The Open Heart Chronicles

FINDING ME AGAIN by Amber Garza:

I know most people don’t find the love of their life at sixteen. But I did. At least that’s what I thought when I fell in love with Tripp Bauer. That’s why it was so hard when we drifted apart after high school graduation.

But I’ve never stopped loving him.

On a trip back to our hometown, I run into Tripp and the spark between us is undeniable.

Is it possible for us to find our way together again? Will I really get the happily ever after I’ve longed for?

Don’t miss the stunning conclusion to Tripp and Hadley’s story!

CONSEQUENCE by Shelly Crane:

Maggie and Caleb are married, leaders of their people, parents to their children, and happier than they ever dreamed, even with the visions they saw of it to prove it so. The council is still rebelling against Maggie’s changes, but this time it’s different. It’s almost as if something…or someone is behind them, pulling the strings and making decisions for them.

And Maggie is having strange visions that only she can see, leaving Caleb helpless to help her. But when her visions start to warn her that their daughter, Ava, will one day be in danger, they’ll do anything it takes to find out what’s going on and how to stop it, even paying a visit to a previous Visionary.

Maggie and Caleb must find out who or what is behind it all and stop them before Maggie is one vision too late.

~~~
HEART BREAKER by Lila Felix:

Breaker James isn’t the boy who is imprisoned in his home anymore. He’s not the guy who is afraid to leave the house. He doesn’t need Ash twenty four hours a day anymore.

Hell, he might not need her anymore at all.

He’s a heart breaker, pure and simple.

Love is easy when you’re secluded from the world within four walls.

Ash now has to learn how to let Breaker love her—without being his crutch.
~~~
ALWAYS by Amity Hope:

~Always is a companion novella to Ditched.

Now that Holly and Max are finally together, life in Harmony Bay should be nearly perfect. Their first Valentine’s Day together is quickly approaching. Between school, interfering family, and long lost friends that have reappeared it has the potential to turn into a complete disaster.

Or it could turn into the kind of night that neither of them will ever forget.
~~~
BREATHLESS MAGIC by Rachel Higginson: 

And they lived happily ever after…

Or that was supposed to be how the story ended. Unfortunately for Eden Kendrick, a new enemy threatens her beloved Kingdom, one more dangerous and deadly than ever before.

After enjoying a deliciously elongated honeymoon, Eden returns to the Citadel with her husband and happiness intact. She’s unexpectedly pregnant, but that’s just one more blessing to add to her blooming happiness.

Eden’s heart is full and her endless life has never been more happy. That is until Dmitri Terletov returns from the dead and threatens everyone she loves and the Kingdom she worked so hard to build.

This time around, Eden is supposed to be shielded from the conflict. She has her growing babies to protect now and Kiran wants her as far from the battle as possible. Although she’s a little stir-crazy with idle hands, she agrees that keeping away from Terletov and his deadly experiments is definitely the right course of action.

Unfortunately, Terletov doesn’t agree. And when he arrives at the Castle, uninvited and desperate for the Magic Eden once stole from him, she has no choice but to fight once again to save the people she was born to protect.
~~~

DERIVE by Jamie Magee:

Aden, son of Tarek, is a seer—an elite member of The Selected which stands guard before The Fall, the border between light and dark realities. Darkness was foretold at his birth along with the words ‘lavender waters will set you free.’ What Aden assumed to be a mythical prophecy, is eventually manifested in a ravishing beauty with long, lavender hair.

Skylynn had seen their future, the sacrifice and divide set before them. She told him they had three days—three days before they must part to meet in a distant future. Aden dares to challenge the limits set before him by empowering his innocent lover with words and energy as he plots to face the darkness predicted before it claims her—and their rightful future together.

Rains Reviews: Seeking Havok by Lila Felix

All she wanted was a friend---one that knew her and not her circumstances. She needed somewhere to call home. Hers was an open door for countless men looking for the services her mother offered them. She camouflaged herself against lockers and blackboards to avoid the stares and whispers at school.

And then she found Cal...and Fade.

Cal lives like Frankenstein, rising at night to work and just trying to make it until dawn. He avoids most relationships, afraid of the things he will be asked to do. He moonlights as Fade, a radio station DJ who spends hours counseling his peers on their troubles. It was all mundane until Jocelyn called the station.

Cal and Havok pursue a friendship.

Jocelyn and Fade pursue a relationship beyond the confines of the radio waves.

But when Havok disappears, Cal will find that Havok has been guarding a lifetime worth of secrets. And when Fade and Jocelyn’s all night phone conversations cease, he finds a link between them he never saw coming.
~~~
Seeking Havoc. Hmm. How about a quote?

“A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” ~ William Styron

Yep, pretty much. This book wasn’t in any way anywhere near a feel good happy romance. But I liked that about it. Because life is crappy and it throws you off your groove. And though Havok hasn’t had a good homelife, though she is struggling, though she is in a bad situation she hasn’t given up. Not completely, not remotely- not really. And I admire her for that. Don’t get me wrong, she has her bad judgment calls and her own brand of naivety she is a fighter even if she doesn’t always think so.

Fade is a typical sweet, caring, swoon worthy guy that I wouldn’t expect anything less than from Lila. He listens to, cares for, and worries about Havok, Jocelyn and everyone else who need it. He is an all around stand up individual. And inside that awesome thing he calls a heart he finds he most cherished spot to put Havok. The safest most wonderful spot and that is where he puts his girl. Because that is where she deserves to be.

Seeking havok is a heavy book that made my tear up and laugh and fear and, yes, swoon. You’d think with statistics and human nature at least one of lila’s books wouldn’t be a home run but no. Way to beat the odds Lady Lila.

~Rain

~~~

Goodreads

Amazon

Lila Felix

Southern Book Carnival

Derby Bout! Love and Skate series by Lila Felix

Hey y’all! I’m so freaking happy you're here! You are just in time for the derby bout! Today’s spotlight is the Love and Skate series by the infamous Lila Felix. What book would win the derby?!?

Love in skate pulls ahead and body slams How it Rolls out of bounds. Caught in a Jam calls the foul and Down ‘n Derby skates to replace Love and skate. After two fouls by How it Rolls she is thrown from the game and its a battle for the win between Love and Skate and Down ‘n Derby. After the biggest tension filled match off seen in Reader’s Rink ever seen Caught in a Jam calls the game and Love and Skate scraped past with the win.

Who would win in your Roller Derby match?

Pick your favorite or most likely to win Love and Skate book and the winning eBook will be added to the pot of awesome prizes!!
Poll a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson

Blog Tour: Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson

BLURB:

Can two hearts be forged into one?

Cami Montgomery stole a car and smashed it into the front of a building in upscale Beverly Hills after a lousy date with the epitome of sleaze balls. The worst part, her parents are following through on threats after this latest plea for attention. Banished from her L.A. paradise and plunged into the Appalachian Mountains with her industrious aunt and uncle, Cami is about to find out how precious life really is.

Stockton Wright has been thrust into a hard life. He sacrifices everything to give his family and community what they need. He’s exhausted from life and work—and he’s only twenty four. What he needs is some change, and some sunshine. Even he will agree to that. He just doesn’t expect to find it in a stuck up, pompous, entitled Californian.

Cami bursts into Stockton’s life like wildfire, consuming all his thoughts and tangling him in her web. What starts out as a contentious rivalry evolves into a desire neither of them expected. When hammer meets metal, will they crack under pressure or be forged as one?

Cami and Stockton might just end up being exactly what the other one needs, but first their love will have to be drawn out in fire.~Goodreads
~~~
Review:

Striking is perhaps one of the few times I understood the meaning of the connection between the two love interests. Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson did a wonderful job

demonstrating the connection between Stockton and Cami. I didn’t shake my haed at Cami when she talked about not being able to live without him. Because I understood. I think I fulle grasped what Stockton meant to Cami and vice versa.

Cami starts out as a self destructive cry-for-help self entitled brat. But is that what she really is? How much of that is to blame on her upbringing? You can’t blame a hamster for acting like a hamster. So though she wasn’t the most lovable person I found I had a bit of a soft spot for her. And she was so eager to please that you couldn’t stay mad at her for long.

Stockton is another story. He is sweet, protective, loving, caring. He wants nothing more than to provide for his family. And in the process he has had to grow up quickly and has carried around quite a lot of misplaced guilt. And somewhere in there he started to be a real jackmouth to certain blonde newcomers. And though he has made a 180 it took my a minute to fully warm up to him. But now that I have he is a great guy.

This book has some great secondary characters and some bad ones but they all serve a purpose so just keep trucking when the going gets tough. Willa in particular is awesome. The rest of the factors were good too, the writing style, the language. There were a lot of suggestive comments and innuendos that I could have lived without but overall, a good read.

~Rain
~~~


Lila Felix made the decision to write a book after being encouraged by friends. She is a stay at home mom to three wild children and three boisterous dogs and her high school sweetheart husband encourages her daily. Between writing books, she loves to read and watch sappy 80's movies. Favorite things: ice cream, anything purple, roller derby and any kind of music she can get her hands on. If you're looking for her, try looking in the swamp, she's probably duct taping something under the shade of a Cypress tree.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLilaFelix

https://twitter.com/AuthorLilaFelix

http://authorlilafelix.blogspot.com/

 

Rachel Higginson was born and raised in Nebraska, but spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka. But came back home to marry her high school sweetheart and now spends her days raising her big family. In those few spare moments she has, she is either reading or writing Young Adult Fiction.

https://www.facebook.com/rachelhigginsonauthor

https://twitter.com/Mywritesdntbite

http://www.rachelhigginson.com/

SEPT 1 - Ashley http://www.happilyeverhungover.com

SEPT 2 - Mandy http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

SEPT 3 - Christy http://christyswrittenwordlove.wordpress.com/

SEPT 4 - Michael http://fabulousandfun.com

SEPT 5 - Amy http://turnthepagebookreviews.blogspot.com

SEPT 6 - Chris Woo Lunasbooksweets.blogspot.com

SEPT 7 - Jenn http://fabulousandfun.com

SEPT 8 - Kelly http://paperbackcowgirl.blogspot.com/?m=1

SEPT 9 - Rain http://rainsreaderroom.blogspot.com/?m=1

SEPT 10 - Mary www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com

SEPT 11 - Caylie http://halesandcalesreads.wordpress.com/

SEPT 12 - Regan Reganclaire.com

SEPT 13 - Kathryn http://www.tsktskehattoread2.blogspot.com

SEPT 14 - Candace www.lifebeteweentheages.com

SEPT 15 - Holly Hollyshotreads.wordpress.com

Waiting on Wednesday: Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson

Wednesday has got to be the most depressing day for bookish people. Because if you think about it, today is the day that everyone reads and thinks and writes about all the books they can’t have yet. I mean seriously! Can you say depressing?  But I guess I shall go with the status quo and tell you of the book I am currently unable to obtain.

Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson

Can two hearts be forged into one?

Cami Montgomery stole a car and smashed it into the front of a building in upscale Beverly Hills after a lousy date with the epitome of sleaze balls. The worst part, her parents are following through on threats after this latest plea for attention. Banished from her L.A. paradise and plunged into the Appalachian Mountains with her industrious aunt and uncle, Cami is about to find out how precious life really is.

Stockton Wright has been thrust into a hard life. He sacrifices everything to give his family and community what they need. He’s exhausted from life and work—and he’s only twenty four. What he needs is some change, and some sunshine. Even he will agree to that. He just doesn't expect to find it in a stuck up, pompous, entitled Californian.

Cami bursts into Stockton’s life like wildfire, consuming all his thoughts and tangling him in her web. What starts out as a contentious rivalry evolves into a desire neither of them expected. When hammer meets metal, will they crack under pressure or be forged as one?

Cami and Stockton might just end up being exactly what the other one needs, but first their love will have to be drawn out in fire.~Goodreads
~~~
As I have stated time and time again Lila Felix= must read, But I have never read and Rachel Higginson before and after I caught wind of this book I went total stalker mode. So after reading through her blog and drooling over some books that have now been added to my TBR list I am jubilantly awaiting the release of the Contemporary Romance that is sure to keep me up and reading till the very last page.

What do ya’ll think of my pick? What books are you anxiously awaiting?
~~~
Lila’s Blog
Rachel’s Blog
Goodreads

Rain's Reviews: Caught in a Jam by Lila Felix

Caught in a Jam by Lila Felix

~~~

I’ve loved her since we were kids. But loving someone gets tough when they don’t love you back.

Nixon Black has made mistakes. He made one mistake that would change his life forever. Now he’s working and in school—and he’s got a three year old. He gave up dating when Scout was born, but every night he retreats to another life in his mind, one he could’ve had with her.
Journey spent her formative years on the arm of any boy that didn’t expect anything out of her. She was hiding from the one person who did expect something in return—Nixon. Years after being cheated on and dumped for the last time, she takes a job at a daycare center where there’s a genius of a ginger haired girl whose last name is Black.
But the roles have been reversed and Journey is no longer Nixon’s first priority. Can he make room for the new Journey? And when he does, will he be able to forgive the old one?

Cover Reveal: Seeking Havoc by Lila Felix

Who is ready to see the cover for Lila's book Seeking Havok. This is most definitely one of my favoritest covers ever! Seeking Havok is going to be a kick butt book and I am jumping up and down in my seat in anticipation! With an expected release date of Sept 30th I have a while to wait but don't burst my bubble!

So here it is my lovelies....

What  do you think about this reveal?

Lila's Website

Lila's Facebook

Seeking Havok Goodreads

 

Rains Review: AnguiSH by Lila Felix

AnguiSH by Lila Felix

Synopsis

Anguish was the status quo, until she walked in.
Breaker James Collins is confined in a prison of his own making. Scarred doesn’t begin to define his hell since finding out his girlfriend had cheated, stolen, and lied two years ago. It led to a single event—one that would blacken his days and his nights from then on. Since then, he hasn’t left his house, crippled by fear of people and any social interaction.

Bog Tour- Down 'N Derby!

Down ‘N Derby- Lila Felix

Summary...

Maddox is running.

By accident, he discovered long ago that he was adopted as a baby and his need to find his biological father has consumed him ever since. Now, on a road trip, determined to find his father and his sanity, and armed with locations and his cousin, Nixon, to help him, maybe he can find the answers he’s been searching for. With nothing but a suitcase and a wad of cash to get him there, lead after lead takes him further from home.

But he’ll find much more than he intended.

He finds Storey, a pint sized pin-up model who has learned painful lessons about guys. Her wounds run deep, but so do his. She knows what she wants, but will she recognize it when it’s right in front of her?

Maddox can’t touch anyone without feeling like his skin is crawling, but just maybe his instinct to protect this amazing girl will supersede his own hang-ups.

If he can brush her skin and start to feel alive inside...everything will change.

So this is what I thought...

Omageeze! Lila Felix Just keeps getting better and better!! I loved this book, and Maddox, and Storey, and, and all of it :). I am so excited for y’all to read this book!

I loved Maddox so much! He is sweet, loving, the perfect gentleman, and when need be- a complete bad ace ;). The story starts and he is off to find his dad, in the middle of the night, with his cousin Nixon. Despite the cowardly way he sat of to find his dad I quickly liked and eventually loved him.

Storey, the funny, loveable, pin-up model/derby girl. Storey has been through Hades and back and is just now finishing paying for it. She meets Maddox and has to work through her demons before she could see him for who he really is and not continue to compare him to her past. But she does and they are the definition of Swoon- Worthy Couple.

This book might be third in a series and about the youngest of the three Black brothers but Maddox and Storey were their own story. They were different from Falcon and Reed, and Owen and Nellie. They had their own trials, and they had their own way of celebrating their victories. They were their own people and thats another thing I loved about this series, and this book. You can expect an original story from Lila Felix every time!

Nixon is a decent sized part of the story, some of the chapter’s were in his POV, and that makes me wonder if we'll hear more about him. But as is, he is a great friend. Reed and Falcon are also a part of this story, with some chapters from their POV as well. And you get to see a continuation  of their relationship- thank God (or Lila)- and I was so happy.

Lila Felix did a phenominamazing job and I love her this much more *envision arms as far apart as possible* after this book came out. I am looking forward to her next book and in the meantime I plan on reading this again and again ;).

~Rain

Want to know more about the fantastical author?

Lila Felix lives in the swamps of Louisiana with her husband and three boisterous children. She loves coffee, anything cinnamon and loves to cook. She is a big roller derby fan. When she's not writing, she's watching 80's movies, reading, and collecting duct tape.

Lila Felix Links...

Goodreads

Facebook Fanpage

Twitter

Blog

Love and Skate Series Links...

Love and Skate: Amazon

B&N

How It Rolls: Amazon

B&N

Down n’ Derby: Amazon

Rain's Reveiws

How it Rolls by Lila Felix

Despite the odds, Reed Wolfe is making it, by the skin of her teeth. Her dreams and aspirations will have to wait until she can get on her feet. Because right now she’s homeless and churning on a downward spiral. 

Falcon Black is existing. Not living, not thriving, just jutting along a path. But when he finds Reed, he can’t resist the urge to help her, lighten her load. But Falcon tends to go overboard, over the line, crossing boundaries he never thought he would and risking her trust in the process. 

Can she accept his love or will it end up smothering her?

~~~

How it Rolls is the second book in the Love and Skate series. It features Falcon and Reed and it is their story to a happily ever after (more or less).

Falcon was such a swoon worthy sweetie! I really did like him and was quite jealous of Reed on some occasions. He found a girl worth pursuing and did so with all of his ability. Falcon did everything in his power to make happy and keep her that way. He was like the most perfect boyfriend you could have J.

As much as I liked Falcon I could never steal him from Reed. She deserves is a man like that. Coming from her hard life of being in the system and not always being placed with the nicest of peoples she had some trouble adjusting. She had some stupid moments but I guess in the end it just made her more human.  But Falcon being the fantastic guy he was never gave up on her.

Bird boy and Poppy go through a roller coaster ride of ups and downs throughout the book. But the blacks stuck with them and intervened when need be. Yep, I said the entire Black family, you get to follow up on Mr. and Mrs. Black, Nellie and Owen, and you get to see more of Maddox. The end was such a surprise which is saying a lot because I can usually figure out what’s going to happen. It makes my that much more anxious for Down ‘n Derby!

I don’t think How it Rolls will forever be on my Favorite Romance Books Ever shelf but it is still a really good read and something you will regret passing up.

~~~

Quotes

“Did you just call me Poppy?” I laughed at him. “Either you are seeing a girl named Poppy or you just called me a flower”

“It fits you.” He smiled, pleased with himself.

“Calling me by the name of a flower does not fit me. I’m tough and mean and tough…”

“You said tough twice.” He was full on belly laughing now. 

Cover Reveals

Seeking Havoc 

Down 'n Derby

Cannot wait for these to come out! I love Lila Felix, I have read Emerge, Perchance, Love and Skate, and How it Rolls! I know these will be great :) I don't know when they are coming out yet but I'll be sure to tell you as soon as I do :)

How It Rolls-LIVE

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BEIBF2Y/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

Despite the odds, Reed Wolfe is making it, by the skin of her teeth. Her dreams and aspirations will have to wait until she can get on her feet. Because right now she’s homeless and churning on a downward spiral.

Falcon Black is existing. Not living, not thriving, just jutting along a path. When he finds Reed, he can’t resist the urge to help her, lighten her load. But Falcon tends to go overboard, over the line, crossing boundaries he never thought he would and risking her trust in the process.

Can she accept his love or will it end up smothering her?

This Is LiLa Felix's (http://authorlilafelix.blogspot.com/) newest book! It went LIVE today :):)

~~~

"Why this school, any school, offered classes at seven a.m. was beyond me.  It was apparently beyond a lot of students too.  Most of them came to class in their pajama pants.  Girls could get away with it because it reminded guys that they had recently been in bed.  But guys—no.

          And a plus for me?  My seven a.m. teacher was from France.  And he spoke Frenglish.  Sometimes it was funny, but when he announced which chapters we should study and the names came out in English, but the chapter numbers came out in French, I wanted to strangle the sacre bleu out of him."

Falcon, How It Rolls