Feature and Giveaway: Etoile by Olivia Besse

The Mannequin series is an exciting erotic romance journey that gives readers an intimate look into the not-so-glamorous sides of the fashion and modelling industries. This book contains explicit content and is not intended for younger readers!

From afar, Elodie Marais is just a typical 19-year old girl roughing it in Manhattan. She hates her job, her love life sucks and she's totally getting ripped off by her landlord. Like most of her starry-eyed peers, she'll do anything for the Triple P's—Prada, a Promotion and the elusive Perfect Boyfriend. But Elodie and her friends aren't your average new adults who are bored to tears by their uninspiring lives—they're fashion models.

So what's a girl to do when her life is turned upside down as two irresistible bachelors vie for her doe-eyed attention, just as she's starting to make waves in the modelling world? Will she go with charming and sensitive James, a handsome financier, or reckless and unpredictable Tyler, the stunning male model du jour?

Follow Elodie's adventures from Manhattan to Paris as she navigates the terrifying worlds that are the modeling industry and her love life, one effortlessly chic outfit at a time.

Purchase: | Amazon |

Review: Etoile by Olivia Besse

Etoile is the first book in Olivia Besse's Mannequin Series. I had a bit of a tough time getting into this story, but once I stuck with it and got a little further, I really started to like this one. I did have a few issues with this story, but I ended up really enjoying the story despite any criticisms I had. Etoile was different than anything I have read before, and I really enjoyed Olivia Besse's writing style. Her style is a little gritty and raw feeling, and I thought it was perfect for this story. After ending this one on a cliffhanger, I am anxious to read the next two books in there series and see what happens.

Elodie Marais was abandoned as a baby and grew up in an orphanage in France. When she is fourteen she gets discovered and is offered the chance to be a model. She begins modeling at age fifteen and is taken under the wing of the woman who discovered her. Elodie enters the world of modeling and fashion and begins to learn how to advance her career using everything that she has available to her. She ends up in Manhattan at nineteen, living with a group of models and trying to land bigger and better shows and jobs. While in Manhattan Elodie meets an in demand male model named Tyler. They hit it off right away and the passion between them is explosive. She also ends up meeting James, a sweet and sensitive guy in finance. At first she thinks that James is the guy for her and that Tyler is just a cocky model looking to hook up. But the more she gets to know Tyler, she realizes that he is different than what she had first thought.

At first I wasn't sure what to think of Tyler. He comes off as this cocky narcissist, but the more you get to see of him the more he grows on you. I liked getting to see that he is completely different than what you get at first glance with him. He definitely is cocky and a bit arrogant, but he also uses a lot of that to sort of protect himself.You could tell that he was afraid to sometimes admit his feelings out loud. I thought that he did some really sweet things for Elodie and most of the time he did them when she had no clue and he wasn't looking to use them to get her. He just seemed to care about her and was trying to do nice things for her. James on the other hand I liked right off, but as the story went on he completely lost me. At first he is sweet and a bit shy. He is sensitive and seems to really like Elodie, so he takes things slowly. We are talking almost glacial when it comes to slow with this guy. But as the story goes on, we really don't get to know James. I feel like there is very little depth or development with him, and he ran extremely hot and cold. I just could never quite figure out what was going on with him, and by the end of the story I was completely over his character. Elodie was what I would imagine a model to be. She was able to adapt to situations as they called for and could mask her emotions and feelings easily. She was at times a bit shallow and was willing to do whatever it took to get to the top. I can't say that I identified with her character at all, but I really enjoyed reading about her. I thought that Elodie had a ton of chemistry with Tyler and I really liked how they were together. I thought that they were a great couple and that they had a great foundation considering they really understood each other and the business. Elodie and James just didn't seem to really work for me, despite the sweet things that he did for her.

I really loved the writing in this story though. I thought that edge and grit that Olivia Besse brought really enhanced this story, and it felt so real to me. Being an outsider looking in on this world I would have no way of knowing how accurate or real things are when it comes to fashion and modeling, but I imagine that it would be just like Besse described. I did get a bit annoyed with the constant brand name dropping that happened in this book though. I get that that would be a huge part of Elodie's world, but I honestly got a bit sick of seeing so many brands and I could care less who/what so and so was wearing. I wanted to skip whole paragraphs at times because of it, and I think the story would have been fine without as much as there was. I also felt like the plot of this book was almost nonexistent. I was more than half way through the book and still trying to figure out what was going on and where the story was headed. I did still find it interesting though and I am glad that I stuck with it. It was also a bit confusing at times because in the beginning the book sort of jumped around a bit. I think that is why I had a hard time getting into the book at the start. I really did end up liking this one though, and I am interested to see where Besse takes these characters. I can't wait to see what happens next, especially with Elodie and Tyler. If you are looking for a story that is real and raw, I would recommend checking this one out. It is not your typical love story and I think that is what makes it so great.

**Copy provided by Itching For Books**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: The Best Kind of Trouble by Courtney B. Jones

The Best Kind of Trouble is the first book that I have ever read by Courtney B. Jones and I went in to this one not really knowing what to expect. For some reason, I thought this was a stand alone so when I got to the end I was pretty surprised. This book is the first in the Trouble series, and the ending definitely leaves the reader wanting more and with a lot of questions. For me though, this book left me with mixed feelings. It is hard to put into words everything that I liked and didn't like because I don't want to spoil the story, but I did like this book enough to stick with it and I can tell you that I will absolutely be reading the next book because I have to know what happens.

Ashley Parker has had a tough time when it comes to dating. The last guy she dated slept with her friend. When she meets Nathan, she instantly feels attracted to him and she feels like there is a stronger connection with him than anyone she has ever met before. She tries to stay away, but Nathan refuses to give up. Nathan and Ashley begin seeing each other and although they try to take things slow, they end up not being able to fight their feelings. Ashley quickly figures out that Nathan is just like every other guy out there though when he dumps her right after. He uses the excuse of needing to focus on football and not being able to keep things casual but not being able to give her more either. She knows that Nathan is hiding something though, but he won't tell her anything else. With her heart broken, Ashley pursues her singing and ends up getting signed. When she heads out on the road to tour, she ends up getting closer to her guitarist Caleb. Caleb is a nice guy and there is a lot of chemistry between them. Caleb tells Ashley that he can make her no promises, but Ashley is alright with that because she isn't looking for a relationship either. Can Caleb help Ashley have some fun and heal her broken heart? And what happens when Nathan reappears and finally tells Ashley everything that he had been keeping from her?

I really truly did not understand Nathan at all. I had moments where I liked him a lot and moments that he absolutely disgusted me. He pursued Ashley relentlessly and was always there to pick her up when she needed him, but yet then he would just shut himself off and run away. He knew that he didn't have any business being with her and yet he refused to let her move on. I hated that he wouldn't let her be with anyone else and was so possessive over her, and yet he was all over other girls and was messing around with them. Then at the end when Ashley is finally doing better he shows back up and lays it all out there. Once we find everything out, I honestly couldn't figure out why he had kept it a secret! He could have easily told Ashley everything from the beginning and it would have solved so many problems. Ashley had her moments as well. I liked her and yet there were things that really drove me crazy about her. I couldn't understand why she kept allowing Nathan to get to her. I get that she thought she loved him and that she didn't want to give up on that, but he treated her horribly. I also thought that she cried way too much. Everything she did seemed to end in tears, and I really wanted to tell her to buck up. I did like that she took advantage of the offer to get away and pursue her music though. I think that it was a really great idea for her to get away from everything and stay away from Nathan. I really liked that she was able to focus on her music and pursue a career in that. I really liked Caleb. I thought he was open and honest, and just really straight forward. He told it like it was and never once sugar coated anything. Honestly from the moment he appeared I was rooting for him. I think that Ashley had really great chemistry with both Nathan and Caleb. I felt like the connection with Nathan was obvious from the start, and while strong it was also not good for her. I felt like with Caleb, she really had a shot of having something with him. I think that both Caleb and Ashley have things that they need to work on, but that they could have something good together at the end of things. If Nathan wants to be with Ashley, I feel like he has a lot of work to do himself. He is in serious need of redeeming himself and proving that he is committed to her and only her if he ever has a shot of making me think he deserves another chance.

Even though I really had problems with Nathan, I hope that he is able to redeem himself. There is something about him that makes me want to not give up on him. I really do feel like Caleb is a good guy and should be the obvious choice for Ashley, and yet I just can't count Nathan out yet. I can honestly say this is the first time that I really could be happy regardless of who she ends up with as long as they treat her right and truly deserve to be with her. I am really interested to see where Jones takes these characters in the future, and I hope that we don't have to wait too long to see what happens. Even with the problems I had, I kept reading this story and had to see what would happen next. I didn't care for the ending and felt it was pretty abrupt. But part of that I think is because I hadn't been expecting it to be more than one book. I am not sure how I missed that, but I think I would have been more accepting of the ending had I known (but that is entirely my fault). Now I just have to try and be patient while I wait for the next book. I think that this was a very interesting start to this series, and I think that a lot of New Adult fans will really enjoy this book.

**ARC provided by Itching For Books**

Purchase: | Amazon |

Feature and Giveaway: The Best Kind of Trouble by Courtney B. Jones

Ashley Parker knows trouble. And Nathan Williams--star quarterback and charming ladies man--is trouble. She knows he'll only break her heart. But that doesn't stop her from jumping in feet first. When her whole world is flipped upside down, her guitar and her lyrics become her only solace. Along with sexy guitar player Caleb Mathews.

Fueled by heartache, love, and lust, Ashley finds herself in the best kind of trouble. Boy trouble.

Purchase: | Amazon |

Feature and Giveaway: The Hookup List by Dakota Madison

A FRESHMAN, HER ROOMMATE, A GUY and A LIST...

THE FRESHMAN: Ana Alves came to college for one reason--to be the first person in her immigrant family to earn a degree. She doesn't want anything to derail her from her pre-med studies, especially a guy.

HER ROOMMATE: Nicki Payne is ready to party and she doesn't waste any time hooking up with a guy in a frat house bathroom. Her motto: College is a time to be young, wild and free.

A GUY: Christopher Knight is the easy-going English major with a sexy smile and killer body who sits next to Ana in her Shakespeare class. Ana finds Christopher intriguing. She just doesn't want to admit that she's falling for him.

THE HOOKUP LIST: A list of freshman girls who are ready for action that's circulated to the freshman guys via a weekly Listserv. When Nicki Payne is one of the first girls featured on The Hookup List, guys start knocking on her dorm door at all hours of the day and night looking to score...

But what happens when one of those guys is Christopher?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

ARC Review: The Hookup List by Dakota Madison

This book was a quick and easy read that was fun enough to entertain me for a few hours. I found this one enjoyable and sweet and I think that a lot of New Adult fans will like this one. For me, it was a good read but it didn't really grab my attention. I found myself easily putting it down and returning when I had time rather than not being able to stop reading. I liked it, but there were a few things that kept it from being one that I loved. I did enjoy the characters and the premise of the story, but I felt like the book didn't really live up to its name and I think that was part of the problem for me.

After a rough breakup Christopher heads to Arizona from California to begin school. In his first day of Shakespeare class he meets Ana. There is an instant connection and attraction between them, but he quickly finds out that she has a boyfriend back home in New Jersey. As they get to know each other better, both are more drawn to each other and find it harder to stay platonic. Ana knows that she needs to speak with her boyfriend Paulo in person before anything can happen with Christopher. When Paulo visits over fall break, they both agree that they shouldn't see each other anymore and decide to remain friends. Christopher and Ana are finally able to act on their feelings for one another, and are soon in a relationship. But when Chris's past suddenly reappears, their future is threatened before they have barely had a chance at being together. Can they make it through everything that is thrown their way?

I liked Christopher. He was sweet and romantic, and I liked that he was a bit of a nerd. He was always quoting Shakespeare and laying his heart out there without a second thought. I liked how committed he was to Ana, and he respected her enough to wait until she could really be his. He was patient and was just a really good guy. Ana was great as well. I liked that she was not willing to pursue anything with Chris until she made things right with Paulo. I had a lot of respect for the two of them as they waited despite their feelings. I also liked that she was so determined to do well in school and pursue a career in medicine. She was really smart and dedicated. I thought that Christopher and Ana had a great connection and worked really well together. They had a lot of chemistry and you could really feel their attraction to one another.

I did however think that this book was a bit too insta-love for my taste. It felt pretty rushed and I thought that they were saying those all important words a bit too quickly. Christopher had a history of doing that in relationships and then later seeing that it wasn't love after all, and I think in the back of my mind I kept wondering if him and Ana would end up the same way. Since everything was so rushed it was harder to believe that they would be able to make it through everything when things had happened so fast for them and at such a young age. Because they were just starting college and were eighteen it was hard for me to really get behind everything when they started talking about forever so quickly. Overall, this was a quick and cute read. I found it enjoyable and entertaining, but this isn't one of those stories that will stick with me. I think that if you are looking for a New Adult read to lose yourself in for a few hours that you might want to give this one a shot, as I think there are a lot of people who will like this story.

**ARC provided by Itching For Books**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

Feature and Giveaway: Full Steam Ahead by Valerie Chase

Seven days aboard a luxury cruise. The perfect getaway from it all.

At least, that’s what Georgia Cantwell was hoping for.

Georgia wishes she could run away from the nightmare that has consumed her life, but she can’t. With her inbox filling with menacing emails, all she can do is try to get through her sorority’s winter break cruise without anyone realizing how wrecked she is. So she really doesn’t need Jace McLaren seeing through her tacked-on smile when no one else seems to notice.

Growing up with a father in jail, Jace knows from experience that if you’re going through hell, there’s no way out but through. He has always steered away from girls like Georgia with her ice-queen attitude, but she’s in real trouble, and despite himself he pushes past her walls.

As much as Georgia tries to ignore it, Jace won’t let her pretend with him. But she can’t risk telling him the truth. Her past would ruin his trust, her family, her future—everything.

But out on the open ocean, there’s nowhere to hide. And when Georgia’s secrets come tumbling out, it might take more than Jace to save her.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Full Steam Ahead by Valerie Chase

Full Steam Ahead is the debut novel from Valerie Chase, and because of that I had no idea what to expect. I was really sold on this book because of the beautiful cover and the interesting blurb. This book just sounded really different than the other New Adult books out there, and it really was. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read a New Adult book that not only had no cliffhanger, but that didn't center around a ton of angst and cheating or a love triangle. I really enjoyed this story and all the characters. I think that this was a really great first book from Valerie Chase, and I am excited to see where she goes from here.

Georgia has been having a rough time lately. She is secretly broke and hiding it from all of her friends. Her boyfriend just broke up with her after she thought that he was getting ready to propose to her. She is also getting demanding emails from a blackmailer and she has no idea what to do about it. When she originally had planned her sorority's winter travel cruise, she had planned on spending all her time with her then boyfriend Hunter. Now she is stuck staying in the cheapest room possible with Jace, while trying to avoid Hunter. Jace has a reputation for being a player, and the last thing Georgia needs is to deal with him. But when Jace turns out to be completely different than what she thought, she realizes that there is more than just attraction between them. The two start spending time together while on vacation and soon they are unable to fight the connection and chemistry between them. But Jace knows that Georgia is holding things back from him and even though she has told him some things, he feels that she should be able to open up to him the way he has with her. Can Georgia take the risk of telling him everything and seeing if they have a shot together or will there be too much standing in their way for them to get past?

I really liked Jace. He was nothing like what you expect from his reputation, and he instead was a really great guy. I liked that he was so caring and thoughtful when it came to Georgia. He was always trying to help her out and went out of his way to look out for her. I also loved that even though he was starting to develop feelings rather quickly and they took him by surprise that he didn't fight it. He was starting to see just how much she meant to him and he was trying to figure out ways for them to be together in the future. I thought that he did react a little badly when she didn't want to completely open up to him so quickly, and I thought he should have been a bit more understanding. But he came around pretty fast and saw that he had made a mistake. At first I really thought that I wasn't going to like Georgia. She came off as a bit whiny and kind of a brat. But she really grew on me and it wasn't long before I started to like her. I thought that Jace and Georgia had a ton of chemistry together, and they really seemed to fit. He got her like no one else did, and I felt like they were really great for each other. He was sweet with her, and I really enjoyed how he always went about things with her in a way that was exactly what she needed. These two were perfect for each other and I really enjoyed watching as they fell for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was a quick and entertaining read that I didn't want to put down. Even though Jace and Georgia's relationship develops rather quickly, it felt completely real to me. They were believable and the whole thing just worked for me. I loved the supporting characters as well as the main characters, and I thought that they all added a lot to this story. I am looking forward to getting more about them in the future. Starting with the next book, which centers around Georgia's friend Yasmin. The only reason this book wasn't a five star read for me was the ending. There is no cliffhanger, but I felt like just as things were starting to work themselves out it was over. Even with the Epilogue, I felt like the ending was pretty abrupt and rather rushed. I wished that we had been given a bit more closure and seen a bit more of where things went from that point. This whole story takes place in such a short amount of time, that I felt like we got kind of cheated on seeing how things played out. It wasn't enough for me to dislike the book or anything, but it did take a bit away from the whole experience. I really do think that this was a great book though, and I would highly recommend this to New Adult readers. I think that this one was unique and different. Full Steam Ahead offers a new take on a genre that can sometimes seem very similar. I look forward to reading more from Valerie Chase in the future and will be waiting for the next installment in this series.

**ARC provided by Itching For Books**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |