The Happy Booker

Available Tomorrow!! The Glass Gauntlet (The Blood Guard series) by Carter Roy

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:37:00 +0000

My 13 year old son Damian's FAVORITE book in 2014 was Carter Roy's Blood Guard, the first book in an action packed middle grade adventure series. The Glass Gauntlet, the sequel to Blood Guard will be released tomorrow and Damian couldn't be more excited. This series contains all the things to grab and hold the attention of middle grade readers - action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, heroes and villains, and just some really awesome fantasy!

Check out Damian's own review of the Blood Guard HERE and be sure to grab a copy of both!

Amazon | Book Depository

ABOUT THE GLASS GAUNTLET (The Blood Guard series) and CARTER ROY

13-year-old Ronan Truelove had once considered himself to be a typical teen, but that was before he found out his mother is a member of the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive. And it turns out his best friend Greta is one of the Pure – but she has no idea of her true identity and must be kept in the dark to protect her safety. Even more earth-shattering is that his own father is not the good guy he had always envisioned: he’s actually a leader of the Bend Sinister, an ancient evil order who want to bring about the end of the world.

THE GLASS GAUNTLET picks up the action where The Blood Guard left off and delivers another thrilling escapade. Ronan just barely escaped from his father’s clutches, and now, determined to prove himself worthy of being a member of the Blood Guard, he embarks on a mission with his friends Greta and Sammy, led by the strangely immortal and enigmatic Jack Dawkins. In order to acquire the Damascene ’Scope, a device that is key to the Blood Guard’s plan, the kids must enter a competition called The Glass Gauntlet, in which they perform dangerous tasks with no rules and no safety net. The friends soon discover none of their competitors are who they seem, and there are hidden threats at every turn. As Ronan tries to win the tests and determine who if any are his allies, he steels himself for another inevitable face-off with his father. Friendship, loyalty, and bravery prevail in this heroic story that will have readers clamoring for the finale.

Carter Roy’s series, while clearly a work of imaginative fantasy, was inspired by a real concept. According to Kabbalah, there exist thirty-six special people whose purity of soul redeems the rest of humanity. (Kabbalistic folklore calls them tzaddikim or nistarim, though elsewhere, and in The Blood Guard series, they are known as the thirty-six Pure.) If the souls of enough of these pure ones were somehow to be permanently or prematurely extinguished, our world would end.

Book Blast - The Last of the Firedrakes by Frah Oomerbhoy

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 18:06:00 +0000

About The Book:

The Last of the Firedrakes By: Farah Oomerbhoy Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing Pub Date: August 15, 2015 Pages: 488 Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

A fantastic adventure story that will transport you to a dazzling world of myth and magic. 16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad. Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear. With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.

Pre-Sale / Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Smashwords | Itasca Books | Goodreads

About The Author:

For Farah Oomerbhoy, writing is a passion and reading her solace. She is a firm believer in the fantastic and magical, and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest. Farah lives with her husband and three children in their family home in Mumbai, India. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Mumbai. Farah's first novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, Book 1 of the Avalonia Chronicles will be published worldwide August 15th, 2015.

Website |Twitter |Instagram |Pinterest |Goodreads |Wattpad |Facebook

Pre-Sale Giveaway:

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Firedrake Facebook Party:

Don't miss the 2-day Facebook Party to celebrate the release of THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES, featuring several guest authors, lots of prizes and even a few secrets.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1005203076178206/

August 14th and August 15th 10am - 8pm Eastern Time.

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XY by Shanta Everington – Guest Post & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to The Happy Booker where I'm so happy to be hosting a guest post from author Shanta Everington as she promotes her fantastic new Dystopian- XY! Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour and enter the giveaway! Have fun!

Guest Post

Behind the scenes of XY by Shanta Everington

"A highly original and thought-provoking dystopian novel.

I don't think I've ever read anything like it!"

Luisa Plaja, Chicklish, the UK's Teen Fiction Site

My latest book is young adult dystopian novel, XY, joint winner of the Red Telephone Books YA Novel Competition run by UK press, Bridge House Publishing.

The novel follows the story of fifteen-year-old Jesse, who lives in a world where babies are born neither male nor female, and Compulsory Gender Assignment is carried out at birth. But Jesse is keeping a secret. Pulled in different directions by her boyfriend Zeus, mother Ana's Natural Souls, and new friend Ork, leader of We Are One, Jesse is forced to make her own mind up about who she really is.

Jesse's story in XY came out of my fascination with the question: What does it mean to be male or female? Is gender identity biologically, psychologically or socially constructed? Writing helps me unravel questions and make sense of the world. Often several unconnected threads come together to form an idea for a book.

When I became a parent, I was shocked at how much gender stereotyping still exists. You can't walk into a children's store without being bombarded with pink for girls and blue for boys. Why shouldn't my sons wear pink tutus or play with dolls? Why, as a society, do we tend to see this in a different way from girls wearing trousers and playing with fire engines?

I read an article about scientists' discovery that 'blended gender' in fish was linked to contaminants in the water, including pesticides, household laundry detergent and shampoo, and many pharmaceuticals. This led me to wonder what would happen if we lived in a world where humans were born with indeterminate biological sex. How would society react? Would we still create gender roles? Would fear cause us to revert to traditional stereotyped views of the sexes?

When I had almost finished writing XY, a TV programme aired on BBC One called Me, My Sex and I which challenged the deeply-held assumption that every person is either male or female. According to the documentary, intersex conditions are, in fact, as common as twins or red hair - nearly one in 50 of us has some form of intersex. Yet it is a subject not often talked about.

XY draws on many influences. I was inspired by Malorie Blackman's Noughts & Crosses series set in a fictional, racist dystopia. We may be born with a skin colour and biological sex but race and gender are social constructs. XY is set in an alternative reality – where 91% of human babies are born neither male nor female. Just as Noughts & Crosses shines the spotlight on race, I hope XY will make readers think about gender in a whole new way.

But essentially, XY is Jesse's story. How will she cope with all the pressures surrounding her? Her boyfriend, her mother, her friends - everybody else thinks they know what's best for her - we've all been there. But ultimately, Jesse has to decide what's right for her.

XY is available now via Amazon.com and I am currently completing a sequel.

About the author

Shanta Everington is the author of seven books, including three young adult novels – Give Me a Sign, Boy Red and latest release XY (joint winner of the Red Telephone Books YA Novel Competition). She has had all sorts of jobs in the past, from baking vegan muffins and working as a private tutor to appearing as a guest agony aunt and running a teen sexual health helpline. With an MA in Creative Writing with distinction, Shanta currently teaches Creative Writing with The Open University. She lives in London, UK, with her husband and two children.

Connect with Shanta:

Author website: www.shantaeverington.co.uk

Twitter:@ShantaEverAfter

Facebook

Goodreads

XY on Amazon.com

XY on Amazon.co.uk

About the Book

Publication date: 5 June 2014

Genre: Young adult (Dystopia)

Author: Shanta Everington

Paperback: 152 pages

Publisher: Bridge House (Red Telephone Books)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1907335323

ISBN-13: 978-1907335327

Formats: Paperback and e-book (Mobi only)

Would it possible to live without gender?

Fifteen year old Jesse lives in a world where babies are born neither male nor female – Compulsory Gender Assignment is carried out at birth. Will the secret she closely guards be found out? Boyfriend Zeus, mother Ana's Natural Souls, and new friend Ork, leader of We Are One, pull Jesse in different directions, forcing her to make her own mind up about who she really is.

Excerpt

Jesse watches through the smeared kitchen window as Randy plays football in the back garden with Zeus. Her brother's face is red and shining with perspiration and concentration as he tackles Zeus, before skidding on a muddy patch and ending up sprawled across the grass.

    "Yes! Yes! Come on!!!" shouts Zeus, grinning as he punches the air, shaking droplets of sweat everywhere. He bends over laughing and then he looks up at the window, catching Jesse's eye before she looks away into the washing up bowl full of suds, feeling heat creeping across her chest.

    "He's a proper teenage boy your brother, isn't he?" says Jesse's mother, Ana, smiling to herself as she hands Jesse a tea towel. "All rough and tumble. I'm so pleased for him that he has finally become himself."

    Jesse feels her shoulders tense up as she fingers the green checked cloth.

    "Thanks for dinner, Mum," she says, not meeting her mother's gaze as she starts drying the dishes. "The lasagne was lovely. I should go upstairs and do some revision once I've finished this."

    "I can teach you how to make it if you'd like?" says Ana, beaming at her daughter. "Maybe at the weekend, when you've not got so much school work to do?"

    Jesse doesn't want to learn how to make lasagne. Or shepherd's pie or pasta bake. She doesn't want to learn to cook or study needlecraft or budgeting skills or any of the Female Life Skills on the syllabus. She doesn't want to play football either. She doesn't know what she wants. It was so much easier before. When she wore white and yellow and green and grey and played with trains and dolls at home, when Randy and Jesse shared everything. When they were the same. Before Ana took them to see Maya and they moved into their first flat, next door to the old man who smelled of urine. When she didn't have to pretend she'd made a decision. She feels the corners of her mouth quivering as her mother stares into her face.

    "Oh Jesse, don't worry," says her mother, rubbing her shoulders. "Your turn will come when you are ready. How are you feeling about things now, darling?"

    Jesse shrugs her shoulders and tries hard to smile but somehow she can't quite manage it. Her mother takes the plate Jesse is busy drying out of her hands and places it on the scratched wooden work top.
    "Don't worry, darling. I only ever want you to be happy. You've got to be ready, Jesse. Remember what happened to George."

    Jesse nods. She has heard the story of Uncle George so many times, it is etched on her brain, like a recurring nightmare.

"I think Zeus might have a crush on you," says Randy over breakfast the next morning.

    The family are in the kitchen, sitting around the big, old, oak dining table, a hand-me-down from one of Ana's friends. Most of their belongings are cast-offs. They are used to relying on the charity of others connected to Natural Souls. Ana has set the table with cereal, orange juice, toast and home-made preserves.

    "Shut up," says Jesse, spooning muesli into her mouth.

    "Seriously. Didn't you notice the way he kept watching you yesterday when you came out into the garden with your tight top on? I don't think it was just your lemon ice lollies he was drooling at!"

    Jesse feels her heart beating a little faster. Zeus is nice, she thinks, but nothing can happen. Zeus is one of the Nine Per Cent. He wouldn't want her. At least not until afterwards. If she goes through with it.

    "I know you like him!" continues Randy in a sing-song voice. "Don't worry, I won't tell him your secret!"

    "Randy," says Ana sharply, pouring milk into her bowl. "Don't wind your sister up before school."

    "I'm not!" protests Randy, rocking his chair backwards and stuffing toast into his mouth. "I'm just saying!"

  Jesse carries on eating, feeling her cheeks burn.

    Randy gets up from the table and whispers to Jesse on his way out of the kitchen, "He likes you, he likes you!"

    Once her brother is out of earshot, Jesse turns to her mother.

    "Mum, can I ask you a question?" she says, playing with her spoon, turning it over and over and watching her reflection morph into something grotesque.

    "Anything," says Ana.

    "How old were you when you had your first boyfriend? I know it was different for you. You weren't born like us but..."

    "I was fifteen," replies Ana without hesitating. "The same age you are now. His name was Jack. He was a friend of my brother's too. He was born like you but he was a boy by the time I met him. It didn't last, of course."

    "What happened?"

    "You mean why didn't it last?" asks Ana, absent-mindedly picking crumbs up off the table. "We were just kids. First love. It wasn't even love. When George died, well... Jack's family moved away. It's just as well or I wouldn't have met your father and there would have been no Randy or Jesse."

    She looks up at Jesse with a bright smile. Sometimes Jesse wonders what lies beneath her mother's happy face.
    "I wish Dad was here," says Jesse. "I wish he hadn't left us."

    "I know, darling, but we have to be strong for one another. Think about what I said about seeing Maya again soon. Now, you don't want to be late for school, do you?"

    Jesse gets up and takes her plates to the sink before grabbing her school bag and heading over to school. Today she has history, biology, religious education and sex education. It will not be a good day. Her bag weighs heavily on her shoulder. She thinks about the text books it contains and what they are teaching her.

"Ah, Jesse, so glad you could join us," says Mr Hope as she slips into her biology class five minutes late, after a last minute visit to the toilets to make sure she looks right.

    "Sorry, sir," comes her feeble reply. She feels her school dress stick to her back as she finally removes the heavy bag and sits down at her desk.

    Jesse looks around the classroom at the other girls. Debra Simmonds is painting her fingernails under the desk. But she isn't like Debra, is she? All the boys want Debra because everyone knows that Debra was born pure. She is one of the Nine Per Cent like Zeus. Jesse isn't like Debra. She isn't like the other girls, either. The assigned girls. What if they find out what she is? She wonders how Randy is getting on over at the boys' school. It is all right for him, now he's had the operation. But Jesse is scared. She doesn't know if she can go through with it.

    Artemis smiles at her, through her spidery black fringe. They weren't friends before. But since Randy started going out with her it seems that Artemis wants to hang around with Jesse all day.

    "Everybody turn to page one hundred, please," instructs Mr Hope.

    Jesse knows what is on that page and she doesn't want to look at it. The human reproductive system. But she has to. It is the same in the other classes; lessons all tell her she is wrong. Her mother is wrong. She wishes it had been done to her when she was born, like everyone else. Why did her mother make her have to choose when?

    "Hi," says Artemis, as they walk to the lunch hall.

    Chairs scrape along the floor and the cutlery clatters. The air thick with the smell of over cooked food and teenage hormones. Jesse isn't hungry, not after looking at those diagrams all morning.

    "Randy says Zeus likes you," says Artemis, flicking back her long, black hair as they queue up for their food.

    Jesse can see four tiny holes in Artemis's earlobe, where she has taken her studs out for school.

    "I dunno about that," mumbles Jesse, wishing she could be on her own again, as usual. She normally avoids conversation whenever she can, sits in the corner gulping down her lunch, pretending to read a magazine, flicking idly over the fashion pages full of celebrities that all look the same and scanning the problem pages to see if there is ever a question from anyone like her. But there never is.

    "No, he really does, he told Randy and everything. He wants to go out with you. I know he looks confident and everything but he's really quite shy. So, he's sort of asked Randy to ask me to ask you out for him!"

    Jesse freezes as the dinner lady with luminous blue eye shadow spoons vegetable curry onto her plate.

    "Don't you like him?" persists Artemis, grabbing an orange juice and passing one to Jesse.

    Jesse shrugs and picks up her cutlery.

    "He's gorgeous and really clever. What's not to like?"

    "Maybe I'm just not ready for a boyfriend," says Jesse, as Artemis follows her to her usual table in the corner and sits down.

    "Oh, I get it," says Artemis, waving her hands about. "You're scared! You're scared about having your first boyfriend. What, have you never kissed a boy before or something?"

    Jesse bites her lip and slowly shakes her head.

    "What, never?" asks Artemis, holding her spoon mid-air. "Not even with mouths closed? What about at the youth club disco? Come to think of it, I never saw you dance with anyone. Gosh, girl, I've got some work to do with you! Stick with Auntie Artemis and I'll soon have you coming out of your shell. I like a challenge."

    Artemis beams at Jesse as she tucks into a piece of naan bread. Jesse smiles and picks at hers. It would be good to have someone to talk to. She can see why Randy likes being around Artemis. She's bubbly and warm and seems to know what to do. Randy was inexperienced like her before Artemis but now look at him.

    "You're right," says Jesse. "I am scared."

    But not for the reasons Artemis thinks. She must never find out the truth.

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Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 04:50:00 +0000

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
William Morrow Trade Paperback
Published June, 2014

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a children's fairy tale made for adults. Like most of Neil Gaiman's books, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is so quirky and surreal that it is difficult to summarize and review. Reading this was like drifting off into a dream, or a long forgotten childhood memory. The story begins when a middle-age adult wanders back to his childhood home and visits the farm where he recalls some unusual events taking place when he was very young. As he reminisces on these strange happenings, a rather eerie fairy tale unfolds for the reader.

I both read the new trade paperback and listened to this on audio which is always such a treat when Neil Gaiman is narrating his own stories. Gaiman so perfectly captures every nuance of expression and personality of his characters as well as creates an almost dreamlike atmosphere for the story itself. He is absolutely a master storyteller. The Ocean at the End of the Lane was quite short, not quite a novella but rather shorter than most novels, but it still managed to contain a complete and hypnotic story.

I would absolutely recommend this and every other book Neil Gaiman has written to anyone who enjoys an unusual and beautifully written fairy tale.

The Paradox of Vertical Flight–Spotlight and Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 15 May 2014 20:12:00 +0000

THE PARADOX OF VERTICAL FLIGHT by Emil Ostrovski

Release Date: September 24, 2013 Hardcover, 260 pages Publisher: Greenwillow Books Genre: Contemporary / Realistic Fiction / Tough Issues / Suicide

What happens when you put a suicidal eighteen-year-old philosophy student, his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, and his newborn baby in a truck and send them to Grandma's house? This debut novel by Emil Ostrovski will appeal to fans of John Green, Chris Crutcher, and Jay Asher. On the morning of his eighteenth birthday, philosophy student and high school senior Jack Polovsky is somewhat seriously thinking of suicide when his cell phone rings. Jack's ex-girlfriend, Jess, has given birth, and Jack is the father. Jack hasn't spoken with Jess in about nine months—and she wants him to see the baby before he is adopted. The new teenage father kidnaps the baby, names him Socrates, stocks up on baby supplies at Wal-Mart, and hits the road with his best friend, Tommy, and the ex-girlfriend. As they head to Grandma's house (eluding the police at every turn), Jack tells baby Socrates about Homer, Troy, Aristotle, the real Socrates, and the Greek myths—because all stories spring from those stories, really. Even this one. Funny, heart-wrenching, and wholly original, this debut novel by Emil Ostrovski explores the nature of family, love, friendship, fate, fatherhood, and myth.

Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Goodreads

My phone rings, but I don't get up.

In my dream, the teacher hands out frogs, living frogs, and lectures: “Frogs produce smaller air bubbles than humans, who in turn produce smaller air bubbles than llamas. We find this out by drowning the species in question, of course. Please drown your frog and make sure to measure the diameter of its air bubbles, rounding to the nearest significant digit. Tomorrow we’ll measure the bubbles produced by our lab partners, and the day after that, the students that are left will move on to the llamas.” It makes no sense at all, but so it goes with my dreams. Some people dream of epic heroes’ quests, of saving the universe from a great evil, and I get dreams about the differentiation of air bubbles across species.

Around nine I roll myself into a sitting position, finger the gunk out of my eyes, examine it for a moment, and then launch it across the room to where I don’t have to immediately deal with it. My roommate’s snores filter down from the top bunk.

My cell is on my desk. The blinking red light of a missed call flashes across the room. Damn. I missed Bob. I try calling her back, but she doesn’t answer. She’s always losing her phone, misplacing it; broke it a few times from chucking it, because she couldn’t get the idiotskaya electronica to work.

I call my grandma “Bob” because I’m too lazy to bother with the alternatives; namely, “Babushka,”“Baba,” and “starypur,” the Russian version of old fart. Bob has Alzheimer’s, and it’s my birthday, so her call means today’s one of those days, or maybe just one of those moments, a flash, when she remembers me.

Partly to distract myself from the guilt, but mostly out of habit, I turn on my computer and wait for Windows to load. I don’t capitalize “god” but I always capitalize “Windows.” I spend much of my life in front of a screen, plugged into the matrix, looking through a Window into my virtual life. Still waiting on a black dude with a name that sounds like a drug to show up and teach me kung fu, though.

I log in to Facebook and I’m so depressed I want to laugh. Fifteen Facebook friends have wished me a happy birthday so far. I’ve never really cared about birthdays, honestly—I mean, it’s just another day—but to see all these people, most of whom I don’t know or in a few years won’t remember, wishing me a happy birthday makes me feel like I should care. Like it should be a special day, like it should mean something.

I think I hate Facebook.

I lean back in my chair and stare out the window. When I’m thirty years old, will I still get a bunch of people I don’t know wishing me a happy birthday? Will that number dwindle over the years? Will, year by year, some people who’ve forgotten me remember and some people who’ve remembered me forget? What’s the point of it all, for any of us, if that’s the way it goes—if the way it ends is with me logging into Facebook at ninety years old, bald and fat and wearing a diaper and not remembering how to get to the toilet, which is why I’m wearing a diaper in the first place, and seeing, what? Fifteen people I don’t know wishing me a happy birthday? And each of my fifteen with fifteen of their own, on and on, a miserable network of Happy Birthday Facebook wishes connecting the entire world, the entire human race, until one day we nuke ourselves and it all goes black and there are no more happy birthdays for anyone.

Sometimes I get like this, depressed I mean, but I’m not one of those crazies, you know, a danger to themselves and others, nothing like that. Never even contemplated suicide, though in a few seconds I will be contemplating jumping out a window. It’s hot—eighty, maybe more; my T-shirt’s wet on my body, and it feels more miserable than it has any right to for a May morning in our great moose- infested state of Maine. I wheel over to open the window, slide it all the way up. I have to stand so I can reach the screen, to slide it down into place. Instead I stick my hand out.

What if I jump? What if I jump, now? I don’t want to die, but getting hurt would be kind of nice, you know? Like two years ago, when I got my appendix out. Everyone from class sent Get Well cards and Tommy skipped school to spend a day with me playing video games in the hospital. Yeah, that’s selfish, but remembering your friend because he almost kicked it is just as selfish.

I turn away from the window. The attention would last a couple weeks, max. Then everyone would go back to their own lives and everything would be the same. But unlike when I got my appendix out, I might be crippled for life.

I walk on over to my desk, pull open a drawer, shuffle through video game boxes and CDs and pencils and pens and a worn pink eraser I never use but bring to school every quarter anyway. I grab the bottle of pills, sit back down on my chair, and stare at the bottle. Painkillers. From a few months back, when I got into a fight with a fence over the arbitrary authority by which it goes about the supremely arrogant task of delineating space. The fence won the tiff, but, fractured ankle aside, I like to think I’ll win the war. I set the painkillers on the desk, and check under my bed. That’s where I keep my water, but there isn’t any left, so I stuff the pills in my pocket.

“Hey,” comes my roommate Alan’s I’m-still-three-quarters-sleeping voice.

I spin round. “Hey,” I say, too loud.

He frowns at me, head about three inches off the pillow, and says, “Feel like I wanted to say something to you. But I forget. I’ll remember.”

“That’s all right.”

“Jack,” he says, suddenly concerned. “It is a Saturday, right?”

“Yeah,” I say. “No worries.”

“Phew,” he says. His head drops back down. Almost every Saturday Alan groggily asks me if it’s really the weekend—like he can’t quite believe it himself. He’s a nice guy, Alan, as nice a roommate as you could hope for, but we don’t really do anything together aside from, well, sleeping together. .It’s just that kind of a relationship.

I have my hand on our doorknob when--voices in the hall. When they’re gone I nudge the door open and head for the bathroom. A guy’s in the shower, singing something about how we’re meant to be together in a voice that he really should keep a firm leash and a choke collar on if he insists on taking it out in public.

I set the bottle of pills on the shelf below the mirror. My reflection has a zit coming up on his forehead. It hurts to touch. He squeezes anyway, and bites at the inside of his lip. It explodes; a bit of yellow-white pus hits him in the eye and slides down, down, like a tear.

How many pills will kill me and how many will almost kill me? That is the question. It’s a fine line, probably. I open the bottle, look inside, and frown. Pull the cotton ball out.

I turn on the faucet. And hold my hands under the warm water. Close my eyes. Breathe. Breathe. I’m about to down my first pill when my cell rings. Once, twice, three times. The guy in the shower stops singing.

My breath catches when I see the number.

May 12^th – Unconventional Librarian – Guest Post

May 12^th – Buried In Books – Review

May 12^th – The Compulsive Reader – Review

May 13^th – The Bookish Confections – Review/Excerpt

May 13^th – Books With Bite – Review

May 13^th – Bibliophilia, Please – Interview/Guest Post

May 14^th – What A Nerd Girl Says – Review/Interview

May 14^th – Live To Read - Krystal – Review

May 14^th – The Happy Booker – Spotlight

May 14th – Kaidans Seduction – Review

May 14th – LRB Guest Post – Review

May 15th – Escaping One Book At A Time – Review

May 15^th – Alice Marvels – Review

May 15^th – Scott Reads It! – Review

May 16th – DanaSquare – Review

May 16^th – Paranormal Book Club – Guest Post

May 16^th – Books Complete Me – Review

May 16^th – The-Society.Net – Review/Playlist

May 16^th – Book Loving Mom – Review

“I'm twenty-three. Rather than give you a witty, self-deprecating account of the trials and tribulations of my twenty-three year old, suburban, upper-middle class, went-to-a-girl's-liberal-arts-college life, I'll admit that I haven't really done anything much worth reading about. So in lieu of providing you with my biography, I will recommend that you read Desmond Tutu's. Here. Why Desmond Tutu? Well, I've always liked his name.”

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Almost Night by Emily White–Spotlight & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 07 May 2014 19:09:00 +0000

ALMOST NIGHT by Emily White Release Date: May 5, 2013 Paperback, 303 pages Genre: YA / Fantasy / Fiction

Fourteen-year-old Lilly Grey exists in two worlds at the same time. She just doesn't know it.

As the only albino in a million mile radius, Lilly is used to being different. Pink eyes and white hair aren't exactly the best camouflage in the harrowing jungles formally known as high school. And yeah, she's used to being an outcast and seeing the world in a slightly different way, but she never guessed how literally "different" applied to her.

Not until a clan of shape-shifting dragons tell her she's not just albino. She's a unicorn and the only mortal alive who can live on both Earth and its antithesis, Morcah. Now all those times she thought she saw a floating brown blotch in the sky or eyes peering out at her from the bark of trees make sense. She's been seeing Morcah, a land that exists in the exact same spot as Earth, just in a different phase.

But it's not all sunshine and rainbows for this unicorn. As the only one who can live in both phases, she's also the only one who can bring Morcah--and all its inhabitants--to Earth. And creatures who've been trapped on Earth since the Dark Ages are willing to do worse things than kill to make that happen.

Again.

Amazon | Goodreads

May 5^th – Chelsea's Reading Adventures – Review

May 5^th – A Diary of A Book Addict – Review

May 6^th – The Happy Booker – Review

May 7^th – Books and Bling – Review

May 8^th – Like A Bump on A Blog – Review

May 9^th – I Am A Reader – Interview/Guest Post

May 14^th – Karin Baker – LRB Guest Post – Review

May 19^th – DanaSquare – Review

May 21^st – Painted Words – Review/Guest Post

May 22^nd – Bookish – Review

May 23^rd – Books Complete Me – Review/Playlist

May 26^th – Booksniffer Book Reviews – Review

May 26^th – wicked Readings by Tawania – Playlist/Spotlight

May 27^th – Live To Read – Review

May 27^th – The Cover Contessa – Interview/GP

May 29^th – Curling Up With A Good Book – Guest Post/Interview

May 29^th – Offbeat Vagabond – Review

Emily White is a nerd.

She prefers her men fully clothed and donning bow-ties, her commas British, her books cheesy with big, overly-dramatic explosions, her characters awkward and endearingly real,* and watching her movies in authentic turn-of-the-century theaters. When not exposing her nerdy self to the world, she's creating her own friends and putting them in horrible, yet sometimes humorous situations.

Check out her YA Space Opera series starting with Elemental (Spencer Hill Press, 2012), continuing with FAE (February 2014), and ending sometime in the near future with a book she has yet to write. She's also authored a collection of Steampunk (zombie, werebot romance) flash fiction, if you're into those kinds of things, titled "To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World."

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Facebook | Wattpad

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Guest Post, Excerpt, & Giveaway! –Suzanne Kamata, author of Screaming Divas

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:28:00 +0000

Welcome to my stop on the Screaming Divas blog tour hosted by YA READS Blog Tours! Screaming Divas author is sharing her list of the Top 10 can’t wait for books of 2014! How many of these are on your list too?

Make sure to check out the awesome excerpt and take a minute to enter the giveaway for one of five signed copies of Screaming Divas and a $25 gift card!! Also, see what other goodies and sneak peaks you can find by checking out the rest of the blog tour!

Enjoy!

Top 10 List

Top 10 can't wait for books of 2014

1. THESE GENTLE WOUNDS by Helene Dunbar (my freshman year college roommate)

2. GOING OVER by Beth Kephart (another novel set in the 1980s)

3. WANTED: DEAD OR IN LOVE by Kym Brunner

4. DUST OF EDEN by Mariko Nagai

5. THE TYRANT’S DAUGHTER by J.C. Carleson

6. BLUE GOLD by Elizabeth Stewart

7. ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins

8. A BLIND SPOT FOR BOYS by Justina Chen

9.BIRD by Crystal Chan

10. AND WE STAY by Jenny Hubbard

About the book

Screaming Divas by Suzanne Kamata

Publication Date: May 18th, 2014

Publisher: Merit Press

Pages: 208

Genre: YA Contemporary

B&N | Amazon | Goodreads | TBD

At sixteen, Trudy Baxter is tired of her debutante mom, her deadbeat dad, and her standing reservation at the juvenile detention center. Changing her name to Trudy Sin, she cranks up her major chops as a singer and starts a band, gathering around other girls ill at ease in their own lives. Cassie Haywood, would-have-been beauty queen, was scarred in an accident in which her alcoholic mom was killed. But she can still sing and play her guitar, even though she seeks way too much relief from the pain in her body and her heart through drugs, and way too much relief from loneliness through casual sex. Still, it’s Cassie who hears former child prodigy Harumi Yokoyama playing in a punk band at a party, and enlists her, outraging Harumi’s overbearing first-generation Japanese parents. The fourth member is Esther Shealy, who joins as a drummer in order to be close to Cassie–the long-time object of her unrequited love–and Harumi, her estranged childhood friend. Together, they are Screaming Divas, and they’re quickly swept up as a local sensation. Then, just as they are about to achieve their rock-girl dreams, a tragedy strikes.

About the Author

Back in the day, Suzanne Kamata spent a lot of time hanging out in a club in Columbia, South Carolina, much like the one in Screaming Divas. (The beat goes on . . .) She later wrote about musicians for The State newspaper, The Japan Times, and other publications. Now, she mostly writes novels. In her free time, she enjoys searching for the perfect fake fur leopard-print coat and listening to the Japanese all-girl band Chatmonchy. Her YA debut, Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible was named the 2013-2014 APALA YA Honor Book and Grand Prize Winner of the Paris Book Festival. For more info, visithttp://www.suzannekamata.com or follow her on Twitter @shikokusue.

The Giveaway:

5 signed copies of Screaming Divas of Screaming Divas with five $25 gift cards. Open Internationally. Available when the book releases.

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Excerpt

from The Screaming Divas

By Suzanne Kamata

Trudy got her hands on a guitar. Actually, it was her father’s guitar, the one he’d played in his band. The instrument had a history of smoky bars, fields of wild flowers, park benches, Greyhound buses. It had been all over the place, probably even Dahomey.

She was going to ask to borrow it, but when she dropped by Jack’s apartment, he wasn’t home. Trudy decided to cart the guitar off anyhow. He never played it any more and besides, he might say no if she asked him to loan it to her. He didn’t trust her so much since all the trouble with Adam.

She’d practice and innovate and turn herself into a brilliant performer. And then she’d start a band. It would be the most exciting thing to hit the town since General Sherman. Yeah, these were good thoughts.

By day, she practiced. By night, she hung out at The Cave, playing records or slamming on the dance floor. During breaks, she looked for musicians in the Pink Room.

“Hey, Maddy. I’m starting a band. Wanna join up?”

Her roommate Madeline tossed a lock of black hair out of her eyes. “You must be out of your mind.”

Trudy shrugged. She asked Jeff, the David Bowie lookalike. She even asked Johnny Fad. People laughed, blew smoke in her face. Sometimes they just turned away as if they hadn’t heard her at all.

Why did everyone treat her proposition like some sort of joke? She was as serious as she’d ever been. The more she practiced, the more she knew that her dreams lay in music. She closed her eyes and saw herself on the stage, crooning into a mike while a huge crowd lit and lofted their Bics in tribute.

When people were drinking and dancing, they weren’t in the mood for serious talk. She had to find another way to put her band together.

Trudy made a flyer with scissors and magazines and Elmer’s glue. When she was finally satisfied with her work, she rode her housemate’s rickety bicycle to Kinko’s and made a hundred copies. Then she ran around Five Points with a staple gun and plastered them to every telephone pole in sight. When she was finished, she went back to the apartment, picked up her guitar, and waited for the phone to ring.

“Hey, what’s this?” Madeline barged into her room just after midnight, smelling of booze and smoke. She waved one of Trudy’s flyers in the air between them.

“I’m starting a band,” Trudy said. “I told you already.”

Madeline shrugged. “Yeah, whatever. I wish you hadn’t put our phone number down, though. We’ll get half a million calls from creeps.”

Trudy didn’t answer. Why was Madeline being such a bitch? She looked really cool with her tattooed shoulder and asymmetrical haircut, but sometimes she could be totally square.

“I’ll get my dad to buy us an answering machine,” Trudy said. “That way we can screen calls.”

Madeline nodded, seemingly consoled, and wandered off to her room.

Trudy giggled softly. Jack would never fork out cash for something like that, but the lie had worked.

The first call came at noon the next day.

“Hey, I’m calling about the band,” a gravelly voice said.

“What do you play?”

“Bass, drums, whatever. I’m versatile. Hey, wait. You sound really familiar. What’s your name?”

“Trudy Sin.”

“Hey, I know you. You’re that firestarter.” The line went dead.

Later, Southern Bell called about an overdue phone bill. The manager at Yesterday’s, where Madeline waited tables, called asking Madeline to report to work early. Someone dialed a wrong number.

Where were all the budding musicians, the soulmates in tune with her dreams? Trudy set aside her guitar and put on some music. She threw herself on the bed and let Patti Smith comfort her.

How was she ever going to start a band?

Maybe she could go solo – set up a drum machine and play the guitar herself. She wracked her brains trying to come up with someone who’d gotten famous without back-up. Her mind went blank.

Two nights later, when she came home from a trip to the Quick Mart down the street, Madeline greeted her with, “You got a phone call. Someone wants to join your band.”

“Great. Who?” She pictured a pale, black-haired guy in leather, a guitar strapped across his hard-muscled body.

“I dunno. She said she’d call back.”

She? Well, okay. This could be good. A girl group. Yeah, that’s the ticket. They’d be like the Supremes with instruments. The Gogo’s with attitude. It would be a good gimmick, something to get them started while they developed as a band.

The Tour Schedule:

April 1st

J.P. Grider – Top Ten Post

Becoming Books – Interview

April 2nd

Cassandra M’s Place – Interview

The Shadow Realm – Interview

Fiction Dreams – Guest Post

April 3rd

Doodles, doodles everywhere – Interview

April 4th

Jody’s Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours – Excerpt

April 5th

SleepsOnTables - Review

A Little Bit of R&R – Top Ten Post

April 6th

jennzah.net – Top Ten Post

April 7th

The One With the Fairy Tales – Review

Kindlelight Reading – Guest Post

April 8th

We Do Write - Interview

Book Lovers Life – Top Ten List

Cat’s Bookish Blog – Review

April 9th

Bella Harte Books - Interview

April 10th

FicTalk – Excerpt

That Bites-Book Talk Reviews - Excerpt

April 11th

The Book Beacon – Review

April 12th

Bookends – Excerpt

April 13th

Bookwyrming Thoughts – Top Ten List

April 14th

Booketeria – Guest Post

April 15th

Mystical Lit Lounge – Playlist

April 16th

The Happy Booker – Top Ten List

April 17th

The Procrastinator’s Corner – Excerpt

I Feel the Need, the Need to Read – Review

April 18th

Chapter by Chapter – Interview

The NerdHerd Reads – Review

April 19th

Platypire Reviews – Playlist

April 20th

YaReads – Review

April 21st

Just One More Chapter – Review

April 22nd

Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews – Guest Post

April 23rd

Beneath the Jacket Reviews – Review

April 24th

The Reading Vixens – Guest Post

April 25th

Girls in Capes – Interview

April 26th

It’s A Book Thing – Review

Fabulously Frugal with Frugal Sue – Review + Interview

April 27th

Blissful Book Reviews – Top Ten List

April 28th

Nena’s Reviews – Excerpt

Word to Dreams – Review

Guest Post: Tips from a 21 year old Entrepreneur #TakeAction

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 04:48:00 +0000

If you like working from home, pay attention!

Hello, my name is Trae Smith. I am 21 years old and an aspiring entrepreneur. I was a college student at West Virginia University for 1 year before I decided to take a bolder and riskier move into the world of entrepreneurship. I have been exploring many different companies until I found one that really caught my attention.

This system allows you to promote any current business you may be doing to thousands of people already looking for what you have, or simply promote this highly effective system and literally get paid $100 commissions straight to your paypal account for each person who is referred by one of your ads! By the way, you have access to everything you need to make $200 or even $500 in your first week of following the simple step-by-step instructions!

I have seen many systems and many people claiming theirs is the best. I can't promise you this is the best system in the world, but it's by the better than any I have come across in my time as a professional networker. Now is a better time than ever to start this simple money making tool. It sounds easy, and it is - so take action!

Find out more!!

Float by Roni O’connell–Spotlight & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000

FLOAT

By Roni O'Connell

Release Date: November 12, 2013

Paperback, 258 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / YA

What if your only memory is of who you aren't, not who you are?

Seventeen-year-old Rashelle Santos fights her way out of a coma to find she doesn't remember her life, except for her parents and dog. Brain damage doctors tell her, but Rashelle knows with absolute certainty that Shellie (her nickname) died at the bottom of Kaweah Lake, bequeathing her death memories to Rashelle.

Rashelle leaps into a relationship with Shellie's boyfriend, Aiden Brody, because he stirs her feelings and fills the void within her. As their relationship becomes serious, she questions whom he really loves.

When threats appear in the form of notes stuffed into her locker and calls in the night, Rashelle wonders if she can stay alive long enough to discover who wants her dead, because somewhere out there Shellie's attacker watches and waits to finish what he started.

And what the hell, she wonders, is she deranged or could dead Shellie be lingering to keep her alive?

Amazon | Goodreads

March 24^th – Fangirlish – Review/Playlist

March 25^th – Reads All The Books – Review

March 25^th – Like A Bump On A Log – Review

March 26^th – Escaping One Book At A Time – Guest Post

March 27^th – The Happy Booker – Spotlight

March 27^th – Kaidans Seduction – Review

March 27^th – Karin Baker – LRB Guest Post – Review

March 28^th – DanaSquare – Review

March 28^th – Victoria Lucas – LRB Guest Post – Review

March 28^th – Paranormal Book Club – Guest Post

March 28^th – Books Complete Me – Review

March 28^th – Curling Up With A Good Book – Guest Post

Roni O’Connell lives with her husband and two dogs high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She finds inspiration in the forest, wildlife, and lakes around her home.

A former English teacher, Roni enjoys the company of young adults, their spirited opinions, great enthusiasm, and outrageous humor.

When Roni isn't writing novels, you can find her hiking in the forest or contemplating the wonders of nature.

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Donna of the Dead Blog Tour–Excerpt and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Thanks for visiting my stop on the Donna of the Dead blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! No way was I going to pass up the opportunity to promote a zombie book with my name in the title! With such a fantastic cover, awesome title, and an author with such impeccable character-naming skills, this book is bound to be a spectacular read! And to prove it, below is a small excerpt from Donna of the Dead so you can see for yourselves! Also, be sure to enter the fabulous giveaway and visit the rest of the stops on the tour~ ~ ~

The Excerpt

I wake with a start. Something’s wrong. The light in the bathroom is off. Thick, heavy darkness presses in on me. The whole building is in an uproar. Kicks and thuds ring out from some other part of the Arts Complex. People shout and feet pound through the halls. My voices chant the same word over and over: desks desks desks.

Crap. Must be time for the next zombie attack.

I flounder in my pockets for my trusty cell phone and flip it open. Nothing rushes me, so I figure that’s a good sign. I flash the blue light toward the corner and the other side of the toilet. No one. Then I shine the light on the door. Still locked. Whew.

Okay, I decide, whatever’s happening, I am facing it in a clean shirt. I shimmy out of my tee and into Phoebe’s. She is, well was, a bit skinnier than me, but I don’t have any trouble sliding into her “size small” today. Too little food and too much running will do that to a person, I guess.

I almost bust straight out the bathroom door before I remember the unexplained power outage, and the commotion in the hall, and the fact we’re in a building surrounded by the walking dead. Slowly, carefully, I unlock the door, and crack it open. The hallway is dark. I am not crazy about the idea of sticking my cell out the door to check for zombies. I have visions of my entire hand being bitten off with the phone still clutched in my fingers.

Aiming my light through the crack in the doorway, I shine its beam toward the right side of the hall. It casts a spooky blue glow down the long corridor. Empty. I sweep the phone back toward the left. A face zooms toward me, lightning fast.

I yelp and drop the phone.

“Donna! Relax, it’s just me.”

“Deke! I’m gonna kill you! You scared me to death!” With his dark hair, tan skin, and black tee, it’s hard to distinguish him from the inky background of the hallway.

Deke cackles with laughter. “Small price to pay after making me wait two hours for you to come out of the bathroom.”

“You’re so stupid! What if I’d thought you were one of them and tried to kill you?”

He rolls his eyes at me, “Yeah, right. I can see that happening. What were you gonna do? Throw your phone at me?”

“I hadn’t gotten that far in my game plan.”

“That’s the problem, Donna. You never have a game plan. And that’s why I’m forced to sit outside the women’s restroom to make sure you’re safe.”

“You didn’t have to wait for me. I’m fine. I’m safe. Leave me alone.” I pluck my phone off the floor and tuck it in my pocket. “Well, wait, Deke. First, tell me what’s going on, and then leave me alone.”

About the book

Title: DONNA OF THE DEAD

Author: Alison Kemper

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Pages: 250

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes& Noble

Donna Pierce might hear voices, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. Probably.

The voices do serve their purpose, though—whenever Donna hears them, she knows she’s in danger. So when they start yelling at the top of their proverbial lungs, it’s no surprise she and her best friend, Deke, end up narrowly escaping a zombie horde. Alone without their families, they take refuge at their high school with the super-helpful nerds, the bossy head cheerleader, and—best of all?—Lance, hottie extraordinaire and Donna’s long-time crush. When Lance is around, it’s easy to forget about the moaning zombies, her dad’s plight to reach them, and how weird Deke is suddenly acting toward her.

But as the teens’ numbers dwindle and their escape plans fall apart, Donna has to listen to the secrets those voices in her head have been hiding. It seems not all the zombies are shuffling idiots, and the half-undead aren’t really down with kids like Donna…

About Alison:

Alison Kemper grew up in South Florida, the only girl on a street with eleven boys. She spent most of her childhood paddling a canoe through neighborhood canals and looking for adventure. She usually found it. Sometimes the police were involved. And large dogs. And one time, a very territorial snake. She now lives in North Carolina and writes books. The books often include girls having adventures. With boys. Cute boys. And cute dogs too. But no cute snakes. Never cute snakes.

Her debut novel, Donna of the Dead, will be published by Entangled Teen in 2014 and followed by two companion novels. She loves to meet new people and talk books, so send her a friend request or connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.

Giveaway Details

15 Zombie Swag Bags that include $5 Amazon card, Donna of the Dead mints (don't get caught with zombie breath) and exploding eye gumballs (they squirt red goo when you bite into them, but are surprisingly delicious)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/10/2014- Watcha Reading- Review

3/10/2014- Parajunkee's View- Interview

3/11/2014- Creating Serenity- Review

3/11/2014- Fantasy Book Addict- Guest Post

3/12/2014- Clever Girls Read- Review

3/12/2014- Step Into Fiction- Interview

3/13/2014- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review

3/13/2014- Library of the Seen- Excerpt

3/14/2014- Racing To Read- Review

3/14/2014- Pivot Book Reviews- Guest Post

Week Two:

3/17/2014- The Reading Diaries- Review

3/17/2014- Addicted Readers- Interview

3/18/2014- Sabrina's Paranormal Palace - Review

3/18/2014- Happy Booker- Excerpt

3/19/2014- vvb32 reads - Review

3/19/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview

3/20/2014- The Phantom Paragrapher- Review

3/20/2014- Imagine a World- Excerpt

3/21/2014- Mom With A Kindle- Review

3/21/2014- Comfort Books- Guest Post

Giveaway - Win Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell hardcover & a personalized bookmark

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.

Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.

Along with a finished hardcover of Dear Killer, I'm also giving away a bookmark personalized with your name, blog, or a quote of your choice that I'll be making w/ my new toy, a Silhouette Cameo. Here is an example of one I made for myself.

Giveaway is US Only and will end at Midnight on March 24. Easy entry, just like my Facebook Page, and for an extra entry, invite a friend to like my page.
Good luck!

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Audiobook Review–The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The Winner’s Curse

by Marie Rutkoski

Narrated by – Justine Eyre

Published by – Listening Library

Date Published – March 11, 2014

Source – Listening Library digital audio

Rating – 5 of 5 Stars

The Winner's Curse was everything that I was hoping it would be. First of all, the audio narration was fantastic! I can always tell almost immediately whether I am going to enjoy a narration by how quickly I am able to connect w/ the characters and be drawn into the story. This was certainly one of those times that it worked. Justine Eyre brought that something extra to the story, it wasn't simply narrated, it was performed. Each character was immediately recognizable by tone and even accent, and the setting & atmosphere were beautifully expressed so that I felt completely immersed in this world.

Of course, Eyre's job was made much easier by Rutkoski's beautiful and expressive writing. From the very beginning, this fascinating and world slowly came to life with all of it's political intrigues and society's unwritten rules. It almost felt like historical fiction in the way that the society was structured. It's always fascinating to read about how a conquered people and the conquering people attempt to coexist and the constant struggle for control.

I enjoyed that Kestrel was not a "perfect" heroine but felt genuine which made it that much easier to connect with her. I thought that most of the characters had depth and personality which was even more pronounced with the excellent audio narration. The building friendship between Kestrel and Arin was sometimes obvious but was still believable. I definitely enjoyed the slower pace of their relationship, how they came to understand and respect one another before exploring other emotions.

The slow pacing of The Winner's Curse never once caused me to lose interest, it just pulled me deeper into the story, allowing me to get a better understanding of the world and the people and their motivations. I am never happy with a cliffhanger ending but I have to say, this one didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book as will so often happen. I actually liked the way it ended BUT I am simply dying to read the next!

I would recommend The Winner's Curse to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy or historical fiction since it has elements of both but isn't entirely one or the other. I also very highly recommend this in audiobook format! I always say that when the right story has the right narrator, it is a special kind of magic, this is definitely one of those times.

Rating – 5 of 5

Win one of Five ARCs of Unnatural by J.A. Belfield

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

J. Taylor Publishing are giving away FIVE ARCs of Unnatural by J.A. Belfield!

Check it out!

Unnatural. One word to sum up werewolf Kyle Larsen—his mood swings, abnormal body, and choice of female. The first two, he blames on the vampire venom. The third, though? No, feline shifter Brook Nicholls was all his doing—a female of whom the pack will never approve. As part of the Coalition, an organisation with even stricter rules than the pack and a rigidly warped sense of responsibility, Brook comes with a whole lot of opposition of her own. No wonder the two of them keep their relationship secret for as long as they can. Now, distanced from his family by his own indiscretions, Kyle’s left to fight battles he’s unsure how to win—some of them even against his own pack. Is one woman really so important that he’s willing to defy his Alpha for her? If his heart has any say in the matter, the answer will be yes.

A great addition to the Holloway Pack, UNNATURAL will please both veterans of the series and new readers alike. It also just might be the paranormal romance you've all been waiting for.

And J. Taylor Publishing is giving away FIVE ARC copies.

To YOU!

You don’t even have to be a book blogger!

Nope, so long as you are willing to leave an honest review* between the dates March 19th and April 6th 2014, you are eligible to enter.

Interested?

Then just fill out the form and keep your fingers crossed.

You have until midnight of March 18th to enter.

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*A review should consist of your honest thoughts regarding a book, usually a few paragraphs long and around 150 - 500 (sometimes more) words in length.

About J.A. Belfield:

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield's head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if ...? How would they react if ...? Who would they meet if ...? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family ... they had Become. One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She's yet to stop. J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

MG Spotlight & Giveaway - Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 05:07:00 +0000

Image courtesy of Chanpipat/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

BCP Creative Dreams is Backover Promotions online magazine which is featured in their tour section of their site for a 3 post bundle. BCP Creative Dreams is also available free for anyone that books a tour through them. 1 post in Creative Dreams is £2 - to book a slot please contact them kate[at]backcoverpromotions.co.uk ~*~

Win paperbacks, magick wands, and a $25 Gift Card! (see below)

Warrior Faeries and Math Magick by Susan Kaye Quinn

My new middle grade fantasy, Faery Swap, is about a fourteen-year-old boy who is tricked into swapping places with a warrior faery prince and has to find his way back home before the dimensional window between their worlds slams shut.

2 minute book trailer

In my prior life, I worked for NASA and got a lot of degrees in engineering. (Yes, I really am a rocket scientist and have the Ph.D. to prove it!) I used the logical-left-side of my brain to design aircraft engines and study global warming. Now that I write fiction, I love using the creative-right-side of my brain to create compelling characters and dramatic adventures as well as the logical-left-side to weave math, science, and technology into my stories. Math and science have always seemed wondrous to me, so it made sense to me that the warrior faeries in Faery Swap would steal mathematical knowledge from humans in order to enhance their magickal faery powers.

In my story, knowledge is literally power.

I'm passionate about this message - that knowledge is power and math is magick - and the ethical use of that knowledge is a key theme throughout the story. I wanted to share this message, so I created a Virtual Author Visit, Common-Core-based Teacher's Guide, and a card-based game, so any teacher, anywhere on the planet, could share this message with their students.

9 minute Virtual Author Visit

In this video, I share my background in science and engineering and talk about the book, then show how humans use math in the real world to do amazing things... even without magick to help them. The Teacher's Guide, activities, card game, and videos are meant flexible - teachers and librarians can spend as little as 2 minutes sharing the trailer or they can use the materials to create a whole unit around the book and the Knowledge is Power When Math is Magick theme. My hope is that some of my love for math and science will rub off on young readers, and that kids will see they each have an inner warrior faery capable of seeking knowledge and performing great deeds with it! (Click here to find out more about the Virtual Author Visit).

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. Faery Swap is her foray into middle grade, which is her first writing love. Her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can subscribe to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!) or stop by her blog to see what she's up to.

Faery Swap

Kindle | Nook | Print

Fourteen-year-old Finn is tricked into swapping places with a warrior faery prince and has to find his way back home before the dimensional window between their worlds slams shut.

a Rafflecopter giveaway ~*~ Previous Articles: February 27th 2014: Why I’m “Lost:” the Peers of Beinan, world-building, and the “Lost Tales” by Laurel A. Rockefeller February 28th 2014: Herbert’s Dilemma by Mysti Parker

Guest Post- Top 10 Favorite YA NOVELS – Amy Talkington author of Liv, Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:58:00 +0000

Welcome to my stop on the Liv, Forever Blog Tour. I was excited to be a part of this tour because I’m so looking forward to reading Liv, Forever! Initially, that fabulously creepy cover grabbed my attention , then after reading the summary, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this! I’m thrilled that author Amy Talkington decided to share with The Happy Booker readers her top 10 favorite YA Novels

Amy’s Top 10 YA Novels

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

I was briefly attached to adapt this book into a screenplay and I just became obsessed with Lennie’s poetic vision of the world.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

The guy can write a sentence and pull a heart string. I don’t think I’m alone in thinking this.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

I see it everywhere, nearly every day, in some form or another.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This book has it all—romance, scares, and, most importantly, ideas.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I loved entering this rich world (and, of course, I love that the protag is an artist like Liv!)

The Outsiders by S.E. HInton

I just felt so connected to Ponyboy.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

I just felt so connected to Holden.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I just felt so connected to Charlie. (Ok, do we sense a theme here?)

Looking for Alaska by John Green

This book brought me back to YA.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

So much to learn from Rilke’s beautiful poems. You can revisit them for decades.

If you want to know all the latest on Liv, Forever follow me on Twitter @amytalkington and Tumblr http://amytalkington.tumblr.com/

About the book

Liv, Forever

by Amy Talkington

Published by Soho Teen

Date published- March 11, 2014

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD
When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.
Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.
But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.
Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

About the Author

Amy Talkington is an award-winning screenwriter and director living in Los Angeles. Before all that she wrote about music for magazines like Spin, Ray Gun, Interview, and Seventeen (mostly just as a way to get to hang out with rock stars). As a teenager in Dallas, Texas, Amy painted lots of angsty self-portraits, listened to The Velvet Underground and was difficult enough that her parents finally let her go to boarding school on the East Coast. Liv, Forever is her first novel.
Find Amy online
Blog | Tumblr | Twitter

Middle Grade review - Blood Guard by Carter Roy - Special guest reviewer!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Today I’m thrilled to have a very special guest reviewer on The Happy Booker, my 12 year old son Damian. As soon as I opened this package and seen this fantastic cover, I knew that this was a book for him. And I was right, he LOVED it! So much so that he’s already loaned it to his friend to read and recommended it to his middle school librarian as something he’d like to see on the NC Battle of the Books list next year. Anyway, here’s what he had to say about it.

Blood Guard

By Carter Roy

Published by – Two Lions

Date Published – March 4, 2014

Format – finished Hardcover provided by publisher

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Goodreads Summary:

When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove's seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too? His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she's a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive. Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he's never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom's last words of advice: Trust no one. That's a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan's not ordinary at all

Damian’s review:

Blood Guard was wicked cool! It was full of action and adventure and plenty of surprises. The main characters were Ronan, Greta, and Dawkins. My favorite character was Dawkins because if you killed him, he would come back to life! How awesome is that? Ronan wants to become a Blood Guard so that he can help to protect the Pures but he has a hard time becoming part of that society. The Pures were special people who were super important to the world or could trigger major events.

The bad guys were trying to get rid of the Pures. They had this thing they could look through and tell if someone was Pure. The Blood Guards had something like that too so they knew who to protect. I was so mad at the bad guys but I can’t say why because it would be a spoiler.

I can’t think of any other books, TV shows, or movies that was anything like this. That’s one of the reasons I loved it so much, it wasn’t like anything else! The fantasy world is pretty much like our world but with a lot of things that our world don’t have. I wouldn’t want to live there but I wish I could have been there when the Blood Guard infiltrated the enemy base! I would have fought right beside them to protect the Pures!

I would definitely recommend Blood Guard to other people. This book was so good, I couldn’t put it down! I read it EVERYWHERE. I read it at home. I read it at school. I read it between classes while walking through the halls (and even ran into people or walls once or twice). I read it on the school bus, at breakfast and at lunch. I took this book with me everywhere I went until I finally finished it.

If I could say one thing to the author, I would say send me the next book already!! If I could say one thing to a parent thinking about buying this book I would say to get it. If your kid likes adventure and excitement, your kid will love Blood Guard! I keep trying to tell my mom to read it because I think she would like it too.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday–The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:18:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

This week, my WOW pick is one of my most anticipated sequels of 2014, Julie Kagawa’s The Forever Song which, I believe, is the conclusion to her Blood of Eden trilogy. I will be sad to see this fantastic series end but at the same time I can’t wait to find out what happens! This has definitely become one of my all time favorite series.

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?
With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Doesn’t that sound amazing!! I cannot wait until April 15th to grab this much longed for sequel! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday–Don’t You Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 14:21:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

My choice this week is a mystery titled Don’t You Forget About Me by Katie Karyus Quinn. It sounds deliciously creepy and is likely to have tons of action & suspense. I can’t wait to read it!

Don’t You Forget About Me

By Kate Karyus Quinn

Published by: Harper Teen

Date Published: 6/10/2014

Welcome to Gardnerville.
A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.
Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.
Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

What are you waiting on this week?

Quickie Reviews–The Haven & Fates

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 12:29:00 +0000

The Haven

by Carol Lynch Williams

Published – 3/4/2014

Publisher- St. Martin’s Press

Source- NetGalley

Rating – 2.5

I've read a couple very very similar books which wasn’t necessarily a problem me since this is a fascinating premise each time it's done. However, The Haven was not quite as cohesive as those other books I’ve read and I was disappointed by the often confusing plot and inconsistent characterization, especially nearer to the end. I actually really enjoyed the story itself but felt that the execution fell short of what it could have been. To be fair, I may have enjoyed this a bit more had I not read those other similarly themed books. It was very hard not to compare and when doing so, The Haven came up short.

Fates

by: Lanie Bross

Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Date Published: February 11, 2014

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 2

The gorgeous cover and fascinating premise lured me in to what I was hoping would be an action packed story based on Greek mythology. Unfortunately this is yet another time I’ve been burned by the promise in a pretty cover and an enticing summary. A lot of things seemed to be happening in Fates but all of it was either so scrambled together that is was difficult to sort out or it was so very vague that I was left feeling unsure of what was going on. I didn’t like either of the main characters which always makes connecting with the story difficult. I ended up feeling frustrated, annoyed, and disappointed.

Annette Gisby, author of The Chosen -Guest Post–Five Favourite Female Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

My Five Favourite Female Writers

1) Lynn Flewelling - Fantasy

I discovered Lynn Flewelling by accident at the local library, who had a copy of The Bone Doll's Twin. They didn't have any other books and because most of them were with American publishers, they couldn't get them either. Needless to say it was a trip to the internet and I've since bought every book she's put out and pre-ordered the most recent one. He fantasy worlds are so extensive and her characters are amazing. I just adore Alec and Seregil from the Nightrunner Series. It was one of the first set of mainstream books I've read where gay and bisexual characters were the main protagonists.

3) Elizabeth Chadwick – Historical

I have quite a few bookshelves devoted to Elizabeth Chadwick. Her medieval historicals are amazing. You really get a sense of the time and place, yet at no point do any of the books turn into a history lesson. You might learn some history as you read, but everything flows so well within the stories and her characters are so vivid that the books just sweep you away.

3) Carol Berg - Fantasy

Another fantasy author whose worlds and characters are just awe-inspiring. Her Song of the Beast is one of the most original fantasy novels I've ever read and I was left gobsmacked by the end. I just didn't guess what was coming at all.

4)J.K. Rowling - Fantasy, Contemporary and Mystery

We'd gone to a special midnight screening of the first Harry Potter film and quite enjoyed it, so later on that year for my birthday my husband bought me the books that were out, four at the time I think. I devoured them all and was anxiously waiting for the next installments. The Order of the Phoenix is still one of my all time favourites, with Deathly Hallows a close second. The books were just such a rip-roaring adventure, I loved them. My poor husband didn't know what he started - I am quite a Harry Potter fanatic these days. You don't even want to know how many times I've read the books and watched the films :)

5) Sarah Rayne - Psychological Thrillers

This is how much I love this author - years ago she wrote fantasy under the pen name Bridget Wood and horror under the name Frances Gordon. I had every Bridget Wood and Frances Gordon book on my bookshelves before I realized it was the same author :) Her style is wonderful, a complex mix of lyrical descriptions and down-to-earth prose and characters. All of the books seem to have a twist and, unusually for me, I never guess it.

About the Author

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, moving to London when she was seventeen. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she'd devoured every book she could get her hands on in the library, she started writing her own stories so she would always have something to read later.

When not writing she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre, walks along deserted beaches or wandering around ruined castles (great places for inspiration!) New Zealand is her favourite place and she hopes to travel back there one day. She's a fan of Japanese Manga and Anime and one day hopes to learn Japanese.

She currently lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls and stuffed penguins and enough books to fill a small library. It's diminishing gradually since the discovery of ebooks but still has a long way to go.

About the Book

Ebook

Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords

Paperback

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The neighbouring kingdoms of Oscia and Arcathia have been at a tentative peace for three years after centuries of warfare. Prince Severin of Arcathia has been brought up to put duty before all else and as the only son of the King and Queen, it is his duty to marry and produce an heir. His parents want him to marry an Oscian princess to cement that tentative peace. Unfortunately Severin isn't interested in princesses. Now, if he had his pick of princes that would be another matter.

Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his aptitude for wizardry is discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by Prince Severin and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong, but his feelings for Severin sorely test his resolve.

With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, magic in the air , and outside forces trying to keep them apart, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

Guest Post–Writing a Holiday Business Letter–Nikolas Baron from Grammarly.com

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Writing a Holiday Business Letter

Think about Atmosphere:

Do you work at a company where most of the staff is under 35 and frequents happy hour? Or maybe you work at a company where it’s common for everyone to work weekends. It could be that you work at a company that has a good mix of work hard, play hard. Wherever you happen to work, it’s essential to remember the vibe and tone of the workplace. If you send out a quirky memo and your team is more serious, the staff could start taking you less seriously. If you work in an upbeat and modern atmosphere and send out a very somber and ho-hum email, it could make people wonder if they signed up for the right place or if the business is in turmoil.

The atmosphere of the business dictates where the letter or memo should head. The writer of the memo could be the CEO, head of HR, or an immediate boss, but they must remember the letter needs to fit in with the type of relationship the co-workers have. As it is holiday time, there should be some lightness and joy added into the letter even if you work in a tight environment. Always end on a positive note and wish your co-workers well as they head off towards their long holiday.

Say What You Need to Say:

When I write a holiday memo to my co-workers, I think about how long it needs to be, what I need to say, and how I should say it. If I was writing a holiday letter to family, it would include personal details I wouldn’t want to share with my co-workers. If you work at a small company and are comfortable sharing more personal information, that’s fine, but typically in a larger company it’s best to keep the information general. Sending an extremely long memo, more than a page, wastes everyone’s time. You spend extra time writing the letter and then your co-workers, who are excited to have some time off with family, don’t spend the extra time to read the entire memo. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Don’t add extra fluff just because you want to reach a certain length.

It’s the Holidays! Joy to the World!:

Holiday letters should be fun at their very core. You want to wish everyone a good break and safe return, let them know if there are any vacation or holiday rules, and what the status of the business is at the close of the year and beginning of next year. If you do not have access to all this information, at least make sure that the letter ensures the success of the business and co-workers. Maybe you have a holiday party coming up; this would be a great opportunity to highlight the date, time, and events of the party. Maybe you know of some exciting plans you’d like to share for the upcoming year. Keep the excitement going throughout the week.

A holiday memo is supposed to keep spirits up in the last week before everyone takes a long vacation. It’s intention is to wish everyone well, share joy, and provide useful information. Using a holiday memo to chastise, reprimand, or lie about the business’s prospects not only ruins the morale of the business, but it doesn’t allow people to leave on a good note. Above all the memo should remind everyone why they’re excited to see family, relax, and enjoy returning to work.

But…it’s Still a Business:

Although joviality is a slice of the holiday letter pie, a certain amount of correctness is necessary. Regularly proofreading your letter can be critical, especially if you are in a high-ranking position. It’s important that everyone knows you’re competent and knowledgeable even during a time of fun. As not everyone is exceptional at proofreading, I like to suggest using an online proofreading resource such as Grammarly (www.grammarly.com). Grammarly can help identify errors Microsoft Word misses, can help suggest synonyms, corrects grammar and punctuation errors, and can proofread for free.

You want the letter to be easy to read and enjoyable. If it’s riddled with errors, confidence in the business and your writing ability will be questioned. If nobody is taking the time to check over a simple holiday letter, what about everything else that’s going out of the business? Taking the time to proofread will clean up your letter, allow you to add more joy if the letter is too serious, and make sure you’ve congratulated the business and its employees on another great year.

By Nikolas Baron

------------------------------------------------------//-------------------------------------------------------------

Bio:

Nikolas discovered his love for the written word in Elementary School, where he started spending his afternoons sprawled across the living room floor devouring one Marc Brown childrens’ novel after the other and writing short stories about daring pirate adventures. After acquiring some experience in various marketing, business development, and hiring roles at internet startups in a few different countries, he decided to re-unite his professional life with his childhood passions by joining Grammarly’s marketing team in San Francisco. He has the pleasure of being tasked with talking to writers, bloggers, teachers, and others about how they use Grammarly’s online proofreading application to improve their writing. His free time is spent biking, travelling, and reading

Waiting on Wednesday– Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 07:20:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

Plus One

by – Elizabeth Fama

Published by - Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date Published – April 8 2014

Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

Ok first of all, some serious cover love – I mean that is gorgeous! Plus, it sounds like it will be fantastic, an alternate reality with it seems like some dystopic themes. I can’t wait!!

What are you waiting on this week?

Audiobook review–Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:00 +0000

Landry Park

by Bethany Hagen

Narrated by: Leslie Bellair

Published by: Penguin Audio

Date Published: February 4, 2014

Source: Penguin Digital Audio

Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Landry Park takes place in a future society that relies heavily on nuclear energy and have separated into a rigid class system. The lower classes, or Rootless, are required to maintain the energy sources and are constantly exposed to radiation which keeps them sick and weak. The MC Madeline is of the highest class, her family being one of the most prominent and her ancestors actually responsible for creating this system in the last war. Madeline wants nothing more than to go off to University but unfortunately her father is adamant that, as his heir, her first duty is to the estate, and that means marriage and babies. But the only boy she can even think about seems to be out of her reach.

So there were a lot of things going on in Landry Park, regrettably not much of it held my interest. The audio narration was mediocre at best. I think that perhaps with a different narrator, I may have connected more with the main character. I could tell that the writing was actually very nice but when read with very little inflection, it all became a bit stale.

I didn't completely understand how this class system came to be or how this society decided it was a good idea to expose large portions of the populace to radiation. There were times when this book almost felt like a historical fiction in the way that the classes were separated and the way each class viewed and interacted with the other. That was particularly well done and was one of the better aspects of this book. The "romance" did not feel the least bit authentic, the love interest was inconsistent and hardly likable at all. Also, I thought that the plot twist near the end was over the top and really took the story in a strange direction.

Overall, I would consider Landry Park to be an okay read but if you're planning to read it, I would probably wait to grab it from the library. However, it's getting pretty good reviews from other readers so maybe it just wasn't for me.

Rating – 2 of 5 Stars

Audiobook review- Archetype by M.D. Waters

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Archetype

by M.D. Waters

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Published by – Penguin Audio

Date Published – February 6, 2014

Source – Penguin digital audio

Rating 4.5 of 5 Stars

Archetype is a combination of several genres- sci-fi, dystopian, mystery, and most of all suspense. Nail biting, fist clenching, teeth grinding suspense. This author certainly draws it out too. Hints and clues and secrets, all of the answers so tantalizingly close but didn't quite get there until I was ready to chuck my Nook out a window. I'm so glad I didn't because the answers were well worth waiting for! Wow, what a twisty, turny, mind bending story!

Emma, the main character, wakes up one day in a hospital with absolutely no memories of who she or anyone else is. Declan is the man who says he is her husband, and he certainly behaves like he is, always treating her with care and kindness. While her days are spent getting reacquainted with her husband, her nights are often interrupted by nightmares of war and other disturbing images. She wonders if these are memories, and if so, they certainly don't fit what she's been told by her husband and doctor. Emma doesn't know who to trust, she's not even sure she can trust her own mind or the flashes of memories that she gets from time to time, or the voice in her head that warns her not to tell anyone anything.

From the beginning, I was very quickly hooked. Emma's voice is compelling, drawing the reader in so that I was as frustrated and confused as she was trying to figure out what was going on and why. Not to mention wondering how this dystopic society came to be. It was interesting learning things alongside Emma because since she remembered barely anything, not a lot of explanation was given for what brought the world to this point. That was one of the only negatives for me. I am left with so many unanswered questions!

It's easy to sympathize with Emma's character while at the same time become so frustrated with some of the decisions she makes. As far as romance, I'm not sure I would call it insta-love considering the situation, it was a bit uncomfortable since the whole time she (and I) had misgivings about whether or not Declan was genuine. Also, he was quite creepy, controlling, and stalkerish. And there is a bit of a love triangle, but it's quite twisted as well, so it's not the average love triangle that annoys me so much. The plot reminded me of a cross between Before I Go to Sleep and The Program but with much more suspense!
The secondary characters were very much in the background and it was more about Emma's thoughts about them and interaction with them than finding out enough about them to get a good grasp of who they are. But even though I would have liked more details with the characters and the world, I can't say that I'm at all disappointed with the book.

The audio narration by Khristine Hvam was well done. I admit, I was so immersed in the story, that I didn't pay close attention to how the narrator sounded, but I guess the fact that I was able to lose myself so completely says that the narration was solid.

I cannot wait until the next book in the series, Prototype, is available! This is a series I will DEFINITELY be continuing. The ending of Archetype wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but I am still left wanting much more. I would highly recommend this to fans of sci-fi, suspense, and futuristic reads.

Rating – 4.5 of 5

ALIENATED Launch & NOOK Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Hey, fiction lovers. I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA sci-fi romance, ALIENATED, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!

In a nutshell, ALIENATED is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.

What do reviewers have to say?

“The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary YA fiction fans.” –VOYA

“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist

“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling author of Tempest.

“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.

If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give ALIENATED a try. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indie Bound

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Giveaway

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!

Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

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