Tuesday, April 1, 2014

**Blog Tour Review, Guest Post & Giveaway ~ GUNS ~ J.A. Huss**


Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for J.A. Huss' GUNS. My stop includes all the important details about the book, the trailer, a guest post, my review, and a giveaway!

If y'all haven't yet met Rook, Ronin and the gang, there's no better time. The Rook & Ronin Omnibus, which includes Tragic, Manic, and Panic, is **ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS**! 


To follow along with all the stops on the tour, click here.


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GUNS: The Spencer Book by J.A. Huss
(Rook and Ronin Spinoff)
Release Date: March 31, 2014
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Source: I received an eARC of this book but also purchased my own copy :)
Rating: 5 Beautiful Bookworms!!

Description

The Team is growing. It’s no longer just Ford, Spencer, and Ronin and the three new additions have Spencer Shrike off his booze, off his bikes, and paranoid to the extreme. Every Team member has a job, and every job is important—but only Spencer’s job keeps everyone alive.

Veronica Vaughn has put up with Spencer Shrike’s shit for years and where has it gotten her? A big fat nowhere. No ring, no house, no kids, and no promises. In fact, Spencer is worse than ever—completely distant and moody—and his fascination with weapons has turned into an obsession.

Now there’s another man in town with his eye on her. And she’s ready to jump ship. The last thing on Spencer’s mind is a relationship, and Veronica Vaughn has had enough.

But what if Spencer has a reason to keep Veronica at arm’s length? What if her life depends on his painful indifference? And what if… a very dangerous man with a very real vendetta sees through his ruse with killer clarity?

GUNS brings the entire Rook and Ronin series full circle. Every con, every lie, and every skeleton in the closet is back for one final shot at vengeance and the only thing standing in the way… is Spencer Shrike.




**TRAILER**




**GUEST POST**

Brandee wanted me to write about ‘nailing the male point of view’ in my books. I’m flattered that people are loving the guys in the Tragic Series and I think it’s because I hung out with a lot of guys in my life. Most of my best friends were guys growing up. I always had a best girlfriend, but for some reason, there were always guys in the friend zone with us. 

Guys are so different than girls. One time I was with my best friend Dena. We lived in Anaheim at the time and we were meeting these hot guys at this game center – a miniature golf place, arcade, go-carts and shit. So Dena and I hung out with these two friend-zone guys named Mike and Danny. Mike and Danny were not boyfriend material. They were just goofball friends we did lots of questionably legal things with. Mostly it involved drinking lots of beer on the beach and smoking pot. So we brought Mike and Danny with on this freaking date with these two hot guys and we told them to just stay in the car. Smoke their pot and be good. We’ll be back later. 

Yeah. Needless to say, the date ended abruptly when we caught the friend-zone guys driving the car around the parking lot yelling at girls from the window. We never got second dates with the hot guys. But Danny, Mike, Dena, and I stayed friends for a long time. ;) 

So I think I “get” the “guy” POV and my characters talk like the guys I know. When I started this series I had a very specific goal for each character and I tried to stay true to those traits in each book. All three of the guys are very different. Ronin is calm and patient. Ford is controlling and mysterious. And Spencer is protective and funny. So I think there is room for everyone to find a favorite. 

If these guys were real and I had to choose, I’d pick Ford. I like that he can be funny, even when he’s not trying, and I like that he just takes care of things without telling people. He’s got a lot of rules, but if you’ve read Taut, you know the rules don’t apply to Ashleigh. She’s running that show even though he doesn’t realize it.

Thanks so much for being part of the GUNS tour and having me on your blog, Brandee!


**Please note: Do NOT read GUNS if you have not read the Rook & Ronin trilogy. GUNS is not a standalone.**

*sigh* I truly hate that this series has to end - but I couldn't have asked for a better ending. J.A. made me giggle, made me swoon, and made me cry. I've loved every minute of this ride with Rook, Ronin, Ford, Ashleigh, Spencer, and Veronica. GUNS definitely went out with a bang!

In GUNS, J.A. give us more intrigue with some interesting plot twists, as well as lots of feels. I stated in a previous review that Spencer is 'the muscle' of the Team. This point is really illustrated in GUNSWith the trial approaching, tensions increased as Spencer, Ford, and Ronin worry over protecting their girls. And since Spencer's job is to keep everyone alive, the weight of this task falls heavily on his shoulders. We're made aware of all his reasons in treating Veronica the way he does as well as seeing his struggles in his treatment of her. But more than that, we get to see how protective and loyal he is to everyone on his Team. Although he would put one above the rest, Spencer would do anything to save his friends.

And then there's Veronica. She's a pistol! She's tough - she knows how to throw a punch and shoot a gun. But when it comes to Spencer, well, she melts into a puddle of goo. She hates not being a part of Spencer's Team. But mostly she hates not being a part of Spencer's life. 

I so love all these characters. I particularly enjoyed learning more about how Spencer initially wooed Veronica. I am, first and foremost, a Ford woman. But I will admit that Spencer would have free-reign with his airbrush and paints. :)

J.A. did an incredible job of tying up this story and leaving me absolutely fulfilled. It was fun, exciting, tense, swoon-worthy, blush-inducing and evoked such emotion from me. As raw as this story is, I appreciate all the details. I adore that J.A. incorporates things such as Rook and Veronica's feelings about one another, Ashleigh, and themselves. I laughed so hard at Ronin and Ford thinking they know their women so well...that they're the bosses in the relationships, when that couldn't be further from reality. And the epilogues...yes, two! Seriously satisfying!

I could go on and on with the fangirling. :) It's been such a pleasure getting to know these characters and live in their world, if only for a brief period of time. I've delighted in watching them grow, mature and 'figure it all out' on their own terms. 






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J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.





14 comments:

  1. Thanks for being on the tour, Brandee! Book 1 was a lot of fun (yes the only book I've read so far I fail! >.<) and I agree the male POV was really genuine and just great! I'm also fascinated when I read a girl POV from a male author, too!

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    1. My pleasure, Giselle! ;) You have to get caught up in this series though - MUST READ! *ha* I'm always amazed when the opposite sex can nail the POV so well...and I just love JA's writing! :)

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  2. The characters sound amazing and wonderful to hear about a series that is so well wrapped up

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    1. Oh they really, really are, Brandi. I really just wanted to write "*sigh* I'm so happy" for my review. :) Thanks for dropping by!

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  3. BRANDEE! Another fabulous Huss post that has me ripping out my hair! Oh man, I must get caught up someday!

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. Is it time for me to start yelling now so that you'll read Huss?!? ;)

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  4. WooHoo! That's a great guest post, JA! I'm still laughing about Ford thinking he controls things, but Ash is really running the show :D

    And I love your review, Brandee :D Mine is up tomorrow...

    Have a fantastic rest of the day, my dear *BIG HUGS*

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Thanks, Lexxie! As I said to Brandi - I really was just sighing in contentedness when I finished the book - so writing more than that was fun! ;) I can't wait to read your review tomorrow!! I'm so, so happy that I could make you a JA Huss fangirl! :) *BIG HUGS*

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  5. Thank you Brandee! <3 I'm thrilled so say that I think I've been on your blog for every book I've written! :)

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    1. Of course, JA! And YES I have reviewed EVERY ONE of your books on my blog. I look forward to continuing that streak! ;) Keep 'em coming!!

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  6. gah how am I still not reading any of these series, it sounds absolutely fantastic!

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  7. I'm so behind! I've been wanting to read this series forever! I have Tragic, so it's good to know I need to read the Rook & Ronin Trilogy beforehand. I couldn't choose between the three guys since I haven't read the books yet, but I LOVE that teaser pic above. Adore it! The guest post is awesome! I admire female writers who can really nail what guys sound like, and it sounds like JA definitely has the magic touch. :) Great review, girl! :D

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  8. Love your review too! I could fan girl all day too! I think Huss is an amazing author and I just loved how this all ended... My emotions were all over the shop!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  9. You and Lexxie are killing me! But I'll get caught up. Ford has always been my favorite, but I have room in my heart for Spencer. I'm glad Guns spun you about so much and gave you such a great ride! I hope you have a great week, Brandee!

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Now you know what I think...what are your thoughts??