BLOG TOUR: Without You by Julie Prestater Review

Without You by Julie Prestsater
Publication Date: February 14th, 2014
Genre: NA/adult contemporary romance
Source: Author
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

When two people connect, they can make beautiful music together. But what happens when music is the thing that tears them apart?

Evan James had it all. Drop-dead sexy, brilliantly talented musician, a skyrocketing career and his high school sweetheart by his side. When he’s offered a golden opportunity to go on tour, he never imagined she wouldn’t go with him. Without her, he found his dream meant nothing. Three years later, bereft and alone, Evan stops at an open mic night and spots someone sitting in the audience, the beautiful face of a woman he’d never forget...Maddy, his one true love.

Madison Grey had only ever loved one man. When Evan broke her heart she had no choice but to move on with her life, start a career of her own, and she even finds a new love. Still, thoughts of Evan were never put to rest. And on one fateful night, she unexpectedly hears him pour his heart out into a new song. A song about broken hearts, lost love, and second chances. A song about her.

With the help of their scheming friends, Maddy and Evan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. While learning to love and trust again, there is only one thing left on both of their minds... Is life better with or without you?

My Review

Without You by Julie Prestsater was half part second chance romance and half part love for music. 

In three words it was simple, lovely and heart-warming.



For Evan and Madison, fate has given them a second chance at true love. Evan comes back to his hometown hoping to redeem himself in Madison’s eyes and heart. He’s a famous musician, but ready to trade it all for Madison because he felt incomplete without her. I found Evan to be romantic and swoon worthy. He cared deeply about Madison. Evan finally understood what was more important than fame and it was to love and be with Madison. I adored Evan because he did all these little things for Madison to win her back.


Madison tried to forget Evan, but continued to ache for him even when she tried to move one with another. When he comes back to town, she didn’t know what to think or feel. She obviously still loved Evan and was very wary of trusting her heart again when it came to him. Madison was a sweet girl who loved teaching kids and appreciated music. She was silly and care free and a really good friend. I liked her just as much as I liked Evan, even though she was a tad bit dramatic during some parts. 



This book was pretty short. I certainly enjoyed it and felt the feels when Madison and Evan got their sweet moments on, but I did wish that there was a little more tension in the beginning. The way they got back together was pretty quick for me. However, these two were just perfect together. They had this natural vibe and connection. I believed and felt their love because it was right there in their emotions and actions. 

Prestsater didn't just add in tension and angst, but also the sweetest of moments. I also liked that this story was centrally focused on Madison and Evan and a very strong support system to back them both up. It was nice to see a very strong connection between two people and among friends. And although this book had some steamy parts and sexual innuendoes here and there, I really found Without You to be wholesome and uplifting. 

All in all, Without You really captured the importance and meaning of true love. Evan and Madison’s story left me completely content.


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About the Author

I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher, a reader, and a writer. I'm also an lunatic when it comes to the NFL and playing Fantasy football, especially if I don't get my first pick quarterback: Tony Romo. When I'm not at home or work, you can probably catch me on the 15 freeway singing my heart out and dancing away in my car.  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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April 21^st

Bridger Bitches Book Blog (www.bridgerbitchesbookblog.com) | Review

Booksniffer Book Reviews (http://booksnifferbookreviews.blogspot.com/) | Review

Anna's Book Blog (http://www.annabookblog.com) | Excerpt/Teaser

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2Bookaholics (http://2bookaholics.com) | Review

{Books She Reads} (http://booksshereads.com) | Excerpt/Teaser

Deal Sharing Aunt (http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/) | Excerpt/Teaser

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Addicted to Books (http://imaddicted2yabooks.blogspot.com/) | Review

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Bibliophile Mystery (http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.ro/) | Review

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Curling Up With A Good Book (http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com)  | Review

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Once Upon a YA Book (http://onceuponayabook.blogspot.com) | Review

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Cocktails and Books (http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com) | Review

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Blog Tour: Pinned Up by C. Michelle

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Pinned Up by C. Michelle
Release Date: June 2013
Source: eARC provided by GCR Promotions
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon / B&N

The pumps are red satin with a peep toe, a shiny black contrast heel, and a ruffle detail at the vamp. The cat eyeliner with exaggerated lashes and the red lipstick on my porcelain face make the forties inspired look reach perfection.
I enjoy being a pin-up model…

C. Michelle’s vibrant debut novel, Pinned Up is full of snappy dialogue, edgy humor, and a lot of heart. This fun look into the world of a modern-day pin-up model is one wild ride!

Twenty-five-year-old Nina Moretti lives a double life of sorts. She’s a victim advocate during the day and as a side gig, lives out her 1940s fetish as a pin-up model in San Francisco, California. While she may not “do” serious relationships, she has fulfillment in her work and hanging out with her best friend, Kade—the greatest sidekick any woman could possibly want. All is well in Nina’s hectic, but satisfying life…

That is, until she meets Josh, a stunningly handsome man who has a notorious reputation as a ladies’ man. For his part, Josh is reluctant to commit to any woman, largely due to his loving, yet overbearing mother. Nina, however, sparks his interest in a way that no other woman has before. As they navigate the pitfalls of romantic entanglement, both come to realize their pasts are intertwined in ways they could never imagine. Perhaps, they have more in common than just their fear of relationships. What are two people afraid of commitment supposed to do?

My thoughts, feelings and reactions

Pinned Up by C. Michelle was fantastic! This book had loads of humor, romance, and sexy times. I lost track of how much I laughed like a lunatic or grinned like a fool! C. Michelle weaves in witty lines and heart stopping moments with her more than sizzling romance to bring in a novel that is completely full of entertainment. 


Nina and Josh were a super sexy couple I couldn’t get enough of!

• 
Both had some reluctance with commitment, relationships, and love. They had unique personalities, especially Nina. She was snarky, fabulous, and passionate. Her love for forties/fifties fashion was awesome. Her job working with crime victims along with her pin-up modeling on the side was impressive. She overcame a difficult experience, loved her mother fiercely, was loyal to the core and feisty like no other. She came out on top with her strength and determination. Josh was charming and adorable. He took pride in his eco-friendly construction company, cared for his mother deeply, and wasn’t just delicious, but fuckalicious. His understanding, patience and supportive nature knew no bounds. These two had excellent chemistry, insurmountable sexual tension, and playfulness that could make anyone giddy inside. 

Unforgettable secondary character: Kade.


• I have to mention him because he was truly a one of a kind character. He was loud, proud, unabashed, and not afraid to say whatever the hell he wanted to say whether it was appropriate, inappropriate, perverted, or sexual in any nature. He was vulgar and had no filter and I didn’t care because I loved him and I want one of him now! His friendship with Nina went beyond that to a deep brother/sister bond. Like Nina, he was loyal and he treated Nina and her mother like family. I loved Kade because he totally brought in 75% of the humor in this book. Kade and Nina’s banter were laugh out loud hilarious and some of the best parts of this book. I adored him.

The writing was stupendous! 


• This whole book had personality; a whole life of its own. It was descriptive and visual, especially with Nina’s clothes, her home along with Josh’s home and so was the bakery with all the mouth watering pastries. To me, Pinned Up was original and so out there. I thought the writing was clever, cute, and so funny! It was filthy good because C. Michelle didn’t hold back. It was ballsy, not for the faint heart and there was more F bombs and sex to go around. It was tasteful, but never offensive. I was in love. There was even a Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey reference that was to die for! It was simply a fun book and one that is sure to give readers a really good time. And while this book was fun and flirty, it was not without darkness, betrayal, twists, and shocking revelations. 

Overall Pinned Up by C. Michelle was a book that was more delectable than Mama V’s cannoli treats. It was edgy, alluring, and amusing all wrapped up in such a novel that leaves more to the imagination. 

*Thanks to GCR Promotions & C. Michelle for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion.

Favorite Quotes

“Who the hell brings their mom to the gym? For your sake, I hope he’s not a big momma’s boy. That’s a major turn off. Being close with one’s mom is great, being a momma’s boy who is still sucking on that titty is a whole other story.”

“Cheesecake, have you waxed recently? I don’t want the poor guy to have to feel the cactuses you call legs or deal with a hairy beaver. Usually you let the hair reach a fur coat by mid December, but right now, I just don’t know about you.”

“You think of me as eye candy and want to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of my lollipop? Wow! You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

“What? You want to know if I’m delicious? No need to beg, you can taste me anytime.”

“Valentina...can I have...something...to eat?. 
I don’t need you to cook. Just lay back and allow me to feed myself.”

“Baby, you truly are cuckoo, you know that, right? I don’t care if you do have a few screws loose, I still like you, and think you’re sexy.”

“She’s my breath of fresh air.”

About the Author

C. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration degree while working as a probation officer and counselor. She has also served her community as a Victim Awareness Program instructor and an Aggression Replacement Training (ART) facilitator. Her love of all things funny and romantic led to the writing of her debut novel, Pinned Up.
C. Michelle is currently writing her second novel and resides in northern California with her husband and three children.

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Cover Reveal: Conjure by Jennifer Snyder

Available July 1, 2013

Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past...

The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that's exactly what happened.

Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

(New Adult/Mature Young Adult: Contains sexual situations, language, underage drinking, and drug usage.)

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing new adult and young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

Blog: http://jennifersnydersblog.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jennsnyder04

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760553.Jennifer_Snyder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifersnyder