**Early Review ~ Home ~ JA Huss**

Home 
Social Media #6
Release Date: November 5, 2014
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review; also pre-ordered my own copy
Rating: 5 Bookworms

Synopsis

I just want my Grace back.

I want the girl I found sending me dirty tweets on Saint Thomas. I want the girl who reluctantly gave in to my charms and let me boss her around. I want the girl who sent me to my knees and made me imagine what her fairy tale would look like with me in it.

I just want to move on.

I want to plan the future and think about kids and preschools and college funds. I want everything she ever wanted, and I want us to make it happen together.

But the media needs more from us. More dirt. More pain. More payment for past transgressions.

You can't change the past. And even though Grace is ready to put her demons to bed, mine are just starting to get restless. Because when you've silenced as many enemies as I have over the years, you know that secret won't stay buried forever.

Home is the perfect ending for Grace and Vaughn. There were a few bumps along the way but where they landed gave me warm fuzzies.

I said at the beginning of this series that one of the things I liked most about Grace was her strength - her feistiness. Over the course of the series, she lost some of that zeal she'd seemed to have. Home could also have been titled "Grace's Return" and again, it wasn't a simple or easy path, but she found herself again.

Vaughn was *almost* perfection. He made a few decisions, in an effort to protect Grace, that I wished he'd discussed with her instead. But that made him more real. Other than that, I loved him. We did see a little of the dominant Vaughn return, but he was desperately needed.

Ms. Huss had said at some point that this series was about how social media, or media in general, had impacted both Grace's and Vaughn's lives. I got how it shaped Vaughn's - he's a movie star, after all. But it took me longer to see how it had affected Grace, both positively - with the freedom she felt hiding behind her twitter handle, and negatively - concerning the tragedies she suffered as a teen and adult. But in Home, the evils of media are made very clear. It's shocking, dismaying, and disgusting to think about how some in the media prey on others' lives.

The way that Huss incorporated social media lingo into the titles and what was happening in the story is brilliant. That she could wrap so much story, so much emotion, so much suspense into each episode - well, that's just Huss' talent, in my opinion.

Okay, y'all. They're all out now (or will be tomorrow). No more excuses. Read this series and see what the fuss over Huss is all about. :)

**Teaser Tuesday ~ #43**

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!


FYI - For those of you who've been waiting for the entire Social Media series to be available, your wait is almost over. Home releases on Wednesday. RIGHT NOW, you can get Follow (#1), Profile (#5), and pre-order Home for *99 cents* each. So get started!! Go on. I'll wait. :)

This is my last Social Media teaser...  *sniff* And I even made it all by myself! :)

***

Home (Social Media #6) 

by JA Huss

Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

I just want my Grace back.

I want the girl I found sending me dirty tweets on Saint Thomas. I want the girl who reluctantly gave in to my charms and let me boss her around. I want the girl who sent me to my knees and made me imagine what her fairy tale would look like with me in it.

I just want to move on.

I want to plan the future and think about kids and preschools and college funds. I want everything she ever wanted, and I want us to make it happen together.

But the media needs more from us. More dirt. More pain. More payment for past transgressions.

You can't change the past. And even though Grace is ready to put her demons to bed, mine are just starting to get restless. Because when you've silenced as many enemies as I have over the years, you know that secret won't stay buried forever.

***Teaser***

**Blog Tour Early Review & Giveaway ~ Eight Days a Week ~ Amber L. Johnson**

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Amber L. Johnson's Eight Days a Week. My stop includes all the details on the book, my review, and a giveaway!

Eight Days a Week

by Amber L. Johnson
Release Date: November 6, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop
Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, 
and TWCS PH
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

A "manny" should always mind his own business. 

And he definitely shouldn’t fall in love with his boss.  

Synopsis

Gwen Stone has secrets she’s not ready to reveal. After a recent promotion at work, she needs a caretaker for her children. She’s frenzied and in a lurch and pretty much ready to hire the first person who comes along. So she does.

Andrew Lyons needs to get out of his sister’s apartment, and a Craigslist posting may be the answer to his prayers. But what he thought was an ad for a room rental turns into a job offer he can’t refuse. Accepting the nanny position could change his life, if only he had a clue how to be a grownup.

A working mother, a shirtless “manny” who looks good in a towel, two children who need more than a babysitter, and hours of kids’ TV can only spell disaster for everyone involved. Because a manny should always mind his own business.

And he definitely shouldn’t fall in love with his boss.

Not too long ago, I read Amber L. Johnson's Puddle Jumping and fell in love with her writing and her voice. So when I was asked if I'd like to read Eight Days a Week, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed.

Eight Days a Week was something a little different as Ms. Johnson wrote it from a male's POV. I think she nailed it. Andrew Lyons, when we first meet him, is cocky, rather narcissistic, but smart and talented, with a penchant for playing pranks on his older sister. I wasn't immediately enamored by him, although he did make me laugh. But it wasn't long after his taking a job as a manny that I could see the special man hidden behind the snarky prankster.

Gwen Stone is so selfless and giving, smart, beautiful, but not quite self-assured. When she hires Andrew as a manny for her two children, he, and I, got the impression things were a certain way. But you know what they say about assuming. When the truth of her situation is revealed, I along with Andrew fell even harder for Gwen.

Bree and Brady, Gwen's kids, well...I adored them! They made me laugh and cry. Bree was such an oldest child - so grown up before her time. And Brady, once he started talking to Andrew, stole my heart.

Eight Days a Week is so many things. It's a story of growing up. It's a story of forgiveness. It's a story of finding yourself and finding love. And it's a story about coming home - once you figure out where home is. It's a lovely, heartwarming, and emotional story.

Since I have an avid Beatles fan in my house, I quite enjoyed the song and album titles used as chapter headings. The way they related to the chapters was brilliant. I asked my son if there was a pattern to them but he didn't see one. I had thought maybe there was a correlation between the Beatles' growth as song writers and Andrew's growth. Whether or not it exists, I truly enjoyed watching Andrew mature - and Gwen, Bree, and Brady's role in it.

Eight Days a Week gave me another reason to love Johnson's writing. She has a way of creating rich characters and poignant stories. I look forward to reading more from her.

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

Amber is a full-time mom and a full-time wife who is employed full time and writes when she can. She believes in Happily Ever Afters that occur every day—despite the obstacles real life serves up on a regular basis. Or perhaps they’re sweeter simply because of them. She always has two rubber bands on her wrist, a song in her head, and too much creamer in her coffee cup that reads ‘Cocoa,’ because she’s a rebel.

If she’s not at her desk, with her boys, or behind the computer, she’s supporting live music with her arms raised above her head and her eyes closed, waiting for the drop.

Twitter * Facebook * Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Praise for Eight Days a Week

"Laugh-out-loud story about a guy who goes to look at a room to rent and discovers it comes with a job - that of live-in nanny to two damaged kids. So Andrew Lyons accidentally becomes the "manny". Written in his POV, this book chronicles his hilarious escapades as he looks after and grows to love Bree and Brady, and his employer, Gwen. His pranks and spot-on observations about kids' TV shows had me giggling, but there were a few serious moments worthy of a sniffle as well. The star of the show may be Don, though - you'll just have to read this book to find out about him! Highly recommended." 

 - Andrea Goodreads Review

**A Month of Giving Thanks ~ #2**

Berls @Fantasy is More Fun and Michelle @Because Reading are hosting A Month of Giving Thanks. I thought it was a great idea as Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday and I'm grateful for so many things. I may not manage a post every day but I wanted to kick off the month right.

***

I'm grateful for having children who are readers! My oldest daughter recently admitted to us that she used to use a flashlight and read under her covers once we'd tucked her into bed. :) I have pictures of my son (if they were easy to access, I'd show you) surrounded by books and asleep where he'd been reading. My younger daughter likes to re-read books over and over - she says she always get something more. And of course, since they read I can put them work writing reviews here. Well, at least two of them. Yep, I'm talking about you, Berk. ;)

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

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!

***

First of all, I just realized I never published my post for October! The theme was Austin City Limits Music Fest. I love ACL and it was where I first saw The Avett Brothers. If any of y'all have read Slammed by Colleen Hoover, you know of the band. When I read Slammed, I'd thought I was one of the few who knew of the band, so it was awesome to see them highlighted and know someone else loves them just as much as I do! Here was my choice:

This month's theme is Foreign Language. ;)  My pick comes from my t.v. watching days - anyone remember Providence? James' pick bends the rules a bit because it's an American band - the song just happens to be in French. My girls' picks? Japanese, of course, And Jax picked an instrumental song! Do you have a favorite song in a foreign language? Here are ours:

My Pick 

James' Pick




Sky's Pick

Berk's Pick

Jax's Pick

**Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged ~ #40**

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged (gifted or won) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews, and any other bookishness I want to share. :)

Here's what was added to my ereader and/or my physical library this week:

BOUGHT

Tall, Dark, and Deadly was only 99 cents. I picked up Fractured Legacy because Jennifer @Donnie Darko Girl said it was awesome and it was *free*. The Savage Series, DeadBorn, One Night with Her, and Darkness of Light were all *freebies* so I don't feel too badly having one-clicked them despite needing more books like I need a hole in my head. ;) Thanks to Jennifer @Bad Bird Reads for the freebie alerts. 

BAGGED

I received an eARC of Home. Y'all. Yeah, it's good. :) My review will post later this week.

Last Week's Reviews

True by Erin McCarthy
The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken

Upcoming Reviews

Eight Days a Week by Amber L. Johnson
The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak
The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children by Margaret E. Alexander
Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Heat by Kailin Gow
Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha

**My TBR List #2 ~ What Shall I Read Next?**

My To-Be Read List is a new meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. Michelle has been doing this for awhile and recently decided to extend the fun for us all. I thought it was a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

This month, I'm doing a Penned Con-themed edition. I'm giving you choices from three authors that were at Penned Con. AND I'm doing a giveaway for a signed ereader cover (I had it signed when I was at Penned Con in September) and various swag.  Here are the choices:


Roseline Enescue didn't ask to become an Immortal, to have all the guests at her wedding slaughtered, or be forced into marriage with a man whose lust for blood would one day ignite the vampire legend. Willing to risk everything for a chance at a normal life, Roseline escapes to America. Terrified her husband Vladimir will find her, Roseline enrolls as a senior in Chicago's elite Rosewood Prep schoo. Mingling with humans is the last place he would look for her. But her transition into the human world isn't easy. Mortal men flock after her while cutthroat girls plot her demise. Yet Roseline remains relatively unfazed by the petty hysteria until she falters into the arms of Gabriel Marston, reluctant MVP quarterback, unwilling ladies man, and sensitive artist in hiding. Troubled by the bond that pulls her towards the mortal boy, Roseline tries to ignor him, but Gabriel is persistent. As their lives entwine, Roseline begins to realize that Gabriel is much more than he appears. His ability to toss a football the entire length of the field and grind concrete into dust pales in comparison to the glowing blue cross tattoo that mysteriously appears on his forearms. Despite the forbidden bond between them, Roseline can't help wondering what Gabriel is: He's not human. He's not immortal. So just what is he?

***

Sometimes all you need is Patience.

Life's been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn't quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together, but she's a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him.

Zeke isn't the only one who's broken, and for the first time, in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. He's unlike anyone she's ever met with his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren't so easy to find.

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***

***

Once upon a time two lawyers fell in love across a courtroom...
Gabrielle Ginsberg was a public defender with plenty of nerve and Braden Pierce was an assistant district attorney with a whole lot of swagger. Gabrielle wanted Braden and Braden wanted Gabrielle.
And Cameron wanted Gabrielle.
And Marla wanted Braden.
And Cole wanted Gabrielle.
And Mrs. Mason wanted Braden.
And an anonymous letter writer wanted to keep Gabrielle and Braden apart.
Together Gabrielle and Braden discovered many important things, like which doors at the courthouse actually locked, and that desks could be useful for more than writing. They also found out that the path of love was not always smooth, and it was sometimes tread upon by some really wacky people, like a confused fanny grabber, an eighty-two year old pothead and a gentleman who threw a wine and cheese party in his pants. Could true love overcome a lack of privacy, interference by jealous rivals and the insanity of the criminal court system?



Okay, so now you get to vote. ;)

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The ereader cover is actually a Nook cover but my Kindle Paperwhite fits in it just fine. So, it fits a Nook Glowlight, Kindle Paperwhite, and probably a Kindle. Just a few names on it: Abbi Glines, CD Reiss, CJ Roberts, Tara Sivec, Jasinda Wilder, Colleen Hoover, Mia Sheridan, those authors above, of course, and more. :) I have various swag I'm throwing in as well, some signed, some not.

This giveaway will run until the 29th, when my review of whichever book wins is posted. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**A Month of Giving Thanks ~ #1**

Berls @Fantasy is More Fun and Michelle @Because Reading are hosting A Month of Giving Thanks. I thought it was a great idea as Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday and I'm grateful for so many things. I may not manage a post every day but I wanted to kick off the month right.

***

For this first day of November, I'd like to give thanks for my husband. I know, I know...cliche, right? BUT my husband is very supportive and supporting of my passion for reading and writing. Seriously. He may not always like seeing the credit card bill ;) but he lets me talk his ear off about whatever characters are making me swoon, pissing me off, or making me cheer. He takes on my role as a mom so that I can attend book conventions. (and playing chauffeur, chef, maid, etc., to our kiddos is work! ;) He does whatever he can to facilitate me having time to read, blog, and work on my book. And I know I take him for granted sometimes - as he does me. But I'm very grateful for all his support and love!

Hugs, honey!!