{Reivew & Giveaway} Shallow by Georgia Cates

Shallow 
by Georgia Cates
Series: Going Under (#2)
Pages: 261
Source: e-copy provided by author via SupaGurl Tours
Available as of September 21, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Payton Archer's best friend, Claire, strives to be perfect in every way. Payton doesn't and this is her story.

Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the "The Strip" in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, adrenaline and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways.

Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes aren't what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?

Other books in the series...

Going Under

Let me start by telling you that I loved Going Under. If you haven't read it yet, you should before reading any farther. Shallow was just as amazing as Going Under and made my heart happy. Georgia Cates did a phenomenal job writing Payton's story and I can't wait to see if she has one for any of the other characters up her sleeve.

Payton, Clarie, and Jessie have just graduated from high school. Claire and Jessie know what's to come for them, but what about Payton? One small car accident will change her world. The guy she bumps into has a bet to make with her. Neither knew where it would take them, but getting to their happily ever after might just break them.

I loved the little snip-its of Payton in Going Under and was so excited when I got an email from Georgia telling me she was writing a companion novel. However, we didn't really get to see the real Payton in Going Under. We saw the protective, snarky best friend Claire could rely on for anything. Never the feisty, surprising thing she turned out to be in Shallow. I LOVE her! We can't forget Nick, the imfamous boy who sleeps with anything with boobs. He is just oh so hott!

So what did I like? The number one thing that wins me over while reading any books is multiple points of view. We get both Payton and Nick telling their sides  of everything. We see how the actions of one effects the other. I also loved Payton's mouth. She was sarcastic, witty, and never really thought before she said something. This won me over because she sounded so much like me. This made it really easy for me to get into the story. Finally, we got even more of Claire and Jessie's story. So much swoon!

Overall, Shallow was a sweet read that made my heart swell. Now I"m wondering if there may be a book about Nick's sister Dallas in the works. One could only hope.

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FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  

{Cover Reveal} Blood Doll by Georgia Cates

Hey everyone!!
Georgia Cates has just released the cover for the next 
book in The Vampire Agápe Series.

You ready?

Isn't that so pretty!!
I love the white butterfly

Solomon Alexander has faced huge obstacles during his existence, but they’re nothing in comparison to the one he’s about to hit head on. As leader of The Savannah Compound, part of Sol’s new position in the Coven of Landra is to guide the transition of fledgelings, newly turned vampires. It’s his job to save the unsavable. Being a Landra is what he’s done for over a century and he’s damn good at it, but everything he knows, practices and teaches is threatened when he is forced to drink from Avery Ferrand, a Blood Jewel.

The Blood Jewel is enshrouded with mystery, but one fact is known. There’s never been blood more desirable or addicting than Avery’s and there are consequences for any vampire that drinks it...including Solomon Alexander. Although he adamantly denies his need to feed from her, Avery suspects he’s lying but she has secrets of her own about the night he drank from her. She wanted him to and now she finds herself being drawn to Solomon in a way she shouldn't. As Avery’s desire to be closer to Solomon grows, she finds herself considering something more dangerous than being found by the dangerous covens hunting her...asking Solomon if she can become his Blood Doll.

About the Author:

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author.

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was her first novel and it was released in September 2011. She decided to briefly step away from the paranormal genre to try her hand at a young adult contemporary romance when she wrote Going Under, but returned to the paranormal romance platform to complete the second
book in The Vampire Agápe Series, Blood Jewel.

Her current works in progress are Shallow (A Going Under Novel) which will release on September 27th and Blood Doll (The Vampire Agápe Series #3), to be released in January 2013.

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{Review & Giveaway} Going Under by Georgia Cates

Going Under
by Georgia Cates
Publisher:  Georgia Cates
Source:  e-book courtesy of Georgia Cates in exchange for a fair and honest review
Available as of March 10, 2012
Amazon | Smashwords

Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

Rating:

My Review:

What to say?  I guess, where do I begin is the better question.  Georgia Cates blew me away with this story of heartfelt and believable love.  Going Under is a book I will continuously go to when I feel like giving up on love or life.

Jessie Boone is the boy who grew up with nothing, forced into dealing drugs for his mom until circumstances outside of his control land him living with his grandmother doing the same thing.  He shouldn't be alive, but he is.  He shouldn't be able to play football, but he does.  He tries out for quarterback at his new school and beats out the current one, Forbes.  As tension grows between the two boys, Claire becomes Jessie's way of getting under Forbes skin, but Jessie doesn't expect feelings for Claire to emerge.

Claire is perceived by everyone as being the "it" girl.  She is a cheerleader, dating the quarterback and bound to be valedictorian.  Then Jessie comes along.  She pays little attention to him until Forbes won't stop going on about the "trash" and "skank" that came to town.  It takes one kiss from Jessie for her to realize that she has never loved Forbes, she has been pleasing her parents.

I loved this book.  Jessie and Claire have this love hate relationship in the beginning and the tension between them is huge.  There were times when I died laughing or got really excited and times when I was really depressed or cried just a little bit.  It was an emotional roller coaster and it was a wonderful ride. What I liked most about this book was the change in point of view.  I love seeing stories from each of the main characters points of view.  It allows for a deeper understanding of everything going on and allows the reader to sit back and revel in knowing something that one character doesn't.  Claire was left in the dark about Jessie's past and I was reading and thinking, "Just tell her already!  She doesn't care where you came from, just that you're here!" 

I fell in love with both Claire and Jessie.  Claire is like a lot of teenage girls when they fall head over heels for a guy.  She couldn't get enough of him and was willing to go against anyone who got in her way.  Jessie came from a broken home but made the best of what he had and made something of himself.  

Overall, this book was fantastic and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to read a great contemporary romance.  

Giveaway!

Georgia Cates has provided me with a smashwords code for one lucky winner.

This giveaway is open interenationally.

Giveaway Policy Applies

Ends 4/19 at Midnight EST.

Good Luck!