Review – Twisted by Emma Chase – Blog Tour

Twisted (The Tangled Series) by Emma Chase Blog Tour

Synopsis:

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is hard. In this heart-pounding follow-up to Tangled by New York Times bestseller Emma Chase, Kate reveals that there is trouble in paradise, when unexpected circumstances force her and Drew to “renegotiate” their relationship.

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself—and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice; the most important of my life. Drew already made his—in fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville, Ohio, alone. Well, sort of alone…

What I’ve come to realize is that old habits die hard, and sometimes you have to go back to where you began before you can move ahead.

 

My Review:

Let me begin by telling you that I had the pleasure of both reading and listening to the audio of Tangled by Emma Chase.  It was awesome!  Tangled introduced me to one of my favorite book boyfriends, Drew Evans. If you haven’t met him yet, get on it right now.   Tangled was written in Drew’s witty male point of view on life, dating and love.  Drew met the lovely Kate and fell in love.  They are one of my favorite couples and their story continues.

Holy Frigging Matrimony was wonderful too.  You must read these before reading Twisted.

Now, on to Twisted.

Well,  Emma has done it again.  This is another amazing book.  Seriously, I couldn’t put it down. Twisted is a little different.  You see, it is written in Kate’s point of view. The story of Kate and Drew continues after two years of dating.  All of the characters from Tangled are back.  I loved meeting them in the first book. Dee Dee and Matthew are married.  Mackenzie has grown and continues to be such an important little lady in their lives. Drew’s sister Alexandra and her husband are back too, with news of their own. Even Billy reappears.  More on Billy later. Together, all of these characters along with Kate and Drew make this such a perfect story.

So, Are you ready for the twist?  Well, sit down and enjoy the ride.  This story is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and teach you a little bit about the importance of clear communication along the way. You see, a simple misunderstanding can lead to well…. (no spoilers)

Kate has gone back to Greenville, her home town. Of course, she runs into Billy Warren, her ex. I must say though, he has grown on me. He demonstrated a mature side which made him more likeable. That “misunderstanding,” it is the reason Kate goes back home. That same misunderstanding,  is what will keep you on the edge of your seat for most of the story.

There are so many parts of this story that I really loved. For example, I really enjoyed the alphabetical naughty name calling.  I looked forward to the next letter to see what Kate would say.  I also really liked the time Kate spent with Billy in Greenville.  It made her realize so much about herself.    And, there were many moments of angst and drama as well, making this story different from Tangled.  As a writer, Emma has the ability to keep readers engaged almost as if they are watching the story unfold before their very eyes. That is how I felt while reading.  I was living the story and the moments along with Kate and Drew.

My favorite part of this book has got to be The Epilogue.  You see, The Epilogue is written in Drew’s point of view and well, I am a sucker for Drew.

I don’t want to give away the story because this is one book that you must read. You too will love the story of Kate and Drew. It just keeps getting better.

I look forward to reading more of Emma Chase’s words in Tamed, Tangled #3.

I gave this book 5 stars!!

I received an ARC from Gallery Books via NetGalley.

Some of my favorite lines:  (Spoiler Alert)

“God, baby–you give the best head.  You could teach a frigging class.”    …..Dick Lick 101.

“You’re not alone Kate.  And you never will be.  Not as long as I’m breathing.”

“Ugg– it’s Matthew.  I swear that boy can’t take a shit without calling to tell me what color it is.”

“Because I can’t live without you, Kate.  I don’t even know how to try.”

“Don’t let him fuck his way out of this one. Multiple orgasms are just a Band-Aid, not a cure.”

“In the last two years, I’ve probably told you a dozen times that I would do anything for you. It’s time I put up or shut up.”

 

 

Buy Links:

Amazon

 

• Print

• eBook

Barnes & Noble

• Print

• Nook

 

Chapters

• Print

• Kobo (not available yet)

IndieBound

• Print

BAM

• Print

• eBook

iTunes

About the Author:

Emma Chase

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Goodreads

 

Website:  http://www.emmachase.net/

Twitter:  @emmachse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emma-Chase

I’m Back – Coming Soon!

Good morning,

I am back from my trip to Spain.  It was amazing!  I got to experience the culture, the people, the gastronomy, the wines and even visit bilingual schools in Spain.  My trip was complete.  ( I even gained a couple of pounds along the way.)

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting up with Ana, @SRFansSpain.  I had a lovely afternoon talking about books, authors and yes, even David Gandy with her.  I hope I can meet up with her again soon.

I look forward to bringing you reviews and recipes this week.  I am slowly getting back into the swing of things.

 

Reviews coming up:

Twisted by Emma Chase

Carnage by Lesley Jones

 

Currently Reading:

An Acute Attraction by A.J. Walters

I look forward to sharing my reviews with you soon!

Have a Happy Monday!

~Susi

 

 

On Vacation – Be back soon!

Good evening!

I will be on vacation for the next 10 days.  Goodbye Miami, FL and hello Madrid, Spain.

I won’t be posting any blog posts until I get back.

During my vacation, I will be reading and enjoying the gastronomy of Spain. I am really looking  forward to my cooking lesson while in Madrid.  I plan to come back with recipes to share. #foodie

As a #winelover,  I hope to bring back some Spanish wines that I can tell you all about too.

My bags are packed, my camera is charged and my tablet is fully loaded with lots of books for my flights.

Be back soon!

~Susi

Teaser- How To Reprimand Your Rock Star by @MinaVaughn

Here’s a teaser for the upcoming book How To Reprimand Your Rock Star by the talented and spanktastic Mina Vaughn.  I can’t wait for Summer when this book will be released!

Teaser Time

The tall, gorgeous man stared at me with a smirk. Some fucking punk, sitting under my name and number and pulling a cigarette out of his thick leather jacket. He looked bad, dangerous, and delicious and my body reacted to seeing him with a jolt of fear and euphoria. I skittered back and covered my nakedness, hoping he hadn’t seen me fully naked. I peeked around the corner to get another look at him. I couldn’t help myself.

His blue eyes twinkled at me and he grinned. A lopsided, roguish grin that begged you to join him in sharing the mirth. But I wasn’t about to smile at this fool who was taking up residence in front of my locker. Especially while I was naked. He didn’t look like a student—a few years too old and a few drinks too seasoned, and from the rebellious appearance of his black-polished fingers and calloused hands. His hair, a mess of black roots and blue spikes arranged into a halo of sharp peaks, didn’t look very UConn at all. He looked as if he belonged in a tattoo parlor, not here in my locker room. For a moment, I imagined shoving him against the tile wall and punishing him for transgressing into my domain.

“It’s all right, love, I have your towel right here,” I heard him tease in a smoky, tempting voice.

My heart raced. All I had to do was scream loud enough and Matt would be down here in a flash. I didn’t want to, but it was an option. Just keep it together.

Keeping my nude form out of his sight, I shouted to the intruder. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

A white towel sailed my way and I stuck my wet arm out to grab it. I wiped myself off and discreetly examined the very bad boy who was about to stink up my precious domain.

“I needed a butt,” he said, placing a cigarette between his mocking lips. His sexy, curvy lips that went so well with his stubbly jaw and sharp features. Shit, what was wrong with me? He was invading my turf. He was also unashamedly checking me out from head to toe.

“Take your butt and get out of my locker room,” I growled.

With a flick of his fingers, the unlit cigarette disappeared. I assumed up his leather jacket’s sleeve, but I couldn’t be sure. His leather pants were far too tight to hide a cigarette, and I caught myself staring. Under his leather jacket was a threadbare tee that hugged his lean muscles tightly. I wanted him to take the jacket off. Hell, all of it.

“Whatever you say, Goddess,” he replied. I noted a slight accent, but couldn’t place it. Possibly British. “Is this seat taken?” he asked, looking behind him at the name on the nameplate and the name embroidered on my jacket.

I emerged, pretending to be unfettered by the whole bizarre situation, and nodded. “That’s my locker.”

“Is it now?” he asked, British accent coming through clearly now.

“Thea Papastathopoulos, future Rookie of the Year, and I need my clothes. And my lucky tape.”

His eyebrow quirked up. “Tape, eh? What’s a nice girl like you need something like that for?”

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If you haven’t added it to your TBR list, get to it!  And, if you haven’t read How To Discipline Your Vampire, hurry up and one click it today. It’s just $.99.  

I have made adding this to your TBR easy, just click on the link below.  

Goodreads link 

About Mina Vaughn:

Mina Vaughn is an international woman of mystery and a shoe whore with a heart of gold. When she’s not writing her unique brand of silly smut, she’s plundering Sephora for any pin up girl makeup she can find. Mina’s debut novel, an erotic comedy entitled HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE is about a punishment-seeking vampire who meets a quirky Domme with a serious role play fetish, available now from Simon and Schuster’s Pocket Star.

The next installment in the DOMME-NATION series is How to Reprimand Your Rock Star, coming Summer 2014.

Keep up with Mina:

website:  http://www.minavaughn.com

Twitter:  minavaughn

Throwback Thursday – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Today’s Throwback Thursday read is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

 

According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for “social”) has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he’s always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers–until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy’s skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.

Written forty-five years ago, S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was written.

How many of you read this book?  Did you watch the movie?  

This is another book that takes me back to my teens.  I do recall reading and enjoying this book.  If memory serves me, I was in junior high when I read it.

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The movie for this book released in 1983.  The movie featured a wonderfully talented and good looking cast of guys.  (Many of these guys adorned my teenage room, right off the pages of Teen Magazine)

Yes, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, C. Thomas Howell and even Tom Cruise were in this flick.

Any thoughts on The Outsiders?

I think this is a Young Adult read all teens should read.

Leave a comment.

Happy Thursday!

~Susi

Cover Reveal and Giveaway – Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin

Cover Reveal

Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin

Isn’t this cover beautiful?

This book is set to release on April 29th.

 

BOOK BLURB: 

Reaching for sunlight…

Finn survived the ambush and came home to me, but in his head, the battle is still raging. He’s falling apart and I’m trying my best to pick up the pieces of him, to find the us we used to be. I love him as much as I ever did, but love isn’t enough to fix this. I thought telling my father about our relationship would be the hardest thing we’d ever have to face. I was wrong.

Lost in shadows…

All I wanted was to be worthy of Carrie. One mission, just one, and I’d be able to give her the future she deserved. Then everything went wrong, leaving me tainted and broken. Carrie wants me to be who I was, but all that’s left is what they made of me. I’m no good for her. No good for anyone like this. I have to figure out how to move forward. Alone.

Sometimes love isn’t enough… 

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************  Here’s a teaser. Enjoy!

Add this book to your TBR list today!

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19168457-out-of-mind

If OUT OF MIND hits 3,000 adds on Goodreads before it releases,

Jen McLaughlin will post the first 2 chapters from the book!

This is the FINAL book in the OUT OF LINE series! You can get the first two books here.  See buy links below.

Buy Links

OUT OF LINE (Book #1)

Amazon – http://amzn.to/17HLrFu

B&N – http://bit.ly/17hfkvi

 

OUT OF TIME (Book #2)

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1daxXYL

B&N –   http://bit.ly/1g7hPas

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

Giveaway:

Jen McLaughlin is giving away a signed set of OUT OF LINE and OUT OF TIME for one lucky winner! US only!

Just click on a Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win.  Good Luck!

Author Information:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

Interview with Victoria Van Tiem, Author of Love Like The Movies

I recently read one of the most entertaining romantic comedies called Love Like The Movies by Victoria Van Tiem.   After reading her witty story, I had to ask her all about it.   Here is my interview with Victoria.  If you haven’t read her book yet, be sure to get yourself a copy.  And, if you are a movie lover like I am, then I am sure that you will enjoy it.

Interview with Victoria Van Tiem

Susi:   First off, how long have you been writing? Is this your first book?

Victoria:  I’ve always written, but mostly short stories and only for me. LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES is my debut novel and I’m absolutely thrilled with how well it’s being received.

Susi:  Obviously, you are a big movie lover.  Where did the idea for this book come from?  (It is brilliant!!)

Victoria:  Thanks! Yes, I’m a huge movie fan. Most of my so called bucket list includes things like: be an extra in a movie: participate in a Hollywood red carpet event, be a seat warmer at an awards show. Life is short, if we don’t make these moments happen, the chance just passes us by. No, I haven’t done those exact ones yet, but I did audition for TV Land’s She’s Got The Look, a model show like Americas Next top Model for women 35 and up. Oh, I had no desire or false hope of actually being a model, but the location shoots and makeovers made this irresistible! And would you believe I even made it past the first rounds! Me, at 40 and only 5’2! Okay, they didn’t know I was only 5’2 because I was wearing 5 inch heels. A friend went with me as support, literally as support, because I couldn’t walk in my super stilts. It was over as soon as the shoes came off.  But It was comical, and fun, and an experience.

That’s where the idea really stems from, wanting those experiences. Most are within our control. We just need to push ourselves, get out there and live them. And until Jake Ryan shows up driving a Porsche and offering me cake, I guess I’ll have to write about the ones that aren’t.

Susi:   I loved all of your movie choices.  How many choices did you have before you finally made the list for the book?  What other movies were possibilities for your book?

Victoria:  I had so many! The motorcycle scene from How to Lose  a Guy In Ten days, “A little give, a little go.” Love that with Matthew McConaughey. And the thriller scene from 13 going on 30 was hilarious. But in the end, the scenes had to wrap around the story of Shane and Kenzi, because their story had to be center stage. But, yeah, narrowing them down to ten was really difficult. I did manage to reference a bunch throughout the story though.

Susi:  What was your favorite scene to write?

Victoria:  The movie scenes, of course. Taking something familiar and changing and bending it around Kenzi’s own personal story was just fun. I love the physical part of comedy as well. The treadmill war with Tonya, the Four Weddings and a Funeral mad-dash back to Kenzi’s, and the failure to Launch paintball attack and van chase. The teenager in that scene provided the best straight man to Kenzi’s insane situation.

Susi:  What was the most difficult scene to write?

Victoria:  The end. Well, let me clarify that, the first ending. I wasn’t ready to let them go. After some time had passed, I sat down again and gave their story the ending I felt they needed.   Maybe the end I needed.

Susi:   If your book could be turned into a movie, who would you cast? Did you have any muses for your characters?

Victoria: I would die if LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES became a movie. Seriously, on set I would become the character Honey from Notting Hill when she meets the famous Anna Scott. “Oh God, this is one of those key moments in life, when it’s possible you can be really, genuinely cool – and I’m failing 100%.”

My character muses are all too old to play them! I hate saying that, but it’s true. So for an actual movie, we’d need to find younger versions of who I envisioned. My muse for Shane has always been a mixture of Hugh Dancy’s speech and mannerisms from Confessions of a Shopaholic, out in 2009, and the ridiculously handsome smile of James Marsden. Oh, readers have mentioned Richard Madden for Shane. He’s about the right age, right? He works.
Bradley is blond and broad. Paul Walker was my original muse. So sad that we lost him. So for a movie maybe Chris Hemsworth? He’s 30, he could play Bradley. My muse for Tonya was Judy Greer, but she’s just a bit younger than me, so that doesn’t work. And Kensington I never had a muse because she’s you, the reader, and hopefully the story is experienced as if you’re in her head. But right, casting for a movie… I do love Emma Stone.

Susi:  Your title is perfect.  Did you write the story with this title in mind or did it evolve as you wrote?

Victoria:  Love Like The Movies was written under another name and changed at the very last minute. We played around with a few ideas, but ultimately I have to give credit to my fabulous agent, Jenny Bent for this title, and I agree that it captures the story perfectly.

Susi:  Are you working on any other writing projects now?  (I loved your writing so I hope so)

Victoria:  I am. It’s a modern remake, loosely based on a 1960’s Rom-Com, only the stakes are higher, the relationships deeper, and the main plotline is much more tangled.

Susi: Is there anything you would like to say to your reader/fans?  

Victoria:  I’m just so happy that LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES is being received so well. I truly am. And I hope it inspires and reminds each of us to live our lives center stage.

Thank you Victoria for taking the time to answer these questions.  Your debut is brilliant!  I can’t wait for more readers to get their hands on it.  Best of luck on your current writing project.  I do look forward to reading more of your words.

~Susi

Reading and Writing Between The Wines Blog

About Victoria Van Tiem

Victoria Van Tiem is an American author repped by  Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency.  She’s also an artist, black belt, mom of two, wife of one, and resident caretaker of her family zoo—including their beloved, pot-bellied pig, Pobby

Webpage: http://victoriavantiem.com/

Twitter at @https://twitter.com/vtiem

Goodreads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/v.vtiem

Review and Giveaway – Love Like The Movies by Victoria Van Tiem @vtiem

Are you a movie lover like me?  Check out this new book  by Victoria Van Tiem.  

Her debut romantic comedy is a brilliant and witty read!

(Giveaway after review)

Synopsis:

In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style—when her gorgeous ex presents a series of big screen challenges to win back her heart.What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder…should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?

My Review:

Some books make you laugh, others make you cry and some take you back to some of the best moments in your life.  Love Like The Movies did a little bit of each for me. This romantic comedy written by Victoria Van Tiem kept me hooked from the moment I started reading it. Congratulations on your debut.  I loved everything about this book.

I loved all of the movie choices used in this brilliant love story. I think every woman wants to experience one or more than one of these moments in their lives.  I can picture a few of them myself. Pairing those moments with realistic and well written characters makes this a book I will definitely reread and recommend.

I did laugh out loud numerous times while reading.  I have to admit, what made this book complete for me was my favorite scene at around 87%.  (No spoilers here) #TeamShane There it was, one of my all time favorite movies in your book.  It was perfect.  I floved it!

Now, I really don’t want to give too much away to the readers.  This is one book you must read for yourself.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I gave this book 4.5 stars!

Buy the book today!  Here is the link to Amazon.com.

Giveaway

Here is your chance to win one e-book copy of Love Like The Movies.

All you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite movie scene.  One winner will be chosen at random by http://www.random.org.

No purchase necessary to win.

Contest runs through tomorrow night.  Winner will be notified via e-mail.  Good luck!

About Victoria Van Tiem

Victoria Van Tiem is an American author repped by  Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency.  She’s also an artist, black belt, mom of two, wife of one, and resident caretaker of her family zoo—including their beloved, pot-bellied pig, Pobby

Webpage: http://victoriavantiem.com/

Twitter at @https://twitter.com/vtiem

Goodreads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/v.vtiem

Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran Promo and Fun Quiz

FOOL ME TWICE by Meredith Duran comes out next week.

Don’t miss this Special promotional eBook price of $1.99 until March 25^th. 

Order yours today, buy link Amazon

Here is a fun quiz to get you ready for this book.

What Kind of Romance Novel Heroine are You?  http://snack.to/qtp3ejmh

I took the quiz and got “The Beauty Next Door.”  🙂

Fool Me Twice is on my TBR list.  Full review coming soon!

Synopsis:

Sensible and lonely, Olivia Mather survives by her wits—and her strict policy of avoiding trouble. But when she realizes that the Duke of Marwick might hold the secrets of her family’s past, she does the unthinkable, infiltrating his household as a maid. She’ll clean his study and rifle through his papers looking for information.
Alastair de Grey has a single reason to live: vengeance. More beautiful than Lucifer, twice as feared, and thrice as cunning, he’ll use any weapon to punish those who fooled and betrayed him—even an impertinent maid who doesn’t know her place. But the more fascinated he becomes with the uppity redhead, the more dangerous his carefully designed plot becomes. For the one contingency he forgot to plan for was falling in love…and he cannot survive being fooled again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meredith Duran blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history (and for convincing her that princely love is no prize if it doesn’t come with a happily-ever-after). She spends her free time collecting old etiquette manuals, guidebooks to nineteenth century London, and travelogues by intrepid Victorian women.

Visit her website at MeredithDuran.com.

Follow her on Twitter too.  https://twitter.com/meredithduran

Blog Name Change

Good afternoon and Happy Monday!

I just wanted to let my readers know that I am changing the name of my blog to “Reading & Writing Between the Wines Blog.”  I recently discovered that there is another blogger in Florida who has the same name on her blog.  The only difference is that my blog ends in “blog” and hers in “book club.” I can see where this can be confusing.

I respect her individuality.  She has been blogging much longer than I have.  Therefore, I am adding the words “and writing” to my blog name to avoid any confusion.

I am keeping the same WordPress address. The only change is the name.

You can find me on Facebook too, https://www.facebook.com/ReadingandWritingBetweenTheWinesBlog.  Go ahead and “like” my page there too.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Happy reading!

~Susi