Don't Fall - Blog Tour

Don't Fall
by Rachel Schieffelbein
Release Date: 2014
Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
In which a teenage girl endures the over-protective love of her adoptive mother until she falls for a boy who has her wanting to spread her wings, pitched as a contemporary retelling of RAPUNZEL

Seventeen-year-old Anya leads a very secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn't go to school, but instead has a private tutor. Her over-protective mom keeps her so sheltered that she doesn't even have a best friend.

But Anya doesn't seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams, and would do anything to please her mom. Until one day at the library, the only place she's allowed to go, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy.

Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out late at night to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she will have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.

My Review

What a sweet story! Don't Fall should come with a cupcake because after reading you will be craving one! 

I loved the updated Rapunzel story! All the events that led to Anya being so secluded really made sense in today's world. 

The way Anya and Zander meet and fall in love is beautiful. 

I could hear her voice in my head again. Slow down. Don't fall. But it was too late. I had already fallen for Zander. And I wanted to race ahead, to keep falling.

I was so glad when Anya finally stood up for herself. Don't Fall has the perfect happy ending!

Rating 4 out of 5 Stars. Such a sweet, young adult romance novel. A great summertime read.

Buy Don't Fall  on Amazon

About The Author

Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

Website  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Publisher Links:

www.myswoonromance.com
Twitter.com/swoonromance

Facebook.com/SwoonRomance

Giveaway

1 ebook of Don’t Fall + $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Chocolate Lava Pie

I am a HUGE fan of The Chew and watch it religiously everyday. Last week Carla made a Chocolate Lava Pie that we knew we needed to try!


I was feeling lazy, so I used a store bought chocolate pie crust that I blind baked for 5 minutes (according to the package directions.)

Also (due to laziness) I used the microwave to melt my chocolate and butter together.

Then I used my stand mixer to mix my eggs and sugar. I made sure to blend them until they thickened and turned a lemon color.

Once the eggs and sugar were blended, I added the vanilla, flour and salt. Then I combined the egg mixture and the melted chocolate mixture with the chocolate chips.

I poured the filling into the chocolate pie shell and baked in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes the pie was jiggly in the center, so I baked for 5 more minutes. I used the toothpick test to make sure it was done.

The texture of this pie is amazing. It's like a warm soft brownie with pie crust! It's super rich and delicous!

For the entire recipe, please visit TheChew.com!

Last Second Chance Book Review

Last Second Chance

Caisey Quinn

When Stella Jo Chandler gets an offer to work at the Second Chance Ranch celebrity rehab facility right after graduating from Texas A&M, she’s tempted to turn it down. She wants to help real people with real problems, not spoiled celebrities going on vacation for publicity. But growing up on her family’s ranch left her with a love of horses that draws her to the opportunity. How bad can babysitting a bunch of strung out celebrities be?

What she didn’t count on was being roped into a tangled mess with infamous rocker and three-time rehab drop out Van Ransom on her first day. And she sure didn’t expect to feel the overwhelming attraction that pulls her to the man who has more issues than she can count on both hands. Like the hotel rooms and tour buses he’s famous for trashing, the havoc he could wreak on Stella’s heart would be irreparable.

Van isn’t at Second Chance for publicity or because he’s suffering from “exhaustion”. He’s on the brink of destruction, and he needs the kind of help Stella isn’t sure she can give. But without her, he'll lose everything. Because he’s on his last second chance.

My Review

At first glance this is a story about a rock star suffering from addiction and the girl that helps him. As you delve deeper into the story, you learn the rock star helps heal the girl more.

The connection between Van and Stella is INTENSE! Immediately things between them are ignited and they start a dangerous relationship that could cost them both.

The last thing she needed in her safe haven was this tatted-up sex-on-a-stick man all in her space.

Things escalate between Stella and Van. They are constantly sneaking around to be together. They have become addicted to each other. 

I believe you could wreck me. I believe you could make me feel things, things I never want to stop feeling. 

This story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. Stella and Van are at the highest when they are together and when they are apart doubts set in. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.  This story deals with a serious topic and serious emotions. A good book but not a light-hearted quick read. Prepare yourself for the emotional ride! 

Buy Last Second Chance: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

About The Author

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway

Lots of easy entry options to win a signed Pretty Girls Read tote filled with signed books by Alice Clayton, Monica Murphy, Emma Chase, S.C. Stephens, & more!

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Sweet Filthy Boy Book Review

Sweet Filthy Boy

Christina Lauren

Summary

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.

My Review

I'm a HUGE fan of Christina and Lauren. I loved Beautiful Bastard, so I had high expectations for this book. Sweet Filthy Boy was AMAZING. I loved the writing style, it was so different from BB, so uniquely it's own. Christina and Lauren - Kudos, please keep writing these amazing books!

After a crazy, drunken night in Vegas, Mia and Ansel end up married and have lots of HOT sex - only some of which Mia remembers the next day.

I'm shaking because of the slim gold band on my left ring finger.

Mia is very relatable. She's just graduated college and has tons of pressure from her parents about her future. They want her to be someone she's not. But since the accident that stopped her from dancing, she's not sure what she wants.

Here with Ansel, I think we could charge large appliances with the energy moving between us.

OMG Ansel. He's french, need I say more? Besides how gorgeous his eye are, he speaks french in the heat of the moment! SWOON.

I love how the relationship between Mia and Ansel feels very real. When they decide to give the relationship a chance, things are awkward and nothing is sugar coated. They don't know how to act around each other

But he makes me feel safe exploring all the ways I can wrestle my way out of my own head.

The realness of their relationship (even though they kind of started in reverse) is what draws you in. They have ups and downs, and learn a lot about themselves while getting to know each other. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars! I LOVED this book. It was sweet and spicy! I don't know how I am going to wait until November 4th for the next book!

Buy Sweet Filthy Boy NOW!
Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  iTunes  |  Simon & Schuster

About the Authors

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. Married to the cutest boy in school, she has a thirteen year old daughter, is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter, and also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:

@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!

For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie news and more, follow @beautifulbastrd or visit christinalaurenbooks.com

Breaking the Reins Book Review

I was excited to read Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert because I am a HUGE YA Horse Book Fan. As a child I read every Saddle Club book I could. So, when I read the description of Breaking the Reins I was hooked.

Description from Goodreads:

Breaking the Reins
Juliana Haygert

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma's life and kills her horse, Hannah's immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can't turn away even though she's not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

My Review

Hannah's life revolves around horses, her grandmother's ranch and Eric. She is trying to please everyone else, rather than listen to her heart and do what she wants: what her grandmother did - run the ranch and rescue horses.

Hannah and Eric's relationship is "perfect" from the outside, but on the inside Eric tries to over power Hannah in every aspect of her life - school, the ranch, her future, even what she eats and drinks!

I was the kind of person who tried to see the best in everyone, and that included Eric.

It also included Argus, the broken horse she was trying to fix. In the end she learned a lot from Argus and he became her savior.

Leonardo seems like he is TOO perfect, so I had a feeling there was more to his story.

I'm not a good guy, Hannah. In fact, I'm a bad guy trying to act like a good one for once. However, my good side is losing right now.

The connection between Leo and Hannah is amazing. It was written beautifully. I think we all want someone to feel that passionately about us one day.

I knew Eric was a bad guy - but OMG he was much worse than I first thought.

I'm glad that even though so many terrible things happened, this story had a happy ending.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars! I felt the story was a little slow at first, but once things picked up and heated up between Hannah and Leo I was hooked! I can't wait to read the next book - Breaking Fences.

4 Ingredient Churros

In honor of Cinco de Mayo I wanted to make a Mexican inspired dinner. To go along with some chicken tacos, I found this recipe for Baked Cheater Churros on Lovin' From the Oven.  This recipe was so easy - it only has 4 ingredients and can be made in less than 10 minutes!

Start by defrosting some Puff Pastry Dough. These usually come 2 sheets to a pack, so you can double the recipe and use both sheets if you want.

You will need to Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Unfold the puff pastry sheet and cut it into 1" rectangles. Or attempt to cut them into rectangles and you will get something like this.

Bake the puff pastry for 8 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet, until golden brown.

For 1 Sheet of pastry, you will need about 1 stick of butter melted. In another bowl, mix 1 cup sugar with 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

Once the pastry comes out the oven use tongs to drop the churros in the butter then roll them through the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Let the churros cool on a baking rack.

These churros were so delicious! You can feel a little less guilty since they are baked. I would recommend eating them while they are still warm, or reheating them.