Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Pieces of My Heart (Pieces #2) by Jamie Canosa

Kiernan Parks settled all the scores. He finished what he set out to do and then . . . he left. 

He left Jade. Heartbroken and weary. Existing one day to the next. One breath after another. The only way she knew how to move forward, forever missing a piece of her heart. Until an unexpected surprise throws her volatile life into upheaval once more.

He left Caulder. Guilt-ridden and grieving. Fighting to hold it all together. Not just for himself, but for the people he cares about. Staggering under the weight of his obligations.

He left them alone.

He left them together.

Buy it here on Amazon
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Haven’t read book #1 in the Pieces series yet? No, worries. Fall in love with the Parks boys from the beginning with Falling to Pieces (Pieces 1) for only 99 CENTS for a limited time! Or get it FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

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My Two Cents...

This series has been one of the most emotional series that I have ever read. It has made me ugly cry more than once, but I can't get enough of it. I love nothing more than to be emotionally destroyed by a good book, but Jamie takes it to a whole new level with this one. I love Cal and Jade as characters, and I loved watching them help each other heal and move forward into the future. I have been emotionally invested in these characters from the beginning, so I had high expectations going into this one, and Jamie didn't disappoint. It has everything you need in a good story - engaging characters, drama, angst, romance, a little laughter, and plenty of heart. There isn't anything that I would have changed. I would have liked to maybe see a little further into the Cal and Jade's future at the end, but overall I'm very satisfied with this final installment.

You definitely need to read the first novel, and I would also recommend reading Cal's novella, before picking this one up (click the links to see my reviews). I also recommend that you don't read it in public (unless you are cool with public displays of emotion) and that you keep tissues handy, because there is no way you are making it through this one without tears. This is a beautifully written series.

**Note: I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review

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Meet the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA/NA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate NY with her husband, and their three crazy kids . . . plus the cats, the bird, and the rabbit.

Author Links:

Facebook

Twitter

GoodReads

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Giveaway Time!!

Enter for a chance to win a necklace, just like Jade's!

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Angel (Pieces #1.5) by Jamie Canosa

We all hide from the people around us. Strangers, acquaintances, friends, even family only see the parts of ourselves we want them to see. We conceal the cracks and flaws beneath the polished surface we put on display. Because we think we need to. Because we think people won't like us if they see who we really are. Because our egos demand it.

We hide because we're proud. We hide because we're insecure.

But mostly . . . I hid because I was afraid.

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**Note: Angel is the retelling of Falling to Pieces from Caulder's perspective. You should only read this book after you have read Falling to Pieces.

Falling to Pieces was one of the purest love stories that I have ever read. It left me emotionally devastated and in tears, but I don't regret a second I spent with Jade and Kiernan. Jade and Kiernan's story was breathtakingly beautiful and equally as tragic, and Caulder, Kiernan's brother, was there to witness it all. Now we get to see the story from his perspective, and I have to say that I was even more emotionally destroyed seeing the events unfold from Cal's perspective than I was the first time. This is saying something, especially since I already knew what was coming.

 I liked Cal in the previous book, but he became real to me in this book. Cal became a truly dynamic character as his strength, his vulnerability, and his struggles were exposed. He is a character who is trying so desperately to keep it together, that it is only a matter of time before he shatters. I can't wait to see what is in store for him in the next installment in this series. It promises to be epic, and I am impatiently awaiting its release.

Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Falling to Pieces (Pieces #1) by Jamie Canosa

Introducing Falling to Pieces by Jamie Canosa

Suffering the bitter tongues of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend, Jade struggles just to look at herself in the mirror. She hates her life, her insecurities, her ineptitudes, but most of all . . . Jade hates herself. She wants nothing more than to disappear, and everyone seems happy to let her. Until Kiernan Parks moves back into town.

Jade’s been crushing on him ever since kindergarten, when his family moved away. But now he’s back, and looking better than ever.

Hiding is a way of life for Jade, but Kiernan insists on uncovering the real girl he’s sees trapped inside her. On drawing her out of her shell, and showing her that she is someone worthy of love. 

Together, they fight back the darkness she’s living in. But when they finally step into the light, will the secret Kiernan’s been trying to keep buried destroy Jade, once and for all? 

For some people, happy endings are a fairytale.

Get your copy here:

ONLY 99 CENTS for a LIMITED TIME!!!
Amazon
GoodReads 

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My Two Cents...

I am always excited when Jamie releases a new book, and I was even more excited when she approached me about being apart of the blog tour for Falling to Pieces. Once again, Jamie hits it out of the park. She has the amazing ability to create characters that you can't help but fall head over heals for. From the very first page, I was hooked. I instantly felt for Jade and loved the idea of Kiernan being her knight in shining armor. I flew through this book, unable to put it down, spending my valuable planning time at work, "reading one more chapter." I loved watching their story unfold. But be forewarned, this story doesn't have a happy ending. In fact, this ending left me a crying mess. It was excruciatingly beautiful, and left me with a book hangover. After I finished it, I found myself unable to think of anything else but this story, picking up my Kindle, again and again, to re-read my favorite parts. 

For those of you who have read my other reviews, you know that I love nothing more than to be emotionally wrecked after reading a good love story, and this book definitely left me emotionally destroyed. It is a bit of a departure for Jamie, and definitely more mature than her previous novels. It carries the NA label, but it does not fit the mold of what I have come to expect when I see the NA label attached to a book. If you are picking it up expecting tons of hot and steamy scenes, you will be disappointed. However, there is a maturity about this story that prevents it from being a YA novel. At it's core, it is an honest-to-goodness LOVE story. The love between Jade and Kiernan is the type of love that we all secretly pray to experience at least once before we die. The only thing that I would have wished for, is a happier ending.

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Up Next in the Pieces Series...

We can expect a novella, entitled Angel, featuring Kiernan's brother, Cal (release date TBA), as well as the continuation of Jade's story in book two (title/release date TBA). I know where I would like to see the story go, but I guess I will just have to see if my predictions come true. I'm really just hoping for a happier ending.

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Meet the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA/NA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate NY with her husband, and their three crazy kids . . . plus the cat, the bird, and the rabbit.

Author Links:

FB- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa

Blog- http://jamiecanosa.wix.com/author

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And Now for a Giveaway!

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Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Resisting Atlantis (Atlantis #1) by Jamie Canosa

I am super excited to be hosting one of my favorite YA authors, Jamie Canosa, and celebrating the release of her new book Resisting Atlantis. Check out the post below for my review, an author spotlight, and giveaway.

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What if everything you think you know . . . is wrong?

Cora is your average college freshman. Battling the evils of boring classes and noisy dorms, her greatest concern is how to attract the attention of the drool-worthy, party-god next door.

That is, until Kaden comes barging into her life, insisting everything she knows is false. The family and friends she grew up with don’t exist. Her entire past a carefully-crafted fabrication, created to replace the truth.

Her name isn’t Cora, it’s Cameron. And she isn’t from New York. She hails from Atlantis. Yeah, that Atlantis. Oh yeah, and she’s psychic. 

Crazy, right?

Except, tall, dark, and out-of-his-ever-loving-mind doesn’t come alone. Trouble follows, thrusting Cameron back into a world she can’t remember and a life she must reclaim if they’re going to make it out alive.

But there’s someone out there who doesn’t want her to remember.

Links:
Amazon
GoodReads

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When Jamie approached me about being part of the blog tour for her new book, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an ARC, even before I had read the blurb for Resisting Atlantis. Jamie became one of my favorite YA writers after I read her Fight or Flight series (which I highly recommend if you haven't read it). The thing that I love most about her writing is her characters. Jamie has an amazing talent for creating characters that you instantly care about and want to root for. You become so invested in her characters that their journey becomes your own. Every step of the way you are with the characters. You feel every emotion, every injury, every moment of triumph, and Jamie doesn't disappoint with her new series.

Once again, it was the characters that made this book for me. Cam is a strong female lead and her vulnerability makes her a relatable and believable character. Kaden is everything a male lead should be and has joined the ranks of my book boyfriends. The connection between the two was real and swoon worthy, adding the perfect dash of romance to this adventure story. I was invested in their story from page one and couldn't put it down. There is plenty of action and even a few twists that keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

My only criticism is that I wish the story contained a little bit more history or back story on Atlantis. As a history and Greek mythology nerd, I loved the idea of the story taking place there. The history/back story is essential to understanding the premise behind Resisting Atlantis, as the central conflict is a rebellion against the Palace. Most of what we learn about Atlantis and the rebellion is through what is explained to Cam as she tries to regain her memories, and I often found myself feeling exactly what she felt, that everyone around me knew something that I didn't and no one was sharing. Having more of a back story would have fleshed out the narrative a bit more and made it easier to connect to the reasons behind the rebellion. However, this "criticism" is probably more of a personal preference than anything. Jamie provides enough in the story to make it flow and make sense; I just wanted more.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This story has everything - adventure, humor, tragedy, romance - that makes for a good read. The characters are well developed and easy to connect to, and fellow nerds like myself will geek-out over the infusion of Greek mythology into the story line. There is a sequel, so be prepared for a cliffhanger. The next book in the series is called Restoring Atlantis, and I am excited to find out what is in store for Cam and Kaden.

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Meet the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA/NA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate NY with her husband, and their three crazy kids . . . plus the cat, the bird, and the rabbit.

Author Links:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JL_Canosa

Blog: http://jamiecanosa.blogspot.com

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Giveaway Time!

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Blog Tour ~ Now Or Never (Fight or Flight #2) by Jamie Canosa

Book Lover's Paradise is happy to host a stop on Jamie Canosa's Now Or Never blog tour. Keep reading to learn more about Jamie, a review of Now Or Never and an awesome giveaway!

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Meet Jamie Canosa - author of Now Or Never

About the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit.

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To move on,
Leave the past behind,
And build a new life with Jay.

That’s all Em wanted. After everything they’d been through together, they were both overdue their ‘happily ever after’. Too bad the world doesn’t work that way. Memories last longer than dreams and Em’s fears continue to plague her both day and night, interfering with that new life she so desperately craves.

To start over,
Secure a future,
And give Em the life she deserves.

That was Jay’s plan, but the past isn’t done with them, yet. While Em still struggles to overcome the ghosts of her past, Jay is forced to come face to face with his. When the skeletons in his closet step back into the light, Jay must decide what he will do—and what he will sacrifice—to protect Em from them.

Against all odds, Em and Jay are on the verge of having everything they’ve ever wanted. They’ve fought for it before, but is their love strong enough to endure any more heartache? The time has come for each of them to choose for themselves whether or not they will allow the past to continue to corrupt their future. And, together, they must decide, will it be . . . NOW OR NEVER?

Purchase Links

Amazon buy link
Goodreads link

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They were the missing pieces of each other. She needed him just as much as he needed her. 

Jay and Em thought their troubles were behind them. They had escaped their worst nightmares and come out on the other side together. But reality always has a way of stepping in and things are not as easy as they dreamed. Working themselves to the bone to make ends meet is nothing compared to the old fears that will not release them.

Em struggles daily with the fears of her past, which continue to interfere with the future she is trying to build with Jay. Jay is desperate to provide the future that he promised Em and can't help but feel that he is failing her. Their relationship is put to the ultimate test when Jay's past resurfaces and threatens Em. Jay is forced to make a painful decision, a decision that will leave both him and Em shattered. To Jay, protecting Em is more important, even if that protection means that he could lose Em forever.

His only chance, his only hope of protecting the truly fragile thing that love was, was to keep it as far from him as possible. In Jay's fucked up world, the only true, undeniable power love held was the power to destroy.

As their pasts close in on them, both Jay and Em find themselves plagued by old insecurities and fears. Each struggles to prove that they are strong enough on their own, failing to realize that together they are stronger than they ever will be apart. Can they realize this before they completely shatter each other hearts? Or will the past steal their future forever?

Just when I thought I couldn't love these characters anymore, Jamie delivers this heart-wrenchingly beautiful tale. After finishing Fight Or Flight, I wanted nothing more than to see Jay and Em ride off into the sunset. They deserved the sunset, the happily-ever-after. Hell, they deserved the castle complete with moat, a fairy godmother, magic lamp, and so much more for what they had been through. Unfortunately, life isn't a fairy tale, even in fiction. I knew it was a matter of time before the past caught up with Jay and Em. Pasts like theirs don't simply disappear. They demand to be faced, to be defeated.

"We've both been trying so hard to prove to ourselves that we're strong enough to do things on our own, but I think we were wrong. We're not strong enough alone. And that's okay, because we're not alone. I have you, and you have me, and nothing is going to change that."

This book had me all tied up in emotional knots. It was painful to watch these characters almost lose everything, but beyond gratifying when they realized that all the strength they thought they lacked could be found in the other. Finally, these two characters who deserve nothing but the best, have a real chance. There are many characters who are near and dear to my heart, but Em and Jay are in a category all their own. I never wanted characters or a couple to succeed so much. Love is a complicated thing. Nothing else has the power to both strengthen you and make you vulnerable all at the same time.

"I looked at you and I...I swear I saw a piece of myself. A piece I'd been missing. I can't explain it any better than that...You'd taken this dank, dilapidated hole in the wall unfit for human occupancy and turned it into a home. My home. Simply because you were there."

Jamie had me from the very first word, on the very first page. Now or Never is proof that even the most truest of loves can be tested, that sometimes faith isn't enough, that sometimes relying on someone else isn't a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Once again, my only criticism is that it was too short. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Em and Jay. I want more!!

Up next in the series...
Find out whether Ashlyn and Mason find their own happily-ever-after in Win or Lose

*Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

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And now...A Giveaway!!

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Cover Reveal ~ Now Or Never (Fight or Flight #2) by Jamie Canosa

Book Lover's Paradise is thrilled to bring you the cover and blurb for Now Or Never by Jamie Canosa, book two in the Fight or Flight Series. Make sure to stop by on November 2nd when I will be hosting a stop on Jamie's blog tour! 

Book Tour ~ Author Spotlight, Review & Giveaway ~ Sink or Swim by Jamie Canosa

Book Lover's Paradise is happy to host a stop on Jamie Canosa's Sink or Swim blog tour. Keep reading to learn more about Jamie, a review of Sink or Swim and an awesome giveaway! 

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Meet Jamie Canosa - Author of Sink or Swim

Author Bio:

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit.

Author links:
FB- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa?ref=hl
blog- http://jamiecanosa.blogspot.com/
GR - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150972.Jamie_Canosa
Twitter- https://twitter.com/JL_Canosa

Other books by Jamie - click the link for more info:
Fight or Flight
Dissidence
Vengeance (Dissidence #2)

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For the last 6 months, Allie Porter has been surviving on the streets after escaping the nightmare that was her homelife. When word reaches her that her mother is dying of cancer, Allie knows that she will have to return. Dean Ritter, Allie's best friend and on-again-off-again boyfriend, has spent the last 6 months wondering where Allie disappeared to and worrying for her safety. Now she's back and Dean is determined not only to figure out why she left, but to keep her from disappearing again. For Allie, being back home is like stepping back into her worst nightmare, like stepping back into Hell. Just as Dean fights to uncover Allie's secrets, Allie fights to keep them hidden. When the truth is finally revealed, Allie will need to make the ultimate decision - does she sink? Or swim?  

I first fell in love with Jamie Canosa's writing when I picked up Fight or Flight. I instantly connected with her characters and knew that I had found an author that I would follow for many books to come. Her characters are endearing and her storylines are emotionally charged and compelling. Subsequently, Fight or Flight was also the book that introduced me to Allie. She was one of my favorite characters and I loved her smart and sassy attitude. When I heard that Jamie was releasing her story, I knew that I had to read it. Sink or Swim met every one of my expectations. The love story of Dean and Allie will leave your heart aching, pulse racing, and have you cheering in triumph.

Get your copy of Sink or Swim! Click here.

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And now for the giveaway!!

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Sink or Swim Cover Reveal & Giveaway

There are some things you just can't walk away from.

When sleeping in vacant warehouses and dark alleys becomes preferable to living at home, something is seriously wrong. But when word reaches Allie that her mother is facing a life threatening illness, she has no choice but to return to the place of nightmares. Leaving wasn't a choice, it was a necessity, and if returning hadn't been equally necessary, Allie never would have set foot back inside that hell-hole.

Dean is no stranger to hardship, but the day Allie walked out of his life, taking his heart right along with her, was hands-down the most frustrating. Six months later, she's back and Dean refuses to rest until he figures out exactly what the hell happened.

Now, Allie's drowning. Drowning in lies. Drowning in the truth. Drowning in pain, and anger, and fear. But there comes a time when every drowning person must decide whether they will . . . Sink or Swim?

Release Date: July 2013

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Teaser #1 

~Allie~

Alli!”

Her eyes shot open and she groaned against the light pouring into the room. It was eight-fourteen, according to the clock on the DVD player. Even crashing on the couch, she hadn’t slept that good in months. Home may have been its own brand of hell, but it did have its perks.

Abrupt knocking reminded her of what had woken her in the first place.

“I’m not going anywhere, Alli, so you might as well open the damn door.”

Dean. Dammit. What the hell was he thinking? If he woke her father up . . . Crap! Alli scrambled off the couch and threw open the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Waiting for you to get off your ass and open the damn—” He stopped short and just stared at her. Her in her old board shorts and cami she’d worn to bed last night. Shit. “What the fuck? Get dressed.”

“What do you mean ‘get dressed’?”

“I mean . . . get your bony ass body into some damn clothes right now so I can get you something to eat.” Oh boy, bossy Dean was back full force and damn if it wasn’t still hot.

“I don’t need—”

“Don’t give me that crap. And don’t you dare try and tell me you don’t need to eat. Look at you, Al. What the hell happened to you?”

“Nothing. And I don’t—”

“Get. Dressed.” Not a request. “Or you’re going like that. Actually, I kind of like that idea.”

Dammit, she couldn’t keep standing there, arguing with him. They were definitely going to wake up her father. “Give me ten minutes.”

“You’ve got five,” he sniped as she shut the door in his face.

Teaser #2

~Dean~

Christ, that girl. He’d made every mistake there was to make with that girl. The day she left, he’d made the biggest idiot mistake of them all. He’d told her exactly how he felt. Said those three little words that he knew would change everything. Just not how he had hoped. He’d opened his heart to her and watched as she walked right in and tore it out. It wasn’t even that she didn’t say it back. It wasn’t even that she’d broken up with him. No, not her. She’d run. For the fucking hills. As far from him as she could get. Those three little words had driven her right out of town.

...

He thought he’d let his hurt and anger burn away all of those emotions over the past six months, but damn if seeing her standing there with her hair braided down her back like one of his many school girl fantasies hadn’t brought it all right back up. Along with a certain body part. Shit!

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Want a chance to win a digital copy of Sink or Swim? All you have to do is go to Jamie's FB page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa?ref=hl) and share the cover pic pinned to the top, then comment on Jamie's FB pages that you shared the pic. She will randomly choose a winner. Good luck!

Make sure to check back on August 10th when Book Lover's Paradise will be hosting a stop on Jamie's Sink or Swim blog tour, including my review, author spotlight and giveaway.

Fight or Flight (Fight or Flight #1) by Jamie Canosa

Emerson, a.k.a. "Em," knows the only way to escape the hell she has been living in is to run - run and never look back. She has nowhere to go and no one to turn to, but a life on the streets is better than the nightmare she is leaving behind.

Jay has been living on the streets for two years after escaping his own personal hell. When his path crosses Em's, he cannot help the intense desire to protect her. As Jay and Em get to know each other and learn about the demons they are running from, their connection grows and they find in each other the love they have always been denied. However when Em's past catches up with her, she makes a decision to protect Jay, even though it means she could lose him forever.

I loved the characters in this book and my heart broke for them. Jay is a knight in shining armor who protects and takes care of Em so selflessly. Em is beyond brave for even being able to get up every morning after experiencing everything she went through, and my heart broke every time she couldn't see just how brave she was. I liked how the book changed back and forth between Em and Jay's perspectives, as it allowed insight into the heads of both characters. The fact that either of them was able to feel love after the traumas they faced is amazing, but what was truly beautiful was the way they loved each other - unconditionally, with complete acceptance and a willingness to sacrifice for each other.

While Fight or Flight could be a stand alone novel, I would actually really love a sequel (I know! I can't believe I'm saying it!). According to Goodreads, it appears that I might get my wish...there appears to be another book or novella entitled Sink or Swim scheduled to be published sometime in 2013. There is no cover or description posted, but I really do hope there is more coming. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Em and Jay.