Incarcerated by Inger Iversen {Blog Tour: Audiobook Review}

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Info-

Title- Incarcerated

Series- Love and War Stand alone

Genre- Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date- September 29th, 2014

Blurb-

One of the few white kids in a rural Kentucky town, Logan Whyte always kept to his own kind out of self-preservation. He never considered himself racist, but that didn’t stop him from falling in with the wrong crowd that celebrated hate as much as he fought it - or from ending up in prison for eight years on an armed robbery charge.
  
A successful and educated black woman, Katie Andreassen is tired of being accused of betraying her own race. Her lonely isolation, coupled with her grief over losing her mother, inspire her to create a new pen pal program at Capshaw State Penitentiary, where her father is a warden.
  
The program brings together the unlikely pair, but Logan and Katie soon find themselves forced to overcome past fears and prejudices. Their friendship doesn’t come easily - threatened by a crooked lawyer with a grudge and a best friend who betrays her promise to help.
  
When faced with a world that forces them apart, Logan and Katie must show everyone else what they have discovered: that love is, in fact, colorblind.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

My Review~

I will admit. I have only done one audiobook review before. And in all honesty I haven't listened to many audiobooks, but I am working to change that. So pardon me as I stumble through this review. 

Before I talk about the book itself and tell you what I liked and what I didn't, I feel it is necessary to talk about the audio part. Again I am going to be honest. When I sit down to listen to an audiobook it takes me a while to adjust to someone reading me a story. It especially takes me a while to get used to the fact that they read it a lot slower than I do. What took me 8 hours to listen to, I could have read in under 4 hours, but that is not the issue here. Sometimes it is nice to sit back and let someone else do the storytelling. 

Overall the performance was a 4 out of 5 that audible has you rate it on. I enjoyed Olivia Ppeppersmith's attempt at accents and distinguishing between the characters by changing her voice. I have listened to Olivia Peppersmith before and think that she does a good job of portraying the story. However, there were a few times that my mind latched onto the way she said certain words or the funny accent she gave Logan. There were many times that I was left thinking that she sounded like the crazed fan and psycho from the movie Misery. So though I enjoyed it, I was yanked out of the story more than a time or two because of the way she told the story.

The rate of the story moved slower than I wanted it too and when I sped it up it was just unnatural. So here I am going to give it a 3. I tolerated it and if it wasn't for the actual story being told, I would have quit. 

Overall rating of book.... well for that I am going to have to go in a bit more detail. Overall, I liked the book. I like the story that was told and the struggle between race and love. This is a story that is not told often in books. Well at least not in many that I have read. And when Inger Iversen added the convict side I was definitely interested. Talk about creating a struggle. There were definitely many in this tale. But with that being said, there were things that bugged me and the part I am struggling with is whether or not they would have bugged me if I read the book myself or if it was just because it was read aloud. I don't know if I am the only one, but sometimes when things are read out loud they sound different then when you read them in your head and unfortunately that's the way it was with a few things with Incarcerated. I love terms of endearment as much as the next person, but I was starting to get annoyed with the term 'baby.' Her father called her that and every guy she had ever dated. Really there was something that just grated on my nerves about it, but again I say that may be just the way it was read. But I felt it was over used. 

Incarcerated attempted to tackle a very real struggle, one that I was happy to see playing out in the pages, but I felt that the story moved a little fast for my taste. I wanted it to dive deeper into the issues that Logan and Katie faced. Issues that I felt were lightly touched, but overall danced around. Was this a deal breaker for me? No. I still enjoyed the story and was swept up in the way that it flowed. Was I mad at certain parts? Hell yes. Granted I may not of gotten mad for the reasons the author intended. The story was a good one, it was strong and it got me. So overall I would give it a 3.5. 

Incarcerated is one of those books that is hotter when read aloud, bringing the intensity and heat to the forefront. Definitely something that has power. I liked the characters, but desired more from them and would have loved to have seen this play out in another book allowing for Inger Iversen to touch more on some issues that she touched on throughout the tail end of the story.  But I liked it and was left satisfied with the way that it ended. Overall this is a story that I feel that I am going to have to read again in order to judge truly for myself. This is also a story that I suggest you read or listen to and judge for yourself.

About the Author-

Inger Iversen lives in Virginia Beach with her tree-hugging boyfriend, Joshua and her overweight lap cat, Max. When not reading or writing she spends her time watching reruns of True Blood, Walking Dead or killing zombies in Call Of Duty. Of course, if the world were to change into some World War Z type situation, she’d probably be the only chick running around searching for a Ray Gun!

Social Media Links-

Stalk her…No, peeking through her window at night. (Unless you call first!)

Follow her on Twitter: @kris10inger

Like her on Facebook

Peek at her pics on Instagram

Blogger Blog Tour: Momma's Secret Book Obsession

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MOMMA’S SECRET BOOK OBESSION BLOGGERS

JODIE

TY

NAT

AMANDA

LINKS

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FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/mommassecretboookobsession

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Blogger Blog Tour: Book Butterfly in Dreamland

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BIO:

Single mom with two teens,grandma of a beautiful baby that I adore,christian,SPED and Elementary Ed. certified,substitute teacher,love to read and watch movies,like hanging out with friends and going to the park. Passionate about fighting Human Trafficking,Abuse,Mental Illness,Cancer,and Bullying. I review mostly YA. Due to content I only will review some NA and rarely Adult books.  I will soon be hosting Blog Tour services. If you would like to request a review, spotlight, giveaway, or Blog Tour info,etc. You may contact me at: princesscandy2008@yahoo.com  

 

LINKS:

Blog: Book Butterfly in Dreamland - http://purpleshadowhunter.blogspot.com/

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

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Website - www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Phantom-Paragrapher/196830633685451

Google + - https://plus.google.com/+PaulaPhillipsThePhantomParagrapher/posts

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Into the Fire by Michele G Miller {Release Blitz}

Today is a very special day. It's release day for the latest book from one of my favorite favorite authors, Michele G. Miller, Into the Fire. I have had the pleasure of reading this book and let me just tell you that it is both beautiful and haunting and it is one you will definitely want to read. So check it out.

Blurb~

At fifteen, an accident turned my world upside down. Scarred in every way possible, I shut down, finding comfort by self-inflicting pain.

I’ve grown accustomed to the truths of my life, but I’m tired.
Tired of this reality...
Tired of the need...
Of the pain...
I’m weary of being this person...
Of being alone...
Though, I’m more afraid of letting someone in.

It’s been five years.
Can I return home and face my fears? Overcome the pain?
It’s time to find out.

For too long, the story of my life has been one of horror.
I want my fairy tale.
I want my prince, my happily ever after.

The question is, does it want me?
  
*This is a standalone novel following a character introduced in the From The Wreckage series. It is not necessary to read that series to enjoy this story.*

Helpful Links: iTunes | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

Spotify Book Playlist

~Excerpt~

 

Into the Fire by Michele G. Miller

Chapter 1

Today’s reality… Doing something new

January 3, 2018

“Good morning, Danica. How are you today?” asks Dr. Green as he walks into his office, late as usual. 

His glasses sit askew atop his head, his salt and pepper hair sticking out in all directions. This is the man who has been counseling me to get on with my life. The man who scarcely arrives to our appointments on time. But I like him. He’s easy to talk with: jovial, caring, and not nearly as pushy as other therapists I’ve seen through the years. 

He seats himself in the chair across from me and I close my eyes, breathing in deeply. “I opened my email this weekend.”

“Oh? Is that unusual for you?” he asks.

“My old email. The account from… before.” 

Dr. Green remains quiet, waiting for more. When it becomes clear I’m not offering up an explanation he does as he always does - he pokes at the hornets’ nest. “What prompted you to do that?”

Tears jab the back of my eyelids, even as a small smile dances upon my lips. “I had a birthday Sunday,” I remind him, knowing full well he’s aware my birthday was New Year's Eve. “I turned twenty-one, and do you know what I did?”

He raises a brow in question, perching his glasses on the tip of his nose, and going to work jotting notes on the pad laying in his lap.

“Nothing. I did nothing. I sat in a dark room and watched the teenagers across the street set off fireworks.” I sound so lame, I think to myself, shaking my head. “It’s pathetic honestly. I know it and you know it and that’s why I opened the email. I guess I wanted to know if anyone was thinking of me.”

“You guess?” he asks, and I shrug indifferently. “And, what did you find?”

What did I find? I found years of accumulated junk mail and well wishes from people I’ve long left behind. I didn’t stop to look at the messages, not all of them anyway. Instead, I clicked the senders into alphabetical order and searched for relevant names. More specifically, I searched for one name. 

He’d sent three messages and as I’d read the words on the glowing screen before me, while fireworks popped outside my window, the truth of my life crashed down on me.

I’m weary of being this person, of living life alone, of being afraid to live. 

I’m more afraid of letting someone in. Again. It’s been five years.

Can I face the fear? Overcome the pain?

It’s time to find out. Because if I don’t… I’m not sure I’ll survive.

About the Author~

Michele writes novels with fairytale love for everyday life. Romance is always central to her plots where the genres range from Coming of Age Fantasy and Drama to New Adult Romantic Suspense.
 
Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of an enigma. She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children's laughter!
 
Her family, an amazing husband and three awesome kids, have planted their roots in the middle of Michele's two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Find Her: Facebook | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Blogger Blog Tour: Room With Books

FEATURING

Room With Books

LINKS:

Website: http://roomwithbooks.com/

Email: blog@roomwithbooks.com

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

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PatriciaRoomwithbooks/posts/p/pub

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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1PQ9HR1UOF93I

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13657094-patricia

 

 

BIO:

Patricia Green

 

"A room without books is like a life without meaning." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~

Life always existed for me, more real at times, through the books I read and their characters than the life I've lived. My dream is to provide a place where you want to sit down, get comfortable with your favorite beverage and select a book from the authors featured here that will help you escape to that place where only you - and your favorite characters - exist. Room With Books began with my interest in Facebook. I made many Facebook friends and with the help and encouragement of my cousin, Linda Boulanger, a publisher, cover designer, editor, and most importantly, an author, I began sharing posts from many of the authors and tour organizers, and I soon realized I had an avid interest in promoting new and established authors, helping with book cover reveals, book releases and other book publishing events. Thus Room With Books was born. I can be found on  Facebook at https://Facebook.com/roomwithbooks. Please come over for a visit, like the page, and be sure to keep me posted of any new authors or upcoming events you would like to see featured!

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Blogger Blog Tour: Deal Sharing Aunt

FEATURING

LINKS

Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deal-Sharing-Aunt/124318396397

Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/DEALSHARINGAUNT

Blog ~ http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/

Personal Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/vicky.brinius

Bloglovin ~ http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/deal-sharing-aunt-5069319

Pinterest ~ https://www.pinterest.com/vicjbr/

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Goodreads ~ https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12962285-victoria-brinius

Amazon Profile ~ http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1CS4NUJY84P55

BIO

I am a deal lover, shopper, reader and wife. I grew up with my mom reading any book she could get her hands on, and my oldest sister loved to read Harlequin books. I was surrounded by books. There was also a lot of music in my house growing up, which to me are oral books. I started to read Stephen King when I was 8 (The Dead Zone), and since then I have devoured all genres of books. I am a contributor for The Illustrated Stephen King Trivia Book, under my maiden name.

I was a vegetarian for 15 years, and only started to eat meat because of vitamin b12. I met Rachel Ray, Jamie Walters and Todd Newton. I also got proposed to by Scooby Doo, and the best man at my wedding mentioned that in his toast.
I am a huge gamer, and am competitive, except with my nieces and nephew.
I was the Secretary of my political town committee, and I ran for Board of Education, more than once. I was one of the youngest to ever be Chair on the Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities. I myself am disabled.  I love all genres of books and music. I love to go on day trips, and be with my family.


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Blogger Blog Tour: It's Me!!!

FEATURING

ABOUT

Hey guys! I’m Danielle Young from the blog Consuming Worlds where I blog about my obsession with… obviously, books! I have been a blogger for a little over two years and have loved every minute of it. I am so excited to be a part of this tour and am thankful for the opportunity to find some new blogs to love!  

I love reading Top Ten’s so here is a little Top Ten about me… 

1) Besides a love of books I have a deep love for food. 
2) I run a food blog… okay so I haven’t exactly posted since January, but it’s there if you ever want to take a look. Oh, you need the site don’t you? Here ya go… Culinary Brainchild 
3) Um… I read mostly indie. Let me clarify a little, I read 99% Indie and I only pick up about 1 mass-market book every year or so. 
4) I love paperbacks. Autographed paperbacks are like my crack. I have a nice collection going, of course nowhere near the size I want to have. I’m still working on it. I almost have 1 paperback from each of my favorite Indie authors. 
5) I love to wear bookish swag. I have an awesome messenger bag from one of my favorite authors which is my all use bag. I also love buttons. And shirts. And bookmarks. And… and… and… 
6) I am a high school Culinary Arts teacher. Best. Job. Ever! Seriously. I get to pass on my passion for food, eat food, and bring out other people’s fashion for food. 
7) I love to play video games. First person shooters are my favorite. I like to play a game where I can blow things up and go in shooting. Granted I don’t get to play too much anymore. But I take full advantage every vacation I get. 
8) My favorite book series is The Protector Series by M.R. Merrick. 
9) I have only met one author. And I completely forgot to take a picture when I met her. Biggest mistake ever. At least I have my memories and man were they awesome. 
10) I published my first book in July of 2014, Guided.  

BLURB

Jo is a descendant from the most powerful Wiccan family the world has ever known and is destined to be more powerful than those before her.
But she doesn’t even know it. As her powers awaken Jo discovers a threat to her family line.
Protected by her best friends, and GUIDED by her Angel protector, Jo must learn to harness her powers and discover her family secrets before time runs out.
More than her life hangs in the balance.

Find It: Goodreads | Amazon  

 

 

So what about you? I love to chat!

Look me up on Twitter @y311er and we can talk books.

Here’s my Facebook if you want to stop by there too.

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Blogger Blog Tour: TTC Books and More

FEATURING

Welcome to my chaotic little corner of the web! In my everyday life I’m a single mom of 3 very outspoken and disturbingly different kids and a fulltime Pharmacy Technician. In my “spare” time I read, review, blog and write under the pen name TM Smith. I was born and raised in Georgia just outside Ft. Benning, yup, military brat here, but I now call Texas home. At TTC Books and more I promote a multi genre book blog as well as my own works as an Author. I’ve been reviewing since 2010 and I started writing in 2012. I am a tour host for several tour groups including Sparkle Book Tours, Jean Book Nerd and Riptide Publishing, but I also host and promote Authors that reach out to me directly. I pride myself in offering a wide variety of books and authors for readers to follow. Perhaps a tour for one of your favorite authors, my thoughts on a book you are on the fence about purchasing, or a Q&A with an author that is new to you. Stop by and take a few minutes going through current and past posts, giveaways, what I’m reading or what’s new for TM Smith! Whatever it is you are looking for, I hope you can find something interesting with me.
  

 

 

Page Links:

Website: www.ttcbooksandmore.com

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

Twitter: @TTCBooksandmore

Email: tammystwocents@gmail.com

 

 

Review Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6997897.T_M_Smith

Audible: http://www.audible.com/listener/AVY8JRFPVWQ1I?ref_=a_hp_mst_tnaft_5

MM Good Book Reviews: https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/tams-reviews/

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Turtle Bay by Tiffany King {Blog Tour: Character Interview}

Well it's Monday. Yet another start to another week. But you know what's awesome about today? I got to interview one of my favorite characters from Tiffany King's newest book Turtle Bay! That's right, I sat down with Rain and got the goods. So stick around, you are going to want to see this interview!

Blurb~

If you're a teenager in a small, rural area, how do you exist when your eccentric, free-spirited parents are the town freaks everyone laughs at?

For sixteen-year-old Rainbow Honeywell—or Rain, as she insists on being called—the answer was to become the queen of all pranks. She never wanted to be a troublemaker, but the label quickly stuck when everyone in Huntsville, Kansas, became a target. All she wanted was to deflect the negative attention off her parents, but Rain's plan backfired to the max, landing her in a heap of trouble with the local authorities and expelled from high school.

An unexpected inheritance offers Rain an opportunity for a new beginning when she and her family move across the country to the quaint beach community of Turtle Bay, Florida.

Determined to make the best of her second chance, Rain vows to walk the straight and narrow, hoping her parents will fly under the radar while she soaks up some fun in the sun, sandy beaches, and hot, tanned guys. Unfortunately, she picks the wrong new friends, and a late night party lands her back in the kind of trouble she had been hoping to avoid. As the newbie in town with a record, Rain takes the brunt of the punishment when an unforgiving judge chooses to make an example out of her and slaps her with enough community service hours to keep her busy until she is old and gray.

Facing the harsh reality of paying for the actions of others while atoning for her own past sins, Rain is paired up with Josh Shaw, a judgmental local lifeguard whose love for the beach and the environment is eclipsed only by his distaste for those who trash it. As far as Josh is concerned, Rain is guilty and got what she deserved, regardless of her side of the story. To make matters worse, a tropical storm sits in the Atlantic, threatening to wreak havoc on the small beach community.

Things slowly change as Rain begins to appreciate her surroundings through Josh's eyes, proving she is not the person he thinks she is. Their feelings for one another blossom as the tropical storm grows into a hurricane and bears down on Turtle Bay. With impending danger looming, the small beach community must come together in order to ride out the storm.

Find It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo


Now are you ready for the interview?? I know I am.

Welcome to Consuming Worlds! I am so glad you could stop by today. Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you on my blog.

Thank you so much. It's my pleasure.

Do you need anything before we get started? Water, coffee, chocolate? *eyes huge bowl of chocolate*

I will never say no to chocolate!

*hands Rain a bowl of chocolate* Me either! *high fives* You are a girl after my own heart.

Down to business…

1) If you could live inside any story, what would it be and why?

Well, I certainly wouldn't live within any romance story. Who needs that kind of drama? I could so see myself in the world of Harry Potter. The Sorting Hat would obviously put me in Gryffindor, and Harry, Hermione, Ron and I would be the best of friends. I would be an exceptional wizard.

Love it!

2) You have quite the imagination and spunk. Can you tell us about one of your escapades? I love, hearing about them by the way, maybe you should turn them into a book some day.

Some of my pranks would probably make pretty interesting stories, but I would have to change the names to protect the innocent, or not so innocent—namely me. It took a great deal of planning, but one of my favorites was the time my crew and I broke into the high school and put dead fish in the air conditioning vents. It took like a week before they figured out where the smell was coming from.

Sounds like a pretty great Senior prank. That is until you get caught. 

3) When you decide to publish (and you will) will you write under your real name or will you use a pen name?

A pen name for sure. If I ever made it big and became famous, I'd be worried about some creeper stalking me.

4) Do you think things would have ended the same way for you if you had chosen a different path at the beginning of the summer? Why or why not?

I'm not sure there was another path to take. I mean, I'm not sorry I started hanging with Evan. Don't get me wrong, it sucked getting nailed with all those community service hours for something that wasn't my fault and that I didn't do, but because of Evan I met Farah and became close with Josh. I'll never forget what happened, but I also can't live my life by regretting anything.

I'm so glad to hear you say that! You are a very smart girl. In case you didn't know. 

5) So, I hear you like to write. Care to finish this scenario? You are lying on the beach when a sea monster rises from the depths of the ocean. Armed with nothing but your sunglasses and towel, tell us the story of your triumph over the sea monster.

The long-necked creature with blazing red eyes and black leathery scales rises from the incoming waves, standing as tall as a sky scraper. Clusters of happy-go-lucky beach goers begin to panic and scramble at the sight of the behemoth. Mothers and fathers clutch onto their crying children as the monster surveys its impending meal. Raising its horn-covered head into the sky, the creature lets out a blood curdling screech before smashing its enormous tail to the ground, sending a ten-foot wall of water toward the shore. People tumble and spin in the water, fighting to keep from being dragged out to sea and into the monster's clutches.

What the unsuspecting serpent doesn't realize is that it picked the wrong beach to terrorize. I am Rain the Conqueror. Within my veins lies a blood-line of generations of creature hunters, blessed by the gods and tasked to protect the people of Earth from the serpents of the Underworld.

Leaping to my feet, I charge toward the water with my sunglasses in hand. The sea monster spots me and makes its move, swallowing me whole as I expected it would. The poor sap was already dead and didn't even realize it. With the push of a button, the seemingly harmless pair of sunglasses morphs into the mystical Blade of Paswal, a double-bladed Katana sword, passed down from one serpent hunter to the next. Forged from Tavien steel, the razor-sharpened edge of the blade slices through the creature's belly like a hot knife through butter, spilling me from its gut and into the blood-soaked water.

The shoreline shakes like an earthquake as the monster crashes to the ground. The defeated behemoth's body convulses as I stand near its mouth, looking it dead in the eye. "This is for ruining my new bikini," I say as I leap on top of the creature's head and plunge the Blade of Paswal into its skull.

The end. 

And that is a perfect example of why you would make a great wizard at Hogwarts! And a pretty awesome author too. That was definitely some creative story telling. I loved it.

You are so awesome Rain! Thank you so much for stopping by today. I look forward to reading your future books. J

That makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for allowing me to stop by.

About the Author~

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

For information on any of Author Tiffany's titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Find Her: @AuthorTiffany | Facebook | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads | Email: authortiffany@yahoo.com.