Wednesday, October 31, 2012

An interview with J. Sterling and Win a SIGNED paperback of THE PERFECT GAME

**PLEASE NOTE: This giveaway is now over and the winner has been contacted.  The name of the winner is show in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the post.  Thanks to all who entered!**

I love signed books.

You love signed books.

WE ALL LOVE SIGNED BOOKS!!!!

Sorry to yell...but signed books get me really excited. And when I get to giveaway a signed book, I get even more excited. And when that signed book is by the fabulous J. Sterling, well I pretty much run around like a crazy person, flailing my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs.

That's right! I get to give away a SIGNED copy of J. Sterling's newest book THE PERFECT GAME. [commence screaming here]

First, I must gush about this book. Have you read it? If not, you must! There is baseball, a hot guy, a girl with trust issues, a fabulous best friend, a hot guy, angst, love, a hot guy, an "incident" that will have you gritting your teeth trying to avoid throwing the book (or in my case, my Kindle) across the room.  Wait...did I mention there was a hot guy?

Okay, so that doesn't really tell you much about what it is actually about so if the mention of a hot guy doesn't make you want to read it, click HERE to see a synopsis of the book and to read my review.

Now, on to that signed book...

Jenn Sterling was very generous in agreeing to my request to offer a signed book and to do an interview. Isn't she wonderful? So...interview first...signed book second...

ME: The Perfect Game is different from your other two books in that you strayed from the YA genre and more into the Mature YA/New Adult genre and included a couple sex scenes in the mix (which I am completely happy about). What made you decide to write a book for a little more mature audience and was this an easy transition for you?

JENN: It was more that this particular story needed to feel more raw… more loose with my language, etc. I didn’t intend to write sex at first, but once I started to tell this story, Jack DEMANDED that I did not fade to black! Typical male. lol

ME: So it's obvious from the cover, anyone can see that this book is about baseball. Out of all the sports with hot guys, why did you decide to base this one on baseball?

JENN: Because I love baseball!! And this book incorporates a lot of my very real past, so writing about a baseball player working toward the goal of getting drafted and exactly what that takes and entails, was easy for me... I’ve lived through it.

ME: You've mentioned that some parts of the book are based on events and people from your past...some happy...some not so happy. Was it hard to write those not-so-happy parts since writing them meant reliving them?

JENN: No. Actually, it was really easy. The scene where Cassie gets the crap beat out of her and all the guys run really happened to me. I wrote that scene exactly how I still remember it happening (minus the theft). It was emotional for me to write it, but it wasn’t really difficult…probably because I’m over it for the most part, you know?

ME: And the real life "Jack"...does he know about the book?

JENN: He not only knows, he is reading it as we speak.

ME: There are some chapters in the book that are written from Jack's perspective. Do you find it hard to write from a male's POV?

JENN: Actually, I sort of find it easier. And I’m not sure why that is. But when I’m writing from the guy’s point of view, things seem to flow almost more naturally for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve been a tomboy my whole life and always been “one of the guys”… The only part I got nervous about was the sex scene from Jack’s point of view… I was like, how the hell am I gonna pull this off?!

ME: The Perfect Game is currently sitting at #14 in the Amazon top 100 Kindle books and was on the USA Today Bestseller's list. Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, imagine the book to be this successful?

JENN: NO! Hoped, strived and worked toward it every.single.day… but expect or truly imagine? Not at all. It’s mind blowing to me. But I’m so freaking thankful and appreciative, you have no idea! It also makes me feel like “YES! FINALLY! I’ve done something right!!” as far as my books go. lol


ME: Many people have compared The Perfect Game to Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Have you read Beautiful Disaster? And how does it make you feel to know your book is compared to such a phenomenal book?

JENN: I have not read Beautiful Disaster yet but I have heard the most amazing things about that book! And honestly, I’m sort of scared to read it now with all the comparisons. It feels incredible and I’m beyond honored to have people say that they loved TPG and flattered when they compare it to BD in a positive way. Unfortunately, not all the comparisons are positive. Comments saying I’ve straight up copied BD sting and are truly hurtful. Mostly because I consider myself a professional author and I would never intentionally copy another author’s work. I am definitely a “do unto others” type of person.

ME: So, what's next? Will there be more Jack and Cassie or are you giving them a break and working on something else?

JENN: I really would love to write more about Jack & Cassie to tell you the truth, but I just don’t have a story forming yet and I absolutely refuse to force it. I think I will start back on Before the Dreams, which is the follow up book to In Dreams (although each can be read as stand alones). I owe it to all the fans of that book to finish what I originally promised them… which was MORE of those characters.

ME: What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

JENN: Boxers or briefs, dur? To which I’d get to say NEITHER! ha

Isn't she wonderful? And if that doesn't make you want a copy of TPG with her cute bubbly signature on it, I'm not sure what would. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter for a SIGNED paperback copy of The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. 

The fine print:
*Must be 18 or older. 
*Open internationally.
*The winning entry will be verified. For example, if the entry that won was for a blog comment, it will be verified that a blog comment was left from that participant. If the entry cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen.
*Any receipts for the book sent as a entry to the contest, must be from a new purchase with the date on the receipt being October 31 or later.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Clash (Crash #2) by Nicole Williams


Title:  Clash (Crash #2)

Author: Nicole Williams

My Rating: 5 Stars

Purchase: Amazon Kindle  B&N Nook


The only easy thing about Jude and Lucy’s relationship is their love for one another. Everything else is hard.

Especially when it comes to reining in Jude’s trigger touch temper and Lucy’s increasing jealousy of Jude’s Spirit Sister on the cheer squad who’s attached herself to him in just about every way a girl could. Feeling the stress of trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy while becoming the foremost dancer in her class, Lucy knows something’s going to break. She wants both. She needs both. But if she doesn’t make a choice, she risks losing everything.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love might be the thing that just isn’t enough.

My thoughts:

When I finished reading Crash, the first book in this series, I was content with how everything ended. I was a little nervous then when I saw Nicole said she was releasing a second book in the series. I mean really, how can you top Crash? But then I got really excited because another book meant more Jude, and more Jude is a good thing!

My apprehension toward this book was completely unwarranted. I should have known Nicole wouldn't steer me wrong and I will never doubt her again.

Jude and Lucy were able to overcome the challenges that were pulled at their relationship in book 1. Now in book 2, a whole new set of challenges present themselves as they go off to college. And with these challenges comes a roller coaster of emotions for the reader.

My favorite quote and a good summary of the premises of the book is “Love isn’t only love, sweetheart. It’s hard work, and trust, and tears, with even a few glimpses of devastation. But at the end of each day, if you can still look at the person at your side and can’t imagine anyone else you’d rather have there, the pain and heartache and the ups and downs of love are worth it.”

I think I loved this book even more than I loved Crash. Nicole's writing style has always drawn me in and this book was no exception. The roll out of the events in the story pulled out just about every emotion possible from within me and at times left my heart lying on the floor feeling like it had just been stomped on. The beautiful part is that even though I felt ripped apart by reading the story, Nicole made sure to piece me back together and heal all those wounds by the end of the story.

I am now waiting on the edge of my seat for the release of Crush, the third and final book in Jude and Lucy's story.


Be sure to also check out my review of Crash HERE.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Win a SIGNED paperback of SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover!!

**Please note: this giveaway is now over. The winner is announced in the Rafflecopter below and has also been contacted via email.**

My 2 favoritest books written by my favoritest author are now going to be my favoritest movies!!!!  (I know favoritest isn't a word, but bare with me, I'm a little excited.)

Okay, okay...so the books aren't technically guaranteed to become a movie...yet...but both SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT by Colleen Hoover have been optioned for film.

What does this mean?
When someone options your book for film, it means they pay you for a particular period of time to give them a chance to turn that book into a feature film. If, during that option period, the screenplay/director are not complete, the rights revert back to the author, and the producer has to sign a new contract to continue. (I stole that description from Colleen herself.)

I have a feeling about this one though.  I've had a feeling about it from the minute I read it. I knew it was gonna be big and since then both books have hit the top 100 bestseller list in both Amazon and Barnes and Noble, were on the NYT bestseller's list, got picked up by a publisher and now they have been optioned for film. That is some track record!

So...if you are reading this and going "What are SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT?"...we simply cannot be friends.  Just kidding. I will let you redeem yourself. You can check out my review of Slammed HERE and Point of Retreat HERE. I also have an interview I did with Colleen HERE. Then you can go out and buy them because in celebration of the books getting optioned for film (by the way, I love saying that..."optioned for film") the ebooks for both are:

On sale for $3.99!

$4 savings!

50% off!

1/2 price!

2 for the price of one!


...whichever snazzy marketing copy sounds better to you. They all mean the same thing ---> you get a great book at a great price. Actually 2 books, because I know you are going to buy both of them. Right? Believe me, you can't buy one without the other, you will kick yourself later and I cannot be held responsible for that.

Go HERE to find links to buy the books. And hurry because this is limited time and I don't want you to miss out!

AND...I'm not done...

I also have the honor of giving away a SIGNED paperback of Slammed. Let me tell you, this is something you want! It will be worth money someday. Okay, I can't guarantee that but how cool would it be to have a signed copy of the book that is to become the next greatest movie? I know...I can't guarantee that either...don't squash my dreams, okay?

I'll give you a chance to win the book in a minute. Bear with me for just awhile longer. First I want to put a plug in for who I think should play Will Cooper and Layken Cohen.  I want to premise that I have no clue if either of these people are great actors, they just fit the image of Will and Layken in my head.

So for Will, I think that Josh Bowman would be a good fit. 



Just look at him.  Isn't he the perfect Will? (Oh wait...you haven't read the book yet? You best be scrolling back up and clicking that link to buy.)

And for Layken, I choose Jane Levy. 


I really have no explanation why, she is just the perfect Layken for me. Period.

So, about that signed book...

Use the nifty little raffelcopter below to enter for a SIGNED paperback copy of the greatest book ever written. There are many ways to get entries such as Facebook, Twitter, and leaving a comment, but I'm also going to give you a chance to win if you buy the book for yourself or for someone else. That's right, if you've read it and loved it, why not gift it to your mom, or your sister, or your best friend, or your cousin's mom's best friend's sister. If you do gift it, you must send me an email at melissa_mosloski [at] yahoo [dot] com with a copy of the reciept for that entry to count.

And with that, I leave you to compete for the signed book. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, October 19, 2012

Snowed Over by Angie Stanton


Title:  Snowed Over

Author: Angie Stanton

My Rating: 4 Stars

Purchase: Amazon Kindle  B&N Nook


To college student, Katie Brandt, ‘Home for the Holidays’ sounds like hell. When her parents separated, their holiday traditions shattered like a dropped ornament. What could be worse than celebrating Christmas with her suddenly single mom and mom’s new boyfriend?

Alex Walker, an engaged 20-year-old, dreads going home for his own reasons. He has a daunting task ahead of him and wishes he could skip the holidays altogether. So when a friend of a friend needs a ride north, Alex finds that having beautiful Katie seated by his side proves to be just the distraction he needs.

A simple ride home for Christmas turns into a nightmare when light snow rages into a full-scale blizzard. Katie and Alex find themselves stranded, and a vacant cabin becomes a haven from the storm. Under different circumstances, time alone with Alex would be the ultimate Christmas gift, but Katie knows Alex is engaged and she must hide her growing attraction.

However, Alex harbors a secret that just might change this holiday from the worst Christmas ever, to the best.


My thoughts:

I love Angie Stanton's books. Being from WI, I love that she writes about places in WI and that I not only know where they are and how to pronounce them, but it helps me relate to the story more.

Snowed Over was no exception. Not only could I relate in terms of location but also weather. In WI is gets pretty cold and as I read this book, I could literally feel the cold as they experienced it.

Snowed Over was a very cute novella. I loved the story. I loved the characters. And I loved the ending. I would definitely be interested in hearing more of Alex and Katie's adventures.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling


Title:  The Perfect Game

Author: J. Sterling

My Rating: 5 Stars

Purchase: Amazon Kindle   B&N Nook

 

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

My thoughts:

I live and breathe baseball. 99% of my free time in the spring, summer and fall is spent watching my boys either play or practice baseball. So when J. Sterling said she was writing a book where one of the main characters was a baseball player, I about jumped out of my seat in anticipation. Then when she asked me to read an advanced copy, I about peed my pants. I am honored, elated, and nervous that this review will not do it justice.

In short, I LOVED it! I devoured it. It provided a rollercoaster of emotions that brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.

First, we have Jack Carter, the infamous baseball player. Egotistical, cocky, a typical player...I hate him. No, I love him. No, no...I REALLY hate him. No wait...I love him.  Ack! I couldn't make up my mind. His actions and choices had me swooning one minute and then the next I wanted to punch him in the face. In the end, he won me over, but it was quite the ride.

Next we have Cassie Andrews. Fiesty, fun, and a talented photographer...she's been hurt in the past by people she loves and when Jack shows a liking to her, she has a hard time letting him in.

I think that where J. Sterling really shined was in her ability to create side characters you could love and and characters you could hate. Melissa (besides having an awesome name) was supportive, caring, and critical to the story line. She was everything a best friend should be. And then there is Chrystle. I think Chrystle can be added to my list of favorite characters to hate. From the minute she was introduced in the story, she made my skin crawl. I wanted to punch her, I wanted to scream at her, and she was the reason that I almost threw my Kindle against the wall.

I really think that Miss Sterling has grown in her writing in The Perfect Game. She allowed characteristics of herself to shine through the characters, she stepped out of the box with a couple sex scenes, and her level of writing has matured.

I gave this book 5 stars for it's ability to grab my attention, hold my attention, and keep me entertained. It was in J. Sterling's ability to physically make me cry that the 5th star was awarded. The fact that I could relate to the characters in such a way to hurt when they hurt and cry when they cry was the turning point for me.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants a love story with character, a little bit a angst, emotion, and an ending that will leave you satisfied.

And if you are interested in winning prizes for the release of this book, head on over to
http://www.j-sterling.com/
and check out the party Jenn has going on.