Audiobook Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

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Mortal Danger
Immortal Game #2
Author: Ann Aguirre
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Supernatural
Released: August 5th 2014
Review Source: Borrowed

  

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

For three miserable years, Edie Kramer had to endured many pranks from her classmates. For three years, she had to go through non-stop humiliation. For three years, she was bullied - with no one to speak for her, with no one to call a friend. At the brink of her insanity, she thinks there is only one way out to end the torture. The only way for her to finally be at peace. Seconds before executing her plan, to jump to her death, a mysterious boy stops her. This mysterious boy offers her a deal; he grants her three wishes to use within the next five years. Whatever she wants, whenever she wants, as long as these are within the next five years. Three favors from WM&G, the mysterious company. This company will change Edie's life for better or for worse.

Revenge never tasted so sweet! But be careful what you wish for. As the story progress, Edie realizes sometimes revenge can end with a bad note - a deadly one.

Mortal Danger is very interesting with a great concept. It has drama, suspense, and mystery. I also appreciated the touch of romance but most of all how this wasn't the main point of the story. I really enjoyed Edie's character. The girl has been through a lot and her self-esteem was very low. With the help of Kian - her mysterious friend - she realizes she is quite an awesome individual. I really liked her from the start and my fondness for her just continued to grow. The pacing of the story was also great. It progress as you turned pages. You are able to see the changes Edie goes through.

Overall, I really enjoyed the audio-book, narrated by Susan Hanfield. She has a great voice and she definitely made the story sound pretty awesome. She really does have the voice you want to continue listening to. Then again, the story was very intriguing and I really cannot wait to read Public Enemies! I'm glad I decided to give this series a try and I think any lover of supernatural should too.

Release Day Blitz: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre + Giveaway

Happy, happy release day to Ann Aguirre and her new awesome book The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things! We are so excited to be sharing this with you! 
This release day blitz is being hosted by Inkslinger.

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The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

Author: Ann Aguirre
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
  

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

Excerpt

            When I walk past the music room, I hear something that stills me in my tracks. People push past; I've become a rock in the middle of a rushing stream, but I can't move. Then someone shoves me from behind, not on purpose, but the result is the same. I slam into the lockers past the classroom and bounce. The underclassmen who were wrestling don't even notice that my brain has stopped firing.

            Shane Cavendish plays like it's his reason for living.

            I don't write that on the Post-it, of course. That would just get him beaten up even harder. Instead I scrawl, You’re awesome on the guitar, because the jocks might think that’s cool and leave him the hell alone. It's a long shot, as I don't have any particular cred with their crew, but being a musician is pretty spectacular. I can't breathe for how good—how remarkably talented—he is. And I suspect that if he found out anyone was paying attention, he'd stop playing.

            Backtracking to his locker will make me late for class, but it's worth it. I stick the note just below the vents, as I always do, but this time it feels weightier, more somehow, like this is a turning point. Shaking off the odd sensation, I dodge into Econ with a mumbled excuse. Sadly, it holds no weight with Mrs. Palmer. Unlike the male teachers, she isn't impressed with talk of 'female problems', so I get my first detention of the year, only the second I've ever had.

            Since tomorrow is Friday and I have standing plans with Ryan, I ask, “Can I just get it over with tonight?”

            I calculate; school lets out at 2:45. An hour of sitting in silence, and I’m supposed to be at work at four. If I hurry, I can still make my shift at the Curly Q. Which sounds like a diner, but it's actually a hair salon. I'm not qualified to do anything but wash hair, sweep up, and answer the phone, but it's better than fast food. I work two afternoons a week from four to eight, which earns me spending money for the week. Since I'm under eighteen, I get paid fifty cents an hour less than an adult; that makes me a bargain.  After detention ends, I’ll just need to ride hard to keep Mildred from yelling at me.

            Mrs. Palmer glances up from scribbling down my doom. “Can you get a ride home?”

            “Yeah.”

I’ve always got my bike out front, and the town is small enough that I can ride anywhere I need to go from school. This is the one positive aspect of living in a tiny berg like this, especially given my opinion of privately-owned fossil fuel burning vehicles, which covers nicely for my lingering fear.

Check out our review of The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things here!

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Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

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Book Review: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things
Author: Ann Aguirre
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: April 7, 2015
Review Source: Feiwel & Friends

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

If I could hug this book forever, I would. Which is what I did constantly while reading it. The Queen of Bright and Shiny things is about two beautiful broken people finding each other. I couldn't be more happy with the fact that this isn't your typical high school romance read. Bravo Ann Aguirre!

I am seriously swooning over Shane, and I think I will be forever. I don't think I've ever been introduced to a character as humble, and awkward as he is. Shane is the definition of adorable. And, the main character, Sage, is just as compelling. I ABSOLUTELY loved her! She wasn't one bit irritating. Like I mentioned, not your typical high school contemporary read.

There is more depth than you'd expect in the characters Aguirre has written up. After you meet Sage, you want to be more like her. And, Shane has some amazing dialogue you just want to memorize all of his BEYOND cute one-liners. The Queen of Bright and Shiny things is not a read you want to miss out on, trust me. *Goes to hug book, again...*

Blog Tour: As Long As You Love Me | Ann Aguirre | Review | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME blog tour for Ann Aguirre's second novel in the 2B Trilogy. This tour is hosted by InkSlinger PR.

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As Long As You Love Me
2B Trilogy #2
Author: Ann Aguirre
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: October 1st 2014
Review Source: NetGalley | Harlequin
  

Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. There are the justifications she gives to everyone else—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. And then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.

Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He can’t pinpoint exactly what’s missing until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. But he’s the guy that women love and leave—not the one who makes them think of forever.

Though she’s terrified of opening up, Lauren’s ready to take that chance. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.

How nice is it when a sequel blows the debut out of the water. The usually does not happen in the book world, maybe in movies but not books. You normally hear that the first books in the series are the attention grabbers and then the sequel falls short, but not in the case of As Long As You Love Me. Aguirre wrote a great follow up to I Want It That Way, which I thought was a good not great start to a series. Well now the bar has been raised, so will book three, The Shape of My Heart beat the greatness that As Long As You Love Me was? Can't wait to find out when I read the last book in the trilogy.

In this story we focus on Lauren. If you read the first book, you'll know this is Nadia best friend that in the first book moved back home because college life just wasn't working for her. So the story picks up when Lauren has returned back to her hometown, to her mother's house. Lauren is hoping she can start everything on the right foot now that she is back home. She knows she left things slight messy from where she left.

Cue in Rob the man that will make your heart skip a few beats. Lauren grew up crushing on Rob, which happens to be Nadia's older brother. This is probably the best thing about moving back home, is that Lauren gets to hang out with Rob again and they are much older and wiser now. Another good thing is that Rob and the girlfriend, aren't really on the same page. He is the guy that gets taken advantage of. He is very good looking but is more hands on that book smart, so people take advantage. This includes the girlfriend, Avery. So when Lauren finds solace in helping Rob build his house, not just walls and tiles are being laid down, but a new foundation for a relationship has started even though they both don't acknowledge right away.

Not everything starts off on the right track with Lauren and Rob. They have to correct the girlfriend issue. Then they have to fix themselves also before giving 110%. Plus while trying to make a go at things, they will have to deal with this job offer Rob can't refuse. It will make some decisions tough and others almost impossible. New friendships will blossoms and love will be put to the test a few times.

I really loved the chemistry between Lauren and Rob, they both worked for me. Its wasn't this sappy love story from the start. I like that the romance was meaty, if that makes sense to you. It read and felt like a real life relationship, not some fairytale that only happens in books. You'll be sucked in like I was when you read the sequel. Bonus when you read the book is the cameos from characters in book one.

The short version of my review is that I really loved and would recommend to anyone that loves a great contemporary with fantastic characters. This is a series that is not meant for a younger audience.

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Other Books in the 2B Trilogy:

I Want It That Way

As Long As You Love Me (9/30/14)

The Shape Of My Heart (11/25/14)

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

     

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Release Day Blitz: As Long As You Love Me | Ann Aguirre | Excerpt | Giveaway

We are absolutely ecstatic to bring you the Release Day Launch for Ann Aguirre's AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME! AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME is the second novel in Ann's New Adult Contemporary Romance 2B Trilogy Series, published by Harlequin HQN! If you haven't already read I WANT IT THAT WAY buy it NOW. We can't wait for you all to read it so you can dish with us about it!

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Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. There are the justifications she gives to everyone else—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. And then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.

Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He can’t pinpoint exactly what’s missing until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. But he’s the guy that women love and leave—not the one who makes them think of forever.

Though she’s terrified of opening up, Lauren’s ready to take that chance. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.

Excerpt

Mom was asleep, so I checked my email. I had the usual spam, plus notes from all my former roomies, which made me happy. I missed all of them, even Max, though things were unspeakably awkward between us at the end. I opened Nadia’s first:



LB! You know I miss you like crazy, right? Courtney’s in your bed right now, and she has completely alphabetized my books. I’m pretty sure there will be a lending library program implemented the next time I get home from work. So how’s Nebraska? Did you find a job yet? Have you started applying to any schools? I have like ten more questions but you’ll get grumpy if I dump them on you all at once. Hug and kiss my family for me, okay? Write back soon or I’m sending my brother to track you down.



She didn’t mention the hot single dad she’d broken up with right before I left. Mr. Hot Ginger had dumped Nadia for her own good, which would drive her quietly crazy. I’d felt horrible about the timing, but there was little I could do about it. I hadn’t gotten to know him well before I left, but Ty seemed like a good guy. He was only a few years older than us, but already had a four-year-old. That was the crux of the conflict.

Writing back, I didn’t quite nail the tone, talking about Rob too much and inventing interesting anecdotes because there was so little going on. I could’ve mentioned Krista, but Nadia had never been as close to her, and there was some tension by the time she moved. Mostly I didn’t want Nadia to worry; things would be fine once I got a job and had less time to fret about whether I’d made the right decision.

I opened Angus’s email next:



Hey, you. Got your check. It appears not to be rubber, but I said you didn’t have to pay me back. I hate you for leaving. Come back right now. I’ll wait. This is me, waiting. It’s been at least five minutes. You’re shattering my faith in humanity, Lauren. Take responsibility for it! Not sure what you’ve heard from Nadia, but she’s such a hot mess. I can’t believe you abandoned us. All the light has left my life. All of it! Okay, enough drama. I’m working on getting over Josh. Classes suck but I will survive. (You’re singing it now, aren’t you?)



“Damn you, Angus Starr. You know me too well.” I got up on my bed with a hairbrush and sang two verses before reading on.



In all seriousness, there is a Lauren-sized hole in my life. Please don’t lose touch. Write soon. Love and hugs, Angus.



It was simpler writing back to Angus; our friendship was sweet and uncomplicated. Briefly I considered deleting Max’s email without opening it, but that seemed like an asshole move. In the end, I read it, two lines only:



I’m sorry about everything. Take care of yourself.

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Ann Aguirre is the author of the New York Times– and USA Today–bestselling Razorland Trilogy (Enclave, Outpost, and Horde). She lives in Mexico with her family. Visit her online at annaguirre.com

    

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Fierce Reads The Tour: Seven Authors. Two Weeks. One Fierce Book Tour.

See Where Fierce reads Will be This Fall...

Starting September 16th through October 14th, you can catch the Fierce Reads book tour. Click the graphic above to be taken to the full schedule.

These are some of the cities the tour will be stopping in: IL, NH, MA, NY, MD, TX, WA, CA, ext...

Tour Leg 1:

Tour Leg 2:

Blog Tour: I Want It That Way | Ann Aguirre | Excerpt | Giveaway

We are excited to be a part of Ann Aguirre's blog tour for her new book I WANT IT THAT WAY. This is the first book in the 2B Trilogy.  Below you will get a chance to read an except and enter a giveaway.

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Excerpt from I Want It That Way

by Ann Aguirre

This content below is unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to the strong language it contains. This is a New Adult book which is meant for readers ages 17 and up. 

Book Review: I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre

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I Want It That Way
2B Trilogy #1
Author: Ann Aguirre
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 26th 2014
Review Source: NetGalley | Harlequin HQN

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, dating's the last thing on her mind. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

The second I had the chance to read this new book from Ann Aguirre, I knew I had too. I had not read anything in the past from her but always heard wonderful things about her books and writing. So this new book could not be passed up. I Want It That Way was definitely a great start to a new series. It didn't blow me away but it did keep me entertain enough to have enjoyed it. Some parts dragged a tiny bit but other than that everything was great.

This book follows Nadia, a college student that moves into an apartment with her good friends off campus. They have all known each other for some time and this set up works great because she wouldn't be able to afford it any other way. On move in day, Nadia bumps into her neighbor from 1B, Ty. Ty comes off very serious especially since he is a ginger. Turns out Ty has a little son he is raising on his own. Well one step leads to another and before ya know it Nadia is crushing on the "Hot Ginger" but it's not that easy. Ty doesn't want any women in his life, he just wants to devote the time he isn't working or going to school part-time to his son. But love is a pretty strong emotion and sometimes what you think you want, doesn't turn out that way. Will friends with benefits work out for these neighbors or will responsibilities and life alter the future. 

Nadia I loved but Ty I was struggling with. I get why he was like he was, but when reading him I would loose interest at times but then Nadia would bring me back in. Like I mention at the beginning it was great and worth reading regardless. Sometimes minor road bumps help fix bigger issues and by the end I was sold. I enjoyed the extra scene that Aguirre included in Ty's POV at the end. I will definitely read the next installment in this series.