Blog Tour & Giveaway: Level Me Up (Gamer Boy, #1) by Lauren Helms

I’m so excited for you to join us for the review tour for the audiobook of LEVEL ME UP by Lauren Helms. Follow along with the tour for reviews, plus enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

~~~

Can the gamer win the girl in LEVEL ME UP by Lauren Helms? Dex Roberts falls hard and fast for Morgan Lawson, but the last thing Morgan is looking for while attending Comic-Con, is love. Fans of R.S. Grey and Gaming the System series by Brenna Aubrey will love this nerdy and flirty story about what happens when a sweet and sexy pro gamer meets the girl-next-door.  Now available on audiobook!

Book Blurb:

Level Me Up by Lauren Helms

Release Date: February 2018

Narrator: Lacey Gilleran

Series: Gamer Boy #1

Genres: New Adult Romance

Length: 5 hours and 42 minutes

Format: Audiobook, paperback, eBook

The last thing Morgan Lawson is looking for when attending Comic-Con is love. But even prior to exchanging first words, Morgan is drawn to Dex, a drop-dead sexy gamer boy who lives and breathes video games. Before she realizes it, Morgan finds herself caught up in all things Dex.

Dex Roberts knows from the moment he first sees Morgan, he wants more. He falls hard and fast but isn’t surprised when his job as a professional video gamer takes a toll on their relationship.

Once Morgan decides what truly makes her happy, there’s no time to waste. But without warning, life threatens to destroy what both Morgan and Dex want most... each other.

Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | B&N

My Review:

3.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Romance--

Morgan is going to San Diego Comic Con for the first time ever with her friend as a last minute fill-in, and she is so over her head. She doesn’t really know anything about comic con and had never been on a plane before, but she is excited to have the opportunity to be with her friend. While on an errand for her friend’s brother, she meets Dex, a professional Gamer. Morgan and Dex hit it off instantly, and discover that they are actually both from the same city. But can a fun ​vacation attraction lead to more?

So to be perfectly honest, I wanted to read this book predominantly because I saw that it was about Comic Con and as a true fan-girl, I will take anything I can get that pertains to comic cons or geek culture- I just eat that all up. So, that being said, I will admit that I was a little disappointed when only like a chapter or two even dealt with comic con, it was more a gimmick for the main characters to meet than an actual part of the story.

​ Morgan started off the book being a fairly normal, shy, sheltered woman, but then throughout the course of the story she morphed into a very odd hermit creature. Morgan had some serious daddy-issues that kept her from being able to have normal romantic relationships, instead making her turn into a crazy irrational person who lashed out for no real reason and then shut off all human interaction. She was pretty intense and very unreasonable but was able to grow as a person towards the end of the book. To be honest, I was not sold on her as a character. Dex, on the other hand was pretty much the ideal guy- handsome, well-off, adventurous, kind, caring- basically perfect. When he did something wrong, he attempted to fix it to the best of his potential- seriously, his biggest "flaw" was that he cared too much, too fast (um, almost every woman's dream situation). Even after Morgan turned into a little bit crazy, he still cared about her well-being 100%

​Both main characters had really the best kind of friends and I liked the support that came immediately from both groups. The interaction between the main characters and their friends were my favorite parts of the book. Be it supportive and helpful or the hard honest truth, the friends gave what was needed to bolster the other. I think this book is the perfect example of making your own family, that who you pick to give you love does not need to be related to you. I have so many questions about a certain roommates past that I am very curious to read the next book in the series.

I found this to be a very fast audiobook, with the narrator able to seamlessly switch between the male and female narration very nicely. I love when there are multiple narrators for different characters, but I think this narrator was skilled enough to make 2 very distinct people. The pacing and enunciation was clear and I would gladly listen to more audiobooks narrated by her in the future.

​I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book. ​

Author Bio:

Author Lauren Helms has been an avid reader from a young age. After starting a book review site, that launched her fully into the book world, she decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. Since she was working for a video game strategy guide publisher at the time, she decided to mix what she knew best, video games and romance. Jumping all in, she joined NaNoWrimo and a month later had a 50K word first draft. Lauren lives in Indianapolis, IN with her video game playing husband, two little girl book nerds, and a little boy who will hopefully be a gamer boy too some day!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour provided by Barclay Publicity

Review: Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1 (Scooby Apocalypse (Collected Editions) #1) by Keith Giffen, Jim Lee (Illustrations), Howard Porter (Illustrations), J.M. DeMatteis

Book Blurb:

Fred. Daphne. Velma. Shaggy. Scooby-Doo. Roaming the globe in their lime-green Mystery Machine, they ve solved countless crimes and debunked dozens of sketchy supernatural shenanigans.

But what if the horror was real?

Something terrible has transformed our world, turning millions of people into mindless zombie hordes. And only five people well, four people and one mangy mutt have the smarts, the skills and the sheer crazy courage to stare down doomsday.

Can these pesky kids and their canine companion using every incredible contraption in their arsenal defeat the evil that has overwhelmed planet Earth? We ve got only one thing to say about that: ZOINKS!

From comics mastermind Jim Lee and the superstar creative team of Keith Giffen (JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001), J.M. DeMatteis (JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK) and Howard Porter (JLA) comes SCOOBY APOCALYPSE, a whole new spin on the most beloved paranormal investigators in history. Get ready to give Scooby Snacks a whole new meaning! SCOOBY APOCALYPSE VOLUME 1 collects issues #1-6."

My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Graphic Novel, Dystopian, Supernatural, V/Movie, Zombies--

Scooby and the gang are back, but like nothing you have seen before. This a is a new modern version of how they got together, all with backstories and angst, to try and save the world from the virus outbreak that turns people into monsters. Scooby Doo like he has never been seen before.

I am absolutely in love with the illustrations in this graphic novel. The characters look like the old school Scooby gang but with some seriously awesome twists (such as cyborg Scooby and hipster bearded Shaggy). It's like a end of the world-steampunk meets high tech gadgets, and I could not have been happier. Honestly, I loved everything about how this graphic novel was visually put together. I received a digital copy for free for my honest review, but then I had to go out and purchase a physical copy because I wanted to see the images in print and not just on my computer scree. Let me tell you, this was even better in print. Regardless of the story-line, it is worth picking this up just to look at the pictures.

(See, much cooler and so awesome!)

I grew up with Scooby Doo and I love zombie/distopian stories so I knew I had to add this to my collection. The story was a very realistic, adult version of the cartoon, where each character has depth and reasoning for their personalities and behavior. yet it still meshed with what we know about the characters.The plot even included a perfectly scientific reason for why Scooby could talk, which I always wondered about. And ridiculous monsters included- I'm just waiting for the bad-guy speech. There was a back story for how Scooby and Shaggy met (which was my favorite part of the story), and then a back story for how Velma became the way she was in this story (incredibly cold but a super genius), mixed in with the main plot of the apocalypse going on in present time. I will say that this version of Daphne is super cool and incredibly independent (but I did want her to take Fred out of the friend box- I mean if not the end of the world, then when?) The reason I only gave the graphic novel 4 stars was because this volume started something, but NOTHING was resolved. The story ends in the middle of everything, a giant cliffhanger. But as a side note, Scrappy Doo was awesome and just as evil as ever.

Review: Wynonna Earp Volume 1: Homecoming by Beau Smith

Book Blurb:

The US Marshals Black Badge division has been fighting back against supernatural threats for decades. But even the toughest werewolf, most bloodthirsty vampire, or grisliest zombie knows there s one agent to avoid at all cost: Wynonna Earp. Descended from the legendary Wyatt Earp, Wynonna is dead set on bringing the unnatural to justice! Collects issues #1-6.

My Review:

3.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Graphic Novel, Supernatural, TV/Movie, Vampires, Witches--

This is a collection of 4 different cases that Wynonna, her boss Dolls, the mysterious John Henry and the secret team of US Marshalls was involved in to take down the paranormal criminals that target unsuspecting humans. Ultimately, the different cases come together to create the background story for who Wynonna is and what she can do.

I am a huge fan of the television show Wynonna Earp so I was super excited to get my hands on the graphic novel. The illustrations really helped the story come to life, and the personality of the characters was easily seen through the facial expressions/actions created by the illustrators, regardless of there not being a ton of dialogue. I don’t know which came first, the show of the graphic novel, but the characters looked just like I had anticipated them to, which I was very happy about. As a side note, the basis of the storyline is not the same as the television show; it is something entirely its own with only bits and pieces to tie back. (But can I mention that Valdez is an awesome character with the most interesting back story, so I would love to read/and or see more of her).

I think this is a good read for anyone who wants something a little different, paranormal with a flare of history/old west vibe, and lots of shoot ‘em up action. Wynonna is a really strong female character that can hold her own with the best of them, full of sass and swagger, yet willing to risk her life for others. I enjoyed this version and look forward to more from the Wynonna Earp world.

I received this title from the publisher in return for my honest review.

Review: The 100 by Kass Morgan

Book Blurb: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now. Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission. CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope. My Review: 3 Out of 5 Stars

Genre: Dystopian, Space, Survival, TV/Movie Earth was destroyed by nuclear attacks, causing the last remaining humans to launch a colony into outer space. It has been a hundred years, and supplies are running low on the space colony. In a last ditch effort, 100 of the juvenile convicts are sent down to earth to see if it is habitable. Those that survive the journey find that earth is not what they expected. So let me confess my guilty sin here: I watched the first season and a half of the television version of the 100 and absolutely love it. I was excited to get my hands on the book since I enjoy the show so much. Unfortunately, the show is better than the book. Which is usually blasphemy in the book world, but completely how I feel. The television show is about survival, adventure and lies. But the book is about love triangles, sacrificing everything in the name of love and buckets full of angst. Which is fine and all, but I found it to be disappointing after watching such a fast pace show. For the most part, the only things the two have in common are a few characters and the idea that 100 kids were sent to earth. And that is basically the only similarities. The story alternates between 4 different characters points of view, each chapter a different person. Clarke was the apprentice doctor, daughter to the elite researcher parents, who was sentenced for a crime she did not do by her love. Wells is the love struck boy who wants to redeem himself in Clarke’s eyes so he commits a terrible wasteful crime to be sent to earth. Bellamy is the only person to have a sibling, one he would do anything for, including hijacking the launch. And Glass, the upper-class girl who nobody even knew was in prison, who escapes being sent to earth to see her true love again. Everything was just so melodramatic. I did not really have a favorite character, they were all just ok. (My favorite character in the television show doesn’t even exist in the book) It seemed like not very much happened in the story, predominantly because most of it was told in memories the characters were having of why things are they way they are now. So much of the story was flashbacks instead of actual action. I would have loved more of now and less of then, but I guess that was how the author built the back-story for the characters. I was not in love with this book, but I will probably give the second book a chance to get better now that the world and characters are established. The ending of the story has quite a few cliffhangers as well, so expect an open ending to leave you with questions and no answers. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.