Waiting on Wednesday (18): The Start of Me and You

**Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights highly anticipated upcoming releases.**

The Start of Me and You

Author: Emery Lord
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: March 31 2015
Goodreads

Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Why am I waiting...

Fact: I haven't read Open Road Summer...yet. 

I swear, I plan to get to it at some point. But this book, I just can't wait to get my hands on it!! Can we also just take in this cover? BEAUTIFUL!

What are you waiting on this week?!

Please feel free to leave me links to your WoW below!

Review: Bound to the Bachelor

Bound to the Bachelor

Author: Sarah Mayberry
Series: Montana Born Bachelor Auction, #1
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Publication Date: February 20 2015
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Your date with Marietta local Beau Bennett includes a day on the slopes at Big Sky Resort, complete with a sumptuous meal in the Resort’s fanciest fine dining restaurant and door-to-door transport. Dig deep to secure the attentions of one of Montana’s most eligible – and elusive – bachelors.

Lily Taylor knows Beau Bennett dislikes her, but that won’t stop her from asking him to volunteer for the Bachelor Auction she’s organized to help her friend Molly provide for her tragically injured son, Josh. If Beau’s gorgeous face, piercing blue eyes and chiseled body inspires the women of Marietta to dig into their pockets for a good cause, then Lily will do whatever it takes to secure his participation.

Beau Bennett isn’t sure how he wound up on the auction block being eyed up by hundreds of eager women, but he knows who to blame for it – Lily Taylor, the sexy, distracting, off-limits best friend of his kid sister. As far as he’s concerned, the sooner this nightmare is over, the better.

The last thing either of them expects is for Lily to wind up bidding on – and winning – Beau, or that their date will lead to Beau stepping in to save Lily when her past comes back to haunt her. As Beau does his best to keep Lily safe, they discover that maybe they don’t dislike each other quite as much as they thought.

In fact, maybe it’s just the opposite…

Opening Lines

Go in there, ask the question, deal with his answer. Easy peasy.

Or so she thought! Now THIS was an enjoyable read!

This was my first time reading anything published by Tule, and I will definitely be adding them to my list of favourite publishers on NetGalley. This was a quick read (only 184 pages) that left me wanting more! I found Bound to the Bachelor to be such a refreshing read. It was realistic, cute, funny, and had elements that I just didn't see coming! There were so many moments that had me smiling and giggling. And the attraction between Lily Taylor and Beau Bennett...WOWZERS!!

His hand lay palm up on the table between them, waiting for hers. Feeling ridiculously nervous, she reached out and set her hand in his. His gaze pinned to her face, he turned her hand over, his thumb sliding sensually across her palm. A jolt of electric awareness raced up her arm and through her body, setting off fireworks in places that hadn’t seen a man in more than a year.
“That’s why I keep my distance,” he said, his voice very deep.

Lily and Beau were quite the pair! Beau is just hot. Poor guy has been walking a thin line trying to keep Lily at a distance, and it ain't easy fighting that kind of attraction! I loved Beau from beginning to end, there wasn't a moment that I found him to be that "annoying hero" type. He's just PERFECT. Now Lily just thinks Beau hates her and that's why he keeps his distance, boy oh boy was she ever wrong! I automatically loved Lily, she's the kind of girl I want as my best friend! My heart broke when we learn about her past and the horrible things she's had to endure, but she doesn't let it ruin her! She's a strong character that has a lot of sassy :).

While there wasn't anything I necessarily hated about Bound to the Bachelor there was only one thing that I wasn’t too impressed with. I felt like Lily and Beau's relationship quickly turned into insta-love. There has always been a intense attraction between Lily and Beau but I felt like the last chapter/ending wasn’t well developed in terms of their relationship.

One bachelor down, 5 more to go!! 

Challenge: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

2015 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

2015 NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Here we go, again!

Last year I joined the NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge for the first time, I managed to finish 45 books from NetGalley and sent in my feedback for each, YEY!! I did things I little different though, I didn't submit each review per month. This year I'll be joining this challenge again and as I would like to keep up with submitting my each review per month, I have to admit it probably won't happen...I'm aiming for Gold - 50 books again!

So what is the NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge?

Have you ever logged on to Edelweiss or Netgalley with the intention of "Just Looking" and then logging off  having requested 5 new titles even though your TBR is a mile long? Inspired by Netgalley November the 2014 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge will (hopefully) give you the incentive to tackle your review books, stumble upon new ones, and get your Netgalley percentage to the desired 80%!

For information click here!

Levels:

Aluminum – 5 books

Bronze – 10 books

Silver – 25 books

-----> Gold – 50 books <----- 

Platinum – 75 books

Diamond– 100 books

Are you joining in on the challenge?!

Cover Reveal: By Any Other Name

By Any Other Name

Author: J.M. Darhower
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Forbidden Series, #1
Publication Date: February 23, 2015

Synopsis

A deadly rivalry.

Two families at war.

Nobody is safe, not even the innocent.

Especially the innocent.

Blood will be spilled.

Genevieve "Genna" Galante knows a thing or two about causing trouble. After all, it's engrained in her DNA. As the only daughter of Primo Galante, notorious boss of the Galante crime family, her life is dictated by a certain set of rules… rules Genna was never very good at following.

Matteo "Matty" Barsanti never wanted anything to do with the family business, but as the first-born Barsanti son, certain things are expected of him. It's his duty, according to his father, to help take down the enemy... even if that enemy means something to him.

A chance encounter on an elevator changes the course of lives, causing the biggest trouble of Genna's young life. The only good Barsanti is a dead Barsanti. She's heard it said time and time again. So what happens when she falls in love with one of them?

The story of star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of the biggest rivalry New York has ever seen, determined to make it… if only they can survive their parents' feud.

AH!!!

I'm so excited for this! J.M. Darhower has quickly become a new favourite author of mine after reading Sempre late last year! There isn't a lot of copies of her books at Chapters here in Canada so I had to go on the hunt for Sempre: Redemption. I'm going to have to start buying all of her books online! I can't wait to dive into this series because J.M. Darhower just has this way of writing, she sucks you in and you are completely invested from beginning to end! I have a feeling that this new series is going to make it onto my favourites shelf! The back cover reminds me of Need for Speed, but can we also just acknowledge how beautiful he is?! Those eyes...oh boy.

Teaser

"A Roman Coke," Genna mused. "What's that?"
"It's rum and Coke. We just call it a Roman Coke around here."
"Because you're Italian?"
"And because when you get drunk enough, it all just slurs together anyway."
"Ah." Genna picked hers up, motioning toward him with it. "So what are we drinking to?"
"Today."
"Today?"
He nodded. "Right now, this moment. Let's drink to it."
Smiling, she clinked her glass with his. "Today, then."
They threw them back at the same time. The liquor hit Genna's taste buds and she grimaced, the vicious burn seeping down her throat and settling deep in her chest. "Ugh, is there even any Coke in this damn thing?"
Matty laughed, setting his empty glass down. "Just a splash."
"I couldn't tell."
"That's because I prefer it that way," he responded. "Strong and rough, enough to leave a lingering ache. I like it to hurt just a bit."
Oh good God. Those words sent a chill down Genna's spine, one she couldn't hide, as Matty waved for the waitress. Eyes never leaving Genna, he ordered another round of drinks.
"Another?" she asked, picking up the water to take another sip, this one to soothe the sting in her chest. "You said one drink."
A sly smile curved his lips. "I like to keep them coming."
"Is that right?"
"Absolutely." Matty stood, leaning across the table, his lips near her ear. "Maybe you'll let me show you later."

About the Author

J.M. Darhower is a USA Today bestselling author, best known for her Mafia romantic suspense novels. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn't busy writing (or being a fangirl) she's usually ranting about those things.

Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website