Book Haul #97: Tonight the Signs Point to SIX OF CROWS!

Good day, fellow bookworms!!!

I know that for most of you, school has been done and over with for quite a while now. But for us - our last day was this past Friday! You have no idea how excited my boys and I are for finally having some time to just hit the snooze button and stay in our pjs all day... for the next week or two, lol! This has been a really long school year! Both of my big boys excelled in their studies - we are beyond proud and blessed! It's now time to rest and have some much needed fun!!!

I am SO very lucky to have received SO many amazing books this week!!!
Starting next week, things are going to be pretty active around here - many different blog posts and a new feature will be popping up on Monday, I can't wait to share it all with you!!!
(But, if you follow on my on Instagram, you may see a sneak peek sometime this weekend!)

For now, here's my latest book haul :)

I am participating in Stacking the Shelves, 
hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews!!!

*What I received for review...

- INK AND BONE (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine (ARC) from the author
- JUST SAY YES by Alyssa Goodnight (Adult/eARC) from Entangled 

From Simon & Schuster (Middle Grade): 
- THE WAND & THE SEA (The Key and the Flame #2) by Claire M. Carter (ARC)
- GOBLINS ON THE PROWL by Bruce Coville (ARC) 

From Bloomsbury:
- HOLLYWOOD WITCH HUNTER by Valerie Tejeda (eARC)
- MISTLETOE and MR. RIGHT by Lyla Payne (ARC) 
- RED GIRL, BLUE BOY (If Only #5) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC) 

From Macmillan/Fierce Reads: 
- FIRST & THEN by Emma Mills (ARC) 
- SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo (ARC) 
- TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS by Leila Sales (ARC)
- FIREWALKER (The Worldwalker Trilogy #2) by Josephine Angelini (ARC)
- SIGNS POINT TO YES by Sandy Hall (ARC) from Swoon Reads
- THE ANATOMICAL SHAPE OF A HEART by Jenn Bennett (ARC) 
- YOUNG WIDOWS CLUB by Alexandra Coutts (ARC) 

From Macmillan/MacKids (Middle Grade):
- LITTLE ROBOT by Ben Hatke (HB) 
- CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate (ARC)
- JAMES TO THE RESCUE by Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy (ARC)
- THE SPINNY ICKY SHOWDOWN (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut #3) by Laurie Keller (ARC)
- ON THE RUN by Tristan Bancks (ARC) 
- FINDING FORTUNE by Delia Ray (ARC)

*What I purchased...
- SCORCHED (Frigid #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (NA/eBook)

* * * 

A few pics from the past few weeks... 

Baby Bee got some cool new big boy shoes :)

Boy #2 is now NINE years old!!!

Got myself a pretty new planner!
(Webster's Pages Color Crush - white)

* * * 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Please leave a comment with your link so I can visit your hauls too!!!

xoxo

Cover Reveal (Teaser/Excerpt): BEFORE & AFTER by Nazarea Andrews (Adult)

BEFORE & AFTER

by Nazarea Andrews

Expected release date: July 30th, 2015

Published by A&A Library

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college. 

A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, covered in ink and crooning in a bar is the last person a straight laced girl with an art major should fall for, but his rough edges made her jagged, alive, shaving away the coddled southern princess and revealing a soul wild and brilliant. 

They fell in love, despite her family and his past and all the reasons why it wouldn't work - and with their best friends, they made a life. Everyone was supposed to live happily ever after. They, more than anyone, knows that life doesn't go according to plan.

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college.

A boy with a guitar, and a poet's heart, and a girl with freckles dusted over her nose, a perfect fucking fairy tale.

But what happens when the fairy tale doesn't fall apart - but is forgotten?

EXCERPT from BEFORE & AFTER

"You're girl was late," Scotty rasps as we land on two stools at the bar. It's late and the crowd of sorority girls has thinned to almost nothing, although a pair are nursing Cosmos and watching us speculatively.

Surprisingly, Scott's ignored them completely.

"Need anything, boys?" Manda asks as she sways past, giving Scotty a flirty smile. He grins at her, letting his gaze sweep over her.

My best friend is a fucking slut. But with Manda, it's all flirting and no action. She'd take him up on it - she's made that very clear. But Scott doesn't fuck where he works, and Barries has been too good for us to risk screwing it up for a quick fuck.

Which is good, because I'd have to kick his ass if he touched her. She might be a little too friendly and a little desperate, but she's a cute kid and I like her.

"Bourbon, Manda," he says and she glances at me questioningly. I nod and she pours the drinks. 

Scotty glances at me. "What are you waiting on?"

I shrug and grit my teeth. Scotty twists and gives her a look over his shoulder. "Fine. Stay here and keep Manda company. I'm going to introduce myself to your siren."

I jerk him back by the collar of his shirt before he can take more than two steps and throw him back against the bar. "Back the fuck off, Scott." I growl.

He grins, a challenge and a taunt in that expression. "Then make your move, Rike."

I snatch the bourbon from Manda and take a deep breath before walking to her table. 

And wait. 

For a long. Fucking. Time. 

It takes almost a full minute for her to look up, almost long enough for my courage to fail. I'm almost ready to retreat when she blinks and looks up at me, her eyes widening a little as they find mine. She looks startled, and sleepy, and as gorgeous as she looked at a distance, is nothing compared to how fucking flawless she is this close. 

There are freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and dusted over her nose. 

I swallow a groan as she licks her lips and gives me a tentative smile. "Hi."

"Hi," I say, and then go blank.

Because in none of my fantasies did I ever consider we'd actually ever get to this point. And the smirks and smooth lines won't work - not on her.

"What do you call a group of unorganized cats?" I ask and her eyes cloud, confused.

She gives me a pretty frown and I grin, "A cat-astrophe."

For a second, all either of us do is stare, and then she giggles. "That is literally the worst pickup line I've ever heard."

I grin, "So you want me to leave?"

Laughter dances in her eyes. "Have a seat, jokes."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Nazarea Andrews

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read.

She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Street Team

Waiting on Wednesday #136: A WHOLE NEW WORLD (Twisted Tales #1) by Liz Braswell (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!!

The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!

And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 

What I'm currently waiting for... 

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Twisted Tales #1

by Liz Braswell

Expected release date: September 1st, 2015

Published by Disney Press

Genre: Young Adult Fairytale Retelling

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Welcome to a new YA series that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways!

Each book asks the question: What if one key moment from a familiar Disney film was changed???

This dark and daring version of ALADDIN twists the original story with the question: 

What if Jafar was the first one to summon the Genie?

When Jafar steals the Genie's lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish. To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed Princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next?

A Street Rat becomes a leader.

A princess becomes a revolutionary.

And readers will never look at the story of ALADDIN in the same way again.

Why I'm waiting for A WHOLE NEW WORLD...

FIRST of all!... a whole new Disney series from Disney reinventing classic Disney movies/stories?!

Yes, please!!!

Second of all!... this is a dream come true for me!!!

I have always imagined all of the 'what ifs' since I was a kid!!! And someone is finally giving me the twists that I've always longed for!

Lastly!... isn't that a gorgeous cover!!!

P.S... I am wondering if there will be multiple authors for this series...??? 

That would be an added bonus, am I right?!

SO, what are you waiting for this week???

Cover Reveal: UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN by Renee Collins (YA)

 "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN by Renee Collins - 

a time-slip romance where love, murder, and mystery make for a swoon-worthy read. It is The Time Traveler’s Wife for teens, and meets 1920s glamour that’s perfect for fans of The Great Gatsby and Bright Young Things."

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

by Renee Collins

Expected release date: November 3rd, 2015

Published by Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction/Time Travel/Mystery

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time.

Cassandra is a headstrong teenager craving drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants it to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger named Lawrence shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own - and that the year is 1925 - she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making. 

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love - and Lawrence's life - in jeopardy. 

Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history - 

or risk losing Lawrence forever. 

MY THOUGHTS

Oh my, this cover fits the summary so very well!

There's a feeling of mystery and nostalgia; longing and vagueness... 

I am SO intrigued!!!

Time travel! Romance!... Can't wait!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Renee Collins

Renee Collins grew up on a beach in Hawaii. 

Sadly, she never met anyone from the past on those shores, 

but she did go on to get a degree in History, which is almost the same.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Release Day (Excerpt and Giveaway): SCORCHED (Frigid #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (New Adult)

“Armentrout’s latest new adult offering tackles substance abuse and mental illness — and, thankfully, the love of a good man is not going to be what heals this heroine.” 
– RT Book Reviews

SCORCHED

Frigid Series #2

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release date: June 16th, 2015

Published by Spencer Hill Press

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Format: Paperback, eBook

SUMMARY

Sometimes life leaves a mark…

Most days, Andrea doesn’t know whether she wants to kiss Tanner or punch him in the gut. He is seriously hot, with legit bedroom eyes and that firefighter body of his, but he’s a major player, and they can’t get along for more than a handful of minutes. Until now.

Tanner knows he and Andrea have had an epic love/hate relationship for as long as he can remember, but he wants more love than hate from her. He wants her. Now. Tomorrow. But the more he gets to know her, the more it becomes obvious that Andrea has a problem. She’s teetering on the edge and every time he tries to catch her, she slips through his fingers.

Andrea’s life is spiraling out of control, and it doesn’t matter that Tanner wants to save her, because when everything falls apart and she’s speeding toward rock bottom, only she can save herself.

Sometimes life makes you work for that happily ever after…

EXCERPT

Tanner

              Aw, shit.

              I watched Andrea walk into the living room, the normal twitch of her hips absent. No one swayed ass like Andrea, and seeing it gone from her step was answer enough. Our normal whatever-the-fuck-it-was between us had gone further than I intended. No doubt what I’d said had cut her, but shit, it was no different than any other day.

              My hand tightened on the neck of the bottle. For the life of me, I had no idea what the hell Andrea Walters’s problem was. Honestly. No fucking clue. One minute, sweet and sugary words parted those pouty pink lips of hers. Next second, she was a fire-breathing dragon from hell—a hot, fire-breathing dragon, but still. Her moods flipped more quickly than cups did during a game of flip cup.

              Maybe it was because she was a redhead?

              I smirked.

              She’d always been this way with me, and the most fucked-up think about it, there was a part of me that actually looked forward to whatever was going to come out of her mouth. Twisted as fuck. It was like a game between us, to see who could hit the hardest without lifting a finger. If nothing else, it was damn entertaining—or at least, it had been until now. Now, I wasn’t too sure about it.

              Those pretty doe eyes of hers had looked suspiciously damp right before she’d looked away, and yeah…that didn’t sit right with me.

              Kyler shot me a look as he walked past me and grabbed a beer out of the fridge, but I watched Andrea sit on the edge of the couch, her posture unnaturally rigid.

              Sydney leaned against the arm. “We’re thinking about leaving early in the morning, around six.”

              My gaze flicked to Andrea, expecting her to make some kind of crack about not getting up that early, but she was abnormally quiet. My spine stiffened.

              “That should put us at the cabin between nine and ten in the morning, depending on traffic.” Kyler stood beside me as he screwed off the cap. “Then we’ll be heading back the following Monday.”

              “Sounds good to me.” I didn’t take my eyes off Andrea as she fiddled with a strap on her sandals, slipping them onto her feet.

              Sydney glanced at me, smiling softly. “You’re definitely off from the fire department?”

              I nodded. Kyler had mentioned weeks ago about wanting to hit up the cabin before everyone headed back to class, and I’d requested the time off then. Which had meant I’d pulled a lot of doubles, but I hadn’t minded it. Wasn’t too different from the twelve-hour shifts we worked in the first place, and I’d only be there until February of next year, and then I was off to the academy. Not that I was in any hurry to leave the fire department, but being a cop was in my blood. Except I wanted to be a good cop. I’d probably still volunteer at the fire hall once I knew what kind of schedule I was looking at on the force.

              “It makes sense if we drive up together.” Sydney toyed with a strand of her hair. “Kyler and I can pick you two up.”

              Andrea had twisted toward Sydney and started to protest the whole idea of taking one car. I zoned out, staring at her as the bottle of beer dangled from the tips of my fingers.

              Damn…she was a cute girl. Nah, she was more than cute, and it wasn’t like this was the first time I’d noticed that. From the first time I’d seen her at the bar with Sydney, she’d done more than just poke my interest. Hell, anyone with eyes knew she was a very pretty girl. Lush lips. Freckled cheeks and thick, dark eyelashes. Come to think of it, she reminded me of a girl I’d had a crush on in middle school. Hell, couldn’t remember that chick’s name, but she’d had freckles and red hair. I think I used to pull on her braids or some annoying shit like that. My lips tipped up in a small grin as I lifted the bottle to my mouth. Andrea was a motherfucking firecracker, though, not the kind of girl who was easily tamed.

              Hell, not the kind of girl you even wanted to tame.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble / iBooks

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. 

She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Novel Goodreads / Author Goodreads

http://www.inkslingerpr.com/

Release Day (Excerpt, Letter from the Author and Giveaway): SINFUL REWARDS 12 (A Billionaires and Bikers Novella) by Cynthia Sax (Adult)

*Warning: Adult Content (18+)

“A YEAR OF SIZZLING HOT SAX”

THE SEXIEST 12 MONTH SERIAL is SINFUL REWARDS!!!

The thrilling conclusion to the Billionaires and Bikers series is here!!!

Sinful Rewards 12

A Billionaires and Bikers Novella

By USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax

Release date: June 16th, 2015

Published by Avon Red Impulse (HarperCollins)

Genre: Adult Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

One tiny mistake turns Bee Carter's worst fears into a terrifying reality. She knows she isn't alone. The sexy, honorable man she adores stands by her side, willing to sacrifice his freedom to ease her concerns.

But she yearns for more than he is offering. She wants a partner who will love her as fiercely as she loves him, who will say the words and mean them, and someone who will choose her because this is what he desires more than anything else, not merely out of a misguided sense of duty.

Will saying no to the man she loves earn Bee unbearable heartache or will she finally get the forever she craves?

SINFUL REWARDS 12 EXCERPT

Nicolas stands in the hallway, a sheepish smile on his beautiful face, and my small burst of joy dissipates, replaced by the dreaded malaise. He’s handsome, the lights shining on his black wavy hair, tanned skin, dark eyes. He’s immaculately dressed in a gray suit, white shirt, pink tie. He’s carrying ice cream, a small tub of Heavenly Hash cradled in his perfectly manicured fingers.

But he’s not Hawke. He’s not the man I love, the only person I want to see.

“Don’t look at me like that, Bee.” Nicolas pushes his way into the condo. “I had that situation with the New York build last night. There will be fancy events in the future.” He holds up the tub. “I brought ice cream.”

I summon a smile. “You forgot about me.” I take the ice cream from the dashing billionaire. “What do those articles I sent you say about forgetting friends?”

Nicolas grimaces. “You knew I was a bad friend.” He walks with me to the kitchen, smelling of expensive cologne and wealth.

“You’re not a bad friend.” I set two bowls and two spoons on the counter. “You’re a terrible friend.” I open the tub of ice cream.

The real estate developer settles his long lean body on a bar stool and dips a spoon in the container. “You’re not giving up on me, are you?” The lines carved between his perfect eyebrows belie his casual tone.

“I’d never give up on you.” I knock his sucked-clean spoon away and huddle over the tub, protecting the ice cream from impatient-billionaire-induced contamination. “Hawke doesn’t love me,” I blurt, needing to voice this, to share this with someone.

“He said that?” Nicolas steals a spoonful of ice cream from the bowl I’m filling.

“No.” I frown, scooping as fast as I can. “But he’s never said he loves me, either.” I push Nicolas’s bowl toward him.

His eyes sparkle. “I’ve never said I love ice cream.” He shovels the sweet treat into his mouth with a boyish glee. “But I do. Very much.” His lips curl upward. “The name of this flavor is perfect. It is heavenly.”

“Hawke doesn’t love me,” I repeat stubbornly, dishing out a smaller portion for myself.

“A good friend would agree with you.” Nicolas’s head is bent over his ice cream.

“You’re not a good friend.” I place the tub in the freezer compartment of the fridge. “What would you do?”

“I’d tell you that neither of you are acting rationally, that if craziness is a sign of love, Hawke has it much worse than you.” Nicolas licks his spoon. “He guards you like you’re the last piece of prime real estate on the planet. I’m taking my life into my hands by simply eating ice cream with you.”

I climb onto the bar stool beside him, his observations about Hawke’s protectiveness appeasing me, banishing some of my melancholy. “He cares about me.”

“No, he cares about his team.” The billionaire’s lips flatten grimly. “Disregarding all of my advice about maintaining his distance.” Nicolas believes remaining aloof from his employees makes painful staffing decisions less traumatic. “What Hawke feels for you is in an entirely different category.”

“It isn’t love.” Or is it?

Saying Goodbye to Bee, Hawke And Nicolas

by Cynthia Sax

One of the most common questions reading buddies ask me is “What is the toughest part of writing?” For me, the toughest part is the last chapter or, in the case of Sinful Rewards, my sizzling hot 12 novella contemporary erotic romance series, the last novella.

I know, while writing this part of the story, that I’ll be saying good-bye to beloved characters. Yes, I’ll be able to reread the story and visit them but I’ll no longer be living in their world, listening to their every thought, experiencing every emotion.

What will I miss most about the characters in Sinful Rewards?

Bee/Belinda

Bee, of all of the characters in Sinful Rewards, has grown the most. Our exhibitionist-in-training heroine started the serial with a fairly shallow view of others, herself, love, life. She’s endured quite a bit. These experiences have changed her.

I suspect she’ll continue to change, continue to make the transition from twenty-something new grad to mature, confident woman. She’s surrounded by strong female role models—her mom, Ellen, Lona. I can see them all influencing her. I’ll miss seeing that change.

Hawke

Hawke is a man of surprises. That’s what I’ll miss about our tattooed bad boy biker. He loves new experiences and sharing these new experiences with the people he loves. I doubt that he will ever have a ‘normal’ day. His job is constantly changing and he enjoys this aspect of it.

I couldn’t guess what he’ll be doing a day, month, year after Sinful Rewards ends. I know he’ll have his loved ones, his team around him. He’s as loyal as Bee is, as committed to his friends, family, woman. But I don’t know what his day will entail.

Nicolas

Nicolas is the character I wish I had spent more time with. Our jellybean eating billionaire has emotional depths we haven’t even started to explore. I’ll miss his self-depreciating sarcasm and his feigned arrogance, the vulnerability he hides under his business bastard personae.

I’ll miss the characters from Sinful Rewards but I feel fortunate to have known them. They’ve changed me as much as, I suspect, I’ve changed them.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is not responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

PURCHASE LINKS

SINFUL REWARDS 1: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 2: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 3: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 4: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 5: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 6: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 7: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 8: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 9: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 10: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 11: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 12: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cynthia Sax

USA Today bestselling author CYNTHIA SAX lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago. 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook