Lovestruck Hop ~ Must Be Doing Something Right

The point of this hop is to talk about those books that just totally grabbed us. The ones that made us fall in love with the characters. I'd love for one of my books to be like that for you. Which book made me fall head over heels? One of my all-time favorite books. Regularly Scheduled Life by KA Mitchell. There was something about those guys that drew me in and kept me right there with them. I laughed, cried and wanted to kick them at times, but I couldn't put the book down.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Sean and Kyle have enjoyed six perfect years of what their friends called a disgustingly happy relationship. But what happens one sunny morning might be more than even the most loving couple can survive. When the bell rings that morning in chemistry teacher Seans first-period class, a terrifying sound fills the hallsgunshots. Sean runs to tackle the shooter, sustaining a bullet wound to his leg. He is unable to save the lives of the principal and two students. Kyle hears about the shooting on the radio, and in the flash of an instant finds his life irrevocably altered. Everythingespecially his hearthangs suspended in a nightmare until he finds out Sean is alive. Kyles just relieved the worst is over. Or is it? Putting that day behind them isnt as simple as it sounds. As Sean struggles to make something positive out of the tragedy, Kyle fights to save their relationship from the dangers of publicityand Seans unwillingness to face how the crisis has changed him.

Available here and here!

What was it about them that stayed with me? First they are totally right for each other and show it all the time. It was sweet to see just how hung up on each other they were.

Another thing was that they were realistic. I've been in situations similar to a school shooting and I could relate to what Sean and Kyle went through. The emotions conveyed were real and I felt them like I was right there. This line got to me:

"I kept thinking that I didn't do enough. Survivor's guilt or whatever they call it. But whatever it was I let it become the most important thing in my life. And that's where I fucked up."

It's a very pivotal moment where I got to see just what made Sean tick and how the pain was destroying his life. I wanted to step in and save him.

I've told you about my lovestruck book. I want to know who has left you lovestruck? Leave that in the comments along with your name and your email and you're in the hopper for the pdf of Must Be Doing Something Right. I'd love it if  you followed me on twitter, facebook, the blog, but I don't expect it for you to win. You do it because you want to. 

The contest ends June 22nd at midnight, so act now. I'll announce the winner right here on the blog on June 23rd as well as I'll email the winner!



So you can keep going, here's the linky code for the rest of the hop:


Be sure to check out Under the Covers and Bona Fide Reflections, too!

Thursday ~ Review for Chasing Smoke by K.A. Mitchell

Chasing Smoke by K.A. Mitchell
Samhain Publishing
Novel
Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
M/M, anal sex, overzealous use/consumption of pastries

An old mystery brought them together. Solving it could tear them apart.

In the best of times, Daniel Gardner hates visiting his family. With his boyfriend pressuring him for a mortgage-serious commitment, Christmas in Easton, PA sounds, for once, like a welcome escape. His old house holds more than memories of a miserable adolescence, though. It has Trey Eriksson.

At seventeen, Trey was taken in by the wealthy Gardner family after his father was jailed for his mother’s murder. Until he left for the Army, he fought a double-edged battle—for proof of his father’s innocence and against his attraction to Daniel.

Fifteen years later, things haven’t changed. Trey is still looking for the real killer. And Daniel has never forgotten how Trey used to sneak into his room at night.

Now new clues to the murder are resurfacing—and so is Trey and Daniel’s sexual chemistry. Except this time, Trey has come to terms with his orientation.

But their connection may not be enough to overcome the mistakes of the past. Not while a murderer still walks free…

Product Warnings
Anyone who would rather not read about hooking back up with someone who broke your heart, minor suspense, hot guys who can handle guns and each other, and lots of steamy gay sex probably isn’t reading this warning anyway, but if you are, back away slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.

Those who know me, know that since I was given four of Ms. Mitchell's books and bothered to sit down and read them, I've been hooked. Yuppers. Her characters are like reading about friends. I can't put the book down and I can't walk away.

Same goes for Chasing Smoke. I put off reading this book for a while. I'd like to say it was because I had all kinds of fantastic things happening. But alas, the truth is less glamorous. I didn't want to read it and be at the end. When I say being in the characters' world is like really being there, I'm not kidding. I didn't want to have no more K.A. Mitchell to read. Sad but true.

I'll be honest, when I started this book, I wasn't real impressed with Daniel or Trey. I thought both were self-serving and a bit put-off-ish. I should've known better. Ms. Mitchell has a way of writing characters that I initially dislike, but then love because of their peculiarities and coolness. I loved Daniel's zeal. When the guy gets a thought in his head, hell couldn't move it. And he's got his heart on his sleeve. So sexy. Then there's Trey. I found myself more than once wanting to sock him in the head, and then wanting to comfort him. Yeah, he got under my skin that much.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns and quite frankly, I didn't see the ending coming and I loved it. Up until the last few paragraphs, I still wasn't sure how things would end. Then I shut the book, went to do something else and continued thinking about Trey and Daniel. They literally invaded my dreams. Not that I'm complaining. Based on their descriptions...yum.

If you want a book that's got heat and lots and lots of heart, then you can't get any better than Chasing Smoke. I totally recommend this read.