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BOOK REVIEW – Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1) by A. Meredith Walters

March 14, 2015 / Anna

Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1)
by A. Meredith Walters
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Bully and victim.
Tormenter and tormented.
Villain and hero.

Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

Particularly Freaky Flynn.

Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.

And moved on.

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.

▒ Buddy Read with my favorite Indy girl Chelsea ▒

I love reviewing books, I really do. Yet sometimes I come across a book which I don’t want to review at all. That can be because I’m too overwhelmed or pissed, annoyed or confused or underwhelmed. Why am I feeling it here? After having struggled to put my finger on what bothered me, I’ve come to the conclusion that my main problem with this book is the fact that although I did feel all these contradictory emotions through my read, I end feeling hollow in the end.

As you can guess, I don’t like this sensation at all.

#PlotLacking aka I’m not impressed that much

The story was going nowhere. I’m sorry but it’s true. That’s my truth, anyway. Of course we can argue that it’s a journey to forgiveness and acceptance – of course. Yet while the first half did a very good job at setting the scene and introducing these mostly awful characters, the second part lost me at some point. Perhaps I missed something, but in my opinion the story started to drag without real aim, except for waiting for the big revelation that we just KNEW would shatter everything. Don’t get me wrong, I was expecting the angst, I really was, but while I thought I was okay with it I realized pretty fast that it was the kind of angst I can’t stand : the “I-know-what-will-happen-and-I’m-dreading-it” kind of angst. I can’t help but loathe it, because in my opinion that’s the easiest kind of angst. The easiest way to make readers feel and to ensure the success of the book. Sorry but I’m not buying it, I’m just annoyed.

#IWantYouToRotInHell aka Why, hello, awful characters!

Now, I don’t think I’m picky with characters and I know that I have in me to love evil characters. Hell, I adored Jorg from The Broken Empire and he’s such a sick devil. So, nah, I wasn’t particularly worried before starting it. But damn, I didn’t expect to meet such DUMB SICK BASTARDS. I’ll keep it short because I’m feeling judgmental toward them but COME. ON. There’s only so many craps I can take, and when the characters make you feel the urge to SKIM whole parts of the book (I resisted), that’s problematic, right?

► Dania : You evil irresponsible BITCH. I can overtake a lot of things, but not only this girl is mean, manipulative, but she fucking continues to drink and take drug while she’s PREGNANT and that made me rage. Fucking RAGE because she’s so STUPID and SELFISH.

► Stu & Shane : What a bunch of selfish sick and disgusting bastards. I don’t even want to talk about them.

► Ellie : What can I say about our main character? Did I hate her? Oh yes I did. Yet I tried to understand her, I really tried, and I can’t deny that she managed to move me several times – But damn, it seemed that each time I was starting to warm a little to her she HAD to do something stupid or mean or selfish – not to mention the flashbacks that destroyed any pretention to like her I could have. Seeing her sick behavior through Flynn’s eyes made me often want to slap her and call her on a shit because what a COWARD. Seriously. Oh, excuse me, am I supposed to feel sorry for her? The truth is, I could have. Really. Because she was put into a considerable amount of shit in her life, I must admit. But despite her evolution, despite the cute moments, despite all that can be seen as beautiful in their story, in the end, I’m leaving her with a bitter aftertaste.

✘ I’m not sure what the story is supposed to teach us. That love overtakes everything? I hate this message. No, I don’t think serial-killers and dictators deserve to be loved, I’m mean like that. Therefore even though Ellie is far from being a serial-killer, I JUST CAN’T ROOT FOR HER AND FLYNN. I fucking can’t and I’m not sorry for it, because her bunch of friends and her aren’t anything but cowards, assholes, and BULLIES.

▨ Why would you want to read it? Well, for Flynn of course.

► Flynn : Meet this adorable, kind and smart man, whose utter and complete love for Ellie makes him forgive her for EVERYTHING and makes me want to shake him. To be frank, what bothered me the most is the fact that I can’t understand WHY Flynn wants to be Ellie’s friend in the first place, let alone LOVES her. Don’t get me wrong, I adored him (how couldn’t I?) yet a little part of me stays mad because HE DESERVES BETTER ← See? That was me being a judgmental bitch. And I’m not even sorry for that.

#BigMissOnMe aka Maybe this book isn’t for me

Finally, I can look at all the aspects of the problem, if I’m being frank, here’s what I think : if I was giving the choice to read it knowing how I would feel in the end, I wouldn’t read it.

▨ As for the ending?

Totally anticlimactic.

Therefore I can’t decently give it a positive rating, even if I can’t deny that it was well-written. This being said, I can understand why people loved it, their reviews point really well why this book is beautiful – but all this touching beauty was completely lost on me and I can’t base my rating on what I am SUPPOSED to feel. Because even if there were some parts where I felt overwhelmed, most of the time it was just the opposite : underwhelming and disappointing.

✘Conclusion? This book wasn’t for me. Let me just forget it now.

FRIDAY STARS–Your Weekly Must Knows 03/13/15

March 13, 2015 / Jen / 0 Comments

Friday Stars

Click book covers for ordering.

Happy Friday! Below you will find the current giveaway. What we just finished and loved. What we are planning to read next. And of course the latest sales and freebies, which we have either read or have on our to-read lists. Enjoy!

Giveaways

Enter to win a $25.00 eGift Card to the eBook Retailer of the Winner’s Choice + Loveswept Mug and Nail Polish by Lauren Layne → Click Here

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Just Finished and Loved

The Trouble with Love (Sex, Love & Stiletto #4) by Lauren Layne – 5 Stars! It was hilarious, sexy, heartbreaking, and addicting. As Stilettomagazine’s authority on all things breakup-and-heartache, Emma Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina’s darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma’s latest article forces her to face her demons—namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar. After giving up everything for a pro-soccer career, Alex Cassidy watches his dreams crumble as a knee injury sidelines him for good. Now he’s hanging up his cleats and giving journalism a shot. It’s just a coincidence that he happens to pick a job in the same field, and the same city, as his former fiancée . . . right? But when Emma moves in next door, it’s no accident. It’s research. And Alex can’t help wondering what might have been. Unlike the innocent girl he remembers, this Emma is chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more. Jen’s Review

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Broken Skies (Broken Skies #1) by Theresa Kay – 5 Stars! It gripped me to the core and was truly outstanding. In seventeen-year-old Jax Mitchell’s world, humans are nearly extinct and alien settlers have arrived. Until recently, the E’rikon have remained segregated in their city and ignored the few humans who have tried to engage them… but now they have taken Jax’s brother. To rescue him, she forms an uneasy alliance with a teenage E’rikon left stranded in the woods. She agrees to guide him to the city if he sneaks her past the human-proof barrier. Too bad it’s not that simple. Jax, who cannot stand to be touched, finds that she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales on his back. And he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.
With the aliens and the humans at odds, the connection forming between the two teens has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself. Jen’s Review

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Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black – 5 Stars! Awwwwwwww!! I cannot believe how perfectly perfect that ended. The story continues….in White Cat, Cassel comes from a shady, magical family of con artists and grifters. He doesn’t fit in at home or at school, so he’s used to feeling like an outsider. He’s also used to feeling guilty—he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago. But when Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat, and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila. In his search for answers, he discovers a wicked plot for power that seems certain to succeed. But Cassel has other ideas—and a plan to con the conmen. Chelsea’s Review

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Dragonfly Creek (Firefly Hollow #3) by T.L Haddix – The story continues….in Firefly Hollow, In 1960, a tragic death in the family calls young Sarah Browning back from college to her Appalachian homestead. Unable to return to school and finish her degree, she finds herself facing a future that isn’t what she’d planned. Lost and grieving, she wanders onto her reclusive neighbor’s property where she stumbles across the all-too-attractive Owen Campbell, a man hiding secrets she’d only ever thought were legend. Owen Campbell was raised on the folklore of Eastern Kentucky, tales of men and women with magical abilities from shape-shifting to healing powers. Rejected by those he loves because of his own abilities, he isolates himself from the world. When he meets Sarah, he’s faced with the tough decision of whether to let her in or stay hidden away to keep his heart safe. Firefly Hollow is the first book in the “Firefly Hollow” series. Other titles include Butterfly Lane, Dragonfly Creek, Cattail Ridge, and Cricket Cove. Also by this author: the Shadows/Leroy Collection, a series of novels set in small-town Indiana. Titles include Secrets in the Shadows, Under the Moon’s Shadow, Shadows from the Grave, Hidden in the Shadows, In the Heart’s Shadow, and Deception in the Shadows. Anna’s Review

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Reading Next

The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy – She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy… Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. …and it’s going to be oh so good. All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

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Perfect Kind of Trouble (Finding Fate #2) by Chelsea Fine – Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father’s protégé. To see any of her inheritance, she’s forced to team up with him. From his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla’s seen his type before. But Daren isn’t who he seems to be . . . Struggling to make amends for his family’s mistakes, Daren has a life more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He’s beyond grateful that James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner’s princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still, she’s just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla’s dad could have left them . . . was each other.

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Sales

$0.99-$1.39

New Sale 5 Stars!
Chelsea’s Review

5 Stars!

5 Stars!
Anna’s Review

$1.99

New Sale 5 Stars! Jen’s Review	New Sale 5 Stars!	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Harriet’s Review
5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

$2.99

4.5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review
Chelsea’s Review	Chelsea’s Review

$3.00 – $3.99

New Sale 5 Stars! Harriet’s Review Chelsea’s Review	New Sale Cheslea’s Review	New Sale Harriet’s Review
5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review Jen’s Review	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review Harriet’s Review
Chelsea’s Review

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Freebies

Jen’s Review

4.5 Stars!
Anna’s Review

BOOK REVIEW – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

March 13, 2015 / Anna

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

۰•● One sudden disappearance.

۰•● Two train journeys a day while Rachel seeks happiness out of her life. Morning, evening, morning, evening. All these fucking useless days. I suffered for her, because she’s so lonely and hopeless – yet her story could appear to be banal. Alcoholic, divorced, ashamed. So much shame on her shoulders, so much shame but not the force to change, not the force to fight. Because why fighting? Why fighting when we’ve nothing to gain? Why? I couldn’t help but ache for her, in a way that I’m not accustomed to feel. Who could we call, who, to help her?

Are there people out there who are able to help someone without wanting a paycheck in exchange? A money paycheck, a virtuous paycheck, a reconnaissance paycheck, a foil to make you look good paycheck? All different but all the same old shit.

“I have never understood how people can blithely disregard the damage they do by following their hearts. Who was it said that following your heart is a good thing? It is pure egotism, a selfishness to conquer all.”

۰•● Three unreliable narrators who make us wandering blind throughout the whole story. The creepy factor is always here between the lines, while we start getting hints of truth, the tension slowly growing until we can’t help but suspect each and every one of the characters we meet. Okay, maybe not the police officer though. Or yeah? I don’t know anymore, and trust me, you won’t either. Despite the fact that I guessed a great part of the end toward the 70% mark, the story never became boring – that’s quite the opposite, actually.

“They’re a match, they’re a set. They’re happy, I can tell. They’re what I used to be, They’re Tom and me, five years ago. They’re what I lost, they’re everything I want to be.”

۰•● Three women whose lives are shattering.

۰•● Four men’s smiles I didn’t trust at all.

۰•● Five reasons to read it.
① To savor this compelling writing, which makes this book literally unputdownable.
② To travel through this fast-paced and haunting story.
③ To meet these fleshed-out, multi-layered characters.
④ To start an excruciating journey into the worst side of human lives – or is it the most banal, in fact? The truth we’re hiding in the light of the day? This despair we don’t want to aknowledge?
⑤ You just want to know what happens, don’t you?

۰•● Six feelings I endured. Angst. Despair. Anger. Heartbreak. Shame. Fascination.

“The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots to grow around concrete ; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

۰•● Seven for a secret never be told.●•۰

۰•● A million quotes. I had to choose, though.

BOOK REVIEW: Confess by Colleen Hoover

March 12, 2015 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Confess by Colleen Hoover
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

“Are you here to save me?”

Hmmmm…it appears I’m on a roll this week. I’m not rating ANYTHING as I had expected. Me and Hoover have had a tremulous relationship, I’m the first to admit that. But after the epicness of Ugly Love (oh shhh) and the extreme fangirling that commenced after I fell in love with my dear Miles, I figured this next one would be the same in a lot of ways. Meaning, maybe I’d finally bridged that hurdle with her writing and I could maybe finally start connecting to all her books. I mean, I LOVE ART. I OBSESS over drawing and painting and what have you. What could possibly go wrong with a story that has a pretty decent female lead, an adorable good guy, and lots of beautiful artwork?? Apparently a lot, it seems.

I continue to stare at my feet, not wanting her to see in my face that I think she’s crazy for agreeing to spend the weekend with me, because she deserves better than what I can give her. I don’t however, think she deserves better than me.

Colleen Hoover seeps, if nothing else, passion into every one of her works. You feel her physically pushing love, adoration, energy, heart into her stories no matter the content. I may not love all the music, poetry, lyrical type writing, but many of you adore it-so why not keep doing it, if it works for her? She’s an artist, in her own way, so she SHOULD keep expressing her passion in her books. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The problem for me? It was broken. I didn’t feel an ounce of the passion I’ve felt in her other stories. I’m not saying she didn’t put effort into her story, I’m just saying it was missing something. Something that was a vital pulse this story lacked. I can’t put my finger on it, but it wasn’t there. And I think that’s my problem-I just felt disconnected.

He pulls my legs until they’re wrapped around his waist, and then he lifts me off the bar and directs us toward the living room without stopping our kiss. I try to ignore the smell of pizza being overcooked in the oven, because I don’t want him to stop. But I’m also really, really hungry and don’t want the pizza to burn.

The first 12% of this story I was very happy. I loved Owen and his cute little facial expressions and his optimistic attitude. I liked the mystery shrouding Auburn and her secret lawyer meetings and the loneliness that exuded from her with each of her walks to and from work. But for some reason, around 20%, something didn’t feel right. I wasn’t getting any butterflies I had gotten in the beginning and I was losing the tentative connection I’d had earlier. There were parts in the middle I loved-drunk scene, Target scene, etc. But as that passion, for me, started to fizzle, so did my interest. I’m not going to lie, I was going to DNF this at 55%. I knew all the little twists I needed to know and I just wasn’t feeling it. But then I skimmed, a little, to get past a lot of the blah blah blah parts. I got past them and I moved on. I was still considering DNFing. Then something happened-I stopped skimming (almost completely! 😉 ) and started to become connected again around, oh, 65-70%? I can’t be sure. And the story totally exploded for me. I got super into it and I was so glad I pushed myself to stick it out. If the rest of the story had half of that intensity, I’d have never been bored. The last 30% was by far my favorite, and I can’t help but to be sad the rest of the story didn’t grip me as deeply.

It’s amazing how much distance one truth can create between two people.

To give you guys an idea of the characters, I’m just guna say a little about each. Owen was a sweetheart-if that isn’t your thing, then pass on by. He was adorable, self-sacrificing, and sweet as candy. He had his sexy, protective moments, believe me-but more often than not he was very kind and funny. (It’s funny that that isn’t a huge turn on, book wise, for a lot of people) I love a break from the intense boys, every now and then, so I definitely did not mind. Auburn I really liked. She was funny (especially when drunk) and very hopeful. She had her own issues we don’t find out about until later in the story, and normally I’m not into these kinds of twists, but this one kind of worked for me. And Trey. That dumbass. He was like those old time villains who twist their mustache while laughing maniacally. He was a little too…err…fake villain-ish for me. Almost unrealistic-but what do I know??

“I’m scared I’ll never feel this again with anyone else,” I whisper.
He squeezes my hands. “I’m scared you will.”

I’m very sad this one wasn’t a complete win for me. I’m always looking for the next great book to obsess and fangirl over, and this one just wasn’t it. I didn’t have HUGE expectations, but I had expectations, all the same. It even had a hint of that insta-love, at first, but it isn’t what you’d ever guess. I think this story will touch many people, some more than most, based on your own personal experiences, but it definitely isn’t for everyone, I don’t think. It’s slower than you’d expect from Hoover and, like I said, not as colorful or passionate as I’m used to seeing-No matter my previous opinions on her other stories, they are always painted so vividly for us and leave little to the imagination. I think a lot of people will feel the same way, but I guess time will tell.

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TRAILER REVEAL – FALL WITH ME by Jennifer L. Armentrout

March 12, 2015 / Jen / 0 Comments

We are even more excited (who thought that was possible?) about Jennifer L. Armentrout’s FALL WITH ME after watching this trailer! FALL WITH ME is a New Adult Contemporary Romance being published by Avon (William Morrow), an imprint of HarperCollins, and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s With You Saga. It is being released on March 31^st, 2015!! Check it out and pre-order your copy today!!

Amazon Barnes and Noble iBooks Kobo Personalized Copy

Anyone who pre-orders FALL WITH ME…AND fills out this form…will receive a bonus Cam and Avery scene!
Fill out form → HERE

FALL WITH ME Synopsis:

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

Reading Order & Links:

Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***

Wait for You #1 Reviews: Chelsea	Trust in Me #1.5 Cam’s POV-Wait for You Reviews: Jen	Be with Me #2 Reviews: Jen Harriet
Stay with Me #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Fall With Me #4

About 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.