Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles Blog Tour Stop

Twelve Steps

by Veronica Bartles

Release Date: 03/25/14

Book Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK, maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said that done, but worth the effort in the long-run. 

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina’s flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19539299-twelve-steps?from_search=true

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ILMKZFO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ILMKZFO&linkCode=as2&tag=bookitreas-20

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ILMKZFO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00ILMKZFO&linkCode=as2&tag=bookitreas-21

Also sold at Barnes and Noble! :)

***

About the Author:

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy.   When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes. TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel.

Author Links:

http://vbartles.com/

https://twitter.com/vbartles

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVeronicaBartles

***GIVEAWAY!!!***
1 ebook of Twelve Steps & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)

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NERC Review #12: Donna of the Dead by Alison Kemper

*I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm burned out on zombies/post-apocalyptic novels, because while I found this enjoyable, I didn't necessarily think the undead aspects were all that great. I liked the MC's POV, and I was glad that there was comedic relief throughout. However, all the funny comments took away the sense of desperation and danger. It made the apocalypse seem like some sort of inconvenience and not a real plague.

Rating: 3 stars!

I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't take Donna of the Dead seriously on the whole zombie level. Maybe it was the MC's penchant for cracking jokes in tense situations, or maybe it was because the zombies "roared" all the time. I don't know, but it didn't grip me with a sense of a terror. It wasn't rich with dark and disturbing undertones. If anything, it made me laugh at the complete absurdity to how this apocalypse has turned out.

First of all, I really like the MC's POV. Although, as to her and her personality, I waver a bit. Donna is very superficial, sometimes snobbish, and definitely selfish. But she did provide comedic relief throughout, making the apocalypse seem more like a walk in the park than it should be. At the end of the book, though, she did become more likeable to me. Maybe it was because she finally shedded that haughty attitude and uncharacteristic sarcasm to save other people's lives. Maybe it was because she finally understood what it was like to be the heroine of her story, instead of having everybody else come to her rescue. Whatever the case, she did have some growth.

Deke, on the other hand, was just pure awesomeness! Heroic, strong, tender, selfless. He was everything that Donna wasn't and everything you want in a male lead. He was always there for Donna, always the first one to volunteer for the most dangerous quests. Him and his bat-wielding skills saved lives, while his kindness and compassion helped soothe those that survived. I loved him so much! But sometimes, I thought he deserved more than Donna and her airheadedness. But, like I said, he was steadfast in his friendship with her all the while wanting more.

And that takes me to the "love triangle" between Donna, Liam, and Deke. Boy, I think this love triangle took away my enjoyment from the story. It was just all so very high school and it didn't really make the book light so much as annoying. Donna spent maybe half the book thinking about Liam, describing how utterly perfect he is, that his looks made him seem like a God, and how all she wanted was to talk to him, for him to notice her. She spent half the time wondering about him that she totally missed it on the MOST OBVIOUS CLUES EVER. Or maybe it was just obvious to me. 

Not to mention, the author made sure to add a character from every single clique from high school. The cheerleaders, the emo/goth kid, the nerds, the jock, the newspaper staff, the wannabe rapper. Every single one of them were so cliche and had very little depth. 

Honestly, this plot wasn't very deep. It's not to say I didn't like it, but there wasn't much depth to the story-line, and all of the deaths and heartbreak didn't make my heart ache for the characters. I still don't really understand how all of it started, and I still don't get what the voices Donna was hearing mean. It was all speculation at the end, really. And that takes me to the end of the novel--an ending that inspires hope and change to come. It was an easy ending for the book, a safe one.

If you're looking for a book that's not going to make you think, that's going to provide with you some light, fluffy fun, then you're in the right place. Donna of the Dead wasn't the best zombie book I've ever read, but it wasn't bad. It was right there between good and please-tell-me-this-isn't-how-people-would-act-in-a-real-apocalypse. 

NERC Review #11: Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

*I received an eARC of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this book because of one thing: Edgar Allan Poe. I love his work, even if it is dark, morbid, and generally horror-like. Plus, this book sounded really dark and creepy, which I love. But I thought Of Monsters and Madness was really "tame" compared to other paranormal/horror fiction novels I've read. I wanted something more.

Rating: 3 stars!

Let me just say that I really enjoyed Annabel Lee's POV. She was a likable character who came to live with a father that abandoned her and to a society that has all kinds of rules for women. Her innocence and general view that there is good in everyone was refreshing. However, sometimes she forsake commonsense. There's a murderer on the loose in the marketplace? That doesn't matter to her, because she goes there so many times and even once on her own. Even after learning about Allan, she still decides to meet him. ALONE. It was decisions like those that made me cringe. No sense of self-preservation, really. But if she had to risk her life for someone she loved, she'd do it in a heartbeat. That balanced out her need to rush headfirst into a dangerous situation.

The secondary characters all played their own roles in this novel. I generally liked them (except a few), although they weren't major players. I loved Maddy, and how she became a good friend to Annabel. Her grandfather was also a lovable character, a man who just wants to know his granddaughter and give her a good life now that she's lost her mother. I liked Allan, the quiet poet who is also dark and mysterious. 

But the romance between him and Annabel was a little too underdeveloped for me. I think it has to do with the fact that this is set in an historical period, and the romances tend to be sweet, innocent, and not filled with angst (at least for YA novels). I just wanted a little more out of them, and maybe more interactions. I didn't think there'd been enough to warrant a deep love. 

Presumably, their romance will be further developed in the sequel. And yes, there is a sequel. I didn't even think there would be one until that horrid cliffhanger! I just don't know if I'm really excited to read it. I won't be counting down the days to its release, that's for sure. I don't even know where it's going to go.

But the thing that I really hated about this novel was the fact that it was so light, even with the gothic and horror feel to it. I was never scared. I never bit down on my nails in suspense. I pretty much read all of this novel in my classes, which could be the reason why. However, I don't think it is. Not to mention, the mystery behind Allan was extremely easy to figure out. It might have been easier for me to figure out because I skimmed the reviews on Goodreads. But it just wasn't played up enough for me, and the novel wasn't as dark as I imagined it'd be. I was slightly disappointed because of that.

I liked Of Monsters and Madness, and I might even read the sequel. But the mystery was so easy to guess, and the novel just wasn't that dark. And I don't think Edgar Allan Poe lovers will enjoy this book. 

Cover Reveal: My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

LOOK AT THIS GORGEOUS COVER!!!

I SERIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS!! :)

BLURB:

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

PUB DATE: April 21st, 2014

LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Sweet-Life-Entangled-Teen-ebook/dp/B00HTJH9J0

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-not-so-super-sweet-life-rachel-harris/1118048798

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17930616-my-not-so-super-sweet-life

***

Author Bio: 

Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.

A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life's problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Website: http://www.rachelharriswrites.com/

Cover Reveal: Make It a Double by Sawyer Bennett

MAKE IT A DOUBLE

BY USA Today Best-selling Author Sawyer Bennett

Last Call, #2

Adult Contemporary Romance

Releasing April 21, 2014

Cover designed by Vitalink

Synopsis:

Brody Markham has endured a nightmare, spending the last five years in prison and losing everything that was dear to him. Now he’s back home, trying to survive in a world he doesn’t recognize anymore. While his family and friends desperately try to reach through to him, he shelters himself further and further away from their love.

Alyssa Myers has worked her entire life to distance herself from the luxurious and privileged lifestyle in which she was raised. Running her non-profit agency, The Haven, she is content to spend her days helping abused animals find sanctuary, which fulfills her in a way that money just can’t buy.

Maybe it’s that she recognizes in Brody some of the same characteristics she sees in her homeless wards, but Alyssa is powerless to stop her personal quest to make Brody whole again.

While Brody struggles to surface from the darkness, Alyssa tries to protect her heart in case he’s not willing to accept the light that she offers him.

*MAKE IT A DOUBLE can be read as a stand-alone*

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Cover Reveal: Fragile Line by Brooklyn Skye

Fragile Line

by Brooklyn Skye

Release Date: 04/21/14

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

It can happen in a flash. One minute she’s kissing her boyfriend, the next she’s lost in the woods. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Cox is losing time. It started out small…forgetting a drive home or a conversation with a friend. But her blackouts are getting worse, more difficult to disguise as forgetfulness. When Ellie goes missing for three days, waking up in the apartment of a mysterious guy—a guy who is definitely not her boyfriend, her life starts to spiral out of control. 

Perched on the edge of insanity, with horrific memories of her childhood leaking in, Ellie struggles to put together the pieces of what she’s lost—starting with the name haunting her, Gwen. Heartbreakingly beautiful, this poignant story follows one girl’s harrowing journey to finding out who she really is. 

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. Her Best-Selling New Adult debut, STRIPPED, is out NOW! Represented by Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary Agency.

Author Links

   

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Cover Reveal: Search by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Here's the cover for the second book in Alyssa Rose Ivy's Empire Chronicles series, Search!

Search (The Empire Chronicles, Book 2) *New Adult Paranormal Romance* 
Casey isn't human. The revelation should terrify her, but it doesn't. Instead it excites her. Too bad not everyone is as excited as she is. Torn between two lives, the only one she's ever known and her life as a paranormal princess, Casey has to decide whether she can trust the man she loves. Sometimes being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be. 
SEARCH Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18808392-search  

Soar (The Empire Chronicles, Book 1) 
In the city that never sleeps the Chronicles continue… Serving coffee is temporary, just like Casey’s year off from school. She’s going to come up with a plan to stay in New York City and go back to college, and that plan does not involve dating a paranormal creature—let alone two. Running the supernatural society of New York is not as fun as it sounds, especially when you still have to answer to your ex-girlfriend’s fiancé. Toby doesn’t mean to bring Casey into the chaos of his life, but he can’t resist the girl who makes him smile when he thought no one else ever could. Jared’s in New York checking out a security risk for his best friend, the king. He plans to return to New Orleans quickly, but not if it means losing his chance with the brunette who pretends she wants nothing to do with him. In over her head with a bunch of winged creatures who most definitely are not angels, Casey has to figure out who to trust with her life and maybe her heart. 

Amazon & Barnes & Noble

ABOUT ALYSSA ROSE IVY: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand. 

Links: 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy 
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy 
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alyssaroseivy/ 
Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/ 
SEARCH Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18808392-search 

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Cover Reveal: Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert

Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series, #2)

by Juliana Haygert 

Genre: NA contemporary romance

Word Count: 80,000

Release date: June/2014

Cover by: Okay Creations

Summary from Goodreads:

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.**

Check out the Pinterest board!

 

Companion Book:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

About the Author:

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Author Links:

    

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Trailer Reveal: Fury by Fisher Amelie

Here it is! The trailer for Fury by Fisher Amelie! :)

 

FURY Synopsis: This is Ethan Moonsong's book. Synopsis to be revealed at a later date. Fury is a Mature Young Adult/New Adult contemporary romance novel and is a part of Fisher Amelie’s Seven Deadly Series. 

Fisher Amelie Bio: 

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum& Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client's said, 'Hey! You're funny. You should write books'. Which in turn she said, 'Hey, get out of here! This is the lady's restroom.' While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

Links: 
Website: http://www.fisheramelie.com/ 
Blog: http://fisheramelie.com/blog/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FisherAmelie 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fisheramelie 
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FisherAmelie?feature=watch 
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4849669.Fisher_Ameli 
FURY Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18332364-fury?ac=1

Secret Announcement of K.A. Tucker

Fans of K.A. Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths, we have a SUPER exciting announcement: On September 1, 2014, Atria is releasing a PREQUEL NOVELLA to Ten Tiny Breaths that tells the story from Trent's point of view! It's called IN HER WAKE, and we cannot wait one more breath to read it! :)

About IN HER WAKE: Cole Reynolds had it all. And then one night he makes a bad choice... and loses everything. When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he'd be able to lean on his best friends. The best friends that have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they're gone. Worse, there's the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys. Everyone assures him that they know it wasn't intentional and yet he can't ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. The all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won't so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip of what once was important-college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It's not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness. And there's only one person who can give that to him... Are you as excited about this as we are?? And...this is going to be available at the great price of $.99!!

***

And while you're at it, pre-order the gorgeous paperback of FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE, hitting bookstores on 4/1!

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Indiebound * BooksaMillion * Simon & Schuster

About FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE:
Owning a strip club isn't the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that. Twenty-two-year old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting anddancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her doesn’t need to complicate her life with romance. Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.  

***

ABOUT K.A. TUCKER: 

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.   

LINKS: 
Blog: http://www.katucker.blogspot.ca/ 
Website: http://www.katuckerbooks.com/ 
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/K.A.Tucker.Author?fref=ts 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleenatucker 
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4866520.K_A_Tucker
FOUR SECONDS TO LOSEGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571140-four-seconds-to-lose?ac=1 
Atria: http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/atria

Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters Release Day Launch and Review

Reclaiming the Sand Synopsis:

Bully and victim. 
Tormenter and tormented. 
Villain and hero. 

Ellie Mccallum was the bully. The Tormenter. The Villain. Taking what she wanted, stomping over anyone that got in her way. Feelings, futures, and relationships be damned. She felt no emotional connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable. 

Particularly Freaky Flynn. 

Growing up, Flynn Hendrick was known only as “Freaky Flynn.” He lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up. 

And moved on.

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.

When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other. 

And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds.

But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the farther you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

Buy Links:

AmazonUK

AmazonUS

***

My Review!

This is the first book I've read by A. Meredith Walters, and it definitely won't be the last. What a beautifully written, powerful novel about bullying, second chances, and a love that defies the wrongdoings of the past and that leads to a brighter future.

Rating: 4.5 stars!

I was nervous about starting Reclaiming the Sand. I've read many novels where a character has some kind of developmental disorder/mental health problem. I've even read Look Me in the Eye, which is a true novel about a guy with Asperger's and how he lived. It was interesting, to say the least. But most of the time, books don't do them justice. Case in point: Song of the Fireflies and Patch Up. I thought the way the mental health problems in those characters were horribly portrayed and terribly written. It made me cautious going into this novel. 

But I respect the hell out of the author for how she portrayed Flynn and his Asperger's syndrome. It's a developmental disorder that is hard to handle and not always diagnosable because it closely resembles Autism. If you have Asperger's, you don't understand social rules, don't have any empathy, and don't know how to interact with other people very well. Basically, it makes you a sociopath. And the author made me absolutely adore Flynn and his quirks. His Asperger's was very well written; his POV was very believable and real. It was handled with such genuine care.

Now, I had a hard time liking Ellie McCallum. She's a product of the ever helpful foster care system, and she's grown up in tough situations and with a harsh attitude. Her life is work, friends who don't give a damn about her, and parties every night. She's never tried to make her life any better, until she looks at a brochure for the community college. It's a choice that puts her on the path to a brighter future, one she's only beginning to recognize and want for herself. 

But that all changes when she sees Flynn again. These two have a history, one filled with hateful words and tentative smiles. A bond formed between them long ago, even when teenage rebellion and a night of wanting to show off destroys it. 

I loved the development of Ellie's and Flynn's relationship. It was believably genuine and real, full of firsts and lasts, filled with forgiveness and warmth. Flynn has come a long way from the teenager he used to be, but he's still trying to read facial expressions and still trying to understand social norms. Ellie has changed, but not by much. She's still a little embittered about life, and it takes her a long time to stand up for hers and Flynn's relationship. But that was believable, because Ellie isn't one to just change for one person. She has to make changes for herself. She comes to realize that, without Flynn and his caring, beautiful heart, she will still be back to square one unless she can open up and let him in. And it takes a strong person to understand someone like Flynn and still stay by his side through it all. Ellie is most unselfish when it comes to him, because she loves him more than she's ever loved anybody. More than she loves herself. And Flynn is a forgiving person who has never stopped loving her.

Forget secondary characters, though. They all suck. Dania, especially. I thought Ellie should just sever all ties with that bitch. When Dania needed Ellie's help, I got pissed that she actually went and was okay with everything that that selfish, needy, jealous character gave her all these years. I don't care if she said sorry; it's not enough. 

Reclaiming the Sand was about second chances, forgiveness, and healing. It was about two characters who bonded over their mutual aloneness and about being outsiders. It was about a girl who just wanted a life she could be proud of and a boy who was only trying to be normal. This book was powerful, a truly amazing love story between a "bad girl" and a boy with Asperger's. 

***

A. Meredith Walters  Bio:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

Links:

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Reclaiming the Sand Goodreads

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