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Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

noreply@blogger.com (Lexie) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:23:00 +0000

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publish Date: April 26th 2011 by Balzer + Bray
Synopsis:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Megan McCafferty is no stranger to writing controversial YA books. And Bumped falls right into that same controversial category. This leaves me in a precarious position. I LOVED this book but I don’t feel that I recommend it to just anyone.

Let’s talk about the plot line… Melody and her twin sister Harmony live in a dystopian world (agh! Dystopian again? Don’t worry, it’s not the same ol’ same ol’. Keep reading) where a virus has made anyone over the age of 18 infertile. As a result, teenagers are encouraged to “bump” and reproduce to keep the human species alive. Very attractive smart teenagers even “go pro” and are hired and paid to produce babies for rich older couples. So you can see why this makes me squirmy. Teenagers being encouraged to have unprotected sex? Definitely uncomfortable.

However, that said, it was a great read. Megan McCafferty is able to cover all of the aspects that this plot line would entail without ever being too graphic. But make no mistake, sex is definitely talked about. Just not super graphically. If that makes sense. This book is less about teenage sex and more about what this virus would do to our culture. Teenage girls dance to popular songs with lyrics like "You're knocked up. Ready to pop. Due to drop” while trying on “funbumps” (prosthetic pregnancy bellies), attending their friend’s births, and taking drugs to keep them from being too attached to their babies.

One of the two main protagonists, Melody, has “gone pro” and been hired by a wealthy older couple to have a baby. She signed on for a six figure contract as a freshman in High School. The only problem is that they haven’t found a suitable father for the baby yet. As a result Melody has watched her friends have baby after baby, while waiting to find out who the couple will match her with.

Harmony, the other protagonist, was very interesting to me. At first I was a little alarmed about her portrayal. She comes from a religious compound called “Goodside” and wears long white dresses and veils to hide her face. She and Melody are twins who were adopted to separate families. She tracks Melody down to “convert” her to God. I was really afraid that McCafferty was going to portray anyone religious or adverse to this culture as a weirdo. However, I needn’t have feared- McCafferty does what she always does and presents an even and balanced portrait of her characters. I won’t go into any more detail due to spoilers. Just know that I really liked the way McCafferty balanced out the characters.

I really enjoyed that this book was able to be dystopian fiction without being dreary and “surviving a major disaster” or “killing mutant monsters” that we see in so many of the other dystopian fictions today. So if that plot line doesn’t make you squirm too much, go pick up Bumped by Megan McCafferty. It’s a good thought provoking read. If just reading this review made you uncomfortable, give it a pass.
My Over All Rating:

Truly, Madly, Deadly Blog Tour Stop

noreply@blogger.com (Pixie) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:30:00 +0000

The Truly, Madly, Deadly blog tour is a two part stop. For our first stop we will be posting the first two chapter excerpts from the book and in July we will have an author guest post. Also, our review will go up later today.

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin.

When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Goodreads

Read the first two chapters below.

Just for Now Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sallie Mazzur) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Title: Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4)
Author: Abbi Glines
Publish Date: October 30th 2012 by Simon Pulse
Synopsis:

An insatiable attraction heats to the boiling point in this brand-new book set in the shore town of Sea Breeze, from bestselling author Abbi Glines.

Preston is one bad boy. And Amanda has harbored a crush on him for forever. When she finally makes her move on him, it does not end well. But still, she can’t resist him. Especially now that he seems to be pursuing her, too.

No one wants wants them to be be together. Not Amanda’s brother Marcus, who is on the verge of his marriage to Low, and definitely not any of Preston's buddies. They know way too much about Preston’s dark side. Yet the dangerous attraction is there...and neither Preston nor Amanda are going to deny it.

One of the reasons I love series/companion books is because you get to meet past and future characters during each story. This happens in Sarah Dessen’s stand alone/companion novels, and it happens in Jessica Sorenson’s novels, such as The Secret of Ella and Micha and The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. When I read While It Lasts (review here), the third book in Abbi Glines Sea Breeze series; we meet the main characters of Just for Now, the fourth book in the series, Amanda and Preston. I knew instantly I wanted to read their story after finishing Eva and Cage’s story because of an intense interaction that took place in While It Lasts. Just like while reading While It Lasts, reading the fourth book in the Sea Breeze series before reading the first two (Breathe and Because of Low) did not ruin my reading experience.

Abbi Glines knows how to write New Adult. She makes the steamy scenes sexy and intense, and makes the emotional scenes heartbreaking. She gives the characters a purpose and grounds them enough so that they feel real and that you could totally run into them in real life and know they aren't two dimensional. Amanda is the young innocent little sister of Preston’s friend, Marcus. After crushing on Preston for years, she finally succeeds in convincing him she’s all grown up and hooks up with him only to find he doesn't remember that it happened because he was beyond hammered. Amanda is devastated and tries to move on, but when we get to see inside Preston’s head, we get to see his side of the story, and rooting for them becomes easy and fun. Just like any typical romance/coming of age tale, we have the main conflict that keeps them apart and again, having both sides of the story helps the reader connect to both Amanda for feeling betrayed and Preston for feeling like he has no other choice. This conflict introduces us to the view of the class structure down in Sea Breeze, and how Amanda’s upper class family clashes with Preston’s lower class upbringing and how they struggle to put it past them even as it tears them apart.

Just for Now has some seriously HOT scenes in it, so this series is definitely geared towards 17+ readers. After finishing this fourth installment, I immediately bought the first and second books, Breathe and Because of Low on my kindle. Abbi Glines has proven her New Adult prowess to me and I will not hesitate to check out all her other series, such as the Vincent Brothers and Fallen Too Far. I just hope I come up for air between stories!

My Over All Rating:

Book Review Circle of Lies

noreply@blogger.com (mamafox/Meagen) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Title: Circle of Lies
Author: Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Publish Date: Buroughs Publishing 12/21/12
Synopsis:

Aiden Wright is trying to figure out who he really is, but the truth could cost him his true mate—or his life. Life has always been easy for Aiden Wright. He’s smart, athletic, funny, and the ladies adore him. But when tragedy strikes, Aiden discovers the truth about who he really is, and his whole world comes crashing down around him. Aiden thought that being a teenage werewolf was going to be awesome, but it might just cost him the one girl who could make him whole.
Since her mother’s disappearance, Teagan Rhodes’s life has been littered with her father’s empty beer cans and his hollow promises to change. Convinced that others would only let her down, she keeps everyone at arm’s length—but resisting Aiden’s charm is proving to be more difficult than she thought. Throw in a psychotic werewolf hunter out to terminate the species, and one wrong move, one wrong decision could destroy everything.

I loved the first book in the series, Pack of Lies, and couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Aiden, Allison’s older brother and, by the way, a werewolf. Still reeling from the discovery of his family’s heritage and dealing with the move from Texas to New Mexico, Aiden is in a crisis of sorts over who he is and where he is going. Shocked that his sister learned to shift before him and a little angry about it, he tries to be supportive, but finds he can’t. He decides to focus on finding out who he is and finds someone he feels may just be the anchor he has been looking for.

Aiden meets Teagan and they become friends, but she is hesitant and can’t understand why one of the most popular guys in school would take an interest in her as a friend unless it is to humiliate her. She has experienced the ‘chosen ones’ at school and it is enough for a lifetime. She distrusts Aiden, but wishes she didn’t. She actually distrusts most people since her mother left and her father is such a disaster. He drinks too much and rarely holds a job, is physically abusive and is susceptible to anyone coming in with an idea that might bring revenge on those he perceives to have taken his wife from him. He’s a prime target for the antagonist to control. I won’t give anything away, but this part of the book added another level of intrigue I didn’t expect.

Aiden’s struggle to survive, protect Teagan and his family, and come to terms with being a wolf blend together for an interesting tale. Finding out he is next in line to lead the pack is a shocker and his mother has a lot of explaining to do. Again, like the first book, the focus is not on their lives as wolves. The focus is on the human side of things and that kept me reading. I love the characters, the setting and the way the pack works together throughout the book. The family dynamics and the masterful storytelling have me wanting more of the Red Ridge Pack.

My Over All Rating:

Book review Pack of Lies

noreply@blogger.com (mamafox/Meagen) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:39:00 +0000

Title: A Red Ridge Pack Novel: Pack of Lies
Author: Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Publish Date: Buroughs Publishing 4/7/12
Synopsis:

The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams. Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.

After a slow beginning, which I felt like I was trudging through for the first couple chapters, I couldn’t put the book down. I read the entire thing in a day. In fact, I spent my time between classes and during my lunch break reading. I even read the book at red lights. I fell in love with the characters and their lives. Once firmly set in the world of the Red Ridge Pack, I was hooked.

This is not your ordinary werewolf book. The focus is not on the characters’ lives as wolves. Instead, the story follows the lives of Allison and her brother following the discovery that their mother is in fact a werewolf and they too carry the genes. After the shock wears off and they begin to look at their lives up to this point, they see that some mysteries are beginning to make sense. For instance, Allison's ability to kick butt whenever she is confronted by a bully at school or her brother's ability to excel in any sport he attempts and attract any girl he wants.

However, then they are uprooted and moved to New Mexico to live with the pack their mother abandon so many years before. This new life comes with its own issues that they can’t even begin to imagine, including an intense attraction to the next boy in line to lead the pack, Cade. The jealous females in the pack are obstacles both Allison and her mother must face and deal with if they are to survive in this world. And that brings me to the reason this book is different. The focus is on the relationships and the development of the characters rather than on the life of a werewolf. While that is part of each character, it is not ALL there is to them. This book stands out among the rest of the paranormal books focused on weres.

The sequel, Circle of Lies, is just as good and focuses on Allison's brother, Aiden. Look for its review to follow. Both are excellent!

My Over All Rating:

Georgetown Academy Season 1 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:49:00 +0000

So I won one of the daily Twitter giveaways for the 30 Reasons to Love GTA, and because I have all 4 books, I thought I'd be cool to share the love and give you all a chance to win my prize!

If you are not familiar with Georgetown Academy, you can check out my reviews of books 1-3 and book 4. You can also check out the synopsis of Season 1 (a collection of books 1-4) below! And we also took part in revealing the cover of the 4th book, you can view that HERE and also enter the cover reveal giveaway (ends 6/14).

Available for the first time in a single volume, the first four books of the Georgetown Academy series have been hailed by Gossip Girl producer, Josh Schwartz, as “Smart, sexy and insanely addictive.” Now it’s your turn to get hooked.

Meet Ellie, Brinley, Evan, and Taryn — Four sophomores at Georgetown Academy, D.C.’s most exclusive private school, where among the exclusive parties and perfectly manicured lawns, student life seems drama-free. But everyone always has something to hide.

THE IT GIRL NEXT DOOR Everyone wants a piece of Ellie Walker and her Senator mom, but Ellie’s always been happy to cede the spotlight. Kind-hearted, sweet, and half of G.A.’s perfect power couple, Ellie has it all…until her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, moves back to town and turns her world upside down leaving her to choose between love and loyalty.

THE DC PRINCESS Brinley Madison, of those Madisons, relishes her family’s status as the ultimate D.C. insiders. While her political strategist father plays kingmaker, Brinley maneuvers behind the scenes in school and at home. Brinley knows better than to keep a secret that could hurt her family, but sometimes desire turns to addiction, putting the family reputation at risk.

THE OUTSIDER Evan Hartnett doesn’t have the typical pedigree of a G.A., student. In fact, she has no pedigree at all. Her academic scholarship may get her access to the classroom, but she’s still on the outside looking in…until a series of unexpected boyfriends rocket her to national attention.

THE CALIFORNIA GIRL Taryn Reyes’ laid-back, bohemian vibe doesn’t exactly mesh with her new surroundings, but she’s remarkably secure and unconcerned. But after her first run-in with D.C.’s dirty politics, she finds out that keeping her integrity and her heart intact may be harder than she thinks.

GIVEAWAY TIME

Thanks to Coliloquy, we have 1 ecopy (epub or mobi format) of Season 1 (bundle of books 1-4) of the Georgetown Academy. Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter! This giveaway is open internationally, but you have to have the ability to read the ebook in epub or mobi format.

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Review: SYLO by D.J. MacHale

noreply@blogger.com (Lexie) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:24:00 +0000

Title: SYLO
Author: D.J. MacHale
Publish Date: July 2, 2013, Razorbill

Synopsis:
Does Tucker Pierce have what it takes to be a hero when the U.S. military quarantines his island? Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.

This review is of the Advanced Readers Copy of SYLO by D.J. MacHale.

Bad news D.J. MacHale fans. SYLO is a stinker. BIG TIME. Let me preface this that I’ve read a few of his Pendragon books, and while they weren’t exactly my cup of tea, I could still enjoy them and recommend them to my young library patrons. I will not be recommending SYLO to anyone. In my opinion, MacHale has never been a strong writer, but his action packed plot lines and likeable characters made up for it in the Pendragon series. SYLO has neither of these.

In SYLO, MacHale is trying to cash in on the post-apocalyptic/military control trend we’re seeing a lot in YA Fiction these days. SYLO is the story of Tucker Pierce, an average 14 year old who enjoys playing on his High School football team, loves his hometown of Pemberwick Island, and takes regular bike rides around the island with his best bud, Quinn. During one of these bike rides, he happens to see an explosion out over the ocean. The next week his island is invaded by the US Navy and put on lock down due to a virus. Meanwhile there’s this shady Feit character running around and feeding everyone this super drug called Ruby.

SYLO’s Fatal Flaws:

• Characters- Tucker is an okay guy. There’s nothing super likeable about him, but you don’t hate him. Unfortunately, he’s one of the most likeable character out of the cast. Tucker’s crush, Tori Sleeper, is supposedly this mysterious enigmatic girl that Tucker finds fascinating. Honestly? She just seems emotional stunted and grumpy. There’s nothing attractive about her personality or her interactions with Tucker and other characters. Some of the other characters, like Kent are just jerks. Olivia, a hot girl that Tucker’s been on a few dates with seems a little flaky. You’re never really sure where her head is at. Tucker’s parents are also majorly flawed. You’re never quite sure what they’re deal is- and not in a good mysterious way. More like a “What the heck MacHale?” way. I think MacHale was trying to create an air of mystery around them, but instead you have two flat characters that are either crying or asking Tucker what he thinks about everything. They just got kind of annoying. Probably the strongest character in the whole book is Quinn, Tucker’s BFF. He had a few funny moments, but I didn’t like where MacHale took his plot line.

• Pacing- The pacing is all over the place in this book. Things are either happening at light speed or at a snail’s pace. And the slow parts are SLOW. If this hadn’t been an Advanced Reader’s Copy I probably would have dropped it within the first third of the book.

• Plot- The main idea is that this island is taken over by this mysterious military force called SYLO. And there are all kinds of questions. My biggest issue with the book is that NONE OF THE QUESTIONS EVER GET ANSWERED. You just spend the whole story running around the island with the characters creating more questions. And nothing makes sense. In other books, this could be intriguing and serve as a motivation to read the upcoming sequel. However in this book it just got annoying.

If you’re a super big D.J. MacHale fan, you might want to pick this up and give it a try. However, for the other average readers out there I’d suggest giving it a pass. There are much more interesting and well written books available in this genre.
My Over All Rating:

Everture Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Pixie) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:47:00 +0000

One of our favorite set of book covers comes from Brodi Ashton's Everneath series. But Evertrue, is by far is our favorite. I love how as the series gets darker the storm gets stronger.

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The Camp / Witch Avenue Blog Tour Stop & Awesome Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Pixie) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:09:00 +0000

WITCH AVENUE: #1: LONELY SOULS

Devastated by the loss of her mother, Triss throws herself into uncovering clues surrounding her mother’s disappearance. When the Witch Avenue Coven turns their back on Triss, she realizes she’s caught in a world that is ruled by Lonely Souls. But who is controlling them?

Recognizing the herbal lore she grew up learning will do little to fight against the underworld, she is relieved when her best friend from childhood, Logan, returns to help her find answers. When they begin uncovering secrets from her family’s past, she learns her mother might not have been the only target.

But as Triss falls deeply for Logan, she discovers her family isn’t the only one with secrets and his may be deadly.

Amazon/Goodreads

Free for Kindle Users

THE CAMP:

Emma has always tried to be perfect in her almost eighteen years of existence, but it has never been good enough. As she finds herself counting the days until she’s officially free from her parents’ reins, her stepfather hands her a plane ticket explaining that she must attend the Re-Boot Camp in the wilds of Alaska.

Once she lands in the middle of nowhere, she realizes the camp is nothing like she imagined, and she wants out immediately. That is until she meets Liam.

The camp is full of teens with dark pasts, but she finds herself drawn to Liam’s ability to see who she really is and who she wants to become. While Emma and Liam begin adjusting to a place neither wants to be, frightening events begin to unfold. When people begin disappearing, it becomes apparent they can only trust one another as they fight for survival.

Amazon/Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

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6/11 | http://alexalovesbooks.com/ | @alexalovesbooks
6/12 | http://www.bookscompleteme.com/|@bookscompleteme

Win a Trip to the Set of The Vampire Academy in London!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:01:00 +0000

We're excited to tell you about this amazing opportunity for a chance to win a trip to the Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters set in London England! The movie is based on the Richelle Mead best selling series.

The Weinstein Company launched a special sweepstakes for the upcoming film adaptation VAMPIRE ACADEMY: BLOOD SISTERS. Fans can enter the contest starting today through June 26th, with one grand prize winner receiving an exclusive, once in a lifetime trip to the set of the film to meet the cast and crew. The prize package will include airfare and accommodations for four days in London, a one-day set visit, a flip camera to document the experience, and a tour of London. One hundred other first place winners will also receive a poster autographed by the cast.

Based on the New York Times bestselling book series by Richelle Mead, which has sold over eight million copies to date, VAMPIRE ACADEMY: BLOOD SISTERS will star Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, Danila Kozlovsky, Gabriel Byrne, Sarah Hyland, Joely Richardson, Cameron Monaghan, Sami Gayle, Claire Foy and Ashley Charles. Mark Waters (MEAN GIRLS) is directing the project with a screenplay by Daniel Waters (HEATHERS). The film is currently in production and is set to hit theaters on February 14, 2014.

To enter to win the VAMPIRE ACADEMY sweepstakes, visit http://vampireacademybloodsisters.com/

Good luck to all those who enter, and if you win and you're a PTB follower please email us, we'd love to hear about your experience!

Get all the latest Vampire Academy Movie news by liking the official facebook page and follow the official Movie Twitter!

Georgetown Academy Book 4 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Title: Georgetown Academy: Book 4
All 4 books are now available in 1 ebook bundle!
Authors: Jessica Koosed Etting & Alyssa Embree Schwartz
Published: June 11, 2013 by Coliloquy
Synopsis:

When the vice president resigns and Ellie and Taryn’s parents emerge as the frontrunners, the girls find themselves back in the spotlight.

Ellie could not care less about becoming the Second Daughter, but she knows how much the opportunity to make history means to her mother – and women everywhere. With her family taking center stage, Ellie must decide whether she can put her feelings for Gabe on hold - again.

Taryn, so used to captivating the hearts and minds of everyone she meets, is unbothered by the increased media scrutiny. But an inopportune screw-up has her beholden to an unlikely – and unfriendly – source for help.

Overnight, Evan has skyrocketed from social pariah to Miss Popular. As she and her reluctant parents adjust to her new lifestyle, the last thing she needs is a front-page scandal.

Brinley can’t stop thinking about her Stowe-bound hook-up…until her father’s intern, Patrick, starts flirting. Is it time to abandon her fling now that she has a more appropriate suitor?

With the second highest office in the land up for grabs, everyone is picking sides. But where does the heart lie when duty, truth, and love collide?

I never thought I'd get into a serial story book, because they just didn't really exist like they used to until Coliloquy brought them back with their action novels, and now I'm hooked on Georgetown Academy! These kids have extraordinary lives that lead to high drama and a great story. It's been a crazy first month for the kids of Georgetown Academy and I've loved living every minute of it!

A lot has happened to Ellie, Evan, Brinley and Taryn since January 20th (check out my review of the first 3 books HERE) and with book four, the stakes couldn't be higher. Eillie's mom and Taryn's dad are the front runners to be appointed Vice President after the newly elected VP has to resign because of medical reasons. This added DC drama along with everything going on with their personal lives makes for a story full of amazing clothes, engaging drama and these four girls have become even more relateable and enchanting to the reader.

Evan is probably the one that I connect with the most. She's the outsider, the scholarship kid, trying to make it in this place where connections and designer clothes rule, but yet she still holds her own amongst the other 3 girls and she's not pushed aside by their big personalities. I love that she's getting a chance to grown and really shine in this book. Meanwhile, the race for the open VP seat is playing with the dynamic between Ellie, Taryn and Brinley. New and old friendships are questioned and formed and the girls relationships with the guys in their lives are thrown up in the air as well. If you thought it was hard being a normal teenager, try having high powered parents where your choices in boys and friends impacts their work as well as your life.

Besides the girls, and the charming guys, I also love the way this series doesn't stray away from the tough subjects; drugs, alcohol, addiction and more are all dealt with in a real and impactful way that that doesn't feel preachy or in your face. Book four continues this trend while finding new ground for these four girls to cover.

My Overall Rating:

Interview with Shannon Stoker, author of The Registry & GIVEAWAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:10:00 +0000

Today we are excited to welcome Shannon Stoker, author of the New Adult Dystopian novel The Registry, out tomorrow! I have to thank Susan from WastepaperProse for helping me find this one. We were looking through catalogs and she was like oh, that looks interesting, I had completely missed it, and then I saw the author currently lives in my hometown, I knew I had to read this book, and I'm thankful I did, because I enjoyed every second of it!

The Registry: Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Indiebound

The Registry saved the country from collapse. But stability has come at a price. In this patriotic new America, girls are raised to be brides, sold at auction to the highest bidder. Boys are raised to be soldiers, trained by the state to fight to their death.

Nearly eighteen, beautiful Mia Morrissey excitedly awaits the beginning of her auction year. But a warning from her married older sister raises dangerous thoughts. Now, instead of going up on the block, Mia is going to escape to Mexico—and the promise of freedom.

All Mia wants is to control her own destiny—a brave and daring choice that will transform her into an enemy of the state, pursued by powerful government agents, ruthless bounty hunters, and a cunning man determined to own her . . . a man who will stop at nothing to get her back.

Find Shannon Stoker online: Twitter / Facebook

Can you give us a small introduction to Mia and the world of The Registry?
Sure! Mia lives in a world where beauty is highly valued and young girls are auctioned off to the highest bidder. She is recently sold and decides to escape this life. Having been very sheltered she realizes she needs help to get away so she forces a young man, whose life and values are very different from hers, to assist.

The Registry that gave the book it's title seems to have a lot of complex rules regulating it, more than we see in the book. Did you write up all the rules and the Registry Guide for GIrls and the Registry Guide for Boys before starting the story or did it evolve along the way?
They were defiantly evolving along the way. I think I always had them in the back of my mind while I was writing, but putting them on the paper was one of the last things I did. Coming up with the phrasing was a bit challenging, but I hope they provide the reader with some more insight into the world Mia lives in.

The Registry is told from several points of view. How did you decide those POVs and in what scenes you wanted to switch away from Mia's POV to tell the story.
My original intention was just to use Mia’s POV, but I was writing Grant and having such a good time trying to make him so evil. I thought if I wrote from his POV I could really showcase how nasty and full of himself he was. Then when I was about half way through the book I started to really like how Andrew was turning out and I decided he deserved a voice as well. My favorite chapters and the ones from Grant’s POV and as I was writing the others I saw it as a treat to myself when I got to switch to his side.

Did your Law degree and experience help or hinder the world building process and writing the book?
Law school is tons of writing, I mean TONS! I think any form of writing is good practice, whether it’s fiction or legal briefs. I do have to say in the world of legal writing grammar goes out the window and run-on sentences are encouraged so at times when I was editing I found these paragraph long sentences that used “and” too much.

As far as the world building I think it was a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it is hard to let yourself go and throw out all the laws you know. In the back of my mind I was kind of thinking no way would this fly and had to keep reminding myself they don’t live in the same universe we do. On the plus side I think it helped me be diligent about trying to explain potential loopholes.

Without spoiling anything, what can we look forward to in the next two books of the trilogy?
Mia is far from perfect. I think you can see she’s made some mistakes, but what eighteen year old hasn’t? You can expect to see her stumble and learn some more. I’m sure people will get frustrated with some of her decisions, but that’s what makes her who she is.

We'd love to get to know you a little bit more since you're a debut author, what are three things we should know about you that aren't on your fan Facebook Page?
For the most part I am very girly and I make no apologies about it. I love all things pink, I collect cupcakes (ceramic, pictures, plates, mugs) and Care Bears.

When I was younger I was really good at math. I stopped taking courses in college and always regret it. Sometimes when I’m feeling stressed I’ll find an algebra website and do some problems. The logic clears my mind.

My favorite time of the year is the fall. I go a bit crazy for Halloween. I love all things scary except for haunted houses! I hate haunted houses. About two years ago I went to one with my mom, we didn’t realize it was the kind where people jump out at you. I spent the whole time with my head down and ears plugged. The “monsters” kept asking if I was okay. We’d hear the “Boo” followed by “Is that girl alright? Does she need to get of here?” It was very embarrassing.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to the lovely people at WIlliam Marrow and Harper Collins, we have 2 copies of The Registry to giveaway to you! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Registry Review

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:02:00 +0000

Title: The Registry
Author: Shannon Stoker
Published: June 11, 2013 from William Marrow/Harper Collins
Synopsis:

The Registry saved the country from collapse. But stability has come at a price. In this patriotic new America, girls are raised to be brides, sold at auction to the highest bidder. Boys are raised to be soldiers, trained by the state to fight to their death.

Nearly eighteen, beautiful Mia Morrissey excitedly awaits the beginning of her auction year. But a warning from her married older sister raises dangerous thoughts. Now, instead of going up on the block, Mia is going to escape to Mexico—and the promise of freedom.

All Mia wants is to control her own destiny—a brave and daring choice that will transform her into an enemy of the state, pursued by powerful government agents, ruthless bounty hunters, and a cunning man determined to own her . . . a man who will stop at nothing to get her back.

I got into a conversation on twitter the other day about if New Adult was only contemporary romance novels, and I was excited to go NO, there's this awesome new book called The Registry that's New Adult and it's dystopian. So yeah, I've been excited about this since I found it on a review earc site and it's a great read.

The Registry is about Mia and her discovery of the fact that The Registry is not the portal to an amazing life like she has always been told it is. It's told from several points of view, including Mia's, and it's full of action and the right amount of growing romance. I loved the how the changing POVs brought some suspense to the story while still driving it forward, which is needed in a story, which in a nutshell, is about a group of kids traveling across country. Shannon Stoker has turned what could have been a slow old story into one that draws you in and makes dying to know what happens next.

The actual Registry is a list of girls and how much a an after service, all men have a mandatory service requirement, guy will have to pay to make her their wife. This money goes to the fathers and it's seen as repayment for raising the perfect daughter. And because of this, girls are kept in the home, and many boys are sent out to find their own way in the world until they are required to report for service.

We meet Mia as she's being added to the Registry, she's getting "appraised" to see how much she will be listed for. This is occurring days after an unsettling incident with her sister that has lead Mia to question the Registry and everything she thought she knew. Now she's making plans to escape to Mexico, a place without the Registry that promises the ability to lead a life of your choosing. The events that transpire on this epic journey are heart breaking, action pact and give you hope for the human spirit and that no matter how the world functions, there will always be people out there willing to help.

This is a great new adult story that transitions down to YA and up to adult very well. Fans of current YA dystopian big hitters will like the action and feel of the world and people who are more fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy the writing style and the realistic feel of the story.

My Overall Rating:

We're also hosting a giveaway for The Registry - CLICK HERE to enter!

Resilient Review

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Zumbrum) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Title: Resilient

Author: Patricia Vanasse
Release: 2013 by Pants of Fire
Synopsis:

Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier.

Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone.
Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart.

My Review:

Resilient is a fast pace and on your seat thriller that keeps you guessing what happens next to the very end. I fell in love with Livia and Adam's characters. I enjoyed watching them falling in love and their bond growing stronger and stronger every day. It was nice to know what both Livia and Adam were thinking and feeling. I loved having both their points of view. Livia and Adam have so much in common. They are both afraid of showing the other their true self because they are afraid of being rejected.

Each day, Livia and Adam's abilities develop more and more. They realize they are both being watched and followed. When Livia and Adam find out who they truly are, they realize they are in danger and so are their families. Livia and Adam have to make the ultimate sacrifice but will they make it before its too late?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Patricia's writing and her characters. I found the story so fascinating and interesting and couldn't put the book down. Patricia gives life to all of her characters. She writes with so much emotion. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next

Resilient Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Zumbrum) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:42:00 +0000

Patricia Vanasse is stopping by PTB today to answer a few questions that I had about her new book Resilient. Hope you enjoy getting to learn a little bit about her and her book.

What is your favorite genre you like to read?

I love everything YA, but I've gotta say I have a soft spot for romance.

What are your hobbies?

I love camping, hiking, and books of course.

Who are your favorite authors?

Oh wow, there are lots of authors I love, but my two favorites are Simone Elkeles and Katie McGarry, for the same reasons. I love their writing styles, their stories, and just how vivid their characters are.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I wish I had a really cool story like most authors do, but I don’t. I loved book when I was a little kid, not so much during my teen years. Both my parents are lawyers, and I had this encrypted idea in my head that Law school was the right path for me. Needless to say, it wasn’t. I rediscovered my love for books when I had my daughter. It was during a heavy winter season in Idaho, and we were stuck at home for most part of the day. I desperately needed to enter an exciting world where there were no leather couches. I started with one book a week, and soon it became two and then three. Four years later, one more child, and a husband who was about to deploy for six months, I needed something more, something to keep my mind busy. So, I decided to give it a try and write my own story. Besides collage papers, Resilient was the first thing I've ever written.

What drew you to writing paranormal?

At the time, paranormal was the genre I was more attracted to. I just wanted to escape the boredom of reality.

Are there any other genres you would like to try to write?

I love Contemporary Romances and edgy stories for teens. That’s what I’ve been working on lately.

Do you have a favorite scene in Resilient?

Oh, that’s not a fair question! Haha! Right now, I’d say the last scene when something is triggered inside of Livia and she finally decides to break free from depression, to become who she’s supposed to be: determined, strong, and resilient.

I found Adam and Livia's connection and love very strong. How do you think the relationship between Adam and Livia add to the book?

Livia and Adam are attracted to each other from the get go. There’s no denying that. But is it because they are both (for a very specific reason) beautiful? Or is it something more, something that they can feel within each other? I think their relationship shows that even when we feel so strongly about someone, we’re not necessarily willing to open up and show who we really are. We can sometimes think that we’re not normal, that the other person wouldn’t understand. However, in the end, we might have more in common than not.

Where did you come up with the idea for Resilient?

I knew I wanted to write about teens with special abilities,and I wanted to write in a present/ realistic world. I like that type of setting where everything is as ordinary as possible and one element in the story is able to twist everything into something unreal. Then Livia was born, I wanted her to feel other people's pain and since that would already be a burden on her, I wanted everything else in her life to be perfect. For that to happen, she needed a perfect, yet not so perfect guy, so I came up with Adam. From there the story just evolved on it's own.

Are you working on any other books?

Yes I am! I’m revising Awakened, the sequel for Resilient. And I’m just done with Against All Odds, a contemporary love story where two very different teens share an undeniable chemistry, and they won’t be able to fight the odds forever…

Visit to Chicago to attend Printer's Row Lit Fest and finding a #Divergent Filming Location

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:33:00 +0000

So I, Stacey, went to downtown Chicago today to attend the Chicago Tribune's Printer's Row Lit Fest. It's an annual fest that's held in the old Printer's Row area of Chicago. They have different panels and booths and it's just a fun time to celebrate books. I attending the 90 Second Newbery panel (this is a really cool project, the idea is to present a Newbery book in a 90 second film. If you're a teacher or librarian or just looking for a cool thing to do with your kids this summer, this would be an awesome way to combine books and some creative fun), where we got to see several of the 90 Second Newbery videos and it was hosted by James Kennedy. These videos were fun and creative and just awesome. You can check out the videos on James' site and on the 90 Second Newbery site.

While at the panel, I got word from RedCarpetEndings.com that Divergent was filming not to far from where I was, so my friend and I decided to go check it out, and yep, we found a filming location. It was funny, because after we were there, my friend was like, yeah, I saw this on the way to meet you at the train station and was wondering why there was a bunch of gravel on the road. The location we "visited" was on Madison St. in front of the St. Peter's Cathedral in Chicago.

The block in front of the cathedral was completely covered in gravel and some of the buildings were fixed up to look like they had become rundown. I was asked not to take pictures while they were actually filming, and I was happy to comply with that request. While I was walking around the area, I did hear "action" come over the radios, and that was a cool moment. So here ya go, the pictures from the set - click on the images to view them bigger. (to view the other 6 pictures I took from the set, head over to RedCarpetEndings)

And here's some pics from Chicago, it was a BEAUTIFUL day, so I had to take some pics :-D

Addicted to You Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sallie Mazzur) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Addicted to You
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publish Date: July 1st, 2013 - self published
Synopsis:

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy on board can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

Krista and Becca Ritchie have been blogging over at the Nawanda Files for as long as I’ve been reading book blogs, and they were among the first people in the book community that I enjoyed conversing with about YA novels, and eventually NA (New Adult) novels, as they hadn’t really come into the genre until recently. They are excellent in relaying book, movie, and TV show news, and I was over the moon when they announced they were coming out with a NA novel that they co-wrote (Becca has previously published 2 YA novels of her own). This is one of those moments where I am beyond thrilled that they let me read it early for review, because knowing what I do now from reading the story, I wouldn’t have been able to handle reading all the teasers they plan on using for their blog tour.

While a lot of books I read surprise me on some level with how deep and dark their themes develop throughout the story, I’ve managed to avoid books about issues that affect everyday people such as alcoholism and sexual abuse. I think one of the reasons I enjoy science fiction and paranormal stories are because they are realistic to the point where I can see where the idea stemmed from, but I wouldn’t be comfortable if that idea came to life in reality. With Addicted to You, I was slightly blindsided. I knew going into reading this story that the main characters have addictions, but the severity and the inevitable of the consequences of their actions kept my emotions in a vice grip until the very end.

Lily Calloway is addicted to sex and Loren “Lo” Hale is addicted to alcohol. They don’t shy away from their addictions and they are both fully aware of how unconventional and unhealthy their relationship is, but they’ve moved past the point of hiding it with each other. They have a system, and so far, it’s worked for them. They have been “dating” for 3 years, they moved in with each other during college, and they both dodge their families to keep them out of their destructive paths. Children of entrepreneur billionaires for commercial products that pop up throughout the story, we see how Lo became the alcoholic he is and you definitely feel for him by the end of the book when we find out about his past. For Lily, I still feel like there wasn’t enough of a back story for her addiction. But I guess this is a perfect example of people who don’t necessarily have to be abused to become addicted to something. Sex is a part of life, and she grows up letting it consume her no matter the consequences.

I’m torn with the main characters relationship. On the one side, there was a lot of sexual tension between Lily and Lo throughout the story, and while this made for some excellent moments, it also fed into one of their addictions and you constantly saw how Lily had to battle against herself against Lo and how Lily thought she was helping distract Lo only to feed her own addiction. There was a lot of back and forth between the two, mainly arguing and blaming, and I believe people might even call it an abusive relationship. There was no violence between then, but there was a lot of emotionally draining responsibilities they depended on each other for. For being in their early twenties, they are both dealing with a lot, and it pains me to see them make the wrong choices. But once again, I’m not affected by either of their addictions, so my reaction is harsher than one of someone who may have experienced similar problems.

The minor/supporting characters definitely intrigue me, especially Rose and Connor. I’m not so much a fan of Connor as I am of his and Rose’s love/hate relationship and how passionate Rose is about it. Connor explains that he wants someone to intellectually spare with (paraphrasing) and it was so sweet when Rose and Connor came face to face (my sources tell me they will have a little something of their own in the future, I can hardly contain my glee!). As for Ryke, I don’t know if I can even get into his character. I hope we see much more of him in the sequel, because he was introduced late into the story and I was left wanting more. His history plays a huge part in the main conflict of the story and I want to explore it.

The humor in this novel is fantastic. I had to contain my giggles because after 3 failed attempts at telling people a comical line and they looked at me all stone faced, I decided this type of humor is an acquired taste. I normally don’t notice typos or grammar, and I was pleased with the fact that I didn’t stumble over any in this novel. There weren’t a lot of overly descriptive scenes; they were focused more on the conversation and the reactions, which I happen to enjoy more. This is more realistic for me than having a whole page describing the way someone looks or the way the sunset sets on the beach, meaning to be metaphorical.

I’m looking forward to seeing what else the Ritchie sisters come up with, because now that I’ve sampled their blog posts (Nawanda Files) and their NA novel, I’m addicted!

My Over All Rating:

Possession Series Scavenger Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Today we're here to celebrate the completion of the Possession series by Elana Johnson! ABANDON came out on June 4, and I hope you've been participating in the series scavenger hunt! Today I'm bringing you one of the stops!

Once you know what city in the Association we're visiting today, GO HERE to fill out the form to enter to win today's prize (a series swag package), as well as an overall scavenger hunt prize: signed paperbacks of the entire series, as well as digital copies of the two short stories (REGRET and RESIST) that round out the Possession series + a $50 Amazon gift card.

“Emotion pumps through every scene of this thriller. Given all the urgency and action, the novel’s ending may surprise readers as the heroic adventure turns into a tragic love story.” –School Library Journal

PSSSST: Possession is $3.99 on ebook through June 11th wherever ebooks are sold! (pricing may be US retailers only)

“The end is satisfying in a full-circle way and is set up for a third novel in this world. Some recent dystopian novels with a similar them are the Matched series by Ally Condie and the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver.” –VOYA

“A thrilling, fan-pleasing sequel.” –The Deseret News

Available now!

The fight for independent thought becomes a matter of life or death in this sizzling and intense conclusion to the Possession trilogy.

Your clue for the scavenger hunt today: This is the capital city in the Association.

And go Book-A-Holic to read a guest post by Elana and discover which city in the Association we're visiting! Then be sure to ENTER TO WIN the grand prize signed paperback giveaway + Amazon gift card.

To enter the daily swag package giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you get lost, you can always go to Elana's blog to find your place. Happy hunting!

June is Audiobook Month 2013! #JIAM13

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:06:00 +0000

Woot, it's time to celebrate audiobooks again, because it's June is Audiobook Month!!!!! If you missed our fun last year, click HERE to see all our fun posts. This year we'll have interviews and guest posts from publishers and a rights agent about selling audiobooks and giveaways that we'll be posting on these on Wednesdays. We'll also be posting audiobook reviews on Fridays. We're hosting this JIAM feature with Susan from WastepaperProse again this year, so be sure to stop by WPP for more giveaways and fun content.

Other fun ways to celebrate:

SYNC YA Lit into your earphones is giving away 2 free audiobooks, a current YA book and a classic, each week throughout the summer!
Listening Library has a HUGE going on through August 15th on over 400 of their audiobooks. It's a great time for libraries to stock up on some great titles.

School Spirits Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:31:00 +0000

Title: School Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publish Date: May 14, 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy's older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it's not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it's strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance! .

The moment I started reading School Spirits, I realized how much I missed Rachel’s writing. There’s a certain happy comfort level when you crack open a new story by one of your favorite authors, and I live for that moment.

So how did I feel about this new story, one sans my beloved Sophie and Archer? Well, I’ve got to say that I LOVE IZZY. There’s something about her bold naivete about the most common of things, like attending a public high school (I know what you’re thinking, she wants to do that?) or experiencing those blushy moments of first love. I like her no-nonsense mother as well. I love the way Rachel wrote their exchanges, because there’s a hint that Izzy’s mother understands Izzy’s curiosity about normal teenage things (like being part of after-school clubs, pep rallys and sleepovers), but they’re both overwhelmed with the mystery and associated grief of finding her sister.

Rachel also gives Izzy a wonderful supporting cast in her Paranormal Management Society friends. I could easily picture Romy, Anderson and Dex and their collection of ghost-hunting paraphernalia. But, let me take a moment to explain why I loved Dex from the second he appeared on the page. He’s just plain sweet and is a perfect counterbalance to Izzy’s intensity. I’ll admit to turning pages just to see if there’s another scene with the two of them (yeah, I did that with Sophie and Archer, too but Izzy and Dex are, well, different and yet perfect for each other). I won’t spoil any twists and turns but I will say that there’s was a whoa, whoa, WHOA moment. I think I texted a few of my friends with a “well played, Rachel Hawkins, well played” message. Because that’s what bookish friends do when they don’t want to spoil things for each other but want to acknowledge that you really should read this book sooner rather than later. Or, at least, that’s what I do to my very patient friends.

A quick side note on one of my favorite characters from the Hex Hall series, Torin, the warlock who is trapped in a mirror. He’s a great companion to Izzy, guiding her and goading her, but mostly fangirling with her over episodes of “Ivy Springs”, a teen TV series that Izzy uses as research for what passes for normal in a public high school.

I’m dying to find out what happened with Finley, how the Izzy/Dex friendship will play out and if a certain trapped-in-a-mirror character will be set free. But according to Rachel’s post, we will have to be a little patient. This story’s earned my patience, and I will wait.

My Over All Rating:

Spies and Prejudice Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Title: Spies & Prejudice
Author: Talia Vance
Publish Date: June 11 2013, EgmontUSA

Synopsis:

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy. Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

I think by now you guys realize how much I love Jane Austen and, of course, I may also have a slight ~~obsession~~ fascination with spies. So imagine my delight when I saw that a favorite author of mine Talia Vance (author of the Bandia series) wrote something that was titled Spies & Prejudice. If you assume I filed that under: #whee; you were right.

So then as I started to read it, I realized that yes, there was that familiar plot rhythm from my beloved Pride & Prejudice. Perhaps there was more so a familiarity in the cast of characters, but to my surprise this was a mystery plot. And I looooove those especially when they involve corporate espionage, and when a number of characters are potential suspects. The mystery in question is one that grabbed me from the start – was Berry’s mom’s death really a murder? I immediately understood why the spy-savvy Berry couldn’t let that case drop until she found out the absolute truth.

So, let’s talk about Berry. I love a super-smart protagonist and one that can think on her feet. I’m not going to be the only pointing this out, but if you loved Veronica Mars’ character as much as I did, just wait until you meet Berry. She’s inexhaustible in her search to find out the truth and along the way, she will drop her share of snarky remarks. A good spy story always has a great secondary cast of characters and in Mare and Jason you will find the kind of support that is found only in the deepest of friendships. There's one more thing that Talia adds and it's the feeling of loss. Her mother's death left Berry fighting so hard to hold onto memories, those concrete ones of her mom that appear to be slipping away every day. These moments are so well written that they add a depth to the story that I simply didn't expect. But, they are also the moments that made Berry feel like a real person to me.

And then, there's the romance. I know what you're thinking where, oh, where is Darcy? I think I could write a thesis on the subject of this classic character and the sighs he's inspired. I also think Talia already submitted this thesis because she writes the Tanner and Berry scenes so beautifully. In fact, there’s this wonderful awkward scene where Tanner inadvertently wounds Berry with an insult that caused me to recall one of my favorite scenes in P&P. In a nod to the classic, the romantic tension between Berry and Tanner certainly scorches off the page.

Turn on that fan, pour yourself a glass of iced tea and sit back and read this adorable, tension-filled mystery. Berry Fields is now one of my favorite spy girls. And Tanner, well umm, just wait until you meet him.

My Over All Rating:

We are thrilled to be part of Rockstar Book Tours' tour of Spies & Prejudice. Take a look at the awesome giveaway Talia, Egmont and RSB have put together:

G I V E A W A Y

5 winners total, US only

3 winners will receive 1 Hardcover of Spies and Prejudice and a T-Shirt.

2 winners will receive a T-Shirt

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Talia Vance is a practicing litigation attorney living in Northern California with her real life love interest, two-point-five kids, and a needy Saint Bernard named Huckleberry. Talia has been writing since she could talk, making up stories for every doll, stuffed animal and action figure she could get her hands on. She grew up hoping to write the great American novel, but her life ran more along the lines of tortured romance and fast paced thrillers, so that's what she writes.

Follow Talia: Website/Blog/Twitter/Goodreads

Purchase Spies & Prejudice: Goodreads/Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

And don't forget to stop by all the tour stops for more reviews, fun guests posts and more chances to win those giveaway goodies!

6/4/2013 YA Sisterhood- Review

6/5/2013 Page Turners Blog- Review

6/6/2013 The Review News- Guest Post

6/7/2013 Two Chicks On Books- Guest Post

6/8/2013 What The Cat Read- Guest Post

6/9/2013 I'm a Bookshark- Guest Post

6/10/2013 Debbie's World Of Books- Guest Post

6/11/2013 Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Guest Post

6/12/2013 Ravenous Reader- Guest Post

6/13/2013 Taters Tall Tales- Guest Post

6/14/2013 Fiktshun- Guest Post

6/17/2013 Lit Explorer- Guest Post

Resilient Cover Reveal & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Pixie) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 05:30:00 +0000

Resilient by Patricia Vanasse is garnering some great attention, even long before the release date of September 3rd, 2013. Published by Pants on Fire Press this is the story of Livia and Adam, two teens who are far from normal and have more in common than they could ever imagine.

According to the press release, Resilient has already got attention from A-list movie studios and production companies that are interested in the movie and screen rights. Resilient was also the 4th place winner of the 2012 Golden Acorn Excellence in Writing Award.

Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier.

Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone.

Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart.

Resilient, told in alternating point of views, is a gripping story of survival and romance, in which two teenagers face the consequences of being anything but normal.

Resilient is a YA book recommended for ages 13 and older. It has 318 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback.

Excerpt:

He opens his eyes and sees me ogling.

Embarrassed, I turn my attention back to the sky. “I thought you had fallen asleep.”

“And then you’d take advantage of me.”

“No! I was just…” I trail off, not knowing what to say. “Can we go? It’s getting late.”

“We just got here!” He smiles in amusement. “How about we play a game?”

“What game?”

“I ask you a question, you answer, and then you ask me one. It’s a good way to get to know each other.” He turns his body to the right so he’s facing me. “Before you decide I’m the worse person ever, you should know the facts.”

“As long as you tell the truth.”

“You have my word.” I laugh despite myself as he asks, “If you had to choose between day and night, which would you pick?”

I frown for a second, thinking. “Day,” I say “Wrestling or football?”

“Wrestling for sure,” he answers. “Favorite cartoon character?”

“Ha! Definitely Daria; I feel like we have something in common.” I chuckle while Adam’s eyebrows scrunch together. I guess he’s having a hard time finding the similarities. “Yours?”

“I’ve got to say SpongeBob. No similarities there, though.” He smiles and lies back down, inspecting the stars. “Do you believe there’s life out there besides us?”

That question has been on my mind for years, but I never had to answer it until now. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

“You hope so?” His brows shoots up, “Wouldn’t you be afraid if aliens really existed?” He sounds sincerely curious.

“No, I don’t think they would be the monsters Hollywood makes us believe. I think they would be just like...”

“Us?”

“Yeah, like us. How about you?”

He nods, “I agree with you.”

We fall into silence for a little while before his next question. It would be too pretentious of me to believe humans are the only ones to live in a universe so much bigger than we know. There are so many places we haven’t even begun to discover yet. In any case, other life forms could be the explanation to all of my inhuman abilities.

“What do you like most about yourself?” he asks.

My mind wanders; I’m not sure what my qualities are, really, but I think of something to say. “I’m stubborn.”

“And that’s a quality?”

“Yes. I mean, it keeps me from giving up when things gets rough.”

He turns to look at me, probably wondering what could be so rough in my life. He doesn’t know that I don’t have everything, I don’t have what I want the most: answers to what I am.

Patricia Vanasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now she lives on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two adorable children, and two crazy dogs. She has been trough Culinary Arts, Psychology, Law School, and now has finally found her passion in creative writing. She also loves traveling, cooking, and is an avid reader. Her strength- believes that everything is possible. Her weakness- an obsessive relationship with caffeine.

www.patriciavanasse.com
http://patriciavanasse.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/PatriciaVanasse
https://www.facebook.com/ResilientByPatriciaVanasse

Giveaway:

Paperback ARC (early copy) of Resilient.

Open worldwide.

Ends 6/11/13

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How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:44:00 +0000

Title: How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Publish Date: April 23, 2013, Harper Teen
Synopsis:

When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want? Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve the Queen—Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding the Queen's evil lapdog caviar to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving the Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

.

Okay confession time, I read this story right after we came back from our Disneyland vacation. Our family is hugely obsessed with anything Disney and while we had an amazing time, we did run into one grumpy Disneyland cast member. And it did make me think, how can they keep up that level of happy pretense during their 9-hour shifts?

Well, Sarah answered that and more in her perfect-summer-read story, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. I’ll just say it, I expected a quick, fun read, and I should have known (because I adored her Smart Girls Get What They Want), that Sarah would deliver more. She gave me a villain that was complex and unpredictable, move over Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly and meet The Queen. What a demanding, never-can-quite-please boss. I, of course, loved her.

But mostly, I loved Zoe. Her selfless approach in wanting to help her cousin win the grant left me smiling. And mind you, she’s not completely altruistic. I loved her awkward moments while trying to do the right thing. She’s so completely relatable and gah, adorable.

What I loved best was all the back-stabbing, melodrama that can go on in such a small, competitive environment. It brought me back to my college days and just the simple fact that when you house teens together, for any length of time, drama will readily follow.

Okay, and yes, I loved the romance. It hit all the sweetness of a summer fling, but also gave me that hopeful moment that all the best romances share. When you’re picking up your beach reads, be sure to throw How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True in the bag with your sunscreen. You’ll see what I mean when I say that it’s the perfect summer book.

My Over All Rating:

Actually, more of a 4.5-ish but so adorable

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:04:00 +0000

Title: Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood
Author: Abby McDonald
Publish Date: April 23, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Synopsis:

Abby McDonald gives L.A. the Jane Austen treatment in this contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility. Hallie and Grace Weston have never exactly seen life eye to eye. So when their father dies and leaves everything to his new wife, forcing the girls to pack up and leave San Francisco for a relative’s house in shiny Beverly Hills, the two sisters take to their changing lot in typically different styles. Shy, responsible Grace manages to make friends with an upbeat, enterprising girl named Palmer but still yearns for her old life — and the maybe-almost-crush she left behind. Meanwhile, drama queen Hallie is throwing herself headlong into life — and love — in L.A., spending every second with gorgeous musician Dakota and warding off the attention of brooding vet Brandon. But is Hallie blinded by the stars in her eyes? And is Grace doomed to forever hug the sidelines? .

I adore Jane Austen re-tellings mostly because I love the original stories, and I always look for that familiar plot rhythm and beloved characters to show up. But what I look forward to the most is the way the author is going to play with the plot points and what they will take away/add to the existing characters. Sometimes, it’s the minor characters that the authors have the most fun re-writing and I admit to enjoying it all.

Unfortunately, Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood just didn't excite me the way I expected a Sense & Sensibility plotline to move me. I think, in part, it was the characters themselves. Quietly contemplative Grace and overly dramatic Hallie just seemed flat to me. And the minor characters were amusing, but also predictable.

But what did translate well is the sisters love for one another and their very different approach to love interests. If you’re looking for a poolside, romantic read and love a nod to Austen, then don’t hesitate to pick up this book. I only wish that, character-wise, it had delivered a little more depth.

My Over All Rating:

More like 2.5 stars out of 5

Author Interview with Sara Polsky & Giveaway of THIS IS HOW I FIND HER

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

We are very excited to introduce to you Sara Polsky, author of the debut YA novel, THIS IS HOW I FIND HER. I can't wait to dive into THIS IS HOW I FIND HER, and we hope you are too after checking out this fun interview with Sara! Want to learn more, be sure to check out Sara Online: Webpage / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

THIS IS HOW I FIND HER,
Available September 1, 2013: Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Indiebound / Albert Whitman Teen

Sophie has always lived her life in the shadow of her mother's bipolar disorder: monitoring medication, making sure the rent is paid, rushing home after school instead of spending time with friends, and keeping secrets from everyone.

But when a suicide attempt lands Sophie's mother in the hospital, Sophie no longer has to watch over her. She moves in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin—a family she’s been estranged from for the past five years. Rolling her suitcase across town to her family's house is easy. What's harder is figuring out how to rebuild her life.

Hi Sara - Tell us five fun random facts about yourself?

I studied medieval history in college and grad school, which meant I occasionally got to hang out in archives with cool old manuscripts.
I grew up in New Jersey and now live in New York City, but I've also lived in Boston, Alabama, and Scotland.
My favorite author is YA writer Melina Marchetta.
I'll also always have a place in my heart for Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising Sequence -- those books might just be the reason I studied medieval history for all those years.
Antarctica and Australia are the two places I most want to visit.

You're the senior editor for Curbed, how did your editorial skills help/impacted with your writing?
I write and edit all the time at Curbed, and I'm sure that it's made me a better writer and editor all around. One of the things I get to do at Curbed, because we cover real estate, is visit a lot of apartments around NYC, and that's fun for me as a writer, because it's a glimpse at how other people live.

You currently live in NYC, where's your favorite place to go for inspiration in the city?
Bookstores! There are so many great independent bookstores in the city, and if I forget why I write, all I have to do to remember is wander through a bookstore for a while.

I go to a lot of plays, too, and I always leave the theater inspired to tell a story.

Now that we've read the blurb for THIS IS HOW I FIND HER, what other five things should we know about the book?

The relationship between Sophie (the main character) and her cousin, Leila, was the first aspect of the story that came to me, even though it was Sophie's relationship with her mom that came to be a bigger part of the book.
Sophie's uncle works as an architect (and Sophie ends up with an after-school job in his office) -- that came from my own interest in architecture and obsession with houses.
The scene that now begins chapter four is the first scene of the first draft I wrote. (Almost none of the rest of that draft made it into the final book.)
The girl on the cover looks exactly like my mental image of Sophie.
Oh, and there's a bit of a romance in the book, too. :)

What are you five favorite things about Sophie?

She's strong but doesn't fully realize how strong
The bond she has with her mom…
…and the bond she realizes has with her family even though she's been estranged from them for five years.
She's quiet -- but there's a lot more going on in her head than you might think from talking to her
She's artistic

Sophie's mom is bipolar, what research did you do to bring that family dynamic to life? Is it based on any real life experiences?
I really like reading memoirs as a way to figure out what my characters might be like, so for THIS IS HOW I FIND HER, I read a lot of memoirs by people who've experienced mental illness, and I read some more academic/medical books on bipolar disorder and depression, too.

The story is not autobiographical, but I've certainly known people who've dealt with mental illness, and I think wanting to better understand what they were going through was part of what led me to write the book.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to the lovely people at New Leaf Literary & Media, we have 1 ARC of THIS IS HOW I FIND HER to giveaway to our amazing blog readers! Please use the widget below to enter. This giveaway is open to US addresses only, and our other standard rules apply.

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