Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Cover Reveal: FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE, by Laura Brown

I am extremely excited to reveal the cover of Laura Brown's newest book, FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE. I mean it, folks. I had the honor of reading several versions of this book at earlier stages, and I'm thrilled to see the final product. Mark your calendars for the book's release on June 27!

And if you haven't read her debut novel that came out last year (SIGNS OF ATTRACTION), you better get to it pronto. The two books are in no way related--aside from their mutual exploration of hearing loss--but I guarantee that if you love one, you'll love the other.

Without further ado, here's some more information about FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE, followed by the stunning cover!




I’m ridiculously attracted to my best friend.
Today is a bad day. The worst actually. After dealing with the constant manhandling that comes with being a cocktail waitress at a dive bar and surviving a date from hell, I see an eviction notice slapped on the door of my sketchy basement apartment. Great.
When my best friend Devon shows up at my door and uses his stubborn charm (emphasis on stubborn) to get me to move in with him, I give in. We’ve had about a million sleepovers since we met in the kindergarten Deaf program, but this time it’s different because I can’t stop thinking about his hard body covering mine, every single night. 
I know Devon would do anything for me, but I’m afraid what I want to happen will ruin our friendship forever. And the more time we spend together in close quarters, the harder it’ll be to resist the spark of attraction I’ve always felt. But maybe it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: keep the one relationship I can’t live without and indulge in an attraction I can’t deny.
I guess the only thing we can do is try…
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(Author fun fact: Before you check out the amazing cover, there are two details I absolutely love; be on the lookout for them. One, the model's hands appear to be in motion, almost as if he's signing. Two, the amazing graphic artist managed to add a hearing aid, as Devon himself normally wears two.)
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Available for pre-order at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | and more!
You can also add to your Goodreads list!

About the author:
Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband’s put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her three cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Review: DEAD END GIRL, by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain

DEAD END GIRL was an absolute delight, by which I mean it was a twisted, disgusting, vomit-inducing ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. This new series contains vivid characters and heart-stopping surprises, and the authors, as always, have a knack for turning phrases. Vargus and McBain know how to hook their readers and never let go. Book 1 has really kicked off the series in the best of ways, and I'm confident the sequels will be even better. You can count me in for the rest of the books in this series!

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers of dark crime novels (extra heavy on the "dark")

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Review: OPENLY STRAIGHT, by Bill Konigsberg


Simply put, I loved this book enough to read it twice. The buildup of tension was spot-on, to the point that I simply could not stop reading. I enjoyed the realistic scenarios presented here--very appropriate for the the 21st century, and a nice break from some of the heavier LGBT "issue" books. Reading this book has prompted me to read all other books by Bill Konigsberg, each of which was equally amazing. Next on my to-be-read list is HONESTLY BEN, the sequel to OPENLY STRAIGHT that was released just last week!

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who loves YA contemporaries that approach diversity in a unique way.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Review: MR. PENUMBRA'S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE, by Robin Sloan

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is a rare delight, in that perfect space where bibliophilia and technology intersect. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this book when I first picked it up; I was merely intrigued by its mystery. From the start, it became clear that mysterious scenarios would abound throughout the book, taking the reader on a journey through high-rising bookshelves and the depths of technological advancement. I really enjoyed the unique-yet-relatable characters and the pacing.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: anyone interested in twists on mysterious general fiction

Friday, February 24, 2017

Review: BEEN HERE ALL ALONG, by Sandy Hall

At its outermost layer, BEEN HERE ALL ALONG feels like your everyday run-of-the-mill young adult contemporary: the characters have dilemmas they must overcome and there's a love story coupled with some jealousy. But there's more to this story, something I have trouble putting my finger on. The characters are believable and lovable, the plot is propelled with ease, and the two main characters have enough tension stretching between them to send tingles up your spine. Sandy Hall's words jump off the page in a style that is so simple it becomes perfection. Bonus points: the cover is adorable, and the author represents bisexuality in a realistic way that is sure to turn heads.

Stars: 4.75/5
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys young adult contemporaries about self-discovery and finding true love

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Review: THE CLOWNS, by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus

Buckle your seat belt for another creepy thriller from Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus! Whether as a Halloween treat to yourself or just your average Sunday afternoon delight, you'll definitely want to check out The Clowns. As always, the characters jump off the page with their unique quirks, and the twisty story will have you squirming in your seat.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Fans of contemporary horror who love when a book weirds them out in unexpected ways.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Review: "YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING": AND 20 OTHER MYTHS ABOUT LGBT LIFE AND PEOPLE, by Michael Bronski, Ann Pellegrini, and Michael Amico

YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING provides a great overview for tackling common myths about the LGBT community, including myths perpetuated by those for and against LGBT rights. I enjoyed the format of this book, which allows the reader to pick and choose which sections to read. You can read the book all the way through, or you can go directly to a topic that interests you. As the writers point out in the introduction, this book gives readers enough information to dispute the myths during a dinner conversation (so to speak). The reason I'm attributing 4 stars to this book is that in some sections I was left feeling as though the authors did not fully dismantle the myth in question.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: Anyone interested in learning more about the LGBT community and how that community is politically and socially relevant today.