Blast: Have No Shame by Melissa Foster


The racially-charged prejudice of the deep South forces eighteen-year-old Alison Tillman to confront societal norms—and her own beliefs—when she discovers the body of a hate crime victim, and the specter of forbidden love turns her safe, comfortable world upside down.Alison has called Forrest Town, Arkansas home for the past eighteen years. Her mother’s Blue Bonnet meetings, her father toiling night and day on the family farm, and the division of life between the whites and the blacks are all Alison knows. The winter of 1967, just a few months before marrying her high school sweetheart, Alison finds the body of a black man floating in the river, and she begins to view her existence with new perspective. The oppression and hate of the south, the ugliness she once was able to avert her eyes from, now demands her attention.
When a secretive friendship with a young black man takes an unexpected romantic turn, Alison is forced to choose between her predetermined future, and the dangerous path that her heart yearns for.

HAVE NO SHAME is an emotionally compelling coming of age novel featuring a young woman who cannot reconcile the life she wants with the one she’s been brought up to live.Have No Shame will resonate with anyone who has ever fallen in love, and those who have been forced to choose between what they know in their hearts to be true, and what others would like them to believe.

PRAISE FOR
“A gripping and poignant novel dealing with a subject once taboo in American society.”
~Hagerstown Magazine

“Have No Shame is a powerful testimony to love and the progressive, logical evolution of social consciousness, with an outcome that readers will find engrossing, unexpected, and ultimately eye-opening.” ~Midwest Book Review

“A historical novel of love and its triumph, told with a unique and compelling voice.”
~Bestselling Author Kathleen Shoop

“Have No Shame is a delightful eye opener and a rather poignant book that everyone everywhere should put on their must-read list.”
~Readers’ Favorite

“A dynamic and heartwarming tale of young love, giving testament to those who struggled so we can live in an integrated society.” ~Author Rachelle Ayala

“…a stunningly impactful read.”
~Rabid Reader Reviews

“A book that brings the evilness of racial bigotry to light, through the eyes of one awakening to its reality.” ~Cindy Smith, avid reader

“[HAVE NO SHAME] Perfectly catches the South at the dawning of the Civil Rights Movement. Melissa Foster takes us on an adventure that twists and turns unpredictably to a tense climax that renders this novel a true page-turner. This is undoubtedly the best novel I have read in a long time.” ~Roderick Craig Low, Author of ‘Promises of Love and Good Behaviour’

“This book is not just a story; it’s an experience.”
~Author G.E. Johnson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.


GIVEAWAY
1 Winner will receive a gift bag full of goodies, including:
-Snacks
- Signed copy of CHASING AMANDA
- Signed copy of COME BACK TO ME
- Signed Copy of MEGAN’S WAY
- 1 Pink Journal

Shipping in US Only, No PO Boxes. Must be 13+ To Enter

 

#BSMPhotoADay in May!

We are so happy that the #BSMPhotoADay challenge that we hosted on Instagram back in March was such a huge success!  In fact, we decided to bring it back for the month of May.  I'm sure you all noticed that we skipped April.  We actually decided to do that simply because we thought it best to spread it out a bit.  It also gave us some time to work on the list for May as well as some other, themed-challenges we plan on revealing this Summer :)
Reminders
  • We will be conducting this challenge on Instagram, but you're welcome to join via Twitter. Just tag your photos: #BSMPhotoADay.
  • The Book Soulmates account on Instagram (http://instagram.com/booksoulmates) will be run by the both of us.  Photos uploaded by Isalys will be tagged to "@Slimmy415" and photos uploaded by Vanessa will be tagged to "@VaneBookChick".  Jen, our new associate blogger, will likely join us as well so her photos will be tagged @notnowimreading.  Those are our personal accounts and a way to identify who uploaded which pic.
 


If you decide to join us, which we sincerely hope you do, please don't forget to tag us so we can see all the awesome pictures and follow you back (if we don't already)!

Have fun and see you on Instagram...or Twitter!

Jen's Mini Review: Outpost by Ann Aguirre


Title: Outpost (Razorland #2)
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publication: September 4, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Pages: Hardcover, 320 pages
Reviewed by: Jen D.
Reason for Reading: Because book 1 was amazeballs!
DEUCE'S WHOLE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE READERS FIRST MET HER IN ENCLAVE. 

Now living topside in a community called Salvation, she has a whole new set of problems. Down below, she was considered an adult, and she contributed to the enclave. Now, above ground, she's viewed as a brat in need of training by the people of Salvation. She doesn't fit in with the other girls:  She hates cooking, sewing, and school.  Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance.  Her feelings for Fade haven't changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore.  Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce pursues a chance to serve in the summer patrols–those responsible for making sure the growers and planters can work the fields without danger of Freak attack. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks are smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn the tide.



Hello lovely readers.  For my next mini review I've decided to go with book two in Ann Aguirre's Razorland Series.  Something tells me you're not surprised by this.  *wink*  So before I begin, I just want to state that I'm going to try my best to keep this mini-review spoiler free.  I am not  fan of spoilers because it takes something away from my reading experience so I definitely don't want to spoil anything for you guys.

Anywhoozle, Outpost picks up where Enclave left off.  Our group arrives at Salvation a little worse for wear.  In the safety provided by Salvation's wooden walls, our characters recoup and try to adjust to a new way of life.  You'd think this would make for a slow start, but Ms. Aguirre does an excellent job of bringing to light Deuce's (and to a certain extent the rest of the group's) struggles dealing with small town life and the roles that are defined for men and women (which are much different than the one's Deuce is used to).  Frustrated with her situation, she seeks out a way to contribute to the town.

Luckily, for her and the town, she earns a spot on the summer patrol and puts her special skill set to excellent use.  Certain events happen while Deuce is out in the field that leads to a domino effect of all hell breaking loose.  Essentially what happens is the first half of the book takes you on an emotional and sometimes painful journey of self-discovery while the second half of the book renders you paralyzed from its intensity.  Ann finishes book two with an interesting twist that has me beside myself with anticipation for book three.  If you haven't picked this series up yet, I highly recommend you do it as soon as possible.  You won't be disappointed!



Blast: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris


Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.
And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?
WHERE YOU CAN BUY
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the southern California beaches and sunshine for Manhattan's recent snowpocalyptic winter.

She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together.

Her first novel, UNRAVELING (Balzer+Bray, April 2012), is the story of one girl’s fight to save her family, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.


GIVEAWAY
1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of Unbreakable & Swag
(Bookmark, Sticker, Poster & Magnet) by Elizabeth Norris.

2 Winners will receive a Swag (Bookmark, Sticker, Poster & Magnet) by Elizabeth Norris.


New Releases 4.29.13

♥ Contemporary Fiction & Chick-Lit ♥
None

♥ Historical Fiction ♥
None

♥ Mystery / Suspense / Thriller ♥
 
♥ Sci-Fi & High Fantasy ♥
None


♥ Steampunk ♥
None


♥ Romantic Suspense ♥
None

Happy shopping and happy reading!

Review: Never Seduce A Scot by Maya Banks

Title: Never Seduce A Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)
Author: Maya Banks
Expected publication: September 25, 2012 by Ballantine Books
Reviewed by: Isalys
Reason for Reading:
I purchased this book because I was in the mood for some romance ;)
Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her dutyunprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.
Strolling through the aisles of Barnes & Noble, I had walked by these books dozens of times but my unfamiliarity with Maya Banks' work made me drag my feet on buying one.  It was at the recommendation of Amanda from On A Book Bender that finally convinced me to bite the bullet and start one of Maya's Highlander Series.  Thank you, Amanda!  I could not put this book down...quite literally!

The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, the two most powerful clans in the Highlands, have been at war with each other for generations.  King Alexander is tired of his two greatest allies always being at odds so he commands that the young Montgomery Laird marry the only daughter of the Armstrong Laird.  If they do not agree to this betrothal, then there will be hell to pay.  With no choice but to obey, Graeme Montgomery rides into enemy territory to claim his bride.

Graeme was strong, commanding, understanding, and practical.  Although he wasn't pleased by the king's command, he understood the importance of following orders in order to protect his people and he did so with an open mind.  He believed the rumors of Eveline Armstrong's instability to be true, yet upon meeting her he was greeted by a beautiful woman who was far more keen than she was given credit for.

I simply loved Eveline!  Gentle, kind, resourceful, determined, and fiercely protective, she is the ideal heroine.  After suffering from a nearly fatal riding accident, she used her disability (deafness brought on by the accident) as a way to escape marriage to a cruel man from the neighboring McHugh clan.  Unfortunately, in doing so, her family began to think that she had injured her mind and was now daft or "not quite all there".  After several years, she was content to accept a simple, quiet life with her family...until she met Graeme Montgomery.

There was an almost instant connection between Graeme and Eveline.  Not quite love at first sight, but definitely acceptance at first sight.  Despite their families' bitterness, they both sought to make the best of bad situation.  

Graeme and Eveline faced two challenges.  The first was getting the Montgomery Clan to accept Eveline as their new mistress.  This was no easy task.  Eveline nearly worked herself to death in an attempt to fit in and she accepted the ridicule with aplomb.  Graeme tried to be patient and understanding of his clan's animosity toward her, but when he learned of all that they put her through he felt that he had no choice but to threaten them.  He would not allow his people to punish an innocent woman.  I loved this about Graeme!  I wanted to be right there with him, yelling at his people for their abusive behavior.  His goodness showed in everything he did.

The other challenge was Ian McHugh.  Eveline thought she escaped him, but Ian decided that he was not done with her yet and used her to gain the upper hand and be "top dog" in the highlands. I don't want to say anymore about what happens because it was a turning point for not just Graeme and Eveline's relationship but also the relationship between the Montgomerys and Armstrongs.

There were a couple of details that were unclear, but frankly, I loved the romance so much that it overshadowed the necessity for the missing information.  The romance moved along at a good pace and by the time they declared their love, I had a huge, dopey smile on my face.
"I love you, Eveline," he whispered, though he knew she could not hear him. "Somehow, I'll make you hear me and you'll know that I love you as fiercely as it's possible for a man to love a woman." 

You better bet your plaid that I'll be getting my hands on "Highlander Most Wanted", which is the story between on Graeme's brother, Bowen and a lass named Genevieve.
 

Question of the Day 4.20.13

I brought the Plinky Question of the Day feature over to Book Soulmates because it was one of my favorite posts to create.  It's a great way to get to know you guys better and vice versa.  Sometimes the questions will deal with books or reading but, most of the time they won’t.  Because, let’s face it, there’s more to us than what we read.
We cry for lots of reasons: sadness, pain, fear . . . and happiness. When was the last time you shed tears of joy?

The last time I cried tears of joy was during my friend's wedding.  Her and her husband wrote their own vows and as they read them you could feel the love that they have for one another.  It was such a beautiful moment to be a part of.  While her husband recited his part he got a little choked up and that brought on the water works.  It wasn't a full on ugly cry or anything but tears were definitely shed.


How about you?  When was the last time you shed tears of joy?


Ally Condie Book News!

Ally condie big news

Ally Condie, author of the amazingly awesome Matched Trilogy has just announced she’s writing two new books! They’re for a completely different series BUT I’m sure they’ll be just as addicting as her Matched series. Check out what she had to say:
[Source]
The first of the two books won’t be out until Fall 2014, so there is a little while left to wait, but I am having SO MUCH FUN writing this book. Here’s a bit from the press release (edited a little because I am the biggest spoiler-phobe in the world):
Ally Condie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, to publish two new novels with Penguin Young Readers Group
New York, NY – March 11, 2013 – Ally Condie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, will publish two new novels with Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, it was announced today. The first book, scheduled for publication in fall 2014, tells the story of Rio, who has waited her whole life for the opportunity to leave her safe, underwater city of Atlantia for life on the surface. But when her life takes an unexpected twist and Rio must remain below, she is left with increasingly dangerous questions about the complex political and religious system constructed to govern the fragile divide between land and sea.
Woot woot! We’re doing the happy dance!
We met Ally in an author event and she is just the sweetest!

Check her out:

ally condie

Review: Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriels Inferno Title: Gabriel’s Inferno (Book #1)
 Author: Sylvain Reynard
 Published: April 4, 2011 by Omnific Publishing
 Genre: New Adult
 Reviewed by: Vanessa
 Reason for reading: Pleasure :D
Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.
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I’ve sort of been on the fence with the rating on this one. On the one hand I enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. On the other hand, there were a few things that either pissed me off or had me screaming “Just screw already!” and “Ok ok, I get it. You know Italian history. Enough!"

Gabriel Emerson (The first main character):
The good:
He is HOT and SEXY! He really knows how to seduce a woman and keep her wanting more. Although he’s pretty rude throughout the first half of the book, he reels you back in by getting sweeter toward the end and definitely wanting to “please” his woman.
The bad: He’s a rude, obnoxious, and a pretentious asshole (Of course! God forbid there’s a hot and sexy nice guy as the main character. *Please note the sarcasm*). He definitely has demons in his closet and because of them, he’s rude and insensitive and treats people like dirt. I absolutely hated how he would treat Julia sometimes. For example, when he says “Look at me when I’m talking to you” or when he would get jealous at the one guy friend she had (who by the way treated her nicely and was never touchy-feely with her).

Julia Mitchell  (The second main character):
The good:
She’s a sweet, naïve but intelligent virgin who’s still waiting for her prince charming (literally). She met Gabriel one night and had an instant connection with him. Unfortunately, she never saw or heard from him again until years later when she ends up in the class he’s teaching. I love that she’s super sweet and believes in kindness.
The bad: I felt like screaming "Wake up girl! Stand up for yourself! Stop being a damn victim!" Boy did she irritate me sometimes! There’s a fine line between being sweet and kind, and being a push-over. Just sayin’.

Overall, although it irritated me a bit, I still enjoyed it and really wanted  them to end up together. He does win my heart in the end. I also enjoyed how detailed the author was. You can tell he (yes, he. The author is a man) is really well versed in Italian history.

I give this book a 4 :)
4-stars
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FYI:
This is who I picture as Professor Emerson. You’re welcome.
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