Reading Under the Stars

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway: Boneseeker

2014-06-22T06:00:00.000+01:00

Tour schedule can be found here.

Title: Boneseeker
Author: Brynn Chapman
Publisher: Month9Books
Released: 17th June 2014
Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Arabella Holmes is more or less comfortable working at the Mutter Museum, where she works with bones and artefacts and carries out experiments - a far cry from the traditional role and expectations of a lady of her time. Henry Watson is newly arrived there to undertake a position in antiquities, but the two are childhood friends who have not seen each other in years. Upon the discovery of a hand that falls into a wider debate, they are sent as part of a team on an expedition to determine whether the hand belongs to a Neanderthal or Nephilim, a giant race who were the product of relations between fallen angels and humans. They discover, however, that there was another team before them, all of whom are now dead. It is no longer solely a matter of resolving scientific debate, but a fight for their lives in a quest to discover the full truth.

Chapman presents an intriguing world where history mixes with fantasy. Arabella and Henry are our next-generation Holmes-and-Watson duo, and instead of battling straightforward human criminals, there is also a bit of Biblical background. This contrasted nicely with the highly scientific side that the author developed from historical context; with Darwin's theories beginning to take hold, a tension is developed between science and the supernatural. I think it would have been nice to see the fantasy element developed to a similar level, to give it solid foundation, but it was intriguing nevertheless. The Mutter Museum itself was a curious place, a place of oddities and not necessarily pleasant artefacts and displays. As it turns out there's actually a Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, so for those of you across the pond who also didn't know, if you find yourself curious, that might be something to do for a day out.

Arabella bears some of the traits of her brilliant father, these combined with strong attributes of her own. Inquisitive, intelligent, hopelessly unable to be the quiet and tactful lady that convention requires, she makes for a vivid protagonist. A nice context is built around in her in terms of the relationship Chapman has constructed between Arabella and Sherlock, making the reader both smile and sympathise. We only see him directly for a brief moment, but his presence is constant. John Watson, however, is a much more predominant figure; despite being a secondary figure, he makes a welcome addition to the cast. Henry provides an alternate PoV, and I liked how he balanced Arabella. As bright as she is, Henry helps her expand her view of the world and tempers her highly scientific outlook with the belief in the possibility that there might be more.

There were a couple of unresolved issues that I would have liked fixed, although they weren't massive. Overall, though, in combining mystery with fantasy and presenting protagonists who were simultaneously familiar and new, Boneseeker turned out to be a decent read.

ABOUT BRYNN CHAPMAN:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini-Reviews: Speechless & Anthem for Jackson Dawes

2014-06-10T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: 28th August 2012
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

As usual, I'm monstrously late to the bookish party, this one hosted by and for Hannah Harrington and fans. However, since these parties usually go on for ages - say, years - let's just say the main thing was that I turned up. Harrington's reputation, combined with a premise that is intriguing for all its apparent simplicity, had me both wary and curious. Ultimately, it did not disappoint.

The concept of not speaking is a difficult one for me to comprehend. Despite first appearances, where any number of scenarios may see me sitting/standing/walking/[insert verb here] silently, and for all that I do prefer silence on occasion, I still like to talk. Many of us like offering our opinions, contributing to discussion, even just making general chitchat. To actively choose to stop talking, then, as Chelsea does, would be an incredible decision. My respect for her grew over the course of the book. At the start, of course, she was a rather typical character, concerned only with maintaining her status within the popular crowd. Her behaviour was cliché - and deliberately so. When one fateful decision demonstrates how harmful speech can be, she takes a vow of silence, and this marks the start of some beautiful character progression. Harrington takes an unlikeable figure and turns her into someone you can't help but sympathise with. Chelsea grows very gradually, forcing herself to think about things before putting her words out in the open and learning to understand what's important and what isn't. In watching her struggle to maintain her vow even as she was being bullied and trying to defend others made me root for her all the more.

There is also a very nice secondary cast, ranging from her new friends to the other people at her new job to her parents. All of these characters are realistic and easy to relate to. Each friendship is subtly different, progressing in a manner appropriate to the circumstances that surround that friendship. The romance was slow and sweet and utterly genuine. Perhaps one of the best relationships was that between Chelsea and her parents. It was amazing to see how supportive and loving they were of her, despite everything she's put them through. Even better, it was lovely to see her learn to truly appreciate them. For a book that focuses on bullying, a topic I normally don't gravitate towards, Harrington has left me impressed with the way in which she deals with such issues, bringing to life a range of characters who themselves are an accurate reflection of life.

It didn't take me long at all to get through this book, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. Speechless consists of an interesting premise that has been well-executed, and it leaves me feeling grateful that I also have Saving June in my possession. In fact, this review almost makes me want to re-read this book, so perhaps I'll go and do that as well.

Title: Anthem for Jackson Dawes

Author: Celia Bryce

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Released: 1st January 2013

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not quite sure what to say about Anthem for Jackson Dawes. Ordinarily it's not a book I would have picked up, and yet there was something about it that suggested I should perhaps read it anyway. Certainly it turned out to be a fairly decent read. The novel centres around Megan and Jackson, both in hospital for cancer treatment. Despite this, Jackson somehow manages to be energetic and lively and gets along with everyone. The two soon become close, but Megan in particular has to learn to come to terms with the future. As protagonists go, she is not a bad one. On the contrary, her character is likeable and undergoes a slow progression. Unsurprisingly, it is easy to like Jackson. His is a vibrant character, and you want to become his friend just as much as those people within the book. The friendship between Megan and Jackson only intensifies the emotional impact of certain parts of the book. Going into this you're aware there is the possibility of an ending not entirely happy; in this case it is neither happy nor unhappy, but bittersweet, leaving you holding on to those last few pages.

At the same time, however, this could have been so much more. I don't know what to say precisely because there's not very much to talk about. Anthem is a quick read that leaves room for more power and more meaning. While I liked the characters, and while there was some emotion, it wasn't enough. To say that the protagonists are likeable is not to say they stand out; Megan especially could have done with a bit more fleshing out. I wanted to know more about their lives, more about how they were affected - in short, for the book to delve deeper. In a way its short length does work. We are afforded a brief glimpse into both their lives, similar to how Megan is afforded a brief glimpse into Jackson's, and for the right reader at the right time, this is enough. Nor is it completely without power. What I would venture to say is that this is more of an in-the-moment type read, rather than one that necessarily has a lasting impact. Coming out of it, I found myself taking away very little.

In sum, then, I thought this book a relatively decent one, but with the possibility of more. Megan and Jackson's relationship is sweet and does have emotional consequence. For me personally, I could have done with an added layer that would help make this more memorable and more engaging. As such, I would recommend it only to those who are looking for something short and (bitter)sweet.

Review: Nantucket Blue

2014-05-27T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Nantucket Blue (Nantucket #1)
Author: Leila Howland
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Released: 7th May 2013
Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Nantucket Blue has all the appearance of being a promising book, one in which exploration of relationships and identity is complemented by some summery overtones. At the very least it looks as though it might work as a light summer read. To find that it worked mostly as a source of irritation instead was not exactly welcome. For any potential that was in here - and there certainly was some - it was eclipsed by too many other things that were going on.

The story centres around Cricket, who is looking forward to summer. For once, things are going to be different. Rather than stay at home babysitting she's going to be going to Nantucket, spending the holiday with her best friend, Jules, and Jules' family. Inevitably, of course, things don't work out so happily: she's in Nantucket, but the family are suffering from a recent tragedy, leaving Cricket to support herself and pass the summer without doing any of the fun stuff she was supposed to be doing with Jules.

Almost immediately I could see that Cricket and I were not going to be friends. For someone whose best friend has just suffered from a tremendous loss, she comes across as remarkably attention-seeking. It was like she couldn't help herself. There were a number of actions and decisions on her part that left me wishing I could reach into the book and shake her, forcing her to realise what she was doing, because I could see what was going to happen. Sure enough, Jules pulls away from her increasingly more. To be honest, though, for a lot of her behaviour there was no excuse. Objectively I could sympathise - in reality I didn't - but Cricket was not the only one at fault for the way Jules treated her. Her loss did not make up for that. Really this was never meant to be a successful relationship. The latter character was simply not nice, and Cricket astounded me with how whiny and selfish she could be. There were moments when I had hope, when it seemed like there was some sort of improvement, both in character and writing, but always it deflated. Everything became drama, and once again I resumed reading with rapidly devolving patience.

The drama was not constrained simply to this relationship. It managed to float into the romance side of things and the family aspect. Some of Cricket's behaviour involving boys was, again, simply not on. Moreover, the love interest did not really arouse my interest very much. He was sweet, certainly, but so what? This sounds harsh, but there was nothing that made him special. At least, not special in the sense that I could appreciate him in his role. As for the circumstances surrounding this romantic intrigue, they were all very well, but it progressed predictably. That just leaves the family angle. This, I think, was where some of the real potential lay. Cricket's family was neither happy nor united, and this part of the book gave rise to some interesting themes. Had these been taken further, Cricket and her mother would have won some of my sympathy, her father I would be more kindly disposed towards and, I suspect, there would have been a nice amount of character growth on more than one account. At one point Cricket and her mother especially genuinely seemed to be working towards some kind of strengthened relationship. I felt true disappointment on seeing that things were left at such a flat level, either being added in for no seeming purpose or, possibly worse, gratuitous dramatic impact.

In a word, this book made me tired. There was a relatively decent basis here, but it all seemed to be weighed down by drama and sigh-inducing qualities. Normally I would have gone on to the sequel, but I'm finding lately that I'm being more selective, identifying more than ever those that would just be best to let go of. And in reading the synopsis for the second book, I don't think I could take any more. So it is at this point that I'll say goodbye to the world of Nantucket Blue.

Review: White Hot Kiss

2014-05-26T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: 25th February 2014
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm pretty sure that the initials JLA, together, and the person behind these initials, are synonymous with feels. Because her writing just leaves me with all of them. And yeah, maybe I knew this before, but I think it's worth saying again. Gargoyles and demons - together - are like book dynamite. Or triple chocolate cake. And then JLA has her way with them and BAM. You've got the bookish equivalent of some kind of cake that explodes in your mouth and is just the best thing ever (kind of like the sensation that Cam's cookies leave...). Mind = blown.

Since the gargoyle-demon mix was what drew my attention in the first place, let's start with that. The combination was as epic as promised. I was especially curious about gargoyles - not that I don't love demons, because really. Bad creatures who can also be good who are bad. I get on exceptionally well with demons. But this was the first time I'd entered a world with gargoyles and I was intrigued to see how they would be portrayed. Their role as Wardens - hunters of demons and protectors of mankind - was one I could appreciate, objectively and conceptually speaking, and Armentrout did a very nice job with the world-building in this respect. There is no such thing as standard mythology for her because clearly she knows how to give it her own, fresh twist. Both sides share a complexity that goes beyond the standard good/evil preconceptions. Even with the demons it seemed as though something had been added to it. Learning about hell has never been so interesting.

Layla is our feisty half demon-half gargoyle heroine. One of the consequences of this is having a kiss that takes souls. This is a girl whose insecurities and strengths mesh together to form a thoroughly relatable character. She's not afraid to take action and won't let anyone else get in the way of her doing something. When she's on a mission, she'll see it through to its end. At the same time, she struggles a lot. Sure, she makes mistakes along the way, but I could always see where she was coming from. I think what I most identified with was her struggle to accept and reconcile the two halves of her, to understand where it was exactly that she fitted in her world. What pained me was seeing the interactions she had with certain members of her surrogate family of Wardens, the true level of pressure they placed on her whether they realised it or not, and the constant reminder that she was not one of them. In the end, though, it only made her all the stronger when she went in the face of that by discovering the truth for and of herself, suffering a great deal more as a result, and finding some measure of happiness and belonging amongst all that.

It was at this point that the feels truly started to kick in. By which I mean, Zayne and Roth enter the scene. By which I mean, Roth does. I admit, I liked Zayne. A lot. Possibly even loved him? For all his flaws, he is a genuinely good guy, and I was glad to see at the end some recognition on his part that the world is not the black and white image that has been painted for him. And certainly he was swoonworthy. I could definitely see his appeal, both as a friend and something more, although again, I had concerns. But then...Roth made his grand entrance and oh, dear god. On all fronts I was made to feel for him. Beyond the basic charm and mischief - which still should not be underestimated in his case - is a quiet pain that comes of being borne of hell and also of his own personal history. And then, as if I wasn't already feeling enough, Armentrout writes in an astonishing ending that not only picks up the pace and leaves you wide-eyed, but also leaves you wondering how it is that authors can be so cruel (although thank goodness for the hope that follows after that).

Needless to say, I was left impressed with White Hot Kiss. My experience with this author has been extremely limited in comparison to many, and even within that I've had my ups and downs. But this was a world that very quickly had my attention, with characters I couldn't help but take notice of, distinctive whatever their character traits. Wardens kept company with Alphas, demons with zombies, and I really must take a moment to acknowledge Bambi, the concept of which I loved and as a character - for she is a character in her own right - who strangely I also loved. This was a treat to read - cake, anyone? - and one I shall certainly be coming back to.

Review: Cracked

2014-04-30T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Cracked (Soul Eater #1)
Author: Eliza Crewe
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Released: 5th November 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cracked initially entered my life as a way of very briefly distracting me from my work, but whose deliciousness soon had me charmed and hooked. And of course when I say this, I am freely admitting my delight with the blood, guts and general bodily destruction that goes on here. You've been warned.

Meda is the one who brings all this to the forefront and, perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, I loved her. As a soul-eater, she immediately had my attention. Her lack of knowledge about her kind added a layer of mystery, but Eliza Crewe had no trouble in making me happy simply by giving me such a character. As a protagonist, she ensured that attention stayed. I don't think I've ever come across a voice like hers. When we meet her she is on the hunt for food, Meda-style, and she had me from there. She is both biting and witty, giving this book a level of humour and plain entertainment that I just didn't expect. Her character comes even more into focus in the presence of secondary characters, which meant there is not long to wait. Her mental running commentary when Jo, Chi and Uri turn up had me laughing and, to be honest, agreeing with her. Chi in particular warranted a raised eyebrow several times over; initially he seemed to be quite the idiot, but I think by the end he'd become something of a loveable one. Meda was undoubtedly the star of the show, but the secondary characters were also nicely rounded.

If the characters are a delightful bunch, so, too, is the demon-Templar mix. The society of crusaders is Meda's ticket to finding out more about her kind, but of course she can't reveal her true identity since their job is to kill those like her. It was not a combination I was anticipating, yet it was one that worked nicely. Crewe sets a reasonable pace, throwing in a couple of startling revelations for good measure. I liked the focus Meda maintained, not getting overly distracted. Part of the result of this, or perhaps it was the cause, was the lack of romance. When I met Chi I thought I had it all figured out, but it turned out (thankfully, I think) that I was wrong. Its absence was surprising, but welcome. I know, I know. Usually I'm all for bookish love, but here it was more true to Meda's personality. Instead what we had were sweet secondary relationships - so, you know, it wasn't all blood and fighting and soul-eating craziness. But mostly.

Cracked proved to be an exceptionally delightful read I didn't see coming. If I could sum it up in a word, it would probably be entertaining. It was ridiculously funny, and the characters - main and secondary alike - were certainly attention-grabbing figures. Throw in demon hordes and a (surprisingly) secret society with a healthy dollop of carnage and this book ceased to be simply a distraction. In fact, I'm pretty sure this one was made with me in mind. And perhaps you as well, if these things also call to you.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Of Breakable Things

2014-04-29T06:00:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the Release Day Blitz for

Of Breakable Things by A. Lynden Rolland

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

A captivating debut about the fragility of life, love, and perspective.

Alex Ash was born broken. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is like living on death row, but she is willing to fight for her frail life as long as it includes the boy next door. Chase has always held the pieces of her together, but when he dies tragically, Alex’s unfavorable fate becomes a blessing in disguise.

Faced with a choice, she finds herself in a peculiar world where rooms can absorb emotions and secrets are buried six feet under. Among limitless minds, envious spirits, and soulless banshees, Alex hardly rests in peace.

Title: Of Breakable Things

Author: A. Lynden Rolland
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication Date: April 29, 2014

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository | IndieBound

A. Lynden Rolland was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, a picturesque town obsessed with boats and blue crabs. She has always been intrigued by the dramatic and the broken, compiling her eccentric tales of tragic characters in a weathered notebook she began to carry in grade school. She is a sports fanatic, a coffee addict, and a lover of Sauvignon Blanc, thunderstorms and autumn leaves. When she isn’t hunched behind a laptop at her local bookstore, she can be found chasing her two vivacious children. She now resides just outside Annapolis with her husband and young sons.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: A Breath of Frost

2014-04-21T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1)
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Released: 7th January 2013
Rating: 3 of 5 stars

1814 London sees Emma, Gretchen and Penelope discover that magic runs in the family and that the cousins are, in fact, witches. This discovery, unfortunately, comes with something of a damper, as it seems they unwittingly opened up portals to the underworld. Among the foul and dangerous things coming through these portals are the spirits of the Greymalkin Sisters, dark witches who are now murdering young witches in a quest for more power. Somehow, it is Emma who stumbles upon each corpse. The cousins need to locate and seal the gates as quickly as possible, but someone is working against them to help the Sisters. It is only a matter of time before any hope or possibility of winning this fight becomes impossible.

This was a fairly solid read, although I admit this wasn't entirely what I'd hoped. Having enjoyed Harvey's Drake Chronicles I came with certain expectations. These were met in part and, with a little more work, it could have been even better. The bones were definitely there, and very promising. What seemed to be missing, however, were key points of explanation, parts of conversation; transitions were disjointed and causal points unclear. This improved over the course of the book, with the second half being stronger than the opening, and this is where I started to get more involved in events. The plot, such as it was, was not an overly complex one, but Harvey made it reasonably compelling nevertheless. I quite liked the portrayal of the Graymalkin Sisters, each suitably villainous and distinct in their own way. The worldbuilding in general, although in need of some improvement, was decent enough.

I'm not sure how attached I became to the characters. Certainly I liked our three leads, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. Amusing and feisty, they kept me entertained - Emma in particular, who took the forefront in this instalment. But it's hard to detect any deeper sentiment. Possibly part of the problem was the frequent jump between perspectives, which was split not only between the cousins but others as well. Even beyond that, though, I think there was something elusive that just prevented me from fully connecting. Still, there's sufficient time left for me to feel differently. What was good, beyond a doubt, was to see a good connection between these three girls. As family, as friends, they had a strong relationship. Romance was present in the book, but it was this relationship that took the focus more, I think, which was a nice change.

While not as promising as I might have hoped, A Breath of Frost was still a decent start to a new series by a well-established author. I have hopes that there will be improvements as the series goes on and, if so, this should turn out to be something truly enjoyable.

Review: Of Darkness and Crowns

2014-04-13T00:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2)
Author: Trisha Wolfe
Publisher: Self-published
Released: 20th March 2014
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spoilers for those who haven't read the first book.

It was a long wait for this book. And when it finally came - imagine me staring in shock and then clapping manically when I saw Trisha Wolfe's name in my inbox at this point - I did a very silly thing. Rather than spreading it out, savouring it, as I should have done, I devoured it in a matter of hours.

Totally worth it, though.

Bale, the dark moon goddess, is still in Prince Caben's body, and Kaliope, leader of the Nactue Guard, is even more determined to track him down and save him. But it seems as if the odds are stacked against her. Bale's influence on Caben is destructive, both in terms of the literal war he is now waging and on his mental state. Kal is now a weakness to him. On her side, she's struggling to bear the responsibility of the kingdom that Caben entrusted to her, and the traitor in their midst. Her link to Bale is greater than she realised, and her determination to defeat the goddess through whatever means necessary is clouded by her feelings for Caben. If she hopes to destroy Bale, she may have to destroy Caben, too. It's a choice that may prove to be impossible, but either way it'll come with unbearable consequences.

As soon as you start this, you are plunged into war, with the sound of sword meeting sword and heads being chopped off. Not a bad way to start. This set the tone for the rest of the book, with armies and fighting and politics taking the focus. Depending on your preference, this isn't actually bad. Of course there were emotional moments interspersed throughout - this is Trisha Wolfe, after all - but I thought for this middle instalment, it was quite appropriate for these things to be only complementary, seeing as they were in the middle of a war. Those emotional moments were further well placed, breaking up the tension at just the right times and creating tension of a different kind. I also quite liked that, because this is dual PoV, we get to see both sides of the war. (Oh, hush. I don't just mean that we get more of Caben.) It was good to be afforded extra insight into how the kingdoms work, improving my feel for the world I became part of. Not only that, it was interesting to see Kal and Caben actually fighting against each other.

The first book left me with the pain of Bale possessing Caben. The pain increased here, where it was only too clear how much Bale's presence was destroying his mind. The darkness was one thing. Playing host to such a dark being was sure to have a corrosive effect, but to see him try and struggle with Bale, only to be severely punished for it, was not easy. And having two minds in one head is never conducive to sanity. This Caben, unlike the confident yet charming prince that we meet in the first book, is truly quite dark, his heart and mind filled with all sorts of shadows. His battle with himself and with Bale was not easy, and I'm glad in this Wolfe made him a combination of weak and strong.

The same was with Kal, although her strength dominated, which I approved of. She has different battles going on, not only with Caben and Bale, but also within the political structure she thought she knew and could handle. I could appreciate her struggle to cope with all the responsibility that had been placed on her; I certainly wouldn't know what to do with it, being just as afraid as her of letting people down or making things worse. She had to confront her relationship with her father, the empress...and herself. Since Caben became part of her life and Bale was brought back, everything changed, and now, for her, everything is being challenged once again.

Of Darkness and Crowns was a highly satisfactory sequel. Perhaps one of the things that might have made it better was if it was longer. While the pace was good, I was expecting to be in for a longer haul. Nevertheless, it didn't fail to elicit all those feelings that reading a Wolfe book usually creates. Yet again, this author delivers, and it goes without saying that I'm front in line waiting for the next book.

Book Blitz (Excerpt & Giveaway): The Goddess Wars Series

2014-04-06T10:50:00.004+01:00

Of Silver and Beasts (Goddess Wars #1)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: April 19th 2013
New Adult Fantasy

Summary from Goodreads:

In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.

When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.

Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.

New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Available from:

(FREE for a limited time! Get your copy below!)

Excerpt from Book 1 - I couldn't decide between two awesome ones, so I hope you guys love this one as much as I do!

I don't know if I've been asleep for hours or minutes, but the adrenaline rushing system to act makes it impossible to sleep. Nudging Caben's slumbering body, I say, "Wake up."

He's still lying on his side, his lefgs curled up where they had been tangles with mine while we slept. His arms reach out, searching for something as his eyes crack open. "It's not morning," he deadpans.

"I don't know if it is or not, but we've slept enough." I prod him once more, rousing him fully awake. "Get-"

"Don't make me bark another order," he snaps. "Climb back into bed."

He rolls over.

Annoyed, and having had just about enough of his chauvinistic arrogance, I lift my bare foot to kick his backside. Before my heel meets his rump, his arm reaches behind and he grabs my ankle. I swallow my yelp as he pulls me onto the cot. Landing on my back, I bite my lip, holding in my cry as the bar beneath the mattress gouges into my spine. But all thoughts of aches and revenge flee my mind as Caben pulls my ankle and slides my body underneath his. Hovering above me - half his weight on the cot, half on top of me - he presses me into the bedding.

His hand lowers my foot to the bed, then slowly slides up the side of my leg until it reaches my stomach. Lifting the bottom of my tunic, he rests his palm on my waist, on the small curve above my hip. His eyes never waver, his heated gaze holding mine.

"Before we begin nefariously plotting," he says, low and husky, his breath skimming my cheek. "I want to know - I'll only ask this once."

Unsure of what he's demanding, I squint, and my breath halts as his eyes drop to my chest. I swallow. My eyes close.

"Kaliope." He says my name with the hint of accent I now know I only hear when he's taken off-guard. When he drops his barriers, either in anger, urgency, or fear. I wonder what emotion is causing him to lose control now. And will his lilt deepen out of alarm or revulsion when he sees my chest?

I open my eyes.

The steady thump of his heart beats against my arm. It speeds as the tension thickens the slight span of air between us.

No matter what happens later, whether we live or die, I at least have control over this moment. Even if we survive, and he goes off to rule his kingdom and I to lead the Nactue, I can keep this one moment.

One stolen moment out of a lifetime of duty.

Taking a breath and releasing it in tiny clips that make my breastbone ache, I cover his hand with mine. The metal cuffs on our wrists clank together. I force his hand slowly upward - onto my belly...my rib cage...around the swell of my breast - to the hard glass covering.

I fight the urge to shut my eyes and close myself off from the many, sudden emotions that cross his face. His eyes enlarge, and a crease forms between his brows as his features shift to confusion. And when I think my body will die from tremors, he finally breathes, his full lips pressing together in discernment.

Attempting to remove his hand and rise, I shift sideways, but he holds his place, firmly pressed against me. The rough pad of his fingertip traces the scar tissue around the casing. His deep, stormy eyes follow the hollow of my neck until they land on my collarbone. And with a movement so subtle, he turns his hand over and pulls my tunic down, exposing the clamp.

My insides threaten to combust. Every nerve in my body is ready to set the mercury aflame - my dread is complete. I have to force some word from his mouth, some action from him, to end this torment.

Only when he begins to lower his mouth toward mine, I freeze, wondering if he's merely accepting me because again, we could die, and I'm the last chance he'll have to be with a woman before then.

But his lip pass mine, brush over my chin and jawline, and instead find the sensitive, scarred skin of my chest. He plants a soft kiss, and then another. My throat thickens. My nostrils flare as a burning sensation blazes behind my sinuses. It quickly subsides when the unshed tears I'm holding back release. I blink, and they quietly trail down the sides of my temples.

Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: September 1, 2013

New Adult Fantasy

***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK ONE***

Summary from Goodreads:

The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.

Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.

When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?

Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Available from:

About the Author

From an early age, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up fantasy worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her fantasy worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself. For more information on Trisha Wolfe and her works, please visit: www.TrishaWolfe.com

***Author Links***

***GIVEAWAY***

1 Caben Flask Necklace (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway: Flawed Perfection

2014-03-13T06:00:00.000+00:00

Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player--he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers.

River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She's been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she's stuck right in the middle of the brother's dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn't even know she's the ultimate prize.

Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl's hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.

Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself--or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all...

Excerpt:

I nodded my head and watched as Adam's hand lingered on the neck of the Ibanez™ before he picked it back up and slipped the strap over his shoulder.

I sat on the edge of the bed as he began to play without an amplifier.

The noise was tinny without the electric part hooked up but that didn't matter. Adam's fingers moved effortlessly from fret to fret as he strummed the guitar. His headed nodded ever so slightly to the beat and his bare foot tapped the floor as he closed his eyes and a smile formed on his lips.

I stood and placed my hands around his neck, yet he continued to play, nod his head and tap his foot with his eyes closed. The only change was on his lips as they crept into the seductive grin.

I leaned into him, letting my hands comb through the hair on the back of his head as my breath washed over his lips.

Still nothing. The guitar continued to hum with his talent.

I let my lips hover over his, then let them wander over the soft skin of his neck and up the stubble of his chin. The beat remained smooth, undisturbed as the strings squealed and he deepened the riff.

I paused as my lips reached his again, lingering at the corner of his mouth where the cold metal of his lip ring teased me just as much as his fingers on the guitar.

I let my mouth run over the metal until it caught in my teeth and I sucked it in.

Finally, his body reacted tensing as he groaned - but his playing didn't cease, didn't change. He still resisted, hand strumming a tease over the strings next to the skin of my belly.

His mouth responded to mine as I let the ring and his lip slowly slip away from me. That was it - the guitar spun to his back and he yanked my hips to his own.

"I need you to play me like that guitar," I gasped as his hand tilted my head and his tongue ran over my trembling neck.

His other hand drifted down my torso.

"Good, because I wasn't done with my song," he growled into my ear.

Find the author:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: 'Til Death

2014-03-04T00:00:00.000+00:00

Title: 'Til Death (Fractured Souls #1)
Author: Kate Evangelista
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Released: 4th March 2014
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Selena Fallon has visions of the future. She's not sure why, and sometimes it makes it hard for her to have an entirely normal life, but it's something she can deal with. The fact that her best friends and grandparents know also helps. Except when she has a vision of her death - and it's not a particularly nice one at that - things start to get out of control. Dillan Sloan is the new boy at school and, not only do they not get along, but weird electricity zaps through them every time they happen to touch. Missing dogs and undead creatures compound the situation, until Selena discovers that she is part of the Illumenari, the secret society that Dillan also belongs to. What she also discovers is that she is a target. So far her visions have never failed to come true, but she has no intention of going down without a fight.

Although by no means her first novel, this is my first experience of Kate Evangelista's work, and I have to say she left a very good impression. With a solid writing style that improved over the course of the book, and fresh ideas that were also well-executed, this wasn't a difficult one to like. Realising that we have both the view of Selena and Dillan made me happy, but what I also liked was that the selection of supernatural creatures presented here was pleasantly different, even within the context of the usual secret society types. Certainly as far as Selena goes, we have not seen everything. And while a couple of things were predictable, a couple were not, and it is these things that have the most impact on the overall story. I thought one surprise in particular could have been smoothed over, but there was nothing that truly hindered my enjoyment. Evangelista almost takes her time, letting you get comfortable with the novel and the pacing, until it really kicks off towards the end and all manner of things fly at you and hit you in the face.

As far as heroines go, Selena falls happily somewhere in the middle. While I doubt we could label her as badass, she can hold her own; she forces herself to keep it together and, if need be, fight. She comes across as real, and as such I was able to relate to her. Of course there were the usual secrets surrounding her, some obvious to me as a reader and some not, but none of it prevented me from feeling sympathy for her. Nor has it stopped. Dramatic irony being what it is, I'm impatient for that moment later in the series when she finally knows what I do. Dillan, too, has his own emotional battles to overcome, and there is a change in him in terms of his approach towards these which was good to see. I appreciated the different dynamics between him and Selena, and I also liked the established partner relationship he had with Sebastian. It wasn't quite what I was expecting when I first met him, but it's definitely something that adds to the book.

Overall, then, I was left quite happy with this one. (Actually, I was also left in disbelief and had to quickly search for the sequel's release date, only to stare in more disbelief, but you get my point.) As an author new to me Kate Evangelista has made her mark and I will certainly have to go back.

Review: The Collector

2014-02-23T10:35:00.002+00:00

Title: The Collector (Dante Walker #1)
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Released: 2nd April 2013
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The Collector could very easily have been a miss for me. Dante was, by all accounts, rude, unfair and arrogant. I was prepared for this to go into the cluttered vault at the back of my mind labelled 'Meh'. What I was not prepared for was for it to creep past my walls and insist upon my liking it.

Dante is a collector. Not like stamp collector, but soul collector. His new assignment is Charlie Cooper. He's not sure exactly why his boss wants her, but whatever. This assignment is his chance to escape hell and he has ten days to complete it. He probably won't even need ten days, since no-one can do the job like him. But when he meets Charlie and unwillingly gets to know her, he finds himself putting off his task. It's problematic to say the least, but her can't stop emotions he hasn't felt in ages from rising to the surface. Looks like this won't be such a simple assignment, after all.

First of all, Dante is rude, unfair and arrogant. I spent a good deal of time marvelling at his attitude, especially when it came to Charlie. I have never come across another protagonist so sure of themselves and if the poor girl knew what was running through his head when he met her I'm not sure she'd have been so happy to have him around. But she didn't and things progressed and Dante actually turned out to be a redeemable character. His growth was very gradual yet pleasant to see, and I think I preferred the second half because of the added depth that came with connecting with him more. With his emotions came an entirely different side to him, one not so cocky, and that was nice. What might have been even better would be to see more of his work and get a greater feel for that.

Charlie was the complete opposite of Dante. Bubbly, friendly, always seeing the good in other people, she made for a genuinely nice character. Admittedly I found her a little too gullible - surely her past experiences would teach her to be more wary? - but perhaps that's just the cynic in me. Either way she was a fresh character, and I have to commend Scott for bringing to life two characters different from the norm. Actually, 'different' and 'unpredictable' appear to be themes that run through this book, as I was not entirely expecting the level of humour that there was, and there were a couple of twists that had me blink in surprise. As soon as there was one revelation I made the mistake of getting comfortable with it, only to find myself having to readjust to what was actually the truth. This one certainly keeps you on your toes. The mythology isn't just recycled material, either. A fresh spin was put on it to renew my interest, and the ending in particular had me sitting up straight.

There were areas of doubt with this one, but if I overlooked the problems - which wasn't too hard to do - I did find myself enjoying it. If nothing else there was the humour, but there were some genuinely good attributes, all of which makes me sure I'll be coming back to this author.

Cover Reveal: Flawed Perfection

2014-02-07T06:00:00.000+00:00

Hey, guys! I'm so excited to be working with Cassandra Giovanni again, this time for the cover reveal of her new novel, Flawed Perfection! I think this is her best cover yet - it's simple, yet everything comes together nicely. I like that, although there's a model, it doesn't entirely fall into the NA cover trend of couples kissing/holding hands/gazing at each other. It's thoughtful, plus there's greater meaning added with the flaw cutting across the corner and up the side. I'm also a fan of the colour scheme and fonts used.

Okay, here it is. What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Flawed Perfection

Beautifully Flawed, #1

Author: Cassandra Giovanni

Publisher: Show N'ot Tell Publishing

Cover Designer: Gio Design Studios

Released: 7th March, 2014

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She's been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she's stuck right in the middle of the brothers' duelling over everything and anything, and she doesn't even know she's the ultimate prize.

Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girls' hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damages, with boyish good looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.

Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself--or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all...

About The Author

Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and the Amazon bestselling thriller, Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra released her first New Adult novel, Love Exactly, which became an Amazon Bestseller overnight in June of 2013. She's currently working on her new New Adult Contemporary Romance, Beautifully Flawed. The first novel in the series, Flawed Perfection is scheduled to be published on March 7, 2014.

Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios Photography and Gio Design Studios Publication Marketing . She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Cassandra can be found on:

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ @cgiovanniauthor

Review: Pawn

2014-01-29T00:00:00.000+00:00

Title: Pawn (The Blackheart Rebellion #1)
Author: Aimée Carter
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Released: 26th November 2013
Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pawn is the first of Aimée Carter's books that I've read and, while there were a number of issues, I know I'll be going back for more. For a genre that has become so popular with authors - and one that is a favourite of mine - this book offers a refreshing take on the dystopian world, alongside some surprising moments and conspicuously absent tropes.

Society is ranked from I to VI, depending on how well they do when they are Tested at age 17. VII is reserved for the ruling family. Kitty is stuck as a III, guaranteeing her a less than mediocre job, with extremely little pay, in a place far from home. Which is why, when offered by Prime Minister Daxton to be a VII, she's quick to agree. But what Daxton doesn't explain to her is the catch. Becoming a VII means her being Masked, a surgical procedure that leaves her looking exactly like Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's dead niece. Which puts her in the unfortunate position of being at the head of a rebellion, one begun by Lila. Unfortunate because Kitty now has to choose: risk death and see the rebellion through, or do as Daxton wants and call it off, ensuring herself a life of luxury and safety.

The concept of a numerically tiered society was one I liked, and it gave Carter's world a decidedly structured feel. It was very clear how fixed a person's place was; you take the test and you receive a rank, but it is not something you can very well lie about or even manipulate. This is a dystopia not overly concerned with technology, even with its presence and the significance of the Masking, but, I would say, more in society itself: people and how they function. I appreciated, too, the fact that rebellion, or at least the widespread idea of it, was already born. From what I've seen, dystopias usually start at the beginning, introducing the world and perhaps one challenging character or a small group who then branch out. It's almost as if Carter has fast-forwarded this process; we have here a huge network of people who look up to Lila. This isn't the only time the author has done so, but we'll come to that in a moment. In doing this, the focus changes slightly from what we might usually expect, and it is nicely done. Saying this, however, it did bother me somewhat. There was something about the way the Hart family worked that had me feeling sceptical. Having the voices of oppression and freedom, undisguised, under one roof, and with a particular hierarchy, made me question the feasibility of such a situation. It may just be me, but I was never immersed enough in the story to lose those niggling doubts.

That leads me nicely to the characters themselves. Again I had a mixed reaction. Kitty was a decent enough character, of course with her frustrating moments, but ultimately stepping up to her new role as Lila Hart and then putting her own effort into Lila's work. I was also see her pleased to stick to Benjy, who we are introduced to as her boyfriend right from the beginning. There is no new relationship, only an established one: once more the fast-forwarding, and once more it works. When Knox comes into the picture, despite a few seemingly close calls, it does not form a triangle. There is also a refreshing lack of secrets between Kitty and Benjy. At the same time I'm not sure how memorable they are, nor can I say I felt as much connection to Kitty as I do to other characters in other books. And I really had my doubts with Celia. For a woman of her position - and you'll know the full extent of that meaning if you've read it - she's not particularly good. She's neither careful nor strategic. Frankly she's quite disappointing. The characters are not predictable (and I mean that in the best way) and they're easy enough to read about at the time, but I'd be hesitant to say they leave a significant impression afterwards.

Pawn turned out to be a mix of ups and downs for me that ended up sort of balancing out. For all its flaws, it is a decent book, and worth picking up if only to see a different take on what is already a well-explored genre. I do wish I could have enjoyed it even more, but the potential is certainly there for the rest of the series.

Review: The Darkest Part

2014-01-27T00:00:00.000+00:00

Title: The Darkest Part (Living Heartwood #1)
Author: Trisha Wolfe
Publisher: Self-published
Released: 6th August 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't think it's possible to be disappointed by Trisha Wolfe. I opened this, safe in the knowledge that all I had read before I had liked, and expected good things. I think it's safe to say I got good things. In fact, with such a beautifully emotional story and with characters you just want to hug, I'd go so far as to say I got wonderful things.

Sam was left devastated after her fiancé, Tyler Marks, was killed in a hit-and-run and shocked when she started seeing his ghost. At first disbelieving, now she holds on to seeing him and talking to him to help her get through each day. Her parents, on the other hand, have her meeting with a psychiatrist. She decides she needs to help Tyler cross over, and a plan starts to form: she'll collect his ashes and finally take that trip they were supposed to go on for their honeymoon, scattering his ashes at each stop. Never mind the fact that she might not be ready for him to go. When Holden, Tyler's brother, returns to the neighbourhood to see where Tyler's case is at, Sam enlists his help to get hold of his brother's ashes. Holden is the last person she wants to ask given their past, but there's no other choice. What she doesn't plan is for Holden coming with her. Holden, who is increasingly worried at Sam's mental state with each day. Holden, who has secrets of his own. With the past clinging tightly to both of them, it's uncertain whether they'll be able to make it back out.

This is a bit of a difficult one because it's marketed as a contemporary, yet there also seems to the be the possibility of the supernatural. The matter of Tyler's ghost and Sam's mental state is portrayed in such a way as to leave room for doubt. A little more definition may have been desirable, but I believe it works equally well either way. Whichever end of the spectrum this book falls at, the ghost works to bring a delicious level of darkness, on the one hand through its own presence and on the other through conveying Sam's highly troubled state of mind. Add to that a roadtrip and two characters each undergoing their own emotional journey, and there was no way I was being parted from this book before finishing. Once again Wolfe's writing style proves irresistible, flexible enough that she creates a world so different from her usual creations - real rather than fantasy - and yet still so complex. In addition to which, two perspectives that are clearly different.

Sam and Holden are both broken characters, shown to be so in different ways. The extent to which Sam is shattered over her fiancé's death truly had me feeling for her. Ghost or no ghost, she isn't ready to let Tyler go, and that has caused her to let go of herself. Holden is barely holding it together under the weight of guilt and secrets - and now also being close to Sam. One of the things that really struck me about him was how thoughtful he was. As far as he's concerned Sam is unstable, and in his interactions with her you can see him think through what the best approach would be at any given moment so that she isn't pushed too hard (arguments withstanding). It probably sounds patronising here, but the novel depicts someone very intelligent and very concerned.

For such broken characters, then, I thought the roadtrip a perfect way to make and show their own personal journeys. I think that's one of the reasons I love roadtrip stories. At the same time as honouring Tyler's memory they were making their own, and the dynamics between them were constantly changing. There was outright hostility and forgiveness and fear and love and everything in between, not to mention the pretty awesome Biker Melody helping things along. The past was confronted, demons (or do I mean ghosts?) put to rest and the sweetest of endings. Until finally there was just me, face stretched into a wide smile and the presence of two new characters in my heart.

The Darkest Part shows what it means to lose someone and to let go. It's beautiful, emotional, well-written. Frankly by this point I don't expect anything less of Trisha Wolfe. If you haven't yet read anything by this author, I would strongly urge you to do so. (Seriously, why haven't you?) Whether it's myth, fantasy, adventure or, as is the case here, mystery, emotion or even simply a tale of two individuals, there is no doubt that she has you sorted.

Review: Addicted to You

2014-01-08T00:57:00.002+00:00

Title: Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publisher: Self-Published
Released: 22nd August 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Addicted to You was not a book I was expecting to enjoy. It was not even one that I was going to
pick up, as I really didn't think it would be for me, until I happened across a few reviews that persuaded me to give it a try. Even then my hopes weren't high. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it...and yet I did.  Immensely.  The novel is, in some ways, quite a dark one, and I was left impressed with the way the authors dealt with their subject matter.

Lily Calloway and Loren Hale are both addicts. The past three years have seen them pretending to be in a relationship, a solution they came up with to help them hide their addictions: this way Loren can help Lily hide the fact that she's addicted to sex, and Lily can help Lo hide his alcoholism.  For three years, this solution has worked. But now it's becoming harder to pretend, and the lines aren't so clear anymore. The possibility of them sharing a real relationship hangs in the air, but their addictions, combined with the arrival of new people in their lives and the demands of family, mean that too easily everything could fall apart. Even so...being with each other for real may prove too hard to resist.

Addictions are something we generally realise to be extremely serious affairs. Drugs, alcohol, these are the addictions we come across the most in media and fiction. Krista and Becca Ritchie do a highly commendable job in showing us the extent to which an addiction can take over someone's life, allowing the reader to truly appreciate what the character is going through. They take this one step further in exploring something rather less addressed: Lily's sex addiction. It's quite easy to dismiss this as something unimportant, either because we think it doesn't really compare to the life-threatening nature of, say, the other two types, or because the idea of being addicted to sex seems somewhat absurd and self-indulgent. In reading this book, however, I could see that Lila was also a victim; in its own way her addiction was destroying her life. Having sex was not just an activity to pass the time, nor was it just a trivial concern. It was something she needed to function.

With this in mind, then, Lily and Lo were characters, if not easy to like at times, easy to relate to. I was invested in their story, and some part of me was glad when they finally decided to make this relationship work for real, even though I knew it would only prove even more destructive. The authors never once shy away from the dark realities of their characters' lives.  The secondary characters, too, have been well thought-out. While at first I didn't appreciate the intrusion of Connor and Ryke, neither of whom I could really connect to, my feelings toward them did change. What I really liked was seeing the complex family dynamics of the Calloways, particularly when it came to Rose and Lily. The range of characters here is wonderfully complex and adds to the emotional depth that the novel offers, all of which made me enjoy it even more.

This is not a light tale, and neither is there anything half-hearted about it. It is dark, gritty, emotional. There is much more to appreciate and consider than I had expected going into the book, and I am certainly looking forward to reading the next one.

Review: The Naturals

2013-12-14T16:33:00.001+00:00

Title: The Naturals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Quercus
Released: 7th November 2013
Rating: 3 stars

Cassie Hobbs doesn't think anything of her ability to read people. It's just always been something she does, without even having to really think about it. That's until she gets hired by the FBI to train as a profiler and help solve cold cases. Nor is she the only one - this is a programme that consists of Naturals, people - teens - particularly adept at a certain skill. At first this brings a sense of achievement and purpose, but that soon changes to simple danger. Somewhere out there is a new serial killer who's getting uncomfortably close to home...and Cassie in particular. The Naturals aren't simply solving cases anymore. They have to survive this one.

The Naturals was generally an enjoyable read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes has written a novel both easy to read and engaging, seeming to move effortlessly from humour to downright creepiness. Such a compelling mix couldn't fail to keep me glued to the pages. Though I knew this to be a thriller, there have been very few books that have truly disturbed me, even those claiming to be horror, making the darker parts of the book even easier to appreciate. Those laugh-out-loud moments, too, were a delightful aspect, perhaps not something you'd expect with murder as a key theme. Speaking of murder...Did anyone else see that ending coming? I didn't. All my theories, all my guesses...every one of them were wrong. This author really does know how to write a thriller. What does bother me, however, is that I still don't know whether this is meant to be a thriller pure and simple, or whether this has an element of the paranormal. Are the Naturals' gifts otherworldly, or simply stronger versions of otherwise perfectly regular abilities?

My thoughts on the characters are mixed. On the one hand, they're likeable - or at least, the one who you're supposed to like are - and somewhat interesting, especially in terms of their abilities. On the other, I'm not sure how memorable they are. Abilities aside, there's nothing in particular that makes them stand out. Then, of course, there's the love triangle. Immediately I felt exasperated. Having said that, I do think there is potential for this one. I like Cassie and I like Michael, and I think I may favour him as a love interest. The relationship between Cassie and Dean I feel could be something more complex. I'm hoping that Barnes will pull this out of a triangle and make something more interesting out of it, but we shall have to see.

Despite its flaws, I did like The Naturals, and I suspect it's a book easier to enjoy in the moment. Looking back on it now and thinking of other books I've read it may perhaps not be amazing, but nevertheless it has very appealing qualities, and I look forward to entering this world again.

Book Blitz: Tell Me When

2013-12-06T06:00:00.000+00:00

TELL ME WHEN

By Stina Lindenblatt and Carina Press

Coming 20th January, 2014

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Pre-Order Amazon | Pre-Order Barnes and Noble

Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class. She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid. But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again. When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her. And Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.

Excerpt

Amber (Chapter 1)

I'm inspecting a delicate fairy with wings like autumn leaves when the chimes above the store door ring. Two guys, maybe twenty-one or twenty-two, enter. Both are good-looking and have the tall muscular bodies of basketball players. That's where the similarities between them end.

The dark-haired guy has that bad-boy vibe some girls find appealing, with his military boots, jeans and black leather jacket. His blond-haired friend is the kind of guy most girls feel safe with. He's wearing sneakers, jeans and a blood donor T-shirt. The clothes and his friendly expression make him look trustworthy. Like he won't break your heart or your body or your soul.

But I've long since learned appearances are never what they seem. Either man could be sweet or he could be dangerous. The trick is to never let them get close enough for you to find out the truth the hard way.

Blond guy walks to the counter and chats with the storeowner, a man not much older than us, with tattoos covering his arms. Neither pays attention to me. I go back to studying the wall.

From the corner of my eye, I notice the black-haired guy walking toward me. Instead of checking out the designs on the wall, his gaze roams over my body, taking in the view. Jerk.

A one-sided smile slides onto his face. He's the kind of guy who uses his good looks to his advantage, the kind of guy whose sole mission in life is getting laid.

My hand tap-tap-taps against my right thigh, keeping pace with my heart, which has picked up speed as the jerk continues staring at me. I narrow my eyes at him, silently telling him to find another girl. He's wasting his time with me.

The men at the counter laugh.

"Dude, that's the first I've seen you got shot down by a female," blond guy says, still chuckling.

Dark-haired guy flips him the finger and points to the fairy. "This would look hot on you right" - he strokes his finger against my lower back - "here." His voice is low, the words slow and practiced.

I jerk away and stride to the back of the store. The other two men laugh even louder.

"Give up, Marcus," blond guy says. "She's a lot smarter than your usual girls. I like her already."

About the Author
Born in England, Stina loves to travel, and has lived in England, the US, Canada, and Finland. She spent a semester in graduate school living in central Finland, and a summer during her undergrad degree working in Helsinki. She has a Master’s of Science degree in exercise physiology and has worked with elite athletes. In her free time, Stina is a photographer, mother of three adorable kids, and devoted wife. She currently lives in Calgary, Canada.

Website/blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Seeking Her

2013-11-18T06:00:00.000+00:00

Title: Seeking Her (Losing It #3.5)

Author: Cora Carmack

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Released: 28th January 2014

A few months after being honourably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

November Release Day Blitz & Giveaway

2013-11-05T06:00:00.000+00:00

Today we're celebrating the release of Entangled Teen's November books! Read about them and enter to win the giveaway below!

Infinity (The Chronicles of Nerissette #3)
by Andria Buchanan
Publication: November 5th, 2013 by Entangled Teen

Although she’s still stuck in the magical world of Nerissette, Queen Allie is finally ready to build a relationship with the half hottie, half dragon next door, Winston. But all isn’t really fair in love and war.

Unrest is quickly forming at the borders and soon Allie realizes that the Fate Maker wasn’t the only one who wanted her crown. When her trusted aunt Bavasama sends her troops into Nerissette on a campaign of murder and mass destruction, Allie has a tough decision to make.

She can’t take the chance of letting more people die or letting those she’s lost disappear from memory, but there is more at stake than even she knows. Still, Allie has to do something. And in the process she’ll discover what she’s truly made of when faced with a series of options…each more horrible than the last.

GoodReads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble

In the Blood
by Sara Hantz
Publication: November 5th, 2013 by Entangled Teen

For seventeen years Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.

His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.

In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…

GoodReads | Amazon | Amazon UK

Spring Moon (Indiana Teller)
by HRH Princess Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian
Publication: November 5th, 2013 by Entangled Teen

Amid the expansive plains of Montana, the Lykos Ranch stretches for miles. The inhabitants who live in near isolation from the outside world are members of the most powerful clan of werewolves in North America. Among them lives just one human: Indiana Teller.

Grandson of the clan’s leader and offspring of a werewolf father and a mysterious yet human mother, Indiana is rejected by his peers and heads to the University of Montana to find a normal life. Despite warnings from his grandparents, he falls in love with a beautiful human, Katerina.

Before too long, he is the victim of an accident that would have killed him had he not miraculously vanished at the moment of impact. Are these strange occurrences just chance or the machinations of a hidden enemy out to destroy him? Facing his destiny, Indiana will have to choose who to believe, and who to love.

GoodReads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble

Olivia Twisted
by Vivi Barnes
Publication: November 5th, 2013 by Entangled Teen

Olivia
He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.
At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Z
I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.
It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.
Except that she’s not.
Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

GoodReads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble

To celebrate the launch of these books, Entangled Teen is giving away three ebooks. Check out the Rafflecopter giveaway down below for more information!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Woken Gods

2013-10-20T05:00:00.000+01:00

Title: The Woken Gods
Author: Gwenda Bond
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Released: 3rd September 2013
Rating: 2 of 5 stars

With promises of Egyptian mythology and sudden disappearances, the wait for this book was a difficult one. I find mythology in general to be a fascinating thing, and that combined with plot elements and characters would make this a wonderful read...Which was why, by the end of this, I was even more disappointed.

Gods, the Society of the Sun, relics...these are features of the new Washington, D.C. Features that are a part of Kyra's world, but that she has no direct experience of until she's approached by two tricksters one day after school. That one encounter marks the start of a new life, one that consists of searching for her father and the relic he stole, working with Society operatives and actively getting involved with the gods. The consequences of not finding her father and getting that relic back don't bear thinking about.

My difficulties with this novel began almost as soon as I started. To begin with, I wasn't sure if it was the book itself or simply me, but as I progressed further I realised these problems weren't going away. That's not to say it still isn't me; I have been known to hold black sheep status on several occasions, after all. But one of the big issues for me was the world-building. For something so central to her plot, Bond's world-building was unfortunately lacking. While there were numerous mythological gods, their presence for the most part felt static; I didn't get a sense of who they were individually, nor did I understand their relations with Kyra's society. This confusion then fed into my reaction to the actual plotline. That in itself was not particularly impressive, either.

Added to this was the fact that a lot of it seemed flat. To give credit where credit is due, and aware as I am of how critical this review has become, there were scenes and sections that Bond wrote quite well, actually enabling me to connect with what I was reading; passages that stood out and had me sitting up with renewed interest. Sadly, though, this wasn't enough for me to truly enjoy it. My feelings toward Kyra were non-existent. I didn't love her, hate her, or anything in between. I thought Oz sweet enough, Ezra intriguing enough, but ultimately the line separating them from everyone else was very thin. The interactions between the characters, too, felt flat and awkward, as did the different POVs. It was just quite jumpy and ill-flowing, and it all left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

For all my criticisms, The Woken Gods wasn't unbearably bad. There were parts well-written, and it was engaging to a point. I can't deny, however, that I did not get on with this novel, and that I am disappointed given the amount of potential it has. Other people have had better luck than I (including my awesome reading buddy and blogging friend, Rebekah at Reflections of a Bookworm), so do go and see what they have to say. For my part, I won't be revisiting this world anytime soon, unfortunately.

Strange Chemistry Cover Reveals!

2013-10-15T20:04:00.001+01:00

Guysguysguys! Look at all the pretty that Strange Chem have released into the world! *drools* I shared The Almost Girl with you before, and I'll put it up again because honestly, it looks awesome...And the cover for Shadowplay is finally out! Eeeep! I leave them, and others, here so you can also drool and stare and wish desperately you were holding them in your hands.

The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard

For readers of Beth Revis and Patrick Ness this is an SF novel that can’t be missed.

17 year-old Riven comes from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, a parallel world to Earth. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory. Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier and in a race against time to bring Caden home, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

Shadowplay by Laura Lam

(Pantomime #2)

For all fans of Robin Hobb and Tamora Pierce, this extraordinary crossover fantasy features a truly unique central character.

The circus lies behind Micah Grey in dust and ashes. He and the White Clown, Drystan, have taken refuge in the decaying Kymri Theatre, home to the once-great magician, Jasper Maske. Though no longer a circus performer, Micah must still conduct a balancing act between his past and his future, while both avoiding the renewed and embittered rivalry of the magicians of Ellada, and the Policiers who are convinced Micah played a part in the death of his old Ringmaster.

A tale of phantom wings, a clockwork hand, and the delicate unfurling of new love, Shadowplay continues Micah Grey’s extraordinary journey.

Emilie and the Sky World by Martha Wells

(Emilie #2)

A Girl’s Own Adventure in the spirit of Jules Verne

When Emilie and Daniel arrive in Silk Harbor, Professor Abindon, an old colleague of the Marlendes, warns them that she's observed something strange and potentially deadly in the sky, a disruption in an upper air aether current. But as the Marlendes investigate further, they realize it's a ship from another aetheric plane. It may be just a friendly explorer, or something far more sinister, but they will have to take an airship into the dangerous air currents to find out. Emilie joins the expedition and finds herself deep in personal entanglements, with an angry uncle, an interfering brother, and an estranged mother to worry about as well as a lost family of explorers, the strange landscapes of the upper air, and the deadly menace that inhabits the sky world.

Under Nameless Stars by Christian Schoon

(Zenn Scarlett #2)

Zenn Scarlett’s novice year of exoveterinarian training on Mars isn’t quite going to plan…

After facing a plot to destroy her school and its menagerie of alien patients, could things get worse? Yes, they could: her absent father has been kidnapped.

Desperate to find him, Zenn stows away aboard the Helen of Troy, a starliner powered by one of the immense, dimension-jumping beasts known as Indra. With her is Liam Tucker, a Martian boy who is either very fond of her, very dangerous to her, or both. On the verge of learning the truth about her father, Zenn’s quest suddenly catapults her and Liam thousands of light years beyond known space, and into the dark heart of a monstrous conspiracy.

Braving a gauntlet of lethal environments and unearthly life forms, Zenn’s courage is tested as never before. With the fate of entire worlds in the balance, she is racing headlong into trouble... again.

Feather Bound by Sarah Raughley

In contemporary New York, a swan girl must help her enemy destroy her best friend or risk being sold to the black market.

When Deanna’s missing friend Hyde turns up at his father’s funeral to claim his corporate empire and inheritance, she is swept into his glittering world of paparazzi and wealth.

But Deanna has a secret - and somebody knows. Someone who is out to get Hyde. And if she doesn’t play along, and help the enemy take Hyde down…she will be sold to the highest bidder in the black market for human swans.

Now Deanna is struggling to break free from the gilded cage that would trap her forever…

Review: The Bone Season

2013-10-05T05:00:00.000+01:00

Title: The Bone Season (The Bone Season #1)
Author: Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Released: 20th August 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to my obnoxiously frustrating mood lately, it took me far longer than it should have done to read The Bone Season. Through no fault of its own, three chapters in it was ungratefully cast aside so my restless mind could settle on other things - other books - until I actually forced myself to go back to it. This time I pushed through; finally my mind calmed and I was able to lose myself in what is an undoubtedly exceptional read.

We find ourselves first in the heart of London, where the Seven Seals reside. In a world where clairvoyance is illegal, this syndicate must ensure they keep their abilities secret. Paige Mahoney in particular is a rare type of clairvoyant; she is a dreamwalker, with the ability to break into and explore the minds of others. The last thing she needs is for the Scion to find out, the ruling force and the reason behind the sudden disappearance of so many clairvoyants. But then she's caught, and she finds herself in the voyant prison in Oxford. Except here there are creatures even worse than the Scion: the Rephaim. To them, clairvoyants are good for something: fighting. Unknown to the rest of the world, there is a war going on, and the Rephaim see the clairvoyants as soldiers. Paige subsequently finds herself without any freedom. She has a Master, Warden, and if she wants to survive she'll have to take care. But at the same time she has no plans to stop fighting for her freedom, and doing so will meaning learning more about this man who seems to have many secrets of his own.

Of course one of the most significant achievements of Shannon here is the absolutely incredible world building. I loved the alternative version of London she presented, the idea of Oxford being this ancient, barely acknowledged place and shrouded in mystery. There is a lot of variety to be found here. We have the term 'clairvoyant', yes, but there are so many kinds; this is a world truly thought out. Unbeknownst to me, there was a glossary at the back (I was reading it on Kindle), so it was somewhat confusing at first. Admittedly trying to take in everything is a bit of a task, since there's just so much. After a while, though, I was used to it and everything was starting to make sense. The mix of both old and new, familiar and unfamiliar, was done in a manner entirely appealing. There is also a level of complexity and suspense that made this book all the more delicious.

Paige, our heroine, was a character easy to appreciate. She's a strong, independent person, and realistically so. Her voice is such that it doesn't just recede into a background hum with loads of other protagonists; it stands out and becomes something familiar, something welcoming, something you want to hear more of. Warden, too, is someone I found impossible not to like - except there is an extra layer of complexity to him that leaves me eager to know even more. My trust of him was a slow thing; naturally, I was intrigued from the start, but Shannon draws you in, pulls you along slowly so that you're as wary as Paige. There are so many aspects to him, some of these simply hinted at, so that while the reader is offered a good impression of who he is, it is still too vague. I mean this in an entirely positive sense. The romance, which was gloriously slow, still allowed for two separate individuals, each with their own distinct personality. The dynamics changed constantly, and each of the characters, and their relationship, were all written masterfully.

All in all, Samantha Shannon has come out with an excellent debut. With her truly astonishing world building and vivid characters, this is an author you don't want to miss, and her book leaves me itching for more.

Cover Reveal, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Almost Girl

2013-10-04T15:10:00.001+01:00

Seventeen-year-old Riven is as tough as they come. Coming from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, she has to be. There’s no room for softness, no room for emotion, no room for mistakes. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes, a parallel universe to Earth. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn’t prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn’t sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more.

Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren’t always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

Pre-order THE ALMOST GIRL TODAY!

Amazon † BN

We’re at an impasse, staring at each other with stubborn fury. I’m not above using force to get my way but Shae’s just taken out two Vectors. Alone. I’m not about to make any rash and stupid decisions about her combat skills or apparent exhaustion. The silence hangs between us like an impenetrable wall as we stare at each other across the five feet that could well be an abyss between us. After a few tense minutes, Shae clears her throat.

“Do you remember that day? When I left?” Shae asks and I give the barest of nods. It’s a day that etched into my memory so deeply that I couldn’t forget it if I tried. “I wanted to take you with me but you wouldn’t go,” she says. Her laugh is empty. “You remember what you called me?”

Defector.

She doesn’t have to say it; we both know what I said.

“That was the day I realized that you were your father’s daughter. He robbed you of anything close to love,” Shae says. “You chose to stay with him out of fear for him than out of love for me. He owned you then, and he owns you now.”

“I am nothing like him,” I grit out. “No one owns me.”

“He used to say that I could never be a killer because I was too emotional. Said I loved too much. How can someone love too much? He said I was too much like mom. Soft. I proved him wrong even though I died a little bit inside every time I took a life.” At Shae’s words, my eyes feel like there’s sand behind them, and a boulder settles in the pit of my stomach. “But he was right about you, wasn’t he? The stone cold sister? The one who wouldn’t be torn by emotion, the one who kills without feeling a thing? Servant to the monarchy… obeying orders without question… He’s made you into their killing machine. So what? You’re going to kill me now, Riven?”

Enter for a chance to win the FIRST ARC GIVEAWAY of THE ALMOST GIRL by Amalie Howard!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seventeen Magazine Summer Club author Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 22 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She currently resides in New York with her husband and three children.

She is the author of The Aquarathi series from Harlequin TEEN (Waterfell and Oceanborn), The Almost Girl from Strange Chemistry, Alpha Goddess from Sky Pony Press, and Bloodspell from Langdon Street Press. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency. Visit her at www.amaliehoward.comor on Twitter (@AmalieHoward).

Website † Twitter † Facebook † GoodReads

Other books by Amalie Howard

Cover Reveal: Defector

2013-10-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Defector (Variants #2)

Author: Susanne Winnacker

Publisher: Razorbill

Released: 26th June 2014

Synopsis currently unavailable

Title: Impostor (Variants #1)
Author: Susanne Winnacker
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: 28th May 2013

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

AUTHOR BIO

Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog and three bunnies in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals. When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes. Her YA thriller IMPOSTOR will be published on May 28, 2013. It has been optioned for TV by Warner Brothers!

Website

Facebook Twitter GoodReads