free – Z. Elizabeth

Waiting on Wednesday: Finding Cinderella – Colleen Hoover

Posted on October 9, 2013October 6, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly event that allows all us book bloggers and lovers to talk about what upcoming book we’re most looking forward to reading.

Synopsis

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

Release Date: 14th October and it will be a FREE novella.

(Six and Daniel are from Losing Hope and Hopeless)

PROMO: April Showers – Karli Perrin is FREE all weekend

Posted on July 13, 2013July 12, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

To celebrate April Showers being out for a month, Karli has decided to be kind andlket all of you who have yet to read this bloody amazing book (No idea WHY you haven;t downloaded and read it yet) for FREE.

YES, you read that. FOR FREE!

So seriously, what in the hell are you waiting for?

Click on the link to take you to SMASHWORDS and grab your copy RIGHT NOW. RIGHT THIS INSTANCE.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/326165

If being FREE isnt an incentive enough, then check out my review of my twinnies fantabulous book.

https://lovebookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/book-tour-april-showers-karli-perrin-author-character-interview/

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Synopsis

What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.

When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends…new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus – with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn’t what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she finds solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she’s in control of her own destiny before it’s too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

New Adult, Romance

Waiting For You – Shey Stahl

Posted on April 2, 2013April 1, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Bailey Gray is tired of her perfectly planned life. Everything about her life has been organized and lived out to the expectations set of her parents. She is the class valedictorian, has perfect grades, the perfect friends, a perfect boyfriend, basically perfect life…or so everyone thought. That’s when she realizes the path planned isn’t always the path chosen.

On graduation day she makes a decision. One that changes everything she thought she knew about her intended future.

On a whim, she runs away with the town rebel, Dylan Wade, in search of the unknown.

Dylan Wade isn’t looking to run away from anything.

He knows what he wants as he’s been waiting on it for years.

On a journey to find the unknown, they discover a friendship they once knew along the open highway and have not a care in the world. Between the yellow and white lines of the heated summer asphalt, a spark draws them together as Dylan’s past and Bailey future try to ripe them apart.

Could it be that Dylan and his GTO are exactly what her perfectly planned life needs?

5/5 stars

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My Review

“Some say a sunset can be too beautiful for words. I’d agree with that. There are a lot of things too beautiful for words for me. To me, it was the earth’s way of saving the best for last.”

Bailey has been raised to be perfect. To be the type of daughter her parents want her to be. Never setting foot out of line. But it comes to a point in your life where you have to stick your fingers up to your parents and say FU, I’m not being this person anymore, I want to be free and that is exactly what Bailey did at her high school graduation. It was like someone had flipped a switch and she just needed to be free from the shackles her family had her tied to her whole life.

Fed up of being controlled by her parents, especially as her dad is the town mayor and expects nothing short of perfection, much like her mother’s attitude, graduation was a humiliation for them both, but I was so proud of Bailey for standing up to them, for ripping that part of her life away and wanting her freedom, to find herself.

Dylan Wade is seemingly nothing of perfection. From losing his mother at a young age and rebelling since then, he is a tattooed bad boy who has been arrested more times than he can count. He and Bailey used to be friends when they were younger, but when appearances meant more to Bailey’s family, she was no longer allowed to see or speak to him. Although everyone judges on appearances and town gossip, even if most are true about him, there’s just something about him that draws you to him, especially Bailey, once again.

Running away together, they slowly build up their friendship once again, as it’s a chance to be free from their town, from their family and just be their selves on this trip, even if they both are just running away from the things in their past and present.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this book. I was consumed by its every being, unable to put it down; needing to read it page by page until the very end. Books that include old friends, road trips and freeing/finding yourself are books that I bloody well love to read. It’s the thought that I’d love to be in that very position, experiencing everything the characters are, so if I can’t do it, then I can live through their trip and experiences.

This was my first book by Shey Stahl, although I have her Racing series on my kindle. I loved the way she wrote this book. She captivated me, had me highlighting nearly every sentence, going on this journey along with Bailey and Dylan and had me going through the motions, from happiness, sadness, sexual frustration and tears. Yes, I did really feel everything Bailey and Dylan were. It was really hard not to, especially as I just mentioned I lived through them during this road trip. The one I truly wish I could go on.

As I’ve mentioned, Bailey Grey has grown up doing everything right. Everything by the rules for so long. Shes sick of having her life planned out, from her school to her boyfriend and friends so during graduation, she flips and just wants freedom. Freedom to be her true self, to be reckless and enjoy her life; live for the moment.

Dylan Wade hates being at home with his violent, drunken father. Since his mother died, nothing has been the same. He was very close to his mother and loved her so much. But now he’s just tired of being in the same house as his father, who occasionally beats him in his drunken state. He wants out and after graduation, he knows now is the time to run away, since watching the girl he’s wanted and waited for, for eight years to finally realize she’s had enough of being controlled.

Asking her to come with him, Bailey doesn’t hesitate and goes with Dylan. On a road trip that neither of them were really prepared for. They both live for the moment. They love hard and go through a journey, both alone and together that you know will eventually end but right now, they are just basking in each other, learning to give up and be free, learning to love and feel. Feel that freedom.

I loved the little things they both unveiled. Dylan loved music. He wrote songs, he played guitar and he sang. But he was very timid about his hobby, timid in the sense that he didn’t want to pursue it as a career, he just loved it enough to want to play in pubs and make enough money to live. Timid in the sense he was enclosed on stage, until he came out of his shell and became engrossed in what he was singing about, losing himself in the song.

Bailey hasn’t known much in her controlled life, she knew enough but nothing about running away, feeling the wind in your hair and not knowing where they were going to end up. But what she did know and loved was photography. I really liked that about her. Taking pictures of sunsets, sunrises, of Dylan… But the sun was her thing. Something no one can take away from her.

“There’s something refreshing about a sunrise, it’s just as unpredictable what a new day would bring.”

Every day for Dylan and Bailey was unpredictable, and every day they fell that bit more in love with one another, showing each other how to be free and alive; sharing that piece of special with one another.

I have to mention the sexual frustration/tension/ pent up desire from both of them. It really got to me. No joke. I was frustrated along with Bailey, wanting and needing something to happen because it was just too much for them to not give in, although there were times when it got frigging steamy although it was Dylan who would pull back. I just wanted him to stop thinking and holding back and just f**k her because god knows they both wanted each other. I would have literally jumped his bones and told him to F**k me or I would find someone else haha. Seriously, it got to Bailey, it bloody well got to me too!!

When the secret came out, I kind of had an inkling about what and who it was about. There were kind of clues throughout the book but it only really confirmed it when it all came out. My heart just broke in two for Bailey and Dylan. Their love was pure, it was overpowering, it was dangerous but it was true love and to have the secret come crashing down upon them, it tore them apart.

The next few pages, I was hurting just as much of these two. Hurting for the secret, hurting for it tearing them apart, hurting for the heartbreak they both had but then I thought that maybe that is what they needed. They needed the pain and break after the intensity of their relationship and their love. A break to think about if they really can’t live without one another and if fate decided to step it, then it truly was meant to be.

I truly loved the journey they both went on. From having lies fed to her, from being controlled all her life, it was breathtaking to watch Bailey take control of her own life, the way she wanted it to be and to be carefree and go with the flow. She was sweet and a bit naive but the road trip and being with Dylan made her feel more alive than ever before and make memories together. Memories neither of them will forget.

Dylan was renowned for his recklessness, but we see the sweeter side of him. The side he doesn’t show hardly anyone. He respected Bailey, not pushing her into anything but just letting her experience everything. Although he had a temper, he really meant well and just wanted to protect Bailey. He loved her so much, since he was seven so I suppose waiting for her to feel the same way before pursuing anything, even though she kept pushing him, was so chivalrous of him. He only wanted what was best for her.

I hung onto every sweet word he said and whispered to Bailey, making me fall in love with him too. The way he wanted her, the way he showed her how to live, it was beautiful. And of course, the way they both experience this trip together, as friends to lovers. Making memories that no one can take away from them, no matter how hard they try.

I can’t mention enough times how much I was absorbed within Waiting For You. I fell in love with the characters, with their experiences, with their freedom, with their love for one another and their memories. It’s an amazing book to read, especially if you loved The Edge Of Never too, which I freaking did. I love the road trip books; there is just something about them.

Definitely a 5 star book.

New Adult, Romance

Blackbird – Nicole Salmond

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

A serious car accident leaves bad boy Nate Williams seriously injured and lucky to be alive. Upon his journey to learn to walk again he meets Claire, a physiotherapist in the last year of University. He’s instantly attracted to her, but Claire is no ordinary girl. She’s resistant to his charms and good looks which only intrigues him more.

Claire is reluctant, to say the least, when Nate comes back into her life again as one of her patients for her clinical placement. A self-absorbed, tattooed, womaniser, he is the last person on earth she wanted, or expected to see again. Nate may not remember her, or the kiss they once shared, but she certainly does. The next five weeks was going to be anything but easy.

Blackbird is a story of self-discovery and the formation of an unexpected friendship between two people who learn that life and love is anything but planned.

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My Review

After being involved in a serious car accident which leaves Nate Williams badly injured and lucky to be alive, he meets Claire, a physiotherapist in her last few weeks on university who will be with him through his journey to walk again. He’s attracted to her but she resists him charms. It only makes him more interested in her.

Nate has been in Claire’s life before but it’s obvious he can’t remember. She’s reluctant to be his physiotherapist but in the end agrees to be professional about it. The next 5 weeks aren’t going to be easy for her. But when a budding friendship develops between them both, it’s getting easier to decide what she wants out of life, even if she finds it hard to begin with.

Blackbird is a story about self-discovery, as the synopsis entitles. It’s about finding yourself in the world and being the person who YOU want to be, not what people want you to be or do. When I read the synopsis the other day, I instantly knew I had to download this book and read it immediately. I was not disappointed at all and Nicole Salmond takes you through a journey about yourself too and what you want in life, as well as going through Nate and Claire’s journey with them. I found this book to be refreshing and it really did have me indulged for the few hours I was reading it, finding it hard to put down even for a split second. I just had to finish it and see what happened!

Oh Nate Williams! He had gone through some tough times in his life. With his father’s death being the main reason he’s gone off the rails a bit. He blames himself for it and that’s why his life doesn’t seem important to him. He puts on a cocky, sexualised front, as to hide his true colours and he never stays with one girl, always jumping from one, one night stand, to the next. But when we see him with Claire at first, he’s, as I said, cocky and flirty and playful with her, trying to wind her up, but the more time they spend together, and become friends, the more Nate changes – for the best. His attitude changes. He’s never really had a girlfriend, let alone been interested enough to have one, but when he’s around Claire, and even when he’s not, shes all he thinks about and all he wants. But with her having a boyfriend, he’s going to have to stay being her friend. But he’s also determined to show her that they should be more. I liked that he didn’t give up on her.

Nate was Claire’s last patient before graduating and when she sees him, she’s angry. They have history but he doesn’t seem to remember. She pushes that aside and is determined to help him walk again. She is a strong character, shes a determined character but she’s also frustrating to read. She had a boyfriend of 6 months (Who was a total douchebag to her) but she has feelings for Nate. When she and Nate become friends, she began to annoy me over her thought process with Dave (her boyfriend) and Nate. It was blatantly obvious that Dave was not the guy for her, as he was still living in the ice ages and that Nate – who gave her time and space to sort her feelings out, hence being friends, was totally the guy for her. He was always there for her, he didn’t push her, he treated her as an equal, but I’m just glad she realized what she had to do to be happy in the end.

I did love their friendship. They had the perfect chemistry and although it was obvious to the reader that they both had feelings for each other, I respected Nate’s decision to not do anything, as she had a boyfriend and to just be her friend and be there for her through the tough times with Dave. They respected each other, had fun, flirted and seemed to spend so much time together, getting to know one another. They really did bring out the best in each other and I loved how they changed one another – to the person they were truly meant to be. They both taught one another how to be free.

The scene that got my gears turning was the dancing in the nightclub. Holy Hell was that steamy! The dirty dancing and the rhythm they both have together and the sexual chemistry just literally poured from the kindle. I want my own Nate to dirty dance with!

I love the book cover. It symbolises the point of this book. To be free to be yourself and to do whatever you want in life, not to be caged up and forced to live your life by what others want of you. You will see why this is, when you read Blackbird. The cover will make sense to you then.

There are a few grammatical issues and at one point Nicole write ‘Nick’ instead of Nate, but other than that, it didn’t particularly bother me. I’m not one to moan about these kinds of issues as the book really caught my attention and had me hooked from the start to finish.

I loved the message this book portrayed and I loved the friendship/relationship Nate and Claire developed and had. It was great to see these two characters change throughout the book with the help and influence they both had on each other. They both eventually learnt that taking a chance will be worth the risk, especially with love and life. If you want to read a quick story about freeing yourself, finding love and discovering yourself, then Blackbird is definitely the book for you. It’s a great read and will leave you thinking about your own life and how you fit in after you finish it!