**Sidekick Showcase ~ #51**

Sidekick Showcase (previously known as Sidekick Saturday) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

**********************************

August's themes are Artistic, Musical, Twins, Humanitarians Adventureer, Has or Should Have a Motorcycle ~ a little something for everyone ;)

My pick this week:
Derek Souza
from Kelly Armstrong's Darkest Powers Series

Hmm, I was thinking Derek would serve as a guy who should have a motorcycle. I mean, is a werewolf, and as such, he's tall and broad. And he absolutely looks like he should be in a bike even though he's only 16. But he could also serve as humanitarian for his efforts to save the kids being experimented on by the Edison Group. And in that way, he could also be seen as an adventureer since he has to do some crazy things in order to accomplish that end. 

Derek is extremely protective of his foster brother, Simon, and particularly Chloe Saunders. Actually, he's very protective of anyone whom he loves and would lay down his life for them. But if you don't fall into that group, don't expect him to lift a finger to help you. Derek is super-smart. He's very advanced academically and he's also quite street smart. He has some self-esteem issues since he's been treated like a monster for most his life. But he's also sweet and he can be kinda funny, too.
Bottom line, Derek is pretty awesome! ;)

***

"You saw a ghost, didn't you?" he said.
To my relief, I managed to laugh. "Hate to break it to  you, but there's no such thing as ghosts."
"Huh."
His gaze traveled around the laundry room, like a cop searching for an escaped convict. When he turned that piercing look on me, its intensity sucked the backbone out of me.
"What do you see, Chloe?"
"I -I -I don't s-s-s"
"Slow down." He snapped the words, impatient. "What do they look like? Do they talk to you?"
"Yeah."
I chewed my lip, then lifted onto my tiptoes. He bent to listen. "They wear white sheets with big eye holes. And they say 'Boo!'" I glowered up at him. "Now get out of my way."
I expected him to sneer. Cross his arms and say, Make me, little girl. His lips twitched and I steeled myself, then realized he was smiling. Laughing at me. He stepped aside. I swept past him to the stairs.
-Derek & Chloe, The Summoning

"Here," Derek whispered, pressing an empty Mason jar into my hand. He'd pulled me aside after class and we were now standing at the base of the boy's staircase. "Take this up to your room and hide it."
"It's a...jar."
He grunted, exasperated that I was so dense I failed to see the critical importance of hiding an empty Mason jar in my room.
"Its for your urine."
"My what?"
He rolled his eyes, a growl-like sound sliding through his teeth as he leaned down, closer to my ear. "Urine. Pee. Whatever. For the testing."
I lifted the jar to eye level. "I think they'll give me something smaller."
...
"You took your meds today, right?" he whispered.
I nodded.
"Then use this jar to save it."
"Save...?"
"Your urine. If you give them some of today's tomorrow, it'll seem like you're still taking your meds."
"You want me to...dole it out? Into specimen jars?"
"Got a better idea?"
"Um, no, but..." I lifted the jar and stared into it.
"Oh, for God's sake. Save your piss. Don't save your piss. It's all the same to me."
-Derek & Chloe, The Summoning

"And stop doing that," he said. "Backing away, giving me that look."
"Like you're scaring me? Maybe you are."
He stepped back so fast he wobbled and caught himself, and the look on his face - It vanished in a second, the scowl returning.
"I'd never hurt you, Chloe. You should know--" He stopped. Paused. Then wheeled and started walking away. "Next time? Handle it yourself. I'm done taking care of you."
-Derek & Chloe, The Awakening

"You were just worried about me."
An exhale, relieved that I'd understood. "Yeah."
I turned. "Because you think I'm worth it."
He put his fingers under my chin. "I absolutely think you're worth it."
"But you don't think you are."
His mouth opened. Shut.
"That's what this is about, Derek. You won't let us worry about you because you don't think you're worth it. But I do. I absolutely do."
-Chloe & Derek, The Reckoning

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song? ~ August**

My pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Movie Soundtrack ~ any song from a movie that makes you happy, giggle, feel good! ;)

My Pick 





Sky's Pick




Berk's Pick




Jax's Pick

**Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~ Kill Devil Hills ~ Sarah Darlington**

KILL DEVIL HILLS

Author: Sarah Darlington

Genre: New Adult Romance

More info: Goodreads

Synopsis:

He’s twenty-four. She’s eighteen.

His life is exactly the way he’s always wanted it to be...stable.

She’s quite possibly the very definition of unstable.

Noah saved her.
Georgina never wanted to be saved.

Growing up, Noah Clark was passed from one relative to the next until he finally ended up living with his abusive, alcoholic uncle in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Thanks in part to the unwavering love and support of his best friend, Ellie Turner, Noah survived those years, escaped his uncle, and grew into the man he is today. Now he runs his own business and lives a pretty normal, no-nonsense life—one where he maintains a high level of control.

Georgina is Ellie’s younger sister. Four months ago, Noah saved Georgie’s life, but he thought that was where his involvement with his friend’s sister would end. Now Georgie has returned home from the recovery facility her parents sent her away to and Noah, still haunted by the night that connects them, can’t stop himself from continuously trying to protect this girl he barely knows. But is he willing to give up all of the control he’s worked so hard to build in his life and risk everything for her? Even more importantly, would she do the same for him?

LINKS TO BUY 
(99c for release week only!!): 
Amazon I Amazon UK I Barnes and Noble I Kobo

Kill Devil Hills had a premise and a beginning that immediately hooked me. However, although I really enjoyed the story and the characters, I would have liked a little more back story. It would have given the story more depth.

Georgina (Georgie) Turner has just returned from a treatment facility where she was sent following her suicide attempt. She's spent the last 4 months learning to deal with the issues that drove her to attempt to take her life wile also thinking about Noah Carter - her sister's best friend and the man who saved her life.

Noah Carter is quiet and generally a loner. He has a few demons he's still dealing with but he employs a strict set of rules to maintain the control he needs. One of those rules is 'no drama' which would include staying away from Georgie. Trouble is, he can't seem to stop thinking about her or to squelch the protectiveness he feels towards her. 

The chemistry between Georgie and Noah is undeniable. And I liked the pull between them and the bond they forged the night of Georgie's suicide attempt.

"Her scars would forever connect us both to the night I saved her life. I liked that, too. I had to repress my desire to kiss each of her arms." -Noah

The story was really sweet. There were lots of reasons Georgie and Noah together didn't make sense. But there were reasons they did as well. I liked seeing Georgie's and Noah's internal debates on whether they should be together - seeing them fight the pull. There was something in them both that quieted the other's demons. I also enjoyed watching Ellie, Georgie's older sister, try to reconnect with Georgie. Ellie is protective of Georgie and doesn't judge her based on her previous or present actions. I liked that she was so supportive. And Rosie, the youngest Turner sister, sparkled in her few scenes. She also wanted to be there for Georgie but was sassy in her interactions with her sister, which I think Geogie needed.

I would have liked to have seen more development in Georgie's and Noah's relationship. While we could see that there were feelings there, we didn't get a real feel for why. Noah has been best friends with Georgie's sister, Ellie, for 10 years and has been such a constant presence around the Turner house that he has his own key. Yet, we're led to believe he and Georgie barely know one another because she was too tied up in her own life. I would have liked more insight into the struggles Georgie was enduring that led to her suicide attempt as well as a little more detail on Noah's tragic past. We're told that they each suffered but we don't see it. I also think Georgie's parents should have had more of a presence. They weren't as interested in Georgie's life as I would be had my daughter tried to kill herself.

Okay, this all makes it seem like I didn't really like Kill Devil Hills and that's absolutely not the case. It was a endearing story. I liked the small town setting. I liked the dynamics between Georgie and her sisters, Ellie and Rose. I liked the give and take between Georgie and Noah. And the heat between them as well. The dual POV worked well because getting inside Noah's head was enlightening and humorous. But in my opinion, because it dealt with some heavy topics, more detail would have given the story more depth. However, I would love to see Georgie and Noah's story continue. 

About the Author:

Sarah Darlington lives in Virginia with her husband and crazy-active 2-year-old son. She’s a former flight attendant, day-dreamer, traveler, and wannabe photographer. Her debut novel HE BELONGS WITH ME, a standalone, was released March 2014. KILL DEVIL HILLS will be the first book of a three book series. Each novel in this new series will feature a different couple's story. 

Stay connected with Sarah:

Goodreads I Twitter I Facebook I Sarah's Website I Instagram

Also by Sarah: HE BELONGS WITH ME {Amazon I Amazon UK}



GIVEAWAY:

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**Beyond the Books ~ #1 ~ Summer Vacation**

Welcome to my first Beyond the Books post. This post was inspired by Lexxie @Unconventional Bookviews' Up Close and (Un)conventional, who was inspired by Cuddlebuggery. It's meant to be a way for y'all to get to know me better on a personal level - Beyond the Books. ;)

By the way, my daughter, Sky, designed my header. I think she did a great job in drawing me! :)

In my first post, I thought I'd share about my recent vacation. This particular family vacation was organized around touring colleges for my oldest. What?!? How am I old enough to have a kid getting ready for college? Well, she's a junior this year and driving and I can still hardly believe it. Yep, I'm that old. *ha* Anyway, there are a few colleges from the East that are courting her, so we took her to check them out, as well as to have some fun in locales we'd never visited.

We traveled Skyline Drive from the north entrance of Shenandoah National Park to the south entrance, where we ended up near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was a lovely day-long drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains. And in one of the visitor's centers, we learned a great deal about the creation of this national park.

We arrived in Charlottesville, VA, in order to attend a tour of the University of Virginia. Since we were in the area, we visited Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello too. But this photo is on the grounds of UVA.

We visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War was fought. Gettysburg College is located here as well. We toured the campus, and then visited the Gettysburg National Historic Site and Museum. (Sky is very interested in the Civil War) We also visited Swarthmore College while in Pennsylvania. We all really liked the campus. :)

We also visited Seaside Park, New Jersey, for FUN!!

Baltimore, Maryland, was a stop on our trip in order to visit/tour Johns Hopkins University.

And we also toured Washington D.C.

As you can tell, we spent a lot of time traveling, saw A LOT, and learned so much. We also had a great time! (And Sky will probably end up at a college in the Pacific Northwest! ;)

**That's What HE Said ~ #12**

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

This week I'm picking my That's What He Said from:

***

Rock Chick Reckoning by Kristen Ashley

"I can't be the star in your sky when you're the only star left shining in mine."

-Mace to Stella

Y'all, this scene turned me into a puddle of goo. Seriously, I melted. And...I hate to say it but Mace is giving Luke and Hank a serious run for Hot Bunch Guy #1! ;) Oh, so this scene, Stella just finished singing Pearl Jam's BLACK to Mace...go listen to it, I'll wait...http://youtu.be/cs-XZ_dN4Hc 

This was his response. Well, after a serious lip lock. ;)

**#COYER Release Day Review ~ Bound Forever ~ Hanna Peach**

Happy Release Day, Hanna Peach!!

Bound Forever is now LIVE!!

***

Bound Forever by Hanna Peach

Bound #2 

Release Date: August 6, 2014

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Source: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

Synopsis

The stunning conclusion to Bound by Lies...

"Kitten"

Caden and I on the run. Together. But he still won't let me touch him and I know he is still keeping things from me. I am determined to uncover everything - at any cost. Even if it tears us apart.

Caden

Jacob is back. He's back and he knows about her. Now, everything that binds the three of us together are twisting and tightening, pulling us all together. I can feel the inevitable coming...

I don't know how this will end...all I know is, there will be blood.

Bound Forever was the perfect ending to the Bound duology. It combined all the steamy and the tension (eventually) I expected along with answering all my burning questions from Bound by Lies. Well, with the exception of one...

Bound Forever picks up where Bound by Lies ended. And Kitten is questioning whether she should completely trust Caden. He did just save her life but there are so many secrets and lies between them - mostly on Caden's side - it's hard to trust him...particularly with her heart. Caden, for his part, seems to realize, with a little help, that he's going to have to open up if he intends to continue building their tenuous relationship...and keep her protected from what's coming.

I delighted in the way Ms. Peach revealed everything. I was surprised and shocked at some of the back story. And my heart hurt for Caden and the events that shaped him into the man he is. Also, I understood his reasons behind hiding all he did from Kitten but I was elated once he began opening up.

I enjoyed the switch between past and present as well as the switch in POV between Kitten and Caden. The pacing was well done too. The one thing I missed was the intense suspense I'd enjoyed in the first book. Logically, I knew that some of the suspense would be negated by the illumination of the truths. But I had so enjoyed the riveting tension in Bound by Lies. I missed that element...until Ms. Peach socked me in the mouth with it. Wow! I was once again on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see how it would all turn out. And I was surprised and impressed with how things ended.

Bound Forever, with the exception of missing that initial gripping suspense, was brilliant. All was illuminated in a satisfying manner...except for one thing. Hmm...

Hanna began to write at the tender age of seven, starting with a daring and questionable autobiography entitled Go Suck a Lemon. Perhaps it was a little before its time.

After leaving school she agreed with everyong who said she needed to get a degree and a real job to become a proper adult. She kept writing as a hobby. After starting (and never finishing) several degrees and switching from multiple careers, she finally decided that being a real adult was overrated. In 2012, she sold everything, moved to Europe and began to write full-time.

Eternally restless, Hanna has lived in Indonesia, Australia, German and Scotland. She is currently residing in England.

She is addicted to coffee and chocolate and would one day like to own a dragon. 

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

**Teaser Tuesday ~ #30**

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

Happy Release Day, Sarah!!

Kill Devil Hills releases today!

Kill Devil Hills by Sarah Darlington
Release Date: August 5, 2014

Synopsis
He's twenty-four. She's eighteen.

His life is exactly the way he's always wanted it to be...stable. 
She's quite possibly the very definition of unstable.

Noah saved her life.
Georgina never wanted to be saved.

Growing up, Noah Clark was passed from one relative to the next until he finally ended up living with abusive, alcoholic uncle in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Thanks in part to the unwavering love and support of his best friend, Ellie Turner, Noah survived those years, escaped his uncle, and grew into the man he is today. Now he runs his own business and lives a pretty normal, no-nonsense life -- one where he maintains a high level of control.

Georgina is Ellie's younger sister. Four months ago, Noah saved Georgie's life, but he thought that was where his involvement with his friend's sister would end. Now Georgie has returned home from the recovery facility her parents sent her away to and Noah, still haunted by the night that connects them, can't stop himself from continuously trying to protect this girl he barely knows. But is he willing to give up all of the control he's worked so hard to build in his life and risk everything for her? Even more importantly, would she do the same for him?

***Teaser***

"Wow. This was exhilarating - Noah and I in the same freaking bed! Unfortunately enough, my Knight in Shining Armor had fallen asleep at record speed only moments ago."

**Spotlight Author Interview ~ Just Destiny ~ Theresa Rizzo**

I hope to have finished Just Destiny by the time this interview posts. I read rave reviews for it, so I one-clicked it, naturally, and asked Theresa if she'd mind doing an interview. Here is that interview and my review of Just Destiny will post soon. :)

***

Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo
Release Date: March 31, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis
What would you do if your whole world fell apart?
Jenny Harrison made some poor choices in the past, but marrying Gabe was the best thing she'd ever done. They had the perfect marriage, until a tragic accident leaves Gabe brain dead and her world in ruins.
Devastated by grief, she decides to preserve the best of their love by conceiving his child, but Gabe's family is adamantly opposed, even willing to chance exposing long-held family secrets to stop her. Caught in a web of twisted motives and contentious legal issues, Jenny turns to best friend and attorney, Steve Grant. Steve wants to help Jenny, but he has reservations and secrets of his own.
When something so private and simple turns public and complicated, will Jenny relent? What is Steve willing to sacrifice to help Jenny?

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’ve raised four amazing kids while I learned the craft and business
of writing. I grew up in Michigan, but have lived in New York, Illinois, California and finally, Colorado. I adore reading and writing romance and while my stories might stray from strict definitions of that genre, my books will always have a romance in it.

What do you do when you're not writing?

I love to take long walks with my husband and pup, read, landscape, make mosaics, play a little tennis, watch favorite TV shows like Big Bang, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Downton Abbey—we watch a lot of TV.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either while growing up or as an adult?

Nope. When I was a kid, I loved the horse stories—Black Beauty etc and The little House on The Prairie, then as an adult I love romance—nearly all the subgenres, but I’ll stray outside romance a little to read Jodi Picoult and Harlan Coben occasionally, and of course, the Harry Potter series and Hunger Games were brilliant.

Why are readers going to love Just Destiny?

Because they’ll love Jenny and Gabe and sympathize with and root for Jenny—hopefully. 

The 20s are tough years for a lot of us, filled with youthful mistakes—we’ve all been there, and anybody who’s loved another, will understand Jenny’s heartbreak when her beloved husband dies.

Also, the story brings up several interesting questions: Is it anybody’s business other than the wife’s, if she wants to have her dead husband’s baby? Should there be any laws governing that situation? 

There are in other countries, but not in the US. 

And More than 120,000 men, women and children are awaiting organ transplants in the US. Though 90% of people support organ donation, less than 45% of Americans have joined their state donor registry. Do you believe in organ donation? Have you signed up—if you do believe in organ donation? I do and I have.

*I do and I have, as well. :)

Is anything in the book based on real life experiences or is it all
purely imagination?

Pure imagination.

My husband was on a business trip on my birthday, so my sister and brother-in-law took me out to dinner to celebrate and I’d cut out this article in the newspaper about a woman being sued by her deceased husband’s family to keep her from having his baby after he was dead. 

The idea of having your dead husband’s baby seemed bizarre, but still it struck me as a frivolous, ridiculous lawsuit. I figured it wasn’t anybody’s business, after all once you get married, your body’s mine and mine’s yours, right?

My attorney sister got this puzzled look on her face and said, “Actually that’s a really interesting legal issue. I wonder if sperm is considered property . . .” 

And then my brother-in-law looked at her, saying, “I’m not sure I’d want you to have my baby after I’m gone.”

So we discussed some legal and moral implications of the situation and what had initially seemed so incredibly simple and private suddenly became complicated and intriguing, propelling me to do some research into the legalities and morality of the issue.

I was so fascinated with the idea that I had to build a book around it.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

This is a really great question! Hmm . . . I think my favorite chapter
is . . . chapter 15—several months after Gabe’s death and Jenny agrees to accompany Steve to a work Christmas party. This is the first time Jenny seems to set aside her grief for even a few hours to have a little fun and remember what it’s like to be alive and happy—if even for a brief time. It’s an uplifting chapter that made me feel optimistic that sometime in the future, Jenny will be able to be happy again.

What project are you working on now?

Right now I’m finishing polishing the pre-quell to Just Destiny. It’s a shorter book (about 180pgs) about Jenny and Gabe’s romance. How met and fell in love and how they became friends with Steve—it’s the set up to Just Destiny.

Thanks, Theresa!

Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. 

Theresa's debut book, He Belongs to Me, was a finalist in the General Fiction Category of The 2013 USA Best Book Awards and won the romance category of The National Indie Excellence Award. 

Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she currently lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty years. She’s raised four wonderful children who are now scattered across the country.

You can find Theresa on the web at www.theresarizzo.com, or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads.

You can order Just Destiny at Barnes & Noble, iBookstore, Smashwords, and Amazon.