@PageTurnersBlog YA Book Review Blog

Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:58:00 +0000

Oops. Sorry this is going up late - The kiddo's have been sick all week and it slipped my mine.

We are giving away an ARC of one of my favorite reads this year - Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti.

All our regular rules apply
Contest Ends 5/31
Fill out form to enter

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Follow the hop!

One Moment Review

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Title: One Moment
Author: Kristina McBride
Release: June 2012 by Egmont
Synopsis:

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

Kristina McBride's writing intoxicates me - I can't think of a better way to explain the feeling I get after reading just a few lines. She has enticed me and makes me feel for characters I don't even know - I am hooked and I NEED to know what has happened. I can't help myself.

One Moment is told from Maggie's point of view; Maggie is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Amnesia because of something that happened moments before her boyfriend Joey died. Joey had made that jump a thousand times before - so why was this time different? As Maggie struggles to come to terms with the death of the boy she loves and regain the last few seconds they had together; new alarming information about Joey starts to come forward... maybe he wasn't the perfect guy every thought he was.

Maggie is a very hard character to get attached to; you don't really know anything about her - just pieces here and there. Joey was her life. Usually that would aggravate me, but I liked that about her character, it made her issues more believable to me. The one problem I did have with Maggie was, how blind she was - I figured out “the secret" early on and wanted to shake some sense into her.

One Moment is a raw emotional read about love, loss and forgiveness. As you take this daunting journey with Maggie you will find yourself wondering how you would have handled the situation. I am not sure I could have been as forgiving as Maggie.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Unspoken

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:20:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week we are waiting on...

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

WHY WE WANT IT:
I seriously love Sarah Rees Brennan's writing - she breaks boundaries, she takes risk and she makes you laugh the whole time. I can't wait to see what she is does with her next series.

Teaser Tuesday: The Unquiet

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title & author.

My teaser this week comes from:

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Sometimes, when I dream, the deadliest moment in my life happens all over again. That's when I'm given the chance to do things differently.

Updating PTB

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Hey wonderful PTB Readers!

As you can tell we're updating PTB. We're not 100% yet after the craziness that happened with the blogger update, but we're getting there. Please let us know what you think of our new design, what features you've seen on other blogs that you'd love to see here on PTB any anything else you might want to tell us in the feedback/comments.

We love hearing from you!

Cover Crazy: One Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme started by Tawni at The Book Worms and is now being hosted by Page Turners!

This week I am crazy about...

One Moment by Kristina McBride

Picture covers always grab my attention - it makes the story feel more realistic to me. The One Moment cover definitely stood out, I loved the coloring, its gives it a very neutral feel and makes the ripples stand out. The ripples along with the title really drew me in, how just that one thing causes the other reactions.

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you

What cover are you crazy about this week?

City of Lost Souls Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:03:00 +0000

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publish Date: May 8, 2012, Simon and Schuster
Synopsis:

Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

This is such a hard review for me to write because I’m such a huge fan of Cassie’s and I love every one of her books. I really do. It bothered me to read some of the more critical reviews of City of Fallen Angels. I know it hurt to watch our beloved characters have to go through even more trials and pain, but aren’t those the very best stories in the end? Well, City of Lost Souls, is such a perfectly written story that I think even the strongest critics will have to agree with me.

You see, Cassie turns up the comedy in such a truly funny way that I found myself literally laughing out loud (not just “HA-ing” or giggling). The sarcasm and gentle jabs between the characters are so sweet and exactly what I’ve grown to expect from them. Here’s an example featuring Isabelle and Simon (from chapter 7: A Sea Change):

     “Can you tell me a story?”
      He blinked. “What kind of story?”
     “Something where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. And stay dead.”
     “So, like a fairy tale?” he asked. He racked his brain. He knew only the Disney versions of fairy tales and the first image that came to mind was Ariel in her seashell bra. He’d had a crush on her when he was eight. Not that this seemed like the time to mention it.
    “No.” The word was an exhaled breath. “We study fairy tales in school. A lot of that magic is real—but, anyway. No, I want something I haven’t heard yet.”
    “Okay, I’ve got a good one,” Simon stroked Isabelle’s hair, feeling her lashes flutter against his neck as she closed her eyes. “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”

See what I mean? And then, Cassie gives us these lovely scenes that make our hearts ache as we realize that all of the characters have matured and the world is a much more complicated place for them. There’s a bittersweet moment with just about every one of the pairings. And I won’t even mention my favorite scene in Venice on a boat…

As if all that isn’t enough, Cassie blurs the lines between Team Bad and Team Good. Oh yeah, she does it and does it well. You will be swayed by the baddest of baddies. For those who hate a cliffhanger ending, oh just you wait…you get my favorite kind of ending, a soft landing before the inevitable has to happen in the next book. I have nothing else to add except – this, THIS is exactly how a series should be written.

Our Over All Rating:

First let me just say I totally agree with Sophie's comments above. But I wanted to add a little bit more and talk about the audiobok.
Cassandra Clare has stepped it up with both her writing and her story telling in City of Lost Souls. The story is emotional, full of detail (SOOO many clues! I'm now DYING for Clockwork Princess and City of Heavenly Fire), and ties together all three series (Infernal Devices, The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices) in amazing Cassie fashion. And even though this is the middle book in the second trilogy, it doesn't have that middle book feel. It totally could stand on its own and propels the story forward.
City of Lost Souls picks up right where City of Fallen Angels ends. Clary, Izzy, Simon, Alec and the whole gang are working to figure out whats going on with Jace and how they can set everything right. Clary is also dealing with the fallout of what happened with Jace and the Angel at the lake. (Yeah I'm trying to be as spoiler free as possible for the rest of the series.) It was a blast reading how Cassie was able to bring everything together in such a way that didn't feel like a cop-out and felt true to the story. I also enjoyed getting more Magnus. He's an amazing character who spans the two existing series with a beautiful story line that I'm DYING to know how it all plays out.
I have actually not "read" a single Cassandra Clare novel, I've listened to them all on audiobook. Molly Quinn is back for another Cassandra Clare audio and she continues her streak as an amazing narrator. Only thing missing was having Ed Westwick back reading the male character parts, but that's just a little personal preference hehe (LOVE Ed's reading voice). But Molly does a great job of bringing life to each character and doesn't over play the voices. The audio had me feeling like I'm a kid again having someone read me a story, which I think, is the best compliment for any audiobook and narrator.
If you're considering a re-read of Cassandra Clare's books, try them on audio. All seven books are amazingly well done and I think you'll pick up on some details and ideas that you might not have picked up on while reading the story.

Thanks to our all our Twitter Followers - GIVEAWAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000

So a few weeks back PTB hit 5,000 twitter followers, that's CRAZY!!!!!

It still amazes Pixie and I how many people enjoy our blog and find their next favorite read because of something they found on PTB. We are still here because of you, our readers, and our amazing team!!! We cannot thank you enough for the support y'all have given us!!

So to say thank you for everyone who follows us on twitter, we're doing a giveaway exclusively for our twitter followers!!!! (We'll do another giveaway on the blog when we hit 3,000 followers on here, we're soooo close!)

All you have to do is follow us on twitter! We'll pick TWO lucky followers to win a copy of Starters by Lissa Price, a signed book plate and swag!!! We'll also pick 5 other followers to get misc swag that I have laying around (this includes signed book plates from some of your favorite authors, bookmarks & more!)

Giveaway ends 5/27 and all of our standard rules apply.
All you have to do to enter is be a follower of our Twitter @PageTurnersBlog. If we hit 6500 followers on Twitter before the end of the giveaway we'll add more prizes (I have a lot of books sitting around my house too!)

Cassandra Clare Signing Recap & GIVEAWAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I was SUPER excited to be able to attend the signing for Cassandra Clare's latest book in the Moral Instrument Series, City of Lost Souls hosted by Anderson's Bookshop (they MAY have some signed copies left, contact them for details).
Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Schuster, I was able to record the whole thing for you, and the videos are below in a nice play list (and some extras are in a separate playlist). But before we get to the videos, I'll explain what you're about to see with visual aids (use the pics below to follow along).

The night started with "Cover Jace" introducing the trailer. We then got to see the trailer on a movie sided screen!!! Then Cassie came out and talked and answered questions for about an hour. People who asked Qs got EVERYWHERE RUNE CHARMS from Hebel Deigns (there were a few left over and I was able to get a Friendship Rune charm!!!). Vania from VLC Photo was Cassie's helper for the night and Cassie was sure to make Vania run all over the auditorium getting people's questions. Then came the signing! I was lucky enough to have a CRAZY early number and got through the line really quickly. But Simon & Schuster had the event planned amazing well and had a few things planned for everyone while they waited. You could go on stage and get Rune tattoos painted on (sadly the line was CRAZY long by the time I was through the signing line so I didn't get one) and then you could take pictures with Cover Jace (sorry I should probably google to find out his real name, maybe one of our amazing followers can help me out with it). Again, his line was also very long and I just took pics from afar, but he seemed totally nice and was posing with everyone and giving autographs! You can click HERE to view all of my pics from the City of Lost Souls signing and be sure to watch the videos to see how it all went down!

The WHOLE presentation and Q & A in 6 parts (the playlist includes the trailer!)

City of Lost Souls signing Extras!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!We have one signed copy of City of Lost Souls & some series bookmarks to giveaway!!!

1 winner will receive a Signed copy of City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare & series bookmarks
All of our standard rules apply
Giveaway ends May 24th, 2012
CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Gilt by Katherine Longshore Review

noreply@blogger.com (Michele) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Title: Gilt
Author: Katherine Longshore
Publish Date: Published May 15th 2012 by Viking Juvenile

Synopsis:

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--
and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Gilt is my first historical fiction novel that I have read and I was delighted that it was written in the time of Henry VIII. I was immediately thrown into the scenery of the castles in England, the immaculate richness of dress and wealth, and the drama of court. However, even with the drama of court, this novel was woven around the life of Kitty, who was thrown into a boarding house by her parents, and was befriended by Cat, who eventually becomes Queen of England.

Kitty’s loyalty towards Cat is so strong; she always puts Cat’s needs and wants before her own. She feels this way because of the friendship Cat gave to her when she was all alone. When Cat is taken to court, and whisked up by Henry VIII, Cat brings Kitty to be her chambermaid. The friendship continues in a different way, being more one sided meaning that Kitty is there for Cat but not so much the other way around.

Kitty remains strong throughout the whole story. It is actually remarkable to see the story unfold, and to learn more about behind the scenes of court. Kitty is torn between a man who she desires, and another who she loathes, but ultimately decides to put Cat’s desires before her own. Cat puts Kitty through difficult circumstances, which starts to make Kitty feel very uncomfortable, and watches in horror as Cat starts to ruin her life. It is the time of Henry the VIII, the most brutal king of England.

Gilt is definitely an exciting read about the harshness of that era. I found Kitty to be a strong and brave character, but so wanted a better life for her. The visual that I had throughout this story drives me to want to visit England where all this rich history comes from.

Gilt has given me the “want” to broaden my reading genre to learn more about the history and the people that makes us who we are today.

My Over All Rating:

Teaser Tuesday: Lies Beneath

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title & author.

My teaser this week comes from:

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

When she's unconscious, carry her to the rocks. They'll search for her. I'll join the search party.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore Author Debut and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Michele) — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:59:00 +0000

This week, We are thrilled to introduce

Katherine Longshore

Gilt

I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Katherine Longshore.

1. Why is the time of Henry VIII your favorite part of English history?

Some of it is the capital R Romance of it all. The gowns and jewels and jousts and chivalry. Some of it is wanting to dig beneath the gilt of that Romance and find the truth and even the ugliness that lies beneath. But mostly, it's the characters who populated the Tudor court that inspire me.

2. Is historical fiction your favorite genre to read as well as write?

I tend to read contemporary YA and historical nonfiction–I think that's why I write the mash-up that I do. But I've been reading some amazing historical YA lately–notably THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats.

3. With all the research you did for GILT, how long did it take you to write and edit to be published?

I'd been reading histories and biographies of Henry and his wives for seven years before I started even thinking about writing a book set in the period. Then I researched Catherine Howard off and on for almost a year before I started writing GILT. I wrote and revised for a year before it sold, and revised for another six months for it to be in the shape it's in now, discovering historical details all along the way.

4. Do you have any other projects that you are working on?

I'm currently revising a second book set in Henry's court (but the action occurs twenty years earlier!) And then I get to write a third!

5. Was it difficult to write Kitty being so loyal to Cat?

Kitty's loyalty is part of what made her so special to me. It's a weakness, but one that shows tenacity. Strength of conviction. Kitty just chose to pin her convictions to a faulty standard. And haven't we all done that at one time or another?

6. Why did you decide to keep Kitty’s romantic life so “pure”?

I wrote GILT as a story about a broken friendship, and wanted the primary focus to remain on the relationship between the two girls. A sexual relationship with either boy would have complicated matters and possibly detracted from that. Besides, I figured Kitty had enough to deal with already.

THANK you so much for giving me the chance to interview you Katherine! I'm SO excited to learn that there is going to be more to read of Henry VIII court!! It is definitely one of my favorites!!

GILT releases TODAY!! May 15...go get your copy today!!

AMAZON

For the giveaway, I am offering the ARC of Gilt. Please comment below for entry and don't forget to leave your email address. Contest ends May 30th, and all PageTurners giveaway policies apply.

Celebrating The Near Witch's Paperback Release with The Ash-Born Boy Short Story

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:03:00 +0000

It's May 15th!

Not only does THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab come out in paperback TODAY, but, to celebrate its release, "The Ash-Born Boy" is finally up over at Disney*Hyperion's website!

So, what IS "The Ash-Born Boy"?

It's a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans, and she wrote it to answer ONE question: "Who was Cole before he came to Near?"

Now, if you've already read THE NEAR WITCH, "The Ash-Born Boy" is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole.

And if you haven't read THE NEAR WITCH yet, don't worry, "The Ash-Born Boy" won't spoil anything!

So basically, either way, you should go read Cole's story ;)

And if you want to wait and read THE NEAR WITCH first, don't worry! Cole's story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion's website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free.

And!

Cole's story isn't the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback itself, you'll find the first chapter of Victoria's new book, THE ARCHIVED, which doesn't come out until January!

So what are you waiting for?

Help Victoria celebrate today by taking a look at "The Ash-Born Boy," and don't forget to buy/order/pick up your own paperback copy of THE NEAR WITCH. To help you decide, here's a link to my 5-star review.

Goddess Interrupted Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joy) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Author: Aimeé Carter
Publication Date: March 27th 2012 by HarlequinTeen
Goodreads

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

I love Greek mythology. I love YA books. I love when YA books are about Greek mythology. I really love Aimeé Carter's spin on things. Goddess Interrupted is book two in the "Goddess Test" series which finds Kate coming back after six months away. In Goddess Test, Kate passed the test set forth by the council and was successful not only in figuring out how to pass the tests, but also how to stay alive. She has fallen in love with Henry/Hades, but still feels he has feeling for Persephone, his first wife and her sister. Yep, you read that bit right. Sounds just like something in a Greek myth, right? So, now in Goddess Interrupted Kate is back to become "Queen of the Underworld." *Sound the ominous music* I know and you know - not one thing is going to go off as it should.

Turns out Calliope/Hera is still off her rocker because Henry didn't pick her. She is also still put out about Walter/Zeus cheating on her and having lots of kids with other women. The usual Greek mythology stuff. I love how Carter has taken the Greek gods, put them in today's settings, and yet, they still have the same problems. It never gets old, and everyone can relate.

Not only does Kate have to contend with a jealous Calliope trying to take her out of the picture, something is trying to escape its prison in the Underworld. Turns out Cronus, King of the Titans, is kidnapping gods left and right. The gods and goddesses will have to work together to stop the Titan from escaping. Kate will have to come to terms with her felling for Henry, his for her and Persephone, and find out just exactly what her place is in this new part of her life. Being immortal and falling in love with a god is forever, but honestly, it's breaking her heart. Can she convince Henry they have something worth fighting for, or should Kate just pack it up and leave?

*Be sure to check out yesterday's tour stop with a guest post from Aimeé Carter and sign up for a chance to win an awesome prize package form Harlequin Teen!

My Overall Rating

Elana Johnson Guest Post & Giveaway: Surrender Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:19:00 +0000

We are very excited to part of the pre-release blog tour for SURRENDER by Elana Jonson! This is the companion book to Possession, Elana 2011 Debut. We hope you enjoy Elana's guest post and be sure to enter to win an ARC of SURRENDER!

SURRENDER, A Companion Novel to POSSESSION
A guest post by Elana Johnson

Okay, so today we’re going to talk a bit about companions and how they differ from true sequels.

First, some inside information: I wrote POSSESSION as a standalone novel, and when the thought of writing another novel in the series came up, I knew it couldn’t be a sequel.

Sequels are generally narrated by the same character as the first book, and that just wasn’t going to happen in SURRENDER.

So it needed to be a companion. In my head, the main difference between sequels and companions is the narrating character. Violet Schoenfeld narrates POSSESSION and she lives under the control of the Association of Directors.

Well, in SURRENDER, there are two narrating characters, different from Vi. This is one main distinction between a sequel and a companion. Gunner Jameson and Raine Hightower co-narrate the book, and they still live under the control of the Association of Directors.

So, usually, a companion novel is still set in the same story world, but the plot doesn’t necessarily carry over, nor does it have to begin immediately following the first novel.

In SURRENDER, the story picks up in the city of Freedom, which is where Vi and Jag don’t want to go in POSSESSION. It’s the capital of the Association, and it’s where Gunner and Raine live. The story begins about eight months after POSSESSION ends.

I will say that readers will get to see some of their favorite characters from POSSESSION in the companion of SURRENDER. Vi is there; so is Zenn. And maybe you’ll even get to see Jag…

So companions are similar, yet different. If you have read THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH (by Carrie Ryan) series, you have read companion novels in THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES and THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES. And you can think of EXTRAS by Scott Westerfeld as a companion to the first three UGLIES books.

I wrote SURRENDER as a companion, because Vi’s story had ended, and she wasn’t available to narrate another book. Coming up with who had a story to tell, and who was talking loud enough in my head, took a long time. I tried several different things, and none of them seemed to work.

So finally, I scrapped everything, and started as if I was writing a whole new book. Finally, that’s what worked. I didn’t tie myself down to using anything from POSSESSION, and that freed me from the stumbling blocks I’d been experiencing.

Thus, Gunner and Raine were born… And they have a story to tell in SURRENDER.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

So this week, as part of the pre-release tour of awesome, you have the chance to win an ARC of SURRENDER before it releases on June 5. And not just one chance. SEVEN CHANCES.

That’s right! There are SEVEN (7!) ARCs available to win this week. Here’s what you can do to win one.

Comment on each of the pre-release blog posts this week. (1 entry for each comment)
Click here for full details and schedule.
Purchase the POSSESSION paperback (10 entries – no purchase necessary to enter)
Purchase REGRET (5 entries – no purchase necessary to enter)
Put the SURRENDER blog tour badge on your blog (3 entries)
Please fill out the Rafflecopter entry widget with what you’ve done.
This contest ends at midnight on Friday, May 18, is open in the US and Canada, and winners will be notified over the weekend. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tributary Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We are very excited to share with you Lisa T. Bergren's latest cover reveal for her soon-to-be-released story, TRIBUTARY (book #3.2) in the River of Time series is an e-novella, following the novels WATERFALL (book 1), CASCADE (book 2), TORRENT (book 3), and the e-novella BOURNE (book #3.1).

TRIBUTARY is scheduled to come out in mid- to late-June. And it's no secret that I'm eagerly awaiting the latest installment to one of my favorite timeslip romance series. Here are the links to my 5-star reviews for WATERFALL, CASCADE and TORRENT, and look for my review of BOURNE later this week.

Are you ready for more? Lisa's treating us to an exclusive excerpt from TRIBUTARY:

      Alexandria reached for another arrow, so focused on the target and Evangelia’s coaching, that she didn’t hear his approach. Only when he was wrenching her bow from her hands did she see Lord Greco, towering over her. “Are you mad?” he seethed toward Evangelia. “She could have killed you with that first arrow!”
      Lia frowned back at him. “Release her bow, Rodolfo. The girl is doing nothing but target practice. And from what I saw in that first round, she needs quite a bit more if she is to be a murderer in our midst.”
     “She is Fiorentini. A farmer’s daughter. But she was hunting for her next meal. Do you know what the Fiorentini have offered in bounty for any one of us?” he said. Marcello and Luca came up beside him then. Celso, the guard, appeared so contrite that he might be ill.
     “I am not about to kill any one of you,” Alexandria said with a little laugh. “Would I not be forfeiting my own life if I did so?” She looked up at Lord Greco in defiance, turning to face him.
    “Mayhap you’d consider it an honor. To die for your Fiorentini cause. To avenge your brothers. Who knows what is going on in that feminine mind of yours.”
    “The only thing in my feminine mind, Lord Greco,” she said, stepping forward, into his threat, and taking hold of her bow again, “was a little target practice. Are you so vulnerable that you fear a huntress’s arrow?”
      He held on to her bow, staring down into her eyes. She hated that she thought him handsome. That she was drawn to his power. “I fear any arrow,” he said, “as does any wise man. To not, is to invite death.”

Oh Lord Greco, that feminine mind of mine is reeling from this scene. If you love a story with an element of historical time-travel that is full of action and romance, pick up The River of Time Series. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. Be sure to follow Lisa on twitter and facebook for her latest updates and you can also find out all her book related news on her web site.

And now for the cover of TRIBUTARY (shhhh, I am so not sighing...okay, maaaybe I am):

Those eyes. That determined, slightly amused look? Is it June yet? I may just have to re-read the books once more to be prepared for TRIBUTARY's release.

Goddess Interrupted Tour and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joy) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Stop #7 – If the Goddess Test Series Was Made Into a Movie….

Aimeé shares who she’d like to see cast in a Goddess Test movie or TV show….

If GI was turned into a TV show or a movie (and I think a movie would work best, though there's so much to work with in Greek mythology that a TV show could work as well!), I would be so thrilled that I wouldn't really mind who was cast as each character, but my dream cast would be:

Kate - I think I'd prefer someone less known, or a newcomer.

James - This is a tough one. I've never stumbled across an actor who looked exactly like my mental image of James, who is blond and gangly and a little geeky. However, even though he has dark hair and doesn't fit the physical description of James, I think Darren Criss would be a great fit for his demeanor.
Ava - Elisabeth Harnois has always been how I pictured Ava, though by now she might be a little too old to play her.

Henry - Ben Barnes. No question.

Persephone - There aren't many actresses with curly blond hair out there, but AnnaLynne McCord might be an interesting fit. Or maybe even Leven Rambin.

Calliope - This is another tough one. Calliope is blond and regal, but with more than a hint of girlishness to her, and she doesn't outwardly appear to be villainous, at least at first. Maybe someone like Kristen Bell or Britt Robertson.

Cronus - Keanu Reeves, for his similar appearance to Ben Barnes, as Cronus and Henry are supposed to resemble one another closely.

About Aimée Carter:
Aimée Carter was born in 1986 and attended the University of Michigan. She started writing at age eleven, focusing first on fan fiction and later on original work, and hasn't stopped since. The Goddess Test trilogy is her first series. Check out her website at www.aimeecarter.com.

Buy Goddess Interrupted at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harlequin, and IndieBound

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to residents US & Canada Only. And all of our other standard rules apply.

Please visit http://www.jenbigheart.com/ for the next stop on Goddess Interrupted Blog Tour and Summer Goddess Giveaway.

Don't forget to add Goddess Interrupted to your "to-read" list on Goodreads!

Be sure to check out all the stops on the Goddess Interrupted Blog Tour:

May 7th - A Good Addiction
May 8th - I am A Reader, Not a Writer
May 9th - I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
May 10th - Confessions of a Bookaholic
May 11th - Books Complete Me
May 12th - Katie's Book Blog
May 13th - PageTurners
May 14th - I Read Banned Books
May 15th - Once Upon a Twilight
May 16th - Mundie Mom Book Reviews
May 17th - Alison Can Read
May 18th - All Things Urban Fantasy

Debut Author Guest Post: Andrew Fukuda

noreply@blogger.com (Joy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Inspirations and influences for The Hunt

Andrew Fukuda

The Hunt likely began while watching Adam Lambert’s performance of Tears for Fears’ "Mad World" on American Idol. The following lyrics made an impression, and stayed with me for days afterwards.

Went to school and I was very nervous

No one knew me, no one knew me

Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson

Look right through me, look right through me.

From those lyrics, a single image popped into my head: of a boy sitting in a classroom, desperately lonely despite the many students around him, wanting to be ignored. This boy had a secret, I came to see, one so awful that if it were ever made known his otherwise civil classmates would--in a split second--kill him. I pondered what that secret might be. When it came to me, I literally jumped out of my seat: the boy was the only surviving human in a world filled with vampire-like creatures. No existence could be lonelier or scarier than that. By flipping the vampire genre (tiny clusters of vampires in a world of humans) completely upside down, I created a human protagonist whose emotional psyche –formulated by his intensely lonely existence – I found, as a writer, immensely alluring.

From there, a hodgepodge of movies and books I’ve watched and read and loved over the years influenced the final form of The Hunt. These are listed below in no particular order.

Books:
The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)
The Running Man by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Movies:
Planet of the Apes (original starring Charlton Heston)
Battle Royale
30 Days of Night
Daybreakers
Astro Boy
Gattaca
I am Legend
The Island

During the writing of The Hunt, I became quite interested in the works of Edward Hopper, a painter who once stated that he had a “propensity for solitude.” His work Morning Sun was a painting I returned to time and again, especially during dry spells in my writing. Something about the stark loneliness of the woman on the bed despite (or because of) the sunlight captured the solitude and isolation with which I wanted to fill the pages of this book. I feel indebted to this painting for the way it spoke of loneliness in a manner that was both nuanced and powerful. Hopefully, this layered kind of loneliness came through in the protagonist Gene of The Hunt.

Goodreads

Thanks so much to Andrew Fukuda for stopping by the blog this week! I really enjoyed reading The Hunt, and I encourage all of you to pick up a copy.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway. The awesome guys at St. Martin's Griffin have kindly offered us one copy of The Hunt.

"Waiting On Wednesday: One Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week we are waiting on...

One Moment by Kristina McBride

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget. Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?
As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?
The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

WHY WE WANT IT:
Intriguing plot-line - but I really want to read this one because I loved Kristina's debut Tension of Opposites and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us with her new novel.

Debut Author Spotlight: The Hunt Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joy) — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Title: The Hunt

Author: Andrew Fukuda
Publication Date: May 8th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

In Andrew Fukuda's The Hunt, life is hard for Gene. For years he has to hide the truth about who he really is from everyone around him for one reason. The truth will get him killed. The truth is Gene is not a vampire. His father has trained him everyday to keep his humanity a secret: to always bathe, to never smile or cry, to always remain stoic because emotions will give him away, and to stay out of the sun. I like the last one, because how will Gene ever be able to explain a sunburn or suntan? Gene lives everyday, especially at school, by these rules. He is constantly on guard hoping his every move will allow him to survive, unlike his parents and sister. Unlike most other humans. Gene knows no other humans.

Then, the vampire ruler announces a heper hunt will take place to hunt the last surviving humans. All are given numbers and gather to wait and to see whose lottery number will be chosen to participate in the hunt. The vampires can almost smell the hepers' blood, imagine chasing them down, tearing into them as they wait to see who will be the lucky winners. Then, one by one the numbers are called out, and suddenly, Gene is one of the winners. Now, after years of following the rules and laying low, he is in the spotlight. He is now surrounded by vampires being trained in ways to hunt humans. He no longer has any of his supplies with him, and the other vampires are starting to look at him suspiciously. Can Gene survive in this extremely hostile environment? Will he somehow find a way to overcome the stronger, faster, and deadlier vampires?

The Hunt is an insane adventure sure to have your heart racing as you run along with Gene trying to outsmart the vampires. After so many books where the vampire is the good guy, this novel was an interesting take on the vampire as the bad guy. I loved Fukuda's vampires beliefs about humans, and how vampires are surprised humans had higher brain function, or the weird warbling noice they made from their throats (singing). I read The Hunt with a sense of dread from the moment Gene knew he was going to the hunt. I was so invovled in this plot I had to know how Gene was going to survive! If you are looking for something different in the vampire world, maybe a story of a human survival, then The Hunt is the book for you.

MY OVERALL RATING

Giveaway!

One lucky winner will win The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

*Usual rules

*13 and older

*US only

*Fill out this form by May 13th!

Technical Difficulties

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:26:00 +0000

We are having some issues with Blogger - trying to get it fixed.

Teaser Tuesday: THIS IS NOT A TEST

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author.

My teaser this week comes from:

THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers

I can smell myself.
I can smell all of the dirt, the sweat, going to the bathroom when there was no place to go, the blood I got on me that's dried now -

We're Celebrating Bitterblue with a VERY cool Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:04:00 +0000

I read my first Kristin Cashore book because my store manager came back from a manager's meeting with this book saying, this was presented as a good suggestion for people who like Twilight. I was a big Twilight fan at the time, and was like sweet, something new to devour. So here we are, almost 4 years and two books (Graceling and Fire) later, we get to get back into the world of the Seven Kingdoms!

Bitterblue is the long-awaited companion to New York Times bestsellers Graceling and Fire.

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

Click HERE to read an excerpt from Bitterblue!

Learn more about the Graceling Realm by checking out the official web page or the official Facebook Page. Be sure to visit Kristin Cashore's web page to see all her adventures and all the latest news!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Penguin & Big Honcho Media we have a VERY cool giveaway for you!

One winner will recieve

A copy of Bitterblue
A tote featuring the names of the Seven Kingdoms (click the picture to view larger)

US Addresses only (NO Po Boxes)
Giveaway ends May 18th
All of our other Standard Rules apply.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER

May: Comment Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Wow, I have been so busy the last two months I completely forgot to post about our comment contest. Starting this one for May, you can go back and comment on any post in May and it will be counted.

We love reading/hearing what our followers think. We appreciate everyone who takes a moment to leave a comment.

To Enter:

All you have to do is post a comment - on any post all month long. You are eligible to win for the month you posted a comment.

Obviously, the more comments, the more chances you have of winning

Make sure we have a way to contact you(email on post or blogger profile filled out/twitter name)

Contest ends the last day of the month

All our regular contest rules apply

What is up for grabs: Well, that depends... We will give you a list of books/arcs that we have recently read and you will get to choose one book off of the list. The list is being updated all the time.

I just added THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers.

From What I Remember Review

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Pageturnersblog) — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Title: From What I Remember
Author: Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas
Release: May 2012 by Hyperion
Synopsis:

KYLIE: Tijuana WHAT? I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY, and is this a wedding band on my finger.

MAX: It all started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics Okay, it was kind of hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded in Tijuana. With less than twenty-four hours before graduation. Awesome.

WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring thier passports across the border--but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started.

LILY: I just walked in on my boyfriend, Max Langston, canoodling with Kylie Flores, freak of the century. Still, I can't completely hold it against him. He NEEDS me. It's even clearer now. And I'm not giving him up without a fight.

Get ready for the ride of your life; From What I Remember is a fast paced, unstoppable roller coaster, you'll never know what is going to happen next! If you are looking for a fun, flirty, up all night read with some OMG and What the beep moments this is the book you need to be reading.

Kylie and Max wake up together on the day of graduation in Mexico, Kylie's best-friend Will and Max's girlfriend Lily are also there...then the story rewinds to, two days prior. From What I Remember is told from multiple viewpoints from a group of high school students and Kylie's little brother Jake. This is Kylie's story, but you need everyone's view point to really understand what happen.

When Kylie a straight laced student is assigned head jock and school heartthrob Max Langston to interview for an end of the year assignment, things couldn't get much worse. Or so she thought. At first Max blows off the assignment, which drives Kylie a little bit insane. Max finally agrees to do the interview, but during the interview someone steals Kylie's laptop bag. That is her life; her valedictorian speech, the screen play she is writing for college is on there - everything. She cannot let the thief get away with her laptop. This is where the story turns into an action movie/chick flick.

Kylie and by default Max take off after the thief and end up on an unexpected adventure, that leads them across to the border to Tijuana. That is all I am going to tell you - since I don't want to ruin one minute of their trip.

I can't say enough about this story - I love the unique prose and how it reads like I am watching a movie. But what really hooked me was Kylie's "at home" issues - being responsible in the afternoon for her brother (he has Aspergers) and worrying about leaving for college, her distant father. During the story her issues will start to fade and a transformed Kylie will emerge. Kylie’s transformation isn’t the only one – a few other characters will come to terms with who they are and their past.

As a parent - I would advise this for older teens, there is a reason why Kylie can't remember exactly what happened. Think The Hangover for teens.