Showing posts with label Lost in Us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lost in Us. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Win a copy of Lost in Us by Layla Hagen!!

 
 Hey guys!! Are you looking forward to the weekend? I know we sure are!! If your plans involve reading, we have something for you. Want a chance to win an ecopy of Lost in Us by Layla Hagen?? Of course you do!! ;-)

Here's how:
 
Go download Lost by Layla Hagen for free (See the note on the B&N purchase link).
 
Show us proof of purchase with your receipt or a screenshot of it. You can post it in the comments on this post here on the blog or in the comments on the FB post.
 
And *poof* you are entered to win!!
 
*Winner will be picked at random*
 
*Giveaway ends 5 PM EST, March 21, 2014*



Lost (Lost #0.5) synopsis:



**Lost is a prequel novella to Lost in Us and can be read before or after. **

Whatever might help him forget his past and numb the pain, James has tried it all: booze, car races, fights, and then some. Especially women. College offers plenty of opportunities for everything. . . Especially when you have a trust fund to spend.

Serena spirals deeper and deeper into a hurricane of pain. But no matter how far she falls, there’s no redemption from the overwhelming guilt.

Two souls consumed by their pasts fight to learn how to survive. But all hope seems to be lost.
Until they meet each other.

 
Add Lost to your Goodreads shelves
 
Lost buy links:
 
 
 (We are waiting for it to go free on B&N. At the time of this posting it was $0.99, but the author expects it to change any moment now!!)
 
 







Lost in Us (Lost #1) synopsis:


Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she’s catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn’t work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .

The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.

James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He’s the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.

James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn’t the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.

Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever

 
 
Add Lost in Us to your Goodreads shelves.
 
Buy Links:
 
 
 



About the author:

Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)
  


 
 
Author Links:
 
website

twitter username
 
Facebook:

Monday, March 17, 2014

Book Blitz: Lost by Layla Hagen. Review and Giveaway.


 
 
Lost by Layla Hagen
(Lost in Us #0.5)
Publication date: March 17, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
 
 
**Lost is a prequel novella to Lost in Us and can be read before or after. **

Whatever might help him forget his past and numb the pain, James has tried it all: booze, car races, fights, and then some. Especially women. College offers plenty of opportunities for everything. . . Especially when you have a trust fund to spend.

Serena spirals deeper and deeper into a hurricane of pain. But no matter how far she falls, there’s no redemption from the overwhelming guilt.

Two souls consumed by their pasts fight to learn how to survive. But all hope seems to be lost.
Until they meet each other.
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
4.5 Star review by Amber Presley Boyd

This was simply a fabulous look into the backstory that made Lost in Us one of my favorite debut reads of the past year. I’m a big fan of prequels. I love delving more into the hows and whys of what makes a favorite character get to where they are in the story. Layla Hagen does not disappoint in this as she allows us to see in greater detail the angst of how James and Serena came to be where they were upon meeting that night over those yummy tequila shots (I still shake my head at cinnamon and orange slices, but James does know best!).

James and Serena are definitely a favorite couple for me since reading Lost in Us. They were each dealing with pasts that left them broken in different ways and Layla allows us a bigger glimpse into the details we learned LIU. Seeing in more detail for way James was basically living his early college years not caring about anything and basically being oblivious to everything. Then to see the realization when he’s run thru his trust fund and his dad tells him he’s totally on his own, and then how he begins to create his own way – well it was impressive to say the least but sad because his life was still not meaningful. For Serena her story was about survival and making things better for her parents while hiding from her grief and self-imposed guilt over her sister’s death. I have to say that I’m glad Jess grew up and became more encouraging as a friend, because there were a couple of times when I just wasn’t happy with her! On the flip side of this she was spot on in her initial assessment of Michael. I’m glad we got both the early days of their relationship and also near the end; his becoming her ex-boyfriend was a blessing because I think he was the biggest douche and Serena was better off without him!

I loved how Layla weaved the story to show where they each were at various points, sometimes at the same time but for much of the novella their stories are separate until their first encounter. It was interesting to me to see that first encounter mostly from James’ perspective especially since it seemed it was most impactful for him. It’s amazing how one or two moments can change the course of everything, and the way this story unfolds whether you read the novella first or after the full story – well you won’t be disappointed in those moments.

I most thankfully got an arc from the author in exchange for my honest review. And the only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars was that I just wanted more (but then James and Serena have that effect on me!)

 
 
Purchase:
- Goodreads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/download/20686376?doc=52521
- Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/418509
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWD65I8?ie=UTF8&at=aw-iphone-pc-us-20&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links
- Barnes and nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-layla-hagen/1118888652?ean=2940149334162&itm=1&usri=2940149334162

**Note: at the time of posting, the novella is only free on goodreads and smashwords. But it will be free on the other retailers any second now, so please check the above links.
 
 
 
AUTHOR BIO

 
My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.
I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough 

Author Links:

Blitz-wide giveaway Prize - open INTL -$15 Amazon Gift Card
 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

New Release: Amber reviews Lost in Us by Layla Hagen. #giveaway

 
 
 
Lost in Us by Layla Hagen
Publication date: February 17th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
 
 

Synopsis:
Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she’s catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn’t work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .

The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.

James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He’s the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.

James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn’t the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.

Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever.



Amber's Review:

5+ Star Review by Amber Presley Boyd

Ok let me start by saying that I read a lot. No really, let me reiterate I. READ. . . A LOT! I know good stories and occasionally I read some that are just moderately entertaining. So when I say that Lost in Us blew me away I truly mean it! Over the past few years I rediscovered my love of reading and over the past couple I’ve gotten more involved in this community of amazing romance writers becoming friends with some. So when one of my author friends connected me to Layla Hagen, I was pretty sure she was gonna be a cool chick and I was right! So when Layla asked if I would be interesting in reading and providing a review of her debut novel . . . well since you are reading said review you know my answer. Oh my holy wow was I hooked not even more than a few pages in; I mean we had chocolate obsession, tequila shots and a totally hot guy. Yep I’m easily hooked. Not really, I just know good storytelling when I experience it. This is good storytelling. This is really really good storytelling.

This is the story of two broken souls; both seeking something, but both running from their own dark and twisted pasts. Serena says that she doesn’t believe that two broken souls can make a whole, but I think that these two broken souls find a way to show the other what they need even when James and Serena are afraid to face it, afraid to say it, afraid to accept it, afraid to take the chance. Because love is about chances after all and even though James is the king of taking a risk, he doesn’t believe he can risk his heart. While Serena has just shut her heart off after so many heartbreaks, that even when she knows she loves James taking another chance may just either make her whole or rip her apart.  The way that they connected but then tried to fight their rightness kept me up way late with the need to see how it was all going to play out. Not to mention it was sexy as hell at times, full of a fabulous chocolate fantasy worthy of Willy Wonka and a new take on how to drink a tequila shot (orange and cinnamon? James I think may be on to something); well it all made me love this book!

Lost in Us was emotional from the beginning. I identified at times with Serena as well as James. I loved the two of them together. When they were apart I felt just as shattered as they did and I think I cried more reading this book than I had in some time.  It wasn’t always an ugly cry either sometimes I found myself crying because it was just so damn beautiful! Layla is a fabulous writer, I really can’t say that enough and several times I stopped myself and thought “this is her 1st book”?! I can’t wait to read what comes next. I loved these characters and I loved their friends and am excited that Parker and Jess are going to have their own story!

So brava Layla!! And to readers everywhere I can’t recommend Lost in Us enough!

Links:
 

Amazon:


AUTHOR BIO:
 
My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough 

Author Links:
 
 
Giveaway
-$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal cash (INT)
 

Monday, January 13, 2014

The Cover of Lost in Us by Layla Hagen!!

 
*New Adult Contemporary Romance*

Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she’s catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn’t work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .

The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.

James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He’s the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.

James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn’t the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.

Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever.
 
 
About the Author:
 
 
My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)
 
Goodreads: