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Book Blitz: The Proverbial Mr. Universe by Maria La Serra

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Buongiorno a tutti. Inauguro una settimana che, nonostante il tempo scarsissimo mio e della Mon, si preannuncia fitta di post. Indi, #followus.
Oggi tocca a un Book Blitz, dopo tanto tempo ne abbiamo trovato uno che ci ispirava parecchio. No, dico, avete visto che copertina?? Io me ne sono innamorata. Vi lascio quindi un estratto da questo libro, The Proverbial Mr. Universe di Maria La Serra, e un giveaway per provare a vincere una giftcard Amazon. Che state aspettando?

Hello everyone! We’re back with another blitz and I have to say that I just love them. I discover amazing books everytime and on top of that I get to see amazing covers. Have you this one? It’s gorgeous.
You’ll find a giveaway at the end of the post where you can try to win an Amazon Gift Card. You can also read a little excerpt of the book.. What are you waiting for?

the proverbial mr. universe
Title: The Proverbial Mr. Universe
Author: Maria La Serra
Publication date: June 27th 2016
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Dear girl with the red scarf,
Love was never meant to be conquered;
you have to surrender to it.
Trust me. After all, I am Mr. Universe.

When the universe conveys a message, you listen.

Olivia Montiano just caught her fiancé cheating. Now she is forced to question what she wants out of life and love. Striving to live up to her father’s unrealistic standards for the past twenty-three years, every decision she has ever made was with her father’s wishes in mind—until she finds mysterious, handwritten letters tucked away in places only meant for her. That’s when she realizes she’s been on the wrong path all along and gives her heart to a guy her father thinks is entirely wrong.

Washed-up abstract artist Nick Montgomery has had quite a few setbacks in life. He’s become accustomed to never needing anyone, thinking he’s just fine—until he meets the girl with the red scarf. She’s not his type. But the universe has other ideas. Nick has a secret he’s keeping from her, afraid it will bring their new relationship to a sudden halt.

Will they figure out what the universe holds for them?

 

excerpt

“Are you hurt?” He opened her door.
She inspected herself. “No … I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?” He looked her over.
“Yes … yes, I’m fine—”
An expression of relief crossed his face. “Hey, if this is some foolish attempt to stop me from going on that date, you could have just said so.” He smiled, trying to make light of things.
“Is he right? Did I go through a red light?”
“I didn’t see what happened. What’s important is that no one got hurt,” Nick reminded her.
“Is she okay?” A stranger’s voice came from behind Nick’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Olivia said as she unbuckled her seat belt. With shaking limbs, she tried to slide out of her seat.
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
“I need to get out …”
Reality began to set in. The space inside started to reduce in capacity. All kinds of wild scenarios filled her head. This was close. She could have died.
“I think you should wait until the ambulance comes.”
“No, you don’t understand. I can’t breathe.” Olivia’s hand went up to her chest, her breathing rapid.
Nick searched around for someone to help them. “Olivia don’t move. I’ll be right back,” Nick reassured her.
Her whole body shook. This was something Olivia never felt in her entire life, so out of control, and it frightened her even more. She grasped onto his coat with urgency, desperately not wanting him to leave her.
“Please don’t go,” she begged, catching him off guard. His eyes softened as he took her hands into his, as though to keep them warm.
“Hey, I am not going anywhere, Olivia. I promise,” he said a matter-of-factly. He brushed her hair out of her face, his stare … so intense. Olivia now realized why she always avoided direct eye contact when she saw him walking down the street. She would purposely pretend to text someone or look inside her purse, so she didn’t have to face him. It was never the question that she disliked Nick; it was because of the way he provoked something inside of her, that she couldn’t quite grasp.
“Olivia, look at me,” he said, continuing to hold her hands in his. When he got her attention, he continued. “You’re going to be okay. Trust me.”
She avoided gazing into his eyes. What was it about him that made her so compelled to give in, but felt she couldn’t? Like she wasn’t allowed to.
“Close your eyes,” Nick said.
She let out a long breath. “Okay …”
“I know this might sound lame, but it works for me when I get scared.”
She opened her eyes. “You don’t seem like the type who gets scared, Montgomery.”
“It might come to a surprise to you, but I’m human. Shocking, I know.”
“What now, Montgomery?”
“Picture yourself in a place away from here. A place quiet and safe.”
When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Are you picturing it?”
“Shhh … I thought you said somewhere quiet. You keep on talking.”
He gave a little chuckle “Alright, where are you?”
“Hmmm … I’m on some beach with the ocean right in front of me.” She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“Describe it to me?” he asked.
“It’s spectacular when the sun hits the water in a certain way that it changes from turquoise to a darker blue, so vivid and bright …”
“You make me wish I was there.”
She didn’t realize at what point her body stopped shaking. She gently opened her eyes to Nick’s concerned gaze. Those soulful eyes touched her, like she been seen for the first time. She’d never been this close to him before, so close, in fact, she could see the clarity of his eyes. Every shadow and light flickered inside.
Why did she believe they were brown?
“Since when have your eyes been blue?” she asked.
He blinked several times “Ah … since I was born. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Right. No, I’m not sure.” Olivia wondered what else about Nick Montgomery she had been completely wrong about when the sound of sirens in the near distance shifted her train of thought. The flashing lights appeared from behind him. Help had finally arrived.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Twitter | Facebook | Site | Goodreads

Maria La Serra, a fashion designer, turned writer, lives in Montreal with her husband and two children. She will try everything at least once, except for skiing, hiking or camping-okay anything relating to activities done in the great outdoors. The Proverbial Mr. Universe is her first novel.

Thanks to XPresso Book Tours for giving us the opportunity to promote this book.

kiafirma

Letture del mese – Giugno 2016

mon firma

beautiful
Titolo: Beautiful
Titolo originale: Faceless
Autore: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Genere: YA, Contemporary
Pagine: 320
 
Goodreads
 
rating 4

Titolo: Un segreto non è per sempre
Autore: Alice Gazzola
Genere: Thriller
Pagine: 416
 
Recensione (scritta da Kia)
Goodreads
 
rating 3

the mistake
Titolo: The Mistake (Off-Campus #2)
Autore: Elle kennedy
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 296
 
Goodreads
 
rating 4

Titolo: The Score (Off-Campus #3)
Autore: Elle Kennedy
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 361
 
Goodreads
 
rating 4

the score
the coincidence of callie and kayden
Titolo: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #1)
Autore: Jessica Sorensen
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 283
 
Goodreads
 
rating 2.5

Titolo: The Redemption of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #2)
Autore: Jessica Sorensen
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 404
 
Goodreads
 
rating 2.5

the redemption of callie and kayden

divisore dx

 

kiafirma

lezioni di seduzione
Titolo: Lezioni di seduzione
Autore: Chiara Venturelli
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 304
 
Goodreads
 
rating 4.5

Titolo: Il buio oltre la siepe
Autore: Harper Lee
Genere: Classico
Pagine: 314
 
Goodreads
 
rating 3

il buio oltre la siepe
e qui che volevo stare

Titolo: È qui che volevo stare
Autore: Monica Brizzi
Genere: Romance
Pagine: 150
 
Recensione
Goodreads
 
rating 3.5

Teaser Tuesday #67

Buondì!
Come dicevo ieri sera alla Mon, io odio fare i teaser doppi. È proprio la dimostrazione che non sto leggendo nulla. Ma per stavolta vi tocca: così come due settimane fa, il teaser di oggi è tratto da La teoria del tutto di Jane Hawking. Vi dirò la verità, mi sta piacendo molto, ma il libro in sè non è leggerissimo e quindi procede un po’ a rilento.
teaser tuesday

Nel 1973 gli astronomi stavano affluendo in massa in Polonia per celebrare il cinquecentesimo anniversario dalla nascita di Niccolò Copernico, l’astronomo polacco che insoddisfatto dei complicati calcoli matematici necessari per spiegare i movimenti dei pianeti nell’universo geocentrico della teoria tolemaica sviluppò una nuova teoria dell’universo nel 1514. Poiché mi consideravo ancora una sorta di medievalista, ma una medievalista con un interesse più che passeggero per la cosmologia, ero affascinata dall’effetto iconoclastico della teoria copernicana che postulava che la Terra e altri pianeti ruotassero intorno al Sole, soppiantando così la teoria tolemaica che era diventata quasi un articolo di fede, sia scientifica che religiosa, pur avendo di fatto scarsa attinenza col concetto biblico di una Terra piatta con sopra il paradiso e sotto l’inferno. La mia prima visita oltre la Cortina di Ferro – se si esclude un viaggio di un giorno in Jugoslavia da Trieste nel 1971 – mi impartì anche una lezione sulla natura della tragedia: la tragedia della storia in un paese, la Polonia, che portava i segni dell’oppressione e della divisione; la tragedia filosofica per l’umanità dello scisma tra scienza e religione che derivava dalla teoria di Copernico; e la tragedia del genio.
Anche se Copernico non visse abbastanza per vedere la sua teoria sviluppata da Galileo nel diciassettesimo secolo, doveva essere ben conscio della sua natura pericolosamente controversa. Lo si può considerare il primo scienziato che aprì il vaso di Pandora della scienza, con la sua doppia potenzialità di far progredire la conoscenza umana e allo stesso tempo di porre scomodi dilemmi che avrebbero messo alla prova il sistema di valori dell’uomo. La sua teoria ha ben meritato l’espressione con cui è diventata famosa: la “rivoluzione copernicana”. Dato che, secondo Copernico, la Terra non era più al centro dell’universo, l’uomo non era al centro del creato. Dunque non si poteva più affermare che l’uomo avesse un rapporto speciale col Creatore. Questo fondamentale mutamento di prospettiva avrebbe liberato l’uomo dall’opprimente ossessione medievale per l’immagine divina, consentendogli di espandere le sue capacità intellettuali e di valorizzare i suoi attributi fisici, e fu uno dei motori della filosofia del Rinascimento europeo, quando gli architetti costruirono palazzi invece che cattedrali, e artisti e scultori sostituirono l’immagine religiosa con la forma umana, ritratta per il gusto di farlo, per la sua bellezza e la sua forza. In termini scientifici, la teoria copernicana aprì la strada alle scoperte di Newton nell’Inghilterra del diciassettesimo secolo, dove un puritanesimo per altri versi fanatico ebbe come effetto positivo la liberazione del pensiero razionale dalla morsa della superstizione religiosa. All’interno del cattolicesimo, tuttavia, la teoria copernicana avrebbe prodotto una reazione violenta e antiscientifica le cui ripercussioni si avvertono ancora oggi in tutta la società.

Capitolo 8, Intelletto e ignoranza – LA TEORIA DEL TUTTO di Jane Hawking

divisore dx

È il 1962 e Jane e Stephen frequentano l’università inglese di Cambridge. Lei è una ragazza vivace che palpita per i versi dei poeti spagnoli, lui un promettente studente di cosmologia, sempre perso nei suoi pensieri, alla ricerca di una spiegazione semplice e unica dell’universo. Eccentrico e bizzarro, così lo definisce Jane quando lo conosce. E le piace molto. Le loro vite scorrono separate, fino a che qualcosa non le avvicina indissolubilmente. Stephen ha solo ventun anni, l’età in cui l’immortalità è ancora l’unica ipotesi contemplata, quando riceve una diagnosi sconvolgente: una malattia degenerativa che gli lascia solo due anni di vita. È allora, con il destino alle calcagna, che i due si innamorano perdutamente e decidono di sposarsi. Con Jane al fianco, Stephen combatte instancabilmente contro la malattia e intanto si butta a capofitto a studiare ciò che a lui più manca: il tempo. Grazie all’amore e alla caparbietà, i due giovani strappano giorni all’eternità, uno dopo l’altro. Mentre il corpo di Stephen è imprigionato in limiti sempre più stringenti, la sua mente continua a espandersi, fino a forzare le frontiere della fisica. Insieme, si spingono più lontano di quanto avrebbero mai potuto immaginare. Forse, la formula che tiene insieme l’universo ha un solo elemento comune: l’amore.

kiafirma

Teaser Tuesday #66

Buongiorno!
Se devo essere sincera volevo lasciarvi il Teaser di un libro che ho finito qualche settimana fa, ma ho avuto qualche problema, quindi ho ripiegato su questo libro che mi è piaciuto un sacco. L’autrice la conoscevo già perché ho letto due o tre libri suoi, tra cui il primo volume di questa serie: Off-Campus. Indovinate un po’?  College, ragazzi fighissimi che giocano ad hockey (mi sono appena resa conto che in tutti i libri della Kennedy giocano ad hockey, quindi deduco che sia una fan) e feste ovunque. Insomma..una gioia per le nostre voglie di romance.
Spero di incuriosirvi 😉
teaser tuesday

I sink down on the edge of one of the beds—the one that’s perfectly made—and try to remember the number for the cab service in Hastings, the town where most of the off-campus housing is, including my townhouse. But I’m drawing a blank, so I sigh and endure some more elevator music. My gaze drifts to the open laptop on the other side of the bed, and when I notice what’s on the screen, I look at Grace in surprise.
“Are you watching Die Hard?”
“Die Hard Two, actually.” She looks embarrassed. “I’m having a Die Hard night. I just finished the first one.”
“Do you have a thing for Bruce Willis or something?”
That makes her laugh. “Nope. I just like old action movies. Last weekend I watched the Lethal Weapon franchise.”
The music in my ear stops again, then starts over, bringing a curse to my lips. I hang up and turn to Grace. “Do you mind if I use your computer to get the number for the taxi service in Hastings? Maybe I’ll have better luck there.”
“Sure.” After a beat of hesitation, she sits next to me and reaches for the laptop. “Let me pull up a browser for you.”
When she goes to minimize the video, the movie unpauses, and sound blasts out of the speakers. As the opening fight scene in the airport fills the computer screen, I immediately lean closer to watch it. “Oh shit, this is such a great fight sequence.”
“I know, right?” Grace exclaims. “I love it. Actually, I love this whole movie. I don’t care what anyone says—it’s awesome. Obviously not as good as the first one, but it’s really not as bad as people think.”
She’s about to pause the movie, but I intercept her hand. “Can we finish watching this scene first?”
Her expression fills with surprise. “Um…yeah, okay.” She visibly swallows, adding, “If you want, you can stay and watch the whole movie.” Her cheeks flush the moment she voices the invitation. “Unless you have somewhere you need to be.”
I think it over for a second before shaking my head. “Naah, I have nowhere else to be. I can hang out for a while.”
Really, what’s the alternative? Go home to watch Hannah and Garrett hand-feed pizza to each other and sneak kisses during the movie?
“Oh. Okay,” Grace says warily. “Uh…cool.”
I chuckle. “Were you expecting me to say no?”
“Kind of,” she admits.
“Why would I? Seriously, what guy turns down Die Hard? The only thing that could sweeten this deal is if you offered me some booze.”
“I don’t have any.” She stops to think. “But I’ve got a whole bag of gummy bears hidden in my desk drawer.”
“Marry me,” I say instantly.
Laughing, she wanders over to the desk, opens the bottom drawer, and, sure enough, pulls out a huge bag of candy. As I slide up the bed and lean back on the stack of pillows at the head of it, Grace kneels in front of the mini-fridge next to the desk and asks, “Water or Pepsi?”
“Pepsi, please.”
She hands me the massive bag of gummy bears and a can of soda, then settles on the bed beside me and positions the laptop on the mattress between us.
I shove a gummy bear in my mouth and focus my gaze on the screen. Okay, then. This definitely wasn’t the way I expected this evening to go, but hell, might as well roll with it.

Chapter 2 – THE MISTAKE (OFF-CAMPUS #2) by Elle Kennedy

divisore dx

the mistakeHe’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have towork for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

mon firma