Praying For Daylight by J.C Isabella

Praying For Daylight by J.C Isabella


Contemporary

Date Published: 1/14/2014

Kate Kelly gave up everything to be a star. Her life was on the fast track as country music’s hot newcomer, but that meant leaving her hometown of McCree Montana and the boy she loved behind.
Dustin O’Brian didn’t think he’d ever see Kate again. After leaving him with a gaping hole in his heart, he figured being in the same room with her, much less the same state, would take a miracle.

When he finds Kate hiding out in the old Kelly house, he realizes something went wrong. Dustin wasn’t sure what those Hollywood folks had done to send her running, but he was beyond happy she’d sought him out for company…once he convinced her that he’d keep her being back in McCree secret.
Things were looking up, and he had high hopes that Kate would be his once more.
That is until Death comes knocking at her door.
And Dustin realizes that the future he wants with Kate is one they will have to fight for.
*****
Excerpt


Chapter 1

“And the winner is…Kate Kelly!”
The roar in my ears was almost too much to bear. I dropped my beaded clutch, stumbled, nearly fell face first into the lap of a famous director sitting beside me, but I made it. I made it all the way up the shining, gold stairs, all the way to the clear glass podium. I barely registered the tall blonde woman handing me my first award.
I thought about everything that brought me to this point, and my stomach rolled in nervous excitement.
Kaitlin Kelly, a little nobody from a small town, McCree, Montana.
I was being honored as hot new artist of the year.
Good God, I really couldn’t breathe.
I eyed the microphone, which was just a little high for me, and stood as tall as I could in my cowgirl boots. They were baby blue with silver stitching, and matched my short white ruffled dress perfectly.
But I seriously had to stop thinking about my boots and say something.

“Uh, wow,” I gasped, squinting through the bright lights of the stage. “I can’t believe this. I feel so happy, and blessed. And I didn’t even write a speech because I never thought I’d win…and I know I have so many people to thank, but I just can’t remember their names! So, thank you…uh, to my manager Jake, my sister—Cheyenne, you don’t know how much…what you have done means to me. I love you. You’re my best friend. Uh, and I’d like to thank my manager Jake. I couldn’t have done this without you. And I…I just love everyone, and I think I’m starting to make a fool out of myself…” I felt a clammy hand on my arm and glanced back at the blonde woman. Music started to play. I had to wrap this up. “Uh, so thanks to everyone. I love you all!”
And I was whisked backstage. Lights flashed as cameras snapped. I posed this way, that way, stuck out my leg like I was taught. I held up my award, bursting with pride.
I made music and toured the country with other stars. Life was more than I could ever ask for. I was having a blast.

Who’d have thought that I would spend my senior year of high school on the road, getting to hang out with some of country music’s brightest stars?
I was one of them now. I had my award and congratulations at the after party. So many people peppered me with questions about my second album and what I had planned for it.
To be honest, I was so caught up in everything else, I really hadn’t put much thought to it. Once I had some down time, I’d have to think about what I was going to do.
“Honey, you were amazing!” my sister said, hugging me later that night at the after party. She was older than me by about ten years, and she had a son, Ben. I didn’t think she’d go for me having a music career, but she supported me every step of the way.

Some people thought my sister took advantage of me, by exploiting me when I was only sixteen. But it was my idea. I wanted this more than anything in the world. I had to convince her.
Not that she didn’t benefit. My rise to fame brought attention to her talent as an interior designer, and now she was in talks for her own TV show on the home improvement channel.
An arm came around me and I was swept off my feet in a crushing hug. Jake, my manager, nodded. “You’re a star.”
I smiled. “Thanks guys, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Oh, after this, we should all go eat hamburgers in our gowns like the other famous people!” Cheyenne grinned with excitement, and I watched Jake share the giddiness with her.
“So.” I looked up at Jake when my sister was snatched by a singer looking to revamp her kitchen. “Any progress?”
Jake shook his big blond head. “No, I’m being a chicken.”
I glanced at the crowd gathered on the rooftop of a swanky hotel. It was full of the elite, and I almost felt out of place. “You can get any one of the girls here, so why can’t you just ask out my sister? I mean, I’m planning a wedding in my head here. Ben loves you…it’s like, perfect.”
“I know. I don’t want to screw this up. I mean, it’s Cheyenne. She’s gorgeous and smart, and she smells like sugar cookies.”
I rolled my eyes. Never would I have thought big, tough Jake Parsons, would revert to his teenage ego at the thought of approaching my sister for a date. “Why don’t you tell her you love her and pop the question?”
He blanched. “I haven’t kissed her, and I’m going to ask her to marry me?”
“You know you want to…” I smirked.
“Yeah, but I can’t just get down on bended knee and give her the ring.”
“Wait, you have a ring?” I nearly dropped my drink. Holy Lord. My sister was just as crazy about him, so I was going to have to do something to end the insanity. It’d been like this for a year now. She was constantly wondering if he’d date her, and if ben would like him for a stepfather. Jake was pestering me daily about her favorite colors, flowers, and whether or not he could be a dad to ben.
I lowered my voice, “Uh, where did you get a ring?”
He blushed. Like, actually blushed! “It belonged to my aunt. It’s a family heirloom.”
“Oh my god! Cheyenne is going to love that!”
“Really?” His chest puffed up.
“You know how she is about mass-produced stuff. She loves things with meaning.”
“Great…but it still doesn’t help that we haven’t been on a date yet.”
“How about you come over tomorrow?” I had it all worked out in seconds. My plan would go perfectly. He’d come over, I’d make up a sudden excuse to leave and take Ben with me. “Tomorrow is pancake night. Eat with us, and then you ask my sister out, or I’m doing it for you.”
He nodded. “Right, pancakes. Should I bring a bottle of wine?”
“I said pancakes…”
“Red or white?” He wasn’t hearing me. “Maybe flowers?”
“Unbelievable.” I stood on my tiptoes and locked eyes with him. “Bring chocolate milk.”
“Milk.”
“Yes, the kind with chocolate in it.” I rolled my eyes, heading to grab sparkly water from the bar. He’d figure it out, or I’d ambush him in the front yard tomorrow, snag his wine, and hand him a bottle of Ben’s favorite milk.


*****
Rating: 

*****
Review:

This book started out when Kate won an award.  She left her small town and the boy she loves behind to pursue her dream.  She's doing pretty well with her music career.  She's going on tours with other big stars and she's happy about it.  With an awesome sister who supports her all the way and an even more awesome manager, she thoughts she have it all even that meant a life without the boy she loves.  On the night of her winning an award, she receives a call from Death.  First she brushes it off as nothing but as Death calls her more and more, she is force to go back to her hometown in Montana even though she rather not go back.

Dustin is the boy she left.  He's hurt by Kate but still loves her despite being hurt by her.  When he finds Kate hiding out in the old Kelly house, he knows something is wrong but doesn't know exactly what.  But he's happy that Kate is close to him again until he realizes what Kate is running away from.  Nevertheless he will do anything to keep Kate safe.

The phone call is really creepy in my opinion.  I would freak out just like Kate if it happens to me and I hope I will not have to go threw that.  I've got goose bumps on my arms as I read that part and it's also night here so I was a little creep out.  Kate is in such a good mood because she wins an award but the phone call from Death just ruin everything.  What a bummer...

Dustin is sweet and caring towards Kate even though she hurts him before.  He still takes care of her and will do anything to keep her safe and sound.  

If you're looking for something to read, pick this book up.  It's not that long and I have fun reading this.  I enjoyed it! :)

*****



Author Bio
J.C. Isabella is the author of Chasing McCree and The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club. Ever since she discovered romance novels in high school, she has been a self proclaimed fan. This led to penning her first YA . When she isn't thinking up new recipes for the cookbook she hopes to one day write, she is brainstorming a new novel and listening to country music. She lives in the tropics of Florida with her big fat Italian family and ornery feline companion.


*****




Knowing Jack by Rachel Curtis+Giveaway


Knowing Jack by Rachel Curtis


 New Adult Contemporary Romance
By Rachel Curtis

Released January 17, 2014


***



Synopsis: 

I am not a slut, although I’ve been called one often enough. Yeah, I spent three months screwing one of my college professors, but I was crazy about the guy. Then he broke up with me.
I am not a bitch, although people like to say I am. I kept our relationship secret. I’m not responsible for telling the university administrators about it, but a lot of students still blame me for getting their favorite professor fired.
I am not a drama queen, although everyone thinks I am now. When I got a few nasty messages, I just deleted them. When I got the threat, I assumed it was someone being stupid. I still think that’s all it was. My parents worry, though, so they hired me a bodyguard. Now Jack follows me around, intimidating everyone who approaches me and looking obnoxiously hot.
This is what I am. I’m Chloe. I’m a twenty-year-old art history major. Kind of shy, although I pretend not to be. Stubborn enough to stay here for my senior year, even though everyone hates me.
And I’m stuck with Jack.
He calls me “Princess,” but I’m not a princess either.

***


About the Author
Rachel is a writer, a teacher, a romance reader, and a dog-mom. She loves animals and art and hot men with soft hearts under a tough exterior. She tries to write love stories that feel real, even in unlikely circumstances.

*****

Rating: 

*****

Review:

Chloe slept with her professor which results in him getting fire from his job.  Because of the incident, someone have been sending her threat messages so her parents decided to hire a body guard for her.  Of course she really doesn't want a bodyguard but her parents insist.  Now Jack follows her everywhere and he even calls her 'Princess.'  Because of someone ratted out on her, everyone at her college knows that she sleeps with her professor and it is hard for her to deal with all the hate she's getting from them. 
Jack knows better than anyone not to get close and personal with any clients.  If personal feelings involve, things could get really messy.  But with Chloe he cannot keeps his personal feelings separate from his work.  Things got really complicated when both of them give into their desires. 
This book is an easy read for me.  It's short so I finished it in a sitting.  Very interesting book so if you are looking for a quick and hot new adult book then go read this book. :)

*****
Giveaway: 
*1 $50 Amazon GC and 10 ebooks.  Good luck! :)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZjYyMzdmZDU1MmU0YmE1MTNiNGVmOWFlNWU5MDQyOjM3OQ==/

This Morning I Woke Up Dead by Mindy Larson


This Morning I Woke Up Dead by Mindy Larson

Synopsis via Goodreads:

What would you do? What rules would you break to be with your soul mate? This morning Hadley Christensen and Dominic Morris woke up living their dream lives. They are engaged and each has promising careers in the medical field. They are happier and more fulfilled than they have ever been, and they are ready to begin their happily ever after.

Sadly, on her way to work, Hadley is in an accident. Before taking her last breath, she realizes she is already dead - and everyone on Earth is too. Now Hadley and Dominic must each find a way to live without one another. How do they continue when they are two parts of one flame?

Hadley is given permission by the Masters to contact Dominic in the hopes he will also realize he is already dead. If Dominic can open his mind to hear Hadley they can be together forever. Is Dominic ready to give up life the way he knows it?

***
Mindy Larson
Mindy Larsen has always had a vivid imagination that has only improved with her love of reading and writing.  She spent much of her childhood entertaining her three younger brothers with her stories and today she is bringing her imagination to life in books.
When not writing, Mindy enjoys spending time with the love of her life and four children while playing disc golf, cooking, baking, traveling and exploring.


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BUY LINKS


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Rating: 

***
Review:

Wow...this book is very well written.  It flows well and it's easy to follow along.  The storyline is very interesting and unique.  It's different from books that I've read before and I definitely didn't regret requesting this book to review.  Right from the beginning it grabs your attention and won't let go until you get to the end.  The characters are very likable.  I will recommend this to anyone who is looking for something different.  This is an awesome and great book and the author did an amazing job the characters.  I read this in one sitting and I didn't think I waste my time or did I regret it.  I should have read this sooner.  It seems like I always keep putting off the great books for later reads.  I want to say more but I'm so exciting right now.  Go read this book if you haven't...go, go, go! :)

(Blog Tour) Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Godwin

Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Godwin


Title: Chasing Forever Down (Drenaline Surf #1)
Author: Nikki Godwin
Date of Publication: March 14, 2013
Genre: contemporary YA romance with sports

Blurb:

After seventeen-year-old Haley Sullivan meets a mysterious stranger who plays by his own rules, she's more than determined to learn every trick of the trade from the master himself. But her dream-chasing mentor disappears after that night, and according to the local newspapers, he's been dead for years. Knowing he's very much alive, Haley enlists best friend Linzi to join her on a scavenger-hunt-style road trip that ultimately lands them in the surf town of Crescent Cove, California. Mystery guy is no mystery here, though – he's Colby Taylor, the west coast's biggest professional surfer. 

If Haley wants to talk to the wave rider again, she'll have to get past his four intimidating bodyguards who are highly skilled in the business of sending starstruck fangirls back to where they belong. Haley is up for the challenge if it means chasing her dreams and escaping the perfectly corporate future that's been planned for her. But dealing with these bodyguards isn't exactly what Haley imagined it'd be. Sure, being thrown off a jet ski sucks, but falling in love with one of them might just be worse.

***


Excerpt 2
“Whoa!” Alston yells out.
I look back. His lips keep moving, but I can’t hear anything over the roaring of A.J.’s jet ski.
“– the hell!?” is all I catch. I throw my arms into the air and shake my head as Alston moves toward me.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asks once he’s within earshot. He motions at A.J., but I know he’s talking to me.
“Jet skiing,” I say. “You know, most people wear lifejackets. I thought that was normal.”
He points at A.J. “You’re seriously getting on that with him? Are you crazy? No one has ever ridden with A.J. Well, except that one time Reed did. He still has the scar to show for it.”
My blood boils as hot as this raging summer sun. This whole jet skiing with A.J. deal was a ploy, just like I thought. He’s probably rocked his mechanical bull moves on that yellow jet ski for a thousand girls. I bet he blew cigarette smoke on them and wrapped his arm around their pretty tan shoulders and told them how wave jumping with him would be the most badass experience of their lives. And at that point, the girls decided to take turns riding with Alston or they found another chiseled beach bum to waste their time with. None of them ever dared to get on the back of Jailbird Gonzalez’s jet ski.
But I do.

***


Goodreads linkhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19446714-chasing-forever-down

Purchase linksAmazon | B&N | Smashwords

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About Nikki Godwin

Nikki Godwin is a Young Adult/New Adult author from the southern USA. She is a city girl who can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, Hawthorne Heights, and candles from Bath & Body Works. When not writing, she's not-so-secretly internet-stalking her favorite bands. She may or may not completely love One Direction.



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Rating:  

***

Review:

Haley met a mysterious guy at a party that her parents makes her go to.  She doesn’t want to be at the party so when the guy asks her to ditch with him she is more than happy to go along even if she doesn’t know the guy and she even promise to meet him the next day.  When he fails to show up the next day, she ends up chasing him across the country to find him.  Along the way she makes friends with amazing people and she even finds love.

I keep putting off reading this book and I regret it.  It’s such a good book that once I started it I can’t stop reading it.  I want to know what’s going to happen next so I end up reading it in one sitting.  It’s an exciting and fun adventure that Hayley experiences and I have a lot of fun reading her story.  This book is very unique and the storyline is amazing.  I really, really like it.  This book is definitely not a waste of time.  I’m really excited for the next book because I really want to know what will happen to all of the characters.  All the characters are very different and unique in their own way.  I recommend this book to everyone.  It’s a must read if you haven’t read it yet.  This author is amazing so I’ll be checking out her other books in the future

***

Giveaway:
-Please go here to enter since the rafflecopter code didn't work on my blog. Good luck!

http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.com/2014/01/blog-tour-review-giveaway-chasing.html



Review+Excerpt: Merch Girl by Rebecca Lewis


Merch Girl by Rebecca Lewis


*****


Synopsis via Goodreads: 

Seventeen-year-old Lacey Kind doesn’t have the guts to talk to cute boys, isn’t a size two, and would rather stay home and listen to music than go to a party. But in the summer before her first year of college, she ends up thousands of miles away from home, in the back of a tour bus, underneath the half-naked body of the hottest teen rock star in the country.

When Lacey and her best friend Trina sneak into a Boston nightclub to see their favorite band, they not only get to watch their rock gods perform for the first time, but score a chance to meet the band too. Lacey’s heart races as she comes face-to-face with her idol, nineteen-year-old lead singer, Logan Shire.

The girls charm their way into being hired to sell merchandise on Lansdowne’s first summer tour. As “merch girls” Lacey and Trina quickly find themselves transported from their ordinary, suburban life to an exhilarating few months on the road. But they soon realize that life on the road isn’t always a smooth ride...


***
Excerpt 4:
I rested my head on his shoulder and he caressed my hair. It felt so nice that I didn’t want to fall back asleep. I tried to keep my eyes open, but it was useless. I snuggled up close to him, and breathed in the mix of sweat and cologne on his body. He sang something quietly and I let his voice drift me back to sleep. 
***

Synopsis from me:

Merch Girl is about Lacey and Trina adventure of touring with their favorite band.  Lansdowne is Lacey and Trina favorite band.  To be able to watch Lansdowne perform, they secretly sneak into a nightclub.  To their surprise they also get a chance to meet the band members, Ryan, Logan, and Griffin.  After meeting the members, Lacey and Trina are invited to come along for the tour and work as the band’s merch girl.  Of course the offer is something either Lacey or Trina can refuse.  As they spend time with the band members, romance blossom between Logan and Lacey as well as Trina and Griffin.

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Rating: 

***

Review/My Thoughts:

Going on a tour with your favorite band is every fan girls dream.  It is mine as well.  If I get an opportunity to go on a tour with my favorite band, I would love to go also.  I mean imagine seeing your favorite band up close that would be awesome. 

I like how Lacey develop as the story progress.  At first I do not like her much because she’s insecure and weak but it’s good to see her changing as the story goes on.  As for her best friend, Trina, at first I like so much because she’s very confident in herself and goes for what she wants but I find it hard to like her towards the end.  She becomes quite selfish and possessive.  Anyway, I recommend this to anyone who would love a fun contemporary YA and music, try this.  You won’t be disappointed.  It’s a fun and enjoyable read for me!