Review: If I Fall (Spotlight & Giveaway!!)

Title: If I Fall
Author: Anna Cruise
Publication Date: 6th April 2013
Publisher: Mission Bay Publishing
Genre: Young Adult
Find It! Goodreads| Amazon| Facebook Even Tour Page

 Meg Calloway is at the edge.

Reeling from her parents' sudden divorce, fifteen-year old Meg has never felt more alone. Her father is about to marry a woman she can't stand and her mother's only companion is an endless supply of alcohol. When Aidan Westwood, an older boy at school, shows interest in her, she grabs on and doesn't let go, thinking he's exactly what she needs to help stem her loneliness and despair. She quickly learns that Aidan lives a darker, more dangerous life than she does and the more isolated she feels from her family, the more willing she is to step into Aidan's world.

As Meg drifts further from her friends, she tries to find comfort with a boy who is opening her eyes up to new things, none of them good. Will she listen to those around her who are warning her that she's headed down a path of self-destruction?

Or will she fall too far...too fast...too deep

My Review

Wow.

I'm not sure I want to review this book at the time being. I'm still processing what happened in the book.

Okay.... maybe I over exaggerating a little bit but, this is a great book! Albeit, it is very different to other YA Romance books.

It starts off like some other teenage books when the dad leaves the mum and goes off into the sunset with his new beautiful woman who is a tad bit younger that he is... and the daughter (Meg) is absolutely furious. Her mother is not taking it well and is drinking herself to death. 15 year old Meg has to fend for herself most of the time when her mum is drunk and out of her mind in the bedroom. This results in Meg just feeling unwanted and alone even though she has a few friends.

Then, she meets Aidan. Older, bad boy... I seriously don't get why people like bad boys to be honest. I mean, obviously you don't want a guy who is totally good- then he'll just be a clingy puppy but bad boys... in real life they are just jerks and assholes because they are a bad boy. I think that loads of books kinda has influenced our minds to like bad boys because in nearly Every Single Story, the bad boy becomes good for the girl but he still has that edge. However, in reality... is that true?
The thing I liked about this book was that it was totally realistic. The bad boy doesn't turn good for the girl. He's just 100% pure jerk. Unfortunately, he's also a jerk with a brain, therefore he knows what to say to make Meg feel wanted. When she wants to be loved- he'll say that he loves her. When she feels ugly- he'll make feel sexy by making comments or something else.... That just leads to her depending on him for acceptance and compliments. Relying on him all the time also, makes her distance from her friends.

She falls into the world of partying, drinks and drugs.... Not good

What I've forgotten to mention is that there was a new boy that was introduced early in the book. Name was Case. I think that is short something but it didn't say.... Anyways, he's good friends with Meg and also Meg's "ex" friends. He doesn't judge her and seems to understand what she is going through. I think that he didn't have enough presence in her life until the end however, he was always watching from afar .... not in a stalker-ish way of course but like a guardian angel... yeah.

So, Meg's life is spiralling out of control. She hates her dad and stepmum. Aidan is like her drug who is definitely not good for her. Case is kind of like her rehab. There is also Sara, her aunt (her mum's sister) who the parent for Meg when no one else is there.
From the start to the middle, I was confused if I should like Aidan. If he was going to turn good for her like other books. Hating her dad was a definite for me until the middle/end. Very complex characters.

I absolutely loved this book. It was kind of dark but also sweet. I highly recommend it to other teenagers like me. It also raises awareness about the dangers drinking and drugs.



 





Excerpt

 

“All I'm saying is I think you deserve better,” Case said. “From my point of view, anyway. You deserve better.”

I threw my head back on the sofa and laughed. It was a harsh laugh with no mirth. “Most of the time, I don't think I deserve better.”

“Everyone deserves better.”

“Not me.” I didn't look at him. “No one else would want me. I've royally fucked up. Everything. There isn't anything better out there. Anything or anyone.”

“Yeah, there is.”

“Oh, really?” I brought my eyes back to him. “And where exactly would I find better?”

It was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Well, you might start with me.”

My eyes widened. "With you?"

His cheeks flushed just a bit. “You don't have to sound so surprised.”

I immediately felt bad. “That's not what I meant. Sorry.”

He laughed. “It's fine. I'm kidding. About you being surprised. Not about being better.”

“Well how would I know you were better?” I said. “It's not like you've ever asked me out.”

He thought about this for a minute. “So if I asked you out, you'd go?”

I honestly had no idea where the conversation was headed. He was confusing me like crazy and I wasn't sure what to say to him. I thought maybe he was just screwing around with me.

“Yeah, I would,” I said, calling his bluff.

“What about Aidan?” he asked.

“What about him?” I said, shrugging. “You just pointed out all the reasons I shouldn't be with him. Maybe you're right and I've just been too dumb to see it.”

I didn't know if I believed what I was saying but it felt like the truth was on the wall, some message that everyone had deciphered but me. And I was going to try my hardest to translate it, however I could.

He stared at me for a long time. I didn't say anything, just stared into those eyes that were always friendly, always honest.



About the Author

Anna Cruise has been writing -- and drooling over boys -- since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change...

Her books include the best-seller IT WAS YOU (New Adult), IF I FALL (Mature YA) and MAVERICK (New Adult). Additional titles releasing in 2013 will include a follow-up to Abby and West's story from IT WAS YOU.

Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter @AnnaCruiseBooks or friend her on Goodreads.

 

Find Her!

Goodreads| Twitter| Facebook| Blog| Amazon Author Page

 

 

Giveaway! Win a $20 Amazon GC and Anna Cruise E-book Library

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Book Blitz: Dawn of the Apocalypse +Excerpt +Giveaway!!!

Dawn of the Apocalypse

by E.S.P. 

Release Date: 08/09/13

Summary from Goodreads:

January 1, 2000.
May 21, 2011.
December 21, 2012

These are just a few of the days humans prophesied as bringing catastrophic events that would end the world. We predicted nuclear warfare. Drastic climate change. A call from God.

We were wrong.

Cue the gargoyle invasion—laboratory bred mutants designed to slaughter humans. When the government goes AWOL and gargoyles are swarming by the hundreds, it's up to the citizens of the United States to regroup and save themselves.

Meet Cliff Matthews, a teenage boy separated from his entire family with the exception of his younger sister, whom he is desperate to keep alive. Along the quest to save their lives, he encounters people who aren't all that they seem. Everyday's a battle, but if he can't trust his own species, where does that leave his family?

And we can't forget the man who may be willing to sacrifice Cliff's life, if it means world domination.

In terms of doomsday, no one could've seen this coming. The dawn of the apocalypse…

Excerpt:

It smelled like smoke. Not the smoke you smelled when your dad left the burgers on the grill too long or when you forgot you had that last batch of cookies in the oven. This was a dark, penetrating, no nonsense smoke. The kind that made your throat burn, fire singe the inner core of your chest, and slowly killed you from the inside until you were a burning mass of nothing.

It was the kind overtaking Cliff’s chest right now.

He was aware he was conscious and in the back of his head, he knew it was probably an intelligent idea to get some air into his lungs. But for some reason, he couldn’t make his body arise from the sweet peacefulness that was the interface between consciousness and unconsciousness, a cross between life and death.

In his mind, he saw the smoke like a dark heavy being looming over him and slowly wrapping its charcoal hands around his neck. It was squeezing and squeezing until his words were a voiceless symphony and his body became limp and silent.

Cliff didn’t know why, but he was okay with that.

He was aware of the sound of something crackling, like twigs being stepped on or a wrapper crumpled in the hand. And then the sound of people screaming—screaming for help, screaming other people’s names.

Screaming for God to save them.

There was another person’s voice that was a lot closer to him, almost right in front of him. It was light and sweet and feminine. It sounded desperate, pleading. Oh how he wanted to see whose voice that belonged to. But it was so far away and his eyes were so heavy. He was so very, very tired. He wanted to sleep forever.

"Please wake up. Please." The voice was saying. "You have to get up. Please get up."

Inside he wanted to say, "I want to get up, I do, I just can’t, I need help." But his throat was so dry and a large wave of suffocating heat was pressing down on him, crushing his bones into ashes.

He felt his spinning mind slow down, his heart beating erratically.

And then were cool lips on his and cold air rushed into his mouth, through his body and into his mind, telling him it was time to get up.

He felt his arms being held and slowly pulled, and he didn’t fight it. But he could do nothing to aid in the quest to pull his body up.

His back felt like it had been ran over with a steam roller. It cried out in pain and he wanted to return to the ground and let smoke cradle him as his heart slowed to invisible beats.

His legs felt like they'd been drained of blood. Pins and needles burned at his thighs. His legs gave way. The arms hoisting him up prevented his crash to the ground.

Cliff tried again, extending his legs to their full potential as he began to pick his feet up one at a time, advancing towards wherever the freshest air was. He opened his eyes, but found that it made no difference. All that hung in front of him was thick blankets of smoke. He could hear the fire crackling in the background. He knew the fire wouldn’t be as much of a peaceful death as the smoke. He would burn from the inside

and out. The fire would beat him senseless than mercilessly eat up his body until it was unrecognizable dust.

And Cliff wasn’t in the mood for that at the moment.

The arms were still supporting him as they made their way though the room of darkness. He kept fresh air on his mind to motivate him to keep going. Because as of right now, smoke and oxygen were having a fight inside his lungs. And the smoke was winning.

A burst of light flashed past him as a spark fell from the ceiling. "Okay, a little faster now," the voice urged forcefully, as the spark grew into a flame. Cliff’s eyes focused on the space in front of him. Were those big glowing green eyes in the smoke?

 

 About the Author

 

Being the daughter of an accomplished author, E.S.P. grew up listening to stories and telling her own to classmates. After writing for several years and even publishing some short works, she finally decided to take the plunge to write (plus finish!)a full length novel. Thus, Dawn of the Apocalypse was born. When she's not writing, she's either reading books, blogging at whoistheserialreader.blogspot.com, or watching eighties movies.

 

   

***GIVEAWAY***

E-book copy of Dawn of the Apocalypse and $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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Book Blitz hosted by:

Book Blitz: Camp Boyfriend

Camp Boyfriend (Camp Boyfriend #1)

by J.K. Rock

Release Date: 07/02/13

From Spencer Hill Press

Summary from Goodreads:

The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

Available from:

   

"Fun, romantic and giddy, Camp Boyfriend brings real romance to summer camp with grace, humor and passion." - Carrie Jones, New York Times Best-selling Author of the NEED series

 

 

Excerpt:

 

 

“If you don’t play football, what will you do this fall?” Thunder rolled through the camp, sending the last of the families scurrying indoors, leaving Matt and I alone in the narrow, shadowed space.

Matt cupped the back of my head and he lowered his nose until it touched mine. “This,” he whispered, then captured my lips in a kiss more electrifying than the war nature waged outside. His mouth was gentle at first, but the pressure grew more insistent until we both gasped for breath. My head whirled and I thought I’d black out until he lowered me to the bench.

The warmth of his bare chest seeped into my soaked tank, the drumming of his heart faster than the clattering rain. His lips left mine and travelled along my jaw to my earlobe. I shuddered when he lightly nibbled, the shock of pleasure intense.

My hands slid along his back, the muscles bunching beneath my touch. I traced the ridge of muscle above his hip and felt him tremble, his breath growing ragged. But when his fingers tugged up the hem of my shirt I was the one who sounded winded. His palms skimmed upward against my ribcage until they cupped my flesh, driving me crazy. Only another kiss kept me from making a noise. The storm was loud, but I didn’t want to risk alerting others that we were behind the water curtain flowing in front of the dugout.

“Matt,” I gasped, loving the feel of his hands on me, the pressure of his hips against mine. I was as hot as a stoked furnace, heat sizzling everywhere at once. My fingers buried themselves in the thick hair at the nape of his neck and I pressed my lips to his, wanting more of him.

He pulled me up and onto his lap. My hair dripped down my back as my head lolled, his mouth leaving a trail of fire along my neck before dipping lower to my clavicle and lower still. I kissed his brow, his temple, and his square jaw while his mouth explored. I wanted it to go on and on, but suddenly he pulled back, his chest rising and falling like one of those old-time bellows I’d seen on a school field trip.

His face was fierce, intense, every handsome feature sharpened. His hungry eyes were backlit with fire as they roamed over me. Why had he stopped?

“Lauren,” he said when it seemed he’d finally caught his breath. I’d never seen him this winded, not even after the endless sprints of football practice. “If we go any farther I won’t be able to stop.” His eyes searched mine, willing me to understand what he was saying.

“Oh.” My cheeks went up in flames and scrambled off his lap. Thank god the heavy waterfall had obscured us from view. I repositioned my bra and tugged down my tank top. I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on.

“Hey.” Matt lifted my chin until I was forced to meet his warm blue-green eyes, the color as inviting as a Caribbean vacation brochure. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re my girlfriend. I love you.”

My heart seized. He’d dropped the L-bomb. We’d skirted around the word for months, saying things like, “I love that about you” or just a casual “Love ya” that sounded like friends. But this. It was huge. What to say? The obvious answer was no answer, but a fierce need to return the words clawed to the surface and fought its way out.

“I love you too.”

He crushed me against his chest, his hands twining in my frizzing waves.  I did love him, I marveled. His warmth. His sense of humor. His strength of purpose and conviction. But was I in love with him? That was the bigger question. One I had no clue how to answer.



About the Authors:

J. K. Rock is the writing partnership of sisters-in-law Joanne & Karen Rock. Separately, they write adult romance. Together, they dream up Young Adult books like CAMP BOYFRIEND, the first in a three-book series. The summer camp stories continue with CAMP PAYBACK (4/14) and CAMP FORGET-ME-NOT (8/14), plus bonus free novellas in between stories. Visit http://campboyfriend.net to learn more about the series and the free prequel novella, CAMP KISS, which you can download here.

***Author Links***

Author Website / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Karen's Twitter / Joanne's Twitter / Facebook

***GIVEAWAY***

Grand prize - Signed copies Amanda Ink's SUN, Jennifer Armentrout writing as J. Lynn's FRIGID and JK Rock's CAMP BOYFRIEND. Also included, advance sneak peek copy Laurie Halse Anderson's THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY and Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian's FIRE WITH FIRE, plus an "I <3 my Camp Boyfriend" tee shirt, friendship bracelets,  'I <3 Camp' temporary tattoos, and a bookmark with the download code for CAMP KISS.

Three other winners will receive $10 Amazon gift cards

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