Review: How It Rolls by Lila Felix

Series: Love and Skate

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Lila Felix

Format: eARC submitted for review by Author

Release Date: February 10th, 2013

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Despite the odds, Reed Wolfe is making it, by the skin of her teeth. Her dreams and aspirations will have to wait until she can get on her feet. Because right now she’s homeless and churning on a downward spiral. 

Falcon Black is existing. Not living, not thriving, just jutting along a path. But when he finds Reed, he can’t resist the urge to help her, lighten her load. But Falcon tends to go overboard, over the line, crossing boundaries he never thought he would and risking her trust in the process. 

Can she accept his love or will it end up smothering her?

Lately I have been feeling like the market for young adult books is starting to be edged out by the New Adult genre. It seems like YA books are becoming obsolete as people start to ditch the sweet romance for more edgy and mature subject matter. I don't know if it is just me but it makes me sad to think nobody wants a good clean, sweet YA story. Now don't get me wrong, I loves me some edgy, mature reads just as much as the next person, it just seems like people are not satisfied with YA anymore. I have noticed a lot of comments on Amazon and Goodreads regarding YA books being too saccharine and too sugary in their delivery. Well duh! It's YA for crying out loud. You don't really want to market gritty sexual dramas towards 10 and 12 year olds do you? Where am I going with this mini rant you ask? My point is that Lila Felix delivers good clean YOUNG ADULT fiction with heart and a believable story line. As is the case with How It Rolls. It's about a young girl who lost her parents at a young age (which happens) and after getting tossed around to different foster homes decides to rough it on her own and live in her car. I am sure this subject alone happens more than we know due to the fact that the system churns out 18 year olds with a final check and a "Have A Nice Life". So Reed lives in her car trying to find work to be able to eat and save her money to get a place of her own. She gets a job at the bookstore Nellie runs. (If you don't know who Nellie is I highly recommend getting Love and Skate) Once she starts working there she meets Falcon Black. UGH! If ever there was a time I wish I was younger it was while reading this book. Falcon is probably the best book boyfriend EVER! He's not just some tattooed hunk of beef cake with a Mohawk, but he has a huge heart that he wears on his sleeve, especially for the woman he loves. He gives of himself until he ends up smothering the very person he is trying to help and because of that and his past he has issues dealing with this new relationship he ends up in with Reed. Reed is so self conscious about being homeless that she can hardly function right also, I swear it was like watching new colts learn to walk at times. Don't get me wrong, it was adorable and endearing to watch, it was just cringe worthy sometimes because they just couldn't get the signals right. Lila steps up the drama and romance in this book a little more than we are used to when a favorite couple hits a rough patch and Reed starts to stay over at Falcon's apartment and they get a little grabby. Now relax before you panic, it is YA and she doesn't cross the line but you get really sweet, kinda steamy scenes between Falcon and Reed. One of the sweetest moments is during a family dinner when Falcon brings Reed to meet his family and we get a glimpse of Nellie and Owen while everyone is bantering about a certain event going on *wink wink* So much goodness in this book trust me! Anyway Reed starts to second guess her relationship with Falcon in that she didn't have a family like his and feels like he deserves better than her because she is homeless. She tries to give Falcon up thinking he would be better off but thankfully Nellie talks some sense into her before she makes too big of a mistake. Meanwhile Falcon finds out she is homeless and does something sneaky to ensure she never has to sleep in her car again, only he has to make sure she doesn't find out because he knows her pride gets in the way of her taking any help. When he takes it upon himself to find her long lost aunt so she can find out why the woman never took her in, Reed is upset feeling like Falcon is trying to push her off on someone else like everyone has always done to her. Talk about frustrating! These two characters took me to the limits of my sanity more than once and I wanted to yell at them. I think they went through hell and back several times in 300 pages! This is my favorite book of Lila's so far which is tough because Emerge held the spot until Falcon came on the scene and swept me and Reed off our feet! He is so charming and amazing you just can't help but love him. Reed was stubborn yet fierce in her determination to survive which I admired tremendously. It was so nice to watch her slowly start to realize that asking for help isn't so bad after all, when it's the right people offering. I really loved being able to see all the supporting characters including my favorites from Love and Skate, Nellie and Owen. Everyone gets brought to the front of the story in some way during this book. Reed and Falcon are such a great couple to root for throughout the entire book you will find yourself pulling for these two to make things work out. There are so many things to love about this book especially the chapter headers from each character. They are funny and give you an inside look at the personalities of both Reed and Falcon. With every book Lila becomes a stronger writer and her characters become more engaging with every story and I can't wait to see what's next from her!

(Quotes taken from eARC and may have changed upon it's release)

“Oh my God, yes Falcon, I was checking you out. Did you see the drool running down my chin? I mean, I literally had to restrain myself from tearing all of my clothes off and taking you right there in the inventory room.” She doubled over in laughter, now holding onto my arm for balance.  eARC Page 68

                        Falcon: Glad we’re on the same page. 

                          Me: What page would that be? 

                      Falcon: The first page of our story. eARC Page 85

“Trying to lock this moment in, for when I’m old and gray.” He made his way up my neck and after reaching my ears whispered, “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll remind you of this moment. I’ll remind you of the way you always smell like apples and how when you kiss me my entire body comes alive.”  eARC Page 186

I needed her to see, to feel how much I loved her one more time before she would leave me, possibly forever. I had to feel her beneath me, hear her moan my name, inhale the scent of her hair, her skin, make her understand. eARC Page 238

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: How It Rolls by Lila Felix

The lovely Lila Felix has contacted us to do a big cover reveal for her follow up novel for Love and Skate. The book is titled How It Rolls and it follows the story of Falcon Black, brother to Love and Skate's Owen Black. Now we all know from reading Love and Skate how wonderful Owen is but can Falcon be as awesome? Hmm guess we will have to wait and see! So Are you ready to see the cover???

Yeah we want to see it too buuuuut right now we are gonna put up a Giveaway for Love and Skate! 

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OK! Now I think you guys are ready to see the Cover Reveal for How It Rolls:

OOOOHHH PRETTY! Judging by the cover it looks like Falcon just might give Owen a run for his money in the sexy department!

Review: HOAX By Lila Felix

Synopsis:

She's spent a long time in a bubble. In an odd turn of events, Corinne is taken out of boarding school and plunged into high school where bullies reign and nice guys come in last. 

But this is after she's already fallen in love with Abel over the summer.

Abel is trapped, with friends he secretly hates, but has chosen to stay with the status quo. It's just high school, right? 

What do you do when the person you love sees the very worst part of you? And how do you help them when they discover their life is a hoax?

If there is one thing Lila Felix knows how to do, it's deliver a sweet, romantic young adult masterpiece. Hoax is the story of a young woman, Corinne, who was shipped away to an all girls school for most of her life while her parents lived a lavish lifestyle. One day she gets mysteriously pulled from the school to find her parents "Downsizing" their lifestyle including her beloved Prep School education. Her parents inform her she will have to sell her nice car and get a job due to unforeseen circumstances that have caused her family financial hardships while she was away. Her parents are cold, emotionless assholes who act as though Corinne is a burden! That pissed me off I mean you chose to have the girl, man up yo! Anyway so Corinne gets a job house sitting for a very well off couple and while there meets my book boyfriend Abel.

OH Abel! Sexy guy with muscles and a romantic side? YES PLEASE! Abel works for the couple that owns the house Corinne is working at. He mows the grass and she watches the house while they are gone. They spend a perfect summer together getting to know each other and discover that they have a previous connection rooted in their pasts. Reality eventually sets in and Corinne must now face her first time ever in public school.

It doesn't take long to figure out this school has a pack of rabid A**holes who terrorize and bully other students, but when Corinne finds out Abel is a part of that group her perfect summer crashes down around her. Her sweet, wonderful Abel just stands by and watches, never interfering because the leader of this group Brett, is such a douche he would turn his wrath on Able if he protests. I felt so bad for Abel, his parents are never there for him and his "Friends" suck and cause trouble. When Corinne stands up for the boy they are bullying she becomes #1 on Brett's shit list and Abel starts to panic. Corinne feels like their summer was a complete HOAX and confronts Abel. Once they take care of that Corinne starts getting weird requests from the kids in school she doesn't understand. She thinks everyone is messing with her until one day she finds out the reasons behind her family's downsizing. Her whole life changes in just a matter of days and she has never felt more alone. 

Abel refuses to let her push him away and proves to her he can be her strength when she can't find any in herself. That damn boy was amazing, sweet and funny! Every once in a while I like to read a sweet love story to take a break from my smutty McSmut books. YES! I did just say that! This book was exactly what I wanted in a sweet, romantic read. There issues in this book that I'm sure most kids today have to deal with, having parents that make bad choices. I loved how real this book felt, it was like being in an episode of Mean Girls, L.A. Law and One Tree Hill rolled into one lol. The best part about Lila's books, is that you don;t have to worry about what your young adult child is reading because Lila does YA very well. She delivers good clean love and romance with just the right amount of juicy goodness. I fell in love with Abel in this book, just like I fell for her other Male leads, especially Owen Black in Love and Skate. This book was beautiful and the epilogue will have you misty eyed by how perfectly romantic it was! 

Blog Tour: Love and Skate by Lila Felix Review/Interview and Giveaway

Synopsis:

On the rink she’s tough, she’s a leader, she’s fast and she’s the epitome of a rebellious girl. But Nellie’s been hurt, only once, but it was enough to make her look at life through different eyes and off the rink she’s a timid girl who loves with no pretenses.

A long time ago Owen Black was betrayed by the girl he thought he loved and the guy he called his best friend. The anguish set off a domino effect of negativity in his life and he never has fully recovered. He meets Nellie Forrester and thinks he can let it go for her. 

But how can you love someone when the wounds from your past are still wide open?

My Thoughts:

When I first heard about this book I was really jazzed because I haven't heard of anything like a  fierce, tough, tattooed chick who does roller derby! Many of the books I have read lately have the guy being all buff and tattooed but nobody has focused on the girl being the bad ass! Enter Lila Felix! She has written a wonderful story about a young woman trying to claw her way out from under her family's expectations by any means necessary. Nellie Forrester is nobody's doormat and she proves herself on and off the rink. Never feeling accepted by her mother she keeps her distance emotionally which spills over into her personal life. Until one day in class she sets eyes on Owen Black. (CUE THE SWOON!)

Owen Black is everything Mama Like! (Mama being me lol) He is sweet, sensitive, buff and tattooed to the hilt! This boy is instantly smitten with Nellie but does what all boys do when he has a chance to talk to her. He makes an ass of himself lol! Poor Owen, he tried to be cool but wound up blowing it. Thankfully though Nellie is just as smitten with him as he is with her. When they finally stop fumbling around and start talking they end up swept into a whirlwind romance they can't deny. It's so sweet watching them become a couple. I loved Nellie so much! She was so real and tough but also vulnerable and soft at heart. She tried not to let things get to her but sometimes when your family is involved you can't help it. These two both have past issues and I felt so bad for them both. Owen was such a great guy. He treated Nellie so sweetly, I mean the bitch rubbed her damn feet! THAT IS LOVE!

Nellie has a mom that makes me want to hurt small kittens! lol not really but her mother drove me nuts. Trust me when I tell you that you are going to want to snap her neck for some of the shit she pulls with Nellie and Owen. I loved how Nellie owned her differences. She didn't give two shits what her family or anyone else thought of her crazy hair, piercings and tattoos, she just did her thing with no apologies. Throughout the story Nellie and Owen get closer and she meets his wonderful family. Owens mother became my third favorite character aside from Owen and Nellie. She became like a mother to Nellie and embraced her as family. It warmed my heart that Nellie had a place to feel like she belonged after watching her mother be a bizznatch! Of course as in every story you need a little...

to shake things up and make it interesting or else the story would be like eating a huge jar of Smuckers strawburry jam. So a mystery character busts up into this shit and causes some probs between Nellie and Owen. And you totally don't see it coming because it was disguised pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Well Played Lila! Of course Owen being a guy doesn't help the situation and Nellie starts to rethink their relationship. Are they strong enough to make it through William Shatners scary eyes? Hmm guess you need to read and find out huh? Over all I think this was Lila's best book yet. Hopefully she will keep out doing herself but so far Owen owns my heart!! HE'S MINE YOU VULTURES!  

Favorite Quotes:

“Tonight is the most beautiful I have ever seen you.   And I’ve been blown away by your beauty a couple of times already.”

“Well, I remember the public groping, but I don’t remember the making out.   Is that next? When do we get to that part?” He was practically jumping up and down.

“Damn Owen, looks like a shitload of cotton candy just fell into your lap.”

(Below is Hootie's Interview with Nellie)

I'll open the interview by saying I'm sitting here with Nellie Black at Stabs 'n' Jabs Tattoo.

Me: How are you today Nellie?

Nellie: I'm fine Hootie.  Thanks for being here.

Me: Before we begin this interview I'd like to congratulate you and Owen on your recent nuptials!

Nellie: Thank you!  

Me: SO Nellie can you explain to us why you wanted to conduct this interview inside a tattoo parlor?

Nellie: Honestly, this is the only free time I have.  I have the bookstore and I've decided to go back to school.  Plus, the derby season starts this weekend, soooo, yeah, swamped.

Me: We find out in L&S that your mom is kind of a bitch for lack of a better word, how have things been since the wedding is there any improvement?  

         Nellie: What do you consider improvement?  She hasn't spoken to me in *counts on her fingers* four months.  I consider that an improvement.  

      

               Me: that's a damn shame, but it's her loss! Since you mentioned the bookstore, I'm curious about just what kinds of books you enjoy reading?

               Nellie: I love Young Adult romance. I love the falling in love part and the tingles.  But every now and then I get a hankering for the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Know what I mean? 

         

Me: hahaha Yes I know what you mean, mama gotta have some Vishous! What is the most romantic thing Owen has done for you since you guys got married?

            Nellie:    He got a new tattoo.  It is my name across his chest right over his heart.  The guy at the tattoo place was so freakin' hilarious.  He pulled Owen aside and whispered 'dude, you don't get a girl's name on you'.  I cracked up.  So what did Owen do?  He requested the guy make the letters even bigger.   

           Me: awww that is so sweet! I bet you died! UGH! We know you are one bad ass derby girl, but how did you get into this in the first place? 

                        Nellie:  I've always loved skating, always.  When I was younger we lived right down the street from a skating rink and I would skate all weekend every weekend.  And then after my parents got all snobby and snotty, I used it as a way to get away from them.  Then as soon as I could join the junior league, I did.  Then as soon as I turned 18... I joined the big girls.  

                                 Me: wow! At least you had somewhere to go to escape right? LOL! So Nellie do you have a 5 year plan, or are you and Owen just gonna wing it?  

                           Nellie: Ummm, wing it?  We're kinda fly by the seat of our pants people.  

               Me: If you could carry three things with you at all times what would they be?

                        

                           Nellie: My purse, my wedding ring and my Owen. See what I did there? 

            Me:  What celebrity would hang out with for a day if you could?

                   Nellie:  Are you serious?  Johnny Depp, hands down.

             Me: Have you ever been seriously injured (i.e Broken a bone) while in a derby match?

          Nellie: No, I've been lucky.  I've seen some serious broken bones before on other girls though.

           Me: Top 3 favorite TV shows you love?

           Nellie:  Hoarders, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story

Me: Describe something that's happened to you that you can't explain?

Nellie: I still can't explain why Owen loves me.  I'm glad he does, but sometimes it feels like a dream.

Me: favorite breakfast food?

Nellie: FRENCH TOAST!!  It's not just for breakfast either.  

Me: if you and Owen could drop everything right now and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Nellie:  That boy wants to go to Hawaii so badly.  He wants to get one of those traditional Polynesian tattoos.  He's nuts.

Me: What question should you never ask a woman?

Nellie:  I would never ask a woman when she was due.  You know how people do that?  A girl has a little pudge and all the sudden some guy is asking her when her twins are due.  So offensive.

Me: Last question, What does the future hold for you and Owen and will we being seeing more of you two in the future?

Nellie:  I can't tell you!  Lila would kick my ass.  Seriously, have you met her?  Not really, she's a sweetheart.  But, I will tell you that there is going to be a sequel to Love and Skate, called How It Rolls.  But it's not going to be about us.  It's going to be about Falcon.  And trust me, I got the best brother, but damn that boy is fine.  Falcon Black is hawt!  We are going to be in the book some, but how much?  I have no idea.

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Like Lila Felix on: FACEBOOK

Follow on Twitter: @AuthorLilaFelix

Check out her Blog: HERE

HOAX by Lila Felix (Cover Reveal)

BAM! How you like me NOW? You don't? Well screw you too! LOL Just Kidding! Anyway check out this new cover from Lila Felix! Doesn't it look cool???  This is the newest creation from her that will release on or around Janurary 22nd. As of this moment there is no synopsis but keep checking back for more updated information as we get it! 

Peace, 

Hootie

Check out more from Lila Felix: HERE

Like Lila Felix on: FACEBOOK

Follow Lila Felix on Twitter: @AuthorLilaFelix

Perchance: Blog Tour and Character and Author Interview

I'm sitting here on Skype with the two love Birds Remi and Cooper Neal from Lila Felix's riveting drama PERCHANCE! Hey guys. how are you today?

Remi & Cooper: We are good.  Thanks for having us.  We heard you are hilarious.

Hootie: Well you heard correct my darling little bastards! So I noticed everyone is enamored with you Cooper, but I am curious about Miss. Remi sitting behind you peeking at me like she is about to shit herself....

Cooper: Yeah, she's pretty scared that you're going to rip her a new one. lol

Hootie: awww don't be scared I brought TREATS! :D

Cooper: Now she's interested.  Bring it on!

Hootie:  *cracks knuckles* OK remi are you ready for the spanish inquisition (Cajun man voice)?

Remi: Oh my stars.  I love the freakin' Cajun man.  Cooper is holding my hand now, so yeah, I'm ready.

Hootie: Ok Question #1.... Like OMG what is your favorite color?

Remi: Navy blue.  Like the Cuda.

Hootie: Is you serious? *incredulous look*

Remi: oh yeah, that car does things to me.

Hootie: kinda like brownies make me horny? lol jk moving on... Question 2: Getting right to the meat and potatoes of the interview what possessed you to run away from Cooper?

Remi: Wow, um, I was a scared little chicken who couldn't make up her mind?  I had all of these stupid priorities lined up in my head based on my mom's random psychology.  But in the end, it was ok.  It gave us both some time to grow up a bit and me to get my head on straight.  Believe me, no one beats herself up over something as much as I do about leaving him.  I still do.

Hootie: awww that's so.. HEY! STOP KISSING DAMN IT! Behave Cooper!

Cooper:  I'm sorry. I can't help myself.  I just hate for her to keep putting herself down about it.  So, I wanna kiss her back to happy.

Hootie: I think I just heard young girls everywhere sigh and swoon! OK remi Question 3 is there anything in particular you would change about your relationship with Cooper? If so what?

Remi: Right now? The stress. We both get wound up pretty tight.  Cooper works his butt off and I'm in school. Plus there's um...other things we're stressed about.  So it's a lot.

Hootie: hmm *rubs chin* very cryptic Remi.... is there something you are hiding?

Remi: Well, I'm not supposed to talk about it.  Lila's writing a sequel to Perchance so she asked us to keep it on the DL.  In fact, she's coming over for dinner tonight.  I love that lady.

Hootie: Yes Lila mentioned dinner, what do you make for an amazing author like her to eat? REMI! Keep your hands to yourself until I'm done JEEZ you two!

Remi: I forgot this thing is on video. Crap. Sorry.  Yeah, Lila. Cooper's making her his Mom's chicken spaghetti.  It's always a hit.  Lila's bringing bread pudding.  Her bread pudding is to die for.

Hootie: it's ok but damn you two seriously can't keep your hands to yourselves can you?

Remi: No, between Cooper working and me in school we don't get a lot of alone time.  So when we do...

Cooper: Look what you've done Amanda.  You've caused her to almost say something dirty.  lol

Hootie: Hey don't blame me! Look at my face! I'm blushing trying to interview you two lovebirds! *Ahem!* moving on Remi I know you said you had priorities and all but was being with Cooper so bad you had to jump ship?

Remi: Quite the opposite.  Being with Cooper was so good that it scared me.  I could feel myself getting lost in him and loving him.  And it was like my brain was constantly being overridden by my heart.  Again, I was a chicken shit.

Cooper: Now she's cussing.  Hootie, maybe we need to have you over for dinner sometimes. lol

Hootie: Remi I totally understand and Cooper you had me at DINNER!

Cooper: Anytime!

Hootie: ok so now that we got the hard stuff out of the way, what can we expect from you two in the coming sequel... besides all this damn kissing? 

Remi: Um, we're still young and obviously by the end of Perchance we're trying to have a baby so there's a lot of pressure.  Pressure does things to people.

Cooper: There's a lot of ways to relieve stress. *wink wink*

Remi: Please ignore the fact that I just punched my husband for being pervy.

Hootie: it's ok, I hate men anyway and I kinda get off on watching Women beat them up! HOLLA! My next question is for Cooper, I know you and your dad have patched things up a little but what can we expect from you guys in the future?

Cooper: My Dad and I are still getting to know each other.  Plus we have never really sat down and talked about why he left and all that.  But for now he's my Dad, but he's more of my friend.  And he and Mom are dating, which is odd.  But Mom's happy, so I'm good.

Hootie: They are dating? When did that happen?

Cooper: Mom moved here shortly after Remi and I got married and then they started spending time together and all of the sudden they're holding hands and...yeah, they're dating.

Hootie: Wow Coop, I bet that was a shock for you huh?

Cooper: It's weird.  But Dad never really moved on and neither did she.  I would still be here waiting if Remi hadn't come back, so I kinda get it.  When you love someone, it doesn't stop just because time goes by.

Hootie: DAMN YOU! STOP BEING SO DAMN WONDERFUL! Remi how the hell do you function with his sweet ass? *not ass as in butt but ass as in.. never mind just answer*

Remi: lmao!  Yeah, he's a sweetie.  He never fails to amaze me.  I keep thinking that ones of these days he's just going to turn into the Hulk or something but he doesn't.  He just makes me happy, plain and simple. *as they look at each other with googoo eyes BLECK!*

Hootie: UGH! I need a dentist! *fake dials phone* ok so this last question is for both of you: What was the best and worst moments in your relationship from Perchance and would you change it if you could? 

Cooper: Worst moment ever. Promise ring!!!  Best moment? Swimming with my girl.

Remi: Worst moment.  Yeah, I think you know which one that was.  Best moment: Hearing Cooper say he loves me.

Hootie: I think everyone will agree that you both are absolutely adorable and we all wish you the best. Thank you for sitting down with me today and taking time out from your alone time together. I'll let you get back to it *Wink*

Cooper: FINALLY!! lol

Remi: Come over anytime Hootie!!  Thanks so much....

 Remi: Scratch that.  Maybe call first? lol

Hootie: um... I think I am gonna take a rain check. I have lost enough teeth from decay during this video chat but thanks for nothin' lol

Remi & Cooper: BYE!!



After chatting with Remi and Cooper I got a chance to email none other than Lila Felix herself! Below you will find 10 questions I was dying to know! 

#1 Who was your biggest influence to become an Author?  Shelly Crane

#2 Favorite kool-aid flavor Tropical Punch

#3 if you could live on any planet where would you live (Besides Earth)  Uranus *snort*

#4 Where do you see yourself in a year? Skinny and gorgeous laying on a beach with my hubs.  What? I can see myself anywhere I want to.  Doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

#5 If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Costa Rica

#6 What is the square root of 1,000? I think I remember. It's 31 point something something something. Right?

#7 How many fingers am I holding up? 12...wait.

#8 What is better MCdonalds Filet O fish or Burger Kings Fish Sammich? Eeewwww, Burger King!! Filet O' Fish.

#9 With your newest book release Perchance what else do you have in the works, or can you talk about it? It's a book about a roller derby girl.  But that's all I'm saying. 

and last but not least, which came first the chicken or the egg? I thought it was the chicken nugget. Dang.

HAHA! I'm kidding but seriously #10 If you could do just one thing differently in your life, what would it be? I would've met you sooner!!!

*aaaaand that concludes this stop on the Perchance blog tour be sure to tip your waitress*

Lila Felix is such an amazing author and I expect big things from her. I adored Perchance and I can't wait for it's sequel! Thank you for stopping by but I gotta go now. I have a headache and the runs so....