covers, playing on Tumblr, and watching anime.

 

Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. She strives to make character development take center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

 

Cover Reveal Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: First Four Titles From Entangled Crush!

Aimee and the Heartthrob

by Ophelia London

Releasing 4/14/15

Goodreads

He never noticed her before, but now she's all he can see…

 

 Miles Carlisle is every teen girl’s fantasy. His rugged good looks and exotic British accent have helped catapult his boy band, Seconds to Juliet, to super-stardom. But after two disastrous and very public breakups, Miles isn’t interested in dating just any girl; he wants The One. And the only girl he’s interested in is not only his best friend’s little sister―and off-limits―but won’t even give him the time of day…

 

As a kid, Aimee Bingham‫ had a huge thing for Miles…until he made fun of her for always tagging along. Now that she’s outgrown both him and her pigtails, the prospect of spending two weeks on tour with the childhood crush who broke her heart isn’t exactly enticing. Except now Miles seems interested. Very interested. And no matter how hard Aimee tries to resist him, her crush is definitely making a comeback.

 

 But everyone knows that falling for a heartthrob is a backstage pass to heartbreak…

The Truth About Jack
by Jody Gehrman
Releasing 4/14/15
Goodreads

Can the write guy be the right guy?

Dakota McCloud has just been accepted into a prestigious art school. Soon she'll leave behind the artists' colony where she grew up―hippie dad, tofu since birth, yurt―and join her boyfriend and best friend on the East Coast. It was the plan…until Dakota finds out her boyfriend and best friend hooked up behind her back.

Hurt and viciously betrayed, Dakota pours out her heart on a piece of paper, places it in a bottle, and hurls it into the ocean. But it doesn't quite go where she expects…

Jack Sauvage finds the bottle washed up on the shore and responds to Dakota's letter. Except what if his straight-laced life doesn’t jive with the free-spirited girl he’s only seen from afar? As Jack creates a persona he believes she’ll love, they slowly fall for each other with each new letter. Now Jack is trying to find a way to make this delicate, on-paper romance happen in real life…without revealing his deception.


Center Ice
by Cate Cameron
Releasing 5/19/15
Goodreads

The hometown hockey hero won't know what hit him…

Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother's death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn't seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.

But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.

Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler's the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they've managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…

Mia and the Bad Boy
by Lisa Burstein
Releasing 5/19/15
Goodreads

This good girl’s about to meet her match…

Ryder Brooks is living the dream—he’s famous, loved by millions of girls, and miserable. All he really wants is to write his own music, not Seconds to Juliet’s sugary sweet pop. In order to do that, though, the “bad boy” of the band will have to play by the rules. And that includes behaving with his new—and super cute—über-good-girl tutor.

Mia Reyes is in fangirl heaven. Tutoring her favorite member of her favorite band? It’s a dream come true…until it turns into a complete nightmare. Ryder is nothing like she thought. He’s crude, arrogant, and pretty much a total jerk. And the worst part? She’s roped into pretending to be his girlfriend so that no one finds out he’s being tutored. Fake kisses, plenty of PDA, and even sharing his hotel room…

But sometimes even the baddest of bad boys needs a little redemption.
 

 

And now is time for giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Uncross the Stars by Janell Rhiannon

Uncross the Stars
by Janell Rhiannon
Self-published
Ebook (received from author, thank you!)
YA, contemporary, romance

Fiona Lavender is the new girl at school. She has a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poetry. Dario Martinez is the star quarterback, and the most unattainable guy on campus. Their stars cross when they are paired to study Romeo and Juliet for a senior English project. Their attraction is fragile and undeniable. But, Dario is afraid of what love will do; and Fiona is waiting for love to claim her.

Will they uncross the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?

Uncross the Stars had potential. It sounded really intriguing and I hoped there to be epic romance, and I was so excited when the author offered me a chance to read and review it. However, the story and the characters felt flat and quite one dimensional. I think it's mostly because the story is so short so everything was kind of superficial and I didn't have time to get attached to characters or enjoy the plot twists. Some blame goes to the structure of the story, because it ruined any mystery it might tried to attempt. And honestly, I felt for Ryan so much because of the beginning and his point of view and it took me a lot of time to actual see him as the villain of story (and he was quite unlovable because how he treated other persons). I mean, I felt for Ryan so much at the beginning and it made me dislike Dario, which wasn't good for the story, especially since in the end Ryan didn't have redeemable qualities.

 

Fiona and Dario, well, they didn't have the epic romance I hoped for. I didn't feel any spark between them, more like just high school sweethearts who had all the misunderstandings, drama and vowing for forever love. I really wanted to like both of them together and apart but I couldn't and then the book ended. Uncross the Stars were all about romance and betrayal but when the romance didn't made my heart skip a beat, the whole story felt kind of flat and I couldn't make myself to care what happened to the characters.

 

It wasn't all bad. I liked the synopsis and Rhiannon's writing style, and the story has potential. It just should have been longer, to take more time to scrutinize the character's feelings and their reactions of what happened, and the structure should have been different. Maybe stick to Fiona and Dario's point of view because then there would have been more mystery around who orchasrated the whole betrayal. I kind of like that we got Ryan's and Meagan's perspective but it did ruin any mystery and mostly made Dario seem totally blind. And yeah, everyone had daddy issues. I'm not kidding, because Fiona, Dario, Meagan and Ryan all had daddy issues. I mean, what? I could get two of them to have daddy issues but it seems unbelievable that all the main characters had same kind of issues with their absent fathers, and it shaped all of them.

 

Uncross the Stars has potential but it doesn't live up to it. While the writing style and idea behind the story was enjoyable, the execution didn't work out, at least not for me. However, if you enjoy high school romance stories with some issues and lots of drama, then Uncross the Stars might be for you. I must say, I do love the cover! It's gorgeous.

 

2 of 5 stars. 

 

Uncross the Stars on Goodreads.

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

The TBR Tag

I wasn't tagged by anyone so I was sneaky and did it anyway. You can't stop me doing tags! (Please someone stop me, I'm becoming an addict!)

Recently I made a post about my current TBR on my campus.

1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Eh, not logically. Well, I do have a logic but it's hard to explain since it's not logical (or practical). I have a notebook where I write down my TBR books that I own (includes physical copies, eARCs and ebooks), and that's my main TBR list. Then there's all those freebies on my Kindle app but I'll read them when I feel like it, so I don't usually include them on my TBR notebook list. I also have some physical copies I'm not including there, mainly because they're in Finnish and I've bought them years ago (I may take them second hand shop sometime, but there's not one currently on city where I live so yeah).

 

So yeah, not really practical. The notebook is my main TBR book list and those books I want to read badly (and I need to read them), and everything else I just refuse to feel any pressure.

 

2. Is your TBR mostly print or eBook?

Print. If the book is physical form, I'm more likely to read it (and let's face it, I buy my books as physical copies, because some day I'm going to have a huge library).

 

I'm not huge fan of ebooks. I don't purchase them unless the book is only available as ebook (many short stories and novellas). I do have lots of ebooks, mainly Amazon freebies and eARCs and review copies, and therefore my ebook TBR consist mostly review copies and I'm trying to keep it expanding too much.

 

3. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
By my mood, mostly. You have no idea how much time I spend sitting on my desk, staring my campus shelf and trying to decide what I'm in mood for. Sometimes it's easier and I just know what I want to read (especially if I've got some new books) but sometimes it takes half an hour (and eventually my roommate decides for me, heh). Review copies I usually read either when I'm really mood for that particular book, or when it's almost due (I do everything faster and better when I'm under pressure and in a hurry)
 

4. A book that’s been on your TBR list the longest?
I'm not entirely sure but my guess is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater with 482 pages.

5. A book you recently added to your TBR?
To my physical TBR (aka the books I actually own) it's While England Sleeps by David Leavitt. To my Goodreads TBR (aka books I want to read but don't necessarily own or are not released yet) it's Gives Light by Rose Christo.




6. A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover.
Honestly, I don't think there is one. If the synopsis doesn't intrigue me, then I won't add it on my TBR no matter how much I love the cover.

7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading.
I plan reading them all (especially if I own them already). It just might take some time.

8. An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness because how can you not add it after reading the synopsis? This is just what I've waited for years!

Half Wild by Sally Green is my most anticipated sequel of this year.



9. A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read but you.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, probably. Most definitely. (Also Cinder by Marissa Meyer but I actually purchased it recently so I'm going to read it this month or next!)

10. A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you.
Well, it was The Fault In Our Stars by John Green but I read it recently, so I got to with The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.




11. A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read.
Of Triton by Anna Banks because I need need more of that world and Gale and all of it. Luckily I have it and I'll probably read it as soon as I turn in my baccalaureate paper.

12. How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?
There's currently 473 books on my to-read shelf on Goodreads. However, my GR shelves aren't well organized since that shelf includes both books I own, don't own but want to read, and books that haven't been published yet. So it reduces the count a lot. I'm not quite sure how many I have, since my books are divided: some are at campus, some are at home, and then there's my Kindle app, Digital Adobe Editions and PDFs. It's somewhere around hundred books, I think (I have maybe fifty physical books on my TBR pile, so yeah, I'm not feeling much pressure).

And I tag everyone who reads this!

If you do this, please leave a link in comments so I can check it out :)

ARC Review: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
by Becky Albertalli
Published by Penguin Random House UK Children
Ebook (received from publisher via NetGalley)
YA, LGBT, contemporary, romance

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Publication April 7th 2015!

 

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is definitely one of the best books in 2015, hands down. It has everything one can hope for a book to be: fun, romance, various intriguing characters, wonderful and witty main character, plot, a little mystery, and all the feels. There was so many times I had to stop reading just because I was crying for all the brilliantness this book has. Becky Albertalli is genious as she said aloud the one thing every one should say: straight or white or anything else should be expected, a default value.

I couldn't expect anything else but utterly brilliantness when the book starts with a sentences: "It's a weirdly subtle conversation. I almost don't notice I'm being blackmailed". It gets even better, even though I certainly didn't think it was possible. Albertalli's writing style is quite simple but so captivating, and she's force to be recognized (there's no doubt: I'll check out all her future books).

The writing style isn't only thing to be showered with praises. All the characters, I couldn't help but love them, or at least understand on some level what they were going through. Simon is witty, smart, hilarious, and the same time he likes his privacy and keeps things to himself. Simon is one of the best narrators I've read in a while because it was so effordless, hilarious, witty and profound. Besides Simon, I really loved Blue. Blue was the mystery; character you get to know, who Simon gets to know, so thoughtful and careful, but still his identity remains as a secret until the very end. Albetalli kept me guessing who Blue really was, and falling even more for Simon and Blue at the same time. Special shoutout and mention to all supporting characters and how big their role was. Simon's friends Abby, Leah and Nick were all well developed, and their friendships unfolded as the story evolved. Simon's family, his two sisters and parents, had also a huge role. I loved Simon's parents! They were funny, kind of hipsters, loving and caring, but they also knew when to put limits. It was so refreshening to read a contemporary romance where family and friendships had maybe even bigger role than the romance itself. Although, I'd descripe Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda as Simon's personal growth story because that's what it was all about: Simon's life, with ups and downs, and all that it included from school to love and family to friends.

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is brilliant story about Simon's life. It's unforgetable, and I almost cried because all the feelings it made me feel. It flew by and was over too soon for my liking. I will definitely buy a physical copy when it's available, because this is one of those books you need have on your shelves. There's no doubt: I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's brilliant, genious and utterly lovable.

More than anything, this one is worth of your time.

 

5 of 5 stars and everything else I can possibly give!

 

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda on Goodreads.

Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children, for giving me a chance to read and review Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Book Blitz: Elevated by Daniel Solomon Kaplan

 

Elevated (Elevated Saga, #1) 

by Daniel Solomon Kaplan
Publication date: September 23rd 2014
YA, sci-fi

 

Most kids can’t wait until Elevated Day, when they can finally unlock their hidden superpower. Rose remains a skeptic. While the treatment reveals a power, the outcome is irreversible and abilities can range from amazing to a nuisance. On top of that, she holds a deep rooted grudge against the treatment that turned her father into an Unsound, one with abilities so dangerous as to force them to a life of exile.

Her choice sends her down a path of discovery, as she seeks to learn more of the truth around the treatment and what really happened to her father. Fed up with lies, Rose wants nothing more than to learn the whole truth–even if it means accepting her fate as an Elevated.

Elevated on Goodreads.

 

Purchase your copy!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

Author bio

Daniel Solomon Kaplan is a playwright turned author after much arm twisting from his wife. He currently has several novels in the works, including CATALYST, the next book of the Elevated Series, scheduled to debut before the end of the year.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

A tap on my shoulder causes me to lurch.

“You’re next,” Elliott says.

What did I do to deserve waiting with this guy? “Yeah.”

“Can you really do it?” Elliott asks.

“Do what?”

“Live not knowing, not seeing what could be.”

“I could ask you the same question.”

He’s puzzled.

“Let’s say you go through those doors and become an Unsound. And you get locked away from your family and friends for your entire life. Tell me you won't wonder what a normal life could be.”

Elliott leans in. “You know an Unsound, don’t you?”

I nod. “My dad.”

He turns his head away from me. “I’m sorry.”

I’ve always faced the same reaction. They think it’s sympathy, but it’s fear. As much as everyone talks about genetics not factoring in and your parents not determining your powers, having an Unsound in the family is mark of shame. Most don’t discuss it. The only person in my high school that knows is Aaron. After the torture thrown at me in middle school, the last thing I want to do is let anyone know.

The exit door stands to my left. I want to bolt. Want to get out of this place. Something keeps me glued to my chair.

“Rose. I know you’re scared. But if you leave now, you won’t get another chance.”

He’s right. With millions of kids involved, getting another appointment is near impossible. I would end up with the other Basics. I stare at the screen, willing the phoenix not to fly by again.

“Rose. Think about this.”

“You think I haven’t? It’s all I’ve thought for years. I’m not like you, or the other kids here. You sit there, blindly waiting for your number to be called, trusting everything will be—“

“You don't know me at all.” For the first time, there’s terror in Elliott’s face. He turns back to watch the screen.

“So you’re scared too, then.”

Did he feel as helpless as I did?

Elliott takes a deep breath. “I can't control which system I was born in. I can only control how I cope with it.”

“That's the only power you think you have?” I ask.

“It’s the only power any of us have. Anything else is an illusion.”

My heart jolts as the phoenix flies by and displays my number. The mechanical voice cuts through me. “Now serving A535. That's A535. Thank you.”

I’m still. Trapped between two worlds. Somehow, none of the thinking, the planning or the debating have prepared me for this moment. Elliott stands and tries to nudge me out of my chair. I won’t move. I’ll wait here. If they want me so bad, they can drag me through those doors. A part of me wishes they would. The exit is a few steps away.

“Rose, please!” His blue eyes plead with me.

 







Stacking the Shelves (28)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

It's been over a month since I stacked my shelves but I'm trying to read those I already have, and I don't have much time to read since my studies is taking a lot out of me. However, I'm travelling to London next month so be prepared because I'm going to buy as many books as I can carry!

(And I think this haul is pretty large, too.)

ARCs / Review Copies

 

Bomb by Sarah Mussi

Against Reason by Scarlet Blackwell

Mark of Cain by Kate Sherwood

Purchased

 

 

Ferryman by Claire McFall
Unremembered by Jessica Brody
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Of Triton by Anna Banks
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
While England Sleeps by David Leavitt

I'm so happy I got approved to review Against Reason and Mark of Cain as they sounds interesting. Bomb was a read now, and oh boy does it sound good (also Saruuh Kelsey raved about Riot by Sarah Mussi, so I just had to get one of Mussi's books).

Ferryman and Unremembered I bought during my holidays in Tenerife. There was this lovely bookshop called The Bookswop in Puerto Colon. The owner was such a gentleman, I loved the air there, and there was lots of second hand and new titles in English. If I Stay I bought another bookstore in Tenerife, and I snapped The Giver at the airport.

The rest four books was from my gift card order and they arrived, yay! I'm so excited about all of them. One is yet to arrive, The Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab and that's maybe the book I'm waiting for most. (I'm so happy I finally found the blue cover of The Perks of Being A Wallflower because it's so beautiful!)


Feature & Follow Friday #23

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by two different hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! This meme is here for bloggers to gain new blogger friends and followers.

 

This weeks topic:

Do you have any furry friends? Share a picture!

Personally I don't have furry friends but my family has two and since I live part of the year with them, I count them as mine. So let me share a few pictures of them!

Topi, two years next month. West Highland White Terrier aka Westie.
Topi is stubborn. That's the only way I know how to descripe him. I love him to bits!

 

Topi from summer 2013, the day he came to us. He was so tiny!

 

Kimi, 8 months old. West Highland White Terrier, aka Westie.

Kimi is a duracel. He has energy for everyone! He also likes to take naps besides me when I'm reading, so adorable.

 

 

Just one picture more! Topi and Kimi together (fun fact: Kimi is actually bigger than Topi nowadays. He's almost 10cm higher!)

 

 

 

ARC Review: Falling by Barbara Elsborg

Falling (Fall or Break, #1)
by Barbara Elsborg
Published by Samhain Publishing
Ebook (received from publisher via NetGalley)
Adult, LGBT, contemporary, dark, romance

Falling is easy. Landing without breaking your heart? Impossible.

Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices.

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.

Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.

Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.

Warning: Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.

Publication date: March 24th 2015

 

Falling is purely made of feels. Premise promises that and the whole story is emotional rollercoaster which I couldn't help but love. I mean, the story starts when Harper is released from prison where he was locked in for ten long years - for a crime he didn't commit. Harper's broken, anxious and even though he's out of prison, he's no means has his freedom. How will people react if they hear he's been in prison? And his crime? The unforgivable crime he didn't even commit, the one that's going to rule his life for the rest of life, because it'll follow him everywhere? It's heartbreaking. Harper has no choice but at least try to live even though it's hard. And Malachi. Poor Malachi who has no job since his ex got him kicked out of his last job, living with his sister and her husband - who hates Malachi's guts. Harper and Malachi are both poor souls who live has dealt a shitty hand but together they have something beautiful - they have a chance to happiness.

Yes, the characters made me emotional. Harper and Malachi were both in a bad situation at the beginning but they both rise above what other's did to them. Character developement during the story was so amazing, especially when the reader got to see how both reached for happiness and trying to make their lives better - together. There was some intriguing supporting characters but they all was left in Harper's and Malachi's shadow. Elsborg did wonderful job with her characters and the twists relating them, because it was hard to guess who was behind framing Harper, and what kind of man Malachi's ex really was - without spoiling anyone, I'll just say there was some big surprises and they were fantastic.

As for the romance, yes, it worked really well. Chemistry is important and I was so glad Harper and Malachi had it from the very start. It was delighful to follow how they grew closer and how their feelings developed, and how they made each other's lives better. They were balanced couple from the start, and at times, the romance was sizzling. I cannot praise the romance (or the characters) enough. Also shoutout for the setting: the story took place in England, in York to be more specific, and there was a little bit London there as well.

Falling had it all: great characters with lots of developement during the story, intriguing plot with a mysteries thrown into it, romance that worked and was sizzling, flowing writing, and the feels. I cannot praise the story enough and I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys either romance stories or generally good LGBT stories. Falling wasn't just a romance book, no, it was a great story with romance.

Falling is worth of your time.

 

5 of 5 stars.

 

Falling on Goodreads.

Thank you, Samhain Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review Falling!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)