Teardrop is out NOW!!!!

The wait is over...Teardrop was out in ebook YESTERDAY and the hardback is out TOMORROW!

To celebrate we have two fab clips to share with you!:

A Teardrop inspiration video from Lauren: 

An audio extract from Soundcloud: 

Book Review: How to Love (Katie Cotugno)

This is a love story. But it’s not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows.

This is real. This is life. This is how to love.

BEFORE:

Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember. But he’s never noticed her, until one day… he does. They fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, leaving a devastated – and pregnant – Reena behind.

AFTER:

Three years later and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter Hannah. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again.

After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer again?

I haven't read an emotional book for quite a while until this one and How to Love had me tearing up quite a few times. The teen drama/ relationship problems are not usually the type I go for, but this one definitely blew me away. The love story is not the 'normal' kind where boy-meets-girl-and fall in love story, but one that focuses on their lives after their paths collided.

what I liked was how the chapters alternated between the past an the present which helped understand Reena and Sawyer's relationship better. It was well thought of and written as the story line remained smooth throughout the book. It kept making me want to know more, that's for sure.

My heart kept twisting and wrenching for Reena. I felt sorry for her and the troubles she had to go through as a teen mum, but what I liked about her was her incredibly strong character and personality. Reena was more than capable and persevered through her hard times - especially with Sawyer gone. I liked Reena, but sometimes I didn't get her at all and her character is quite unpredictable. She obviously still loved Sawyer, but pretends as though she does not, yet it is so obvious by the way she becomes weak whenever he is around.

My first impression of Sawyer was that he was kind of a jerk. Yet, that did not hold out long. I soon found him quite sweet to Reena. Incredibly sincere. As the story alternated between the past and present, you will definitely notice the change in Sawyer.

How to Love is an incredibly book that I found so hard to put down. At times, I became overwhelmed with emotion I just have to stop. It's an amazing love story and  I didn't want this book to end at all.

Five Stars

Double Teardrop Tuesday special!

Okay, first and foremost, our apologies for not posting last week's Teardrop Tuesday. I'm am currently in Year 11 and am bombarded with assessments and exams so I spent all this time revising! But no worries, I found time again to post a review and a double special of Teardrop Tuesday :D.

Last Week

Ever wonder what Eureka will be like? Here she is, the very own star of Teardrop!

This Week's Teardrop Tuesday:

Wohoo! Only a week left until the publication of Teardrop! This week's post is all about the new fan/blogger trailer of Teardrop, and to go with it is a wonderful competition to win a sterling silver teardrop necklace and a signed copy of Teardrop!

It's all in here: http://laurenkatebooks.co.uk/index.php/when-did-you-last-cry/

Good Luck!

Book Review: The Sarantos Secret Baby (Olivia Gates)

He was as tall and dark as the devil...and was her family's hated adversary. But that didn't stop Selene Louvardis from wanting Aris Sarantos with her every breath. Or grabbing her one chance for a forbidden night with him.He was never supposed to learn she'd borne his child. But when Aris stormed back into Selene's life and discovered the truth, nothing would stop the ruthless billionaire from claiming his own. Not her family, not the billion-dollar contract at stake and certainly not something as inconvenient as "love."

My first thought after the book ended? I wish it was longer! With Olivia Gates' eloquence and a horde of truly lovable characters, this book is just about as good as it gets… almost! 

Let me tell you that I've read countless of contemporary romances with plots similar to this, wherein the heroine becomes a mother to the hero's child after an often short-lived affair (in this case, a hot, steamy weekend). As always, some time pass by (here it is 18 months) and some circumstance or the other reconciles our lovers and then voila, drama ensues! I have steered away from such novels of late because the recurring plot was starting to lose its novelty for me, but just when I thought I've had enough, I read just one more book and I'm sucked right back in! Would never have happened if I've read some other book, but it has this one and it is so good I cannot resist!

I bet Olivia Gates lives and breathes creativity because she has managed to somehow breathe life again into such a cliche plot. True, the background of characters could have done a little more exploring and their personalities could have shone thought a wee bit more in their actions, but I was just so glad I did not meet another angry hero hell bent on revenge and did not have to listen to another wronged heroine's self-pitying monologues that this flaw flew right by me. No irrational angst to cringe at here, folks! At last, AT LAST we have a heroine who is feisty, truly independent and one who - despite her obvious flaws, one of which of course just has to be an DNA-ingrained weakness for the hero (would normally annoy me but these moments were sexy enough to change my mind) - knows how to stand up for herself. No silly manipulations from one-party and overly dramatised misunderstanding here folks, we are actually shown how Selene and Aris fall for each other! Emotion is truly the focus of this book, and the author does it justice with her eloquent, romantic writing. What I love best in reading the interaction between Selene, Aris and Alex is actually glimpsing their devotion to each other and how every day life will likely play out for them post-epilogue, which is something my nosy romance-loving heart always want to know!

Special mention: Alex! I love love LOVE that baby. He is too cute! I love the time devoted by the author to the interaction between father and son, and the sweet little things babies do that melt everyone's hearts. It's easy to gloss over the child (despite he/she being central to the plot) and for me that always botched that heart-melting moment when father-meets-son/daughter. Every single time Alex was in this book I melted! 

The lack of angst is probably a double edged sword, because that's what I wanted more in this novel. Apart from the length, that is. If there was just a little more angst in there, I'd have given this a five star. The book is so obviously short though, that perhaps that was the reason why there was not more of dramatic, angst scenes in the book. Not to mention that a little too much of it would likely result in the plot adhering too much to the cliche of angry-vengeful-hero-and-misunderstood-but-angelic-heroine-with-a-child-in-between type. Then again, if anyone, Olivia Gates with her endless creativity is probably the author to find the right balance to get angst in there and polish everything to perfection. Might have just missed it in this book, but I sure can't wait for the book of her I read!

PS - I might have neglected to mention that Selene has three gorgeous, love-cynical brothers who I sure damn hope will have stories of their own! Really looking forward to read what Olivia Gates has in store for those three. I wonder who they get to be overprotective over (wish it was me, but oh well!)

Four Stars!

Teardrop Tuesday (Thursday....Friday?)

Okay, okay! So it wasn't posted on a Tuesday as it was supposed to be so it was moved to Thursday but I've been so busy dealing with school that I missed that one too. Sorry!

So what's the news this week? Get this, the brand spanking new finished copies are now in and they look BEAUTIFUL!

Check it out again!