Saturday, February 28, 2015

February Wrap Up & Book Haul

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor
I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes **
The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes
The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas **
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

**Review coming soon.

Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu
The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius
All That Burns by Ryan Graudin
No Parking At The End Times by Bryan Bliss
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead
Unleashed by Sophie Jordan
Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor
The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence by Stan Lee


I had a really awesome book haul this month!
I've read a few of these already, and I'm hoping to get to the rest asap!
I'm super excited to read them all!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Falling for Alice: Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24833107-falling-for-alice


Publication Date: April 24th 2015
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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About The Book

New Alice. New Wonderland. New stories ​to love.

From ​the modern Alice dumped in the Aquarian ​Age of the late sixties, to the present day Alice, tormented by body image and emotional issues, to the Alice of the future, launched forward through time and space, FALLING FOR ALICE offers five fresh takes on ​Lewis​ Carroll’s classic tale. For 150 years, people all over the world have fallen under Alice in Wonderland’s spell. ​Now, follow five Young Adult authors down the rabbit hole to discover Alice like you’ve never seen her before. One thing is certain—this is not your mother’s Alice.


2015 marks the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved adventure, Alice in Wonderland—and as you might imagine, a lot of literary peeps are celebrating the occasion.This story has a special place in millions of young (and old) hearts, including those of the five Young Adult authors in the FALLING FOR ALICE anthology. Today, as we launch the awesome cover for FALLING FOR ALICE, we also celebrate our publisher’s actual birthday (Happy Birthday, Jessica Bell at Wine Leaves Press), and all of YOUR unbirthdays. We hope you get to have your cake and eat it too.

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Book Trailer:



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About the Authors:


Dawn Dalton is a short-story author, novelist, screenwriter, professional editor and communications specialist. Her short story, THREAD OF THE PAST was included in the SPIRITED anthology (Leap Books, 2012) and her novel, KILLER INSTINCT, (Leap Books, 2013), co-written with Judith Graves, was nominated for the Silver Falchion award. When she's not slaying fictional monsters, she's geeking out over fairy tales, Jack Bauer, Halloween, sports cars, and all things that go bump in the night. Dawn lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Jeff and their giant English Mastiff, Roarke. Dawn also writes contemporary Young Adult under the last name IUS. ANNE & HENRY debuts September 2015 from Simon Pulse. Visit Dawn online at www.dawnius.com or follow her on Twitter @dawnmius or @dawn_dalton.

DRUNK
ALICE is thirsty—and no matter how much she drinks, nothing can satiate her need. But when she meets Lewis, the tall, scary boy with the cat-like hazel eyes, her emotions spiral out of control. Is he thcure to her thirst—or the final catalyst that will send Alice down the rabbit hole of madness?


Q&A: Design a cake that represents your story. What flavour, decorations, etc would you use?
I’m afraid it’s a dark cake—devil’s food, with black or deep purple icing, likely in the shape of a coffin. On top of the coffin would be a fondant White Rabbit, with red icing stiches across its heart. BUT, if you cut into the center, and eat your way to the bottom layer, there’s white chocolate with pudding and sprinkles!

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Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. The first draft of her debut novel, LOSING FAITH (Simon & Schuster), was written in 21 days during NaNoWriMo, and she loves talking with writers and students about her fast drafting process. Jaden's other young adult novels include NEVER ENOUGH (Simon & Schuster) and FOREIGN EXCHANGE (an Editor's Pick from Evernight Teen). Her non-fiction books for writers include, WRITING WITH A HEAVY HEART and FAST FICTION. Find out more at www.denisejaden.com


WHITE RABBIT Rx
In a desperate attempt to lose weight, Alice takes an experimental drug, WHITE RABBIT, which comes with side effects like heightened senses and the chance to see who her true friends are...and are not.


Q&A: Design a cake that represents your story. What flavour, decorations, etc would you use?

My cake would be made almost entirely out of vegetables, since when we first meet Alice, she is desperate to lose weight. It would be in layers: a flat square of celery on the bottom, then carrots, then green beans, followed by an enormous layer of fresh spinach and leafy greens to make it look substantial, even if it isn’t. However, there is also a somewhat magical solution to Alice’s weight problem in White Rabbit Rx, so when she cuts into this vegetable cake, it would magically turn into the most mouth-watering fluffy white cake when she eats it.

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Kitty Keswick adores writing YA short stories almost as much as novels. Kirkus named her short story DEATH BECOMES HER,"Among the Standouts," in the SPIRITED anthology (Leap Books, 2012). Her short story MY PROM DATE'S A VAMPIRE was published oringially by The Wild Rose Press (2008) the rights were bought by Leap Books (2009). Her debut young adult paranormal, FREAKSVILLE (2010) was one of the inaugural novels that launched Leap Books. Her second novel FURRY & FREAKED is due out in late 2015. She's a professed anglophile and once spent a blissful month touring crumbling ruins in the UK. She loves twisting fairy tales with history, lives for make believe and even has a fairy door or two in her home. Kitty now resides fifteen miles inland from the sea with her hubby, stepson and a very lucky black cat. She can often be found dipping her toes in the moody waters of the west coast.  Visit her blog at kittykeswick.blogspot.com


WORMHOLE TO WONDERLAND
The year is 2114. Alice is one of the elite humans chosen to repopulate a New Earth, traveling onboard the Starship Jabberwocky, to Kepler-22b a planet six hundred light years from Earth in the Cygnus Constellation. The Originators blended her DNA with that of famous authors to produce a perfect human, each with a specific job needed to make their new home habitable. Humans are flawed by nature. Alice’s creative and curious character isn’t something they planned.

She longs for adventure far beyond the confines of her plastic, metal and glass world and doesn’t fit their drone mold. When flashes of disturbing images clog her memories, Alice is desperate to do anything, to go anywhere, to find the answers. Even if it means losing her mind.


Q&A: Design a cake that represents your story. What flavour, decorations, etc would you use?

Since my story is called Wormhole to Wonderland it’s set in the future.We’d have it made by a food replicator. It would have several tiers and looking at it from above, it would look like a wormhole, with tiny symbols from Alice in Wonderland, placed upon it. (Rabbit, Top Hat, Tea Cups) It would taste amazing— light and fluffy, have zero calories and actually make you lose five pounds and it would be chocolate of course.

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Shari Green writes Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction and occasionally masquerades as a poet. Her first novel for teens, FOLLOWING CHELSEA, was released by Evernight Teen in Fall 2014. When she's not glued to her laptop, Shari can often be found wandering in a blissful daze on the beach near her home on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Visit her online at

ALICE AT WOODSTOCK
Seventeen-year-old Alice’s punk band Mad Cat is primed for its inaugural tour, when the other members—including Alice’s boyfriend—team up and cut her from the band. Humiliated and raging-mad, Alice stashes her guitar in the back of a closet and retreats from both music and social life. But when she falls down a proverbial rabbit hole, landing in the midst of the largest peace-and-music event in history, Alice must confront the question that’s been eating at her all summer: if she isn’t a musician, who is she?


Q&A: Design a cake that represents your story. What flavour, decorations, etc would you use?
It should probably be wine-flavored, but that would be disgusting, lol, so let’s go with chocolate. Can’t go wrong with chocolate! It would be decorated to look like a turntable for vinyl record albums, maybe with peace signs, music notes, and bright flowers scattered around the sides.

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Cady Vance is the author of Young Adult and New Adult speculative fiction, including BONE DRY, NEVER SLEEP and CLASH. After growing up in small town Tennessee, she decided to embark on a grand adventure by packing up her bags and moving to NYC. Now, she studies for her PhD in the UK and dreams of seeing the universe. Visit her website at www.cadyvance.com or follow her on
www.twitter.com/cadyvance.

WONDER IN THE STARS
When Alice Dodgson's long-term boyfriend, Wyatt, enrols in the first teen program to spend six months aboard the international space station Wonder, Alice is quick to sign up so she can join him on his epic adventure. But Wyatt breaks up with Alice just after launch, and she's left to navigate this strange new world of zero gravity alone.



Q&A: Design a cake that represents your story. What flavour, decorations, etc would you use?

My cake flavor would be dark chocolate with chocolate icing to represent the vast darkness of space. Decorations would include plenty of sprinkles to act as distant stars, with M&Ms for each planet in our Solar System.

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The Giveaway:

Five prizes are up for grabs! Enter to win!

1 A copy of Falling For Alice (when ready)
2 An e-copy of Denise Jarden's Foreign Exchange
3 a copy of the Spirted anthology
4 a copy of Killer Instinct by Dawn Dalton and Judith Graves
5 One of Cady Vance's books in e-book format


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #187 - Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17234659-ten-thousand-skies-above-you
Ten Thousand Skies Above You
(Firebird #2)
by Claudia Gray
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: November 3rd 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062278999

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17234659-ten-thousand-skies-above-you

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon  | The Book Depository

Marguerite Caine has done the impossible, traveling to alternate dimensions with the Firebird—the brilliant invention of her parents, her boyfriend, Paul, and their friend Theo. But she has also caught the attention of enemies willing to kidnap, blackmail, and even kill to use the Firebird for themselves.

When Paul’s soul is splintered into four pieces—pieces that are trapped within Pauls in other dimensions—Marguerite will do anything, and travel anywhere, to save him. But the price of his safe return is steep. If she doesn’t sabotage her parents in multiple universes, Paul will be lost forever.

Unwilling to sacrifice her family, Marguerite enlists the brilliant Theo to help. The two forge a plan to save Paul and the Firebird, but succeeding means outsmarting a genius and risking not only their lives but also the lives of their counterparts in every other dimension.

Their mission takes them to the most dangerous universes yet: a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each leap brings Marguerite closer to saving Paul—but her journey reveals dark truths that lead her to doubt the one constant she’s found between the worlds: their love for each other. (Goodreads)

Ahhhhh!
I loved A Thousand Pieces of You.
(Especially PAUL!)
It was definitely one of my favorite reads from 2014.
I can't wait to get my hands on Ten Thousand Skies Above You.
I'm dyyyyyying to get back into this story.
It sounds AMAZING.
Hurry, November!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**
https://instagram.com/p/yr7r9TjMQl

Monday, February 23, 2015

Review: The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

The Distance Between Lost and Found
by Kathryn Holmes
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 17th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780062317261
Genre: Young Adult | Realistic Fiction | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

Add to Goodreads

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

Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her … silent.

Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.

With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back? (Goodreads)
The thing that interested me most about The Distance Between Lost and Found was the storyline. Three kids lost in the wilderness? It sounded like it would be a really interesting read, and it was.

After an incident with the preacher’s son leaves her the object of vicious rumors, Hallelujah Calhoun has kept her silence. Why not, when no one believes her about what happens anyways? But when a youth group field trip goes wrong, and Hallie finds herself lost in the woods with two other kids from her group, she’s forced to learn to trust again, in order to survive.

Hallie was an interesting character to read about. I sympathized with her for what she went through with the preacher’s son, and not only for the main incident that started all the rumors, but for everything that he had put her through since. But it did really bother me that she didn’t speak up sooner. (Of course, I realize that if she had spoken up sooner, there wouldn’t be a story…) I just really wished that she would have stood up for herself sooner and saved herself from all the misery and heartbreak that she incurred. Despite this, it was interesting to watch Hallie grow and find herself throughout the story.

The two other teens that Hallie was lost in the woods with were Jonah, and Rachel. Rachel was a really cool character, and I love how she worked to bring Hallie out of her shell. Jonah, who was Hallie’s friend in the past, and is also friends with the preacher’s son, was interesting as well. There were so many things about him that were likeable. All three characters worked really well together.

The storyline mainly revolves around Hallie finding herself and finding God, learning out to trust again and finding her strength while trying to survive in the woods. And she does this with help from Jonah and Rachel. I have to say, the times that they spent in the woods would have been truly terrifying, especially for some of the things that happened while they were out there, I really don’t think I could have made it!

Overall; The Distance Between Lost and Found was a very interesting read. I’m really looking forward to reading more by Kathryn Holmes in the future.

 
 
 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Review: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18051352-to-all-the-boys-i-ve-loved-before
To All The Boys I've Loved Before
(To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)
by Jenny Han
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 355
ISBN: 9781442426702
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance
Source: Own

Add to Goodreads

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

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
(Goodreads)
So, after feeling like I’m the last person on Earth that hasn’t read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, I decided that I must finally read the book to see what all the fuss was about. Now that I’ve read it, I totally see what the fuss is about, and it has left me wanting MORE!

Lara Jean was an interesting main character. When we first meet her, she’s a bit reserved; preferring to stay at home with her family over doing just about anything else. (I totally find this relatable, by the way.) She’s the middle sister of the family, the good girl, always doing things to make others happy, and doing her best to follow in her big sisters footsteps. And when her sister leaves for college, Lara Jean has some pretty big shoes to fill. It was interesting to what her grow and change and become much more responsible and independent throughout the novel.

When Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she’s loved before, she writes them for herself only, as a form of closure; a way to move on. She doesn’t ever expect anyone to see these letters, especially the boys they are addressed to. So when she discovers that they have somehow been mailed, things become awkward to Lara Jean really fast. But I kind of love the boy’s reactions to the letters, especially Peters.

At first, I was really unsure about Peter, but as the story went along, I found myself liking him more and more. While I do wish that he could have done a few things differently regarding Lara Jean, I really enjoyed watching the relationship grow between these two, especially as he pulled her out of her shell. It was super sweet, and I’m in definite need of more Peter time.

It’s been a really, really long time since I’ve read a book that I absolutely could not put down. At the end of each chapter, I would promise myself that it would be the last one, that I would put the book down and go to bed, and instead I ended up staying up ALL night finishing the book. Seriously, I rarely ever let myself do that anymore, but I just could not stop reading this book. And now that it’s over, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book, P.S. I Still Love You.

Overall; if you’ve not read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before yet, I highly recommend that you get a copy and give it a read. The story and the characters were beautiful and amazing and all kinds of wonderful. I will be anxiously waiting for May 26th to arrive, so that I can finally have P.S. I Still Love You in my hands. I can’t wait to get back to this story and see what will happen with these characters!

HURRY MAY!!

My Instagram journey with *To All The Boys I've Loved Before*
(Click on the photos for more info!)

http://instagram.com/p/ymgQhWDMXX/http://instagram.com/p/yu2y_5jMSghttp://instagram.com/p/zFbh-EDMf4
http://instagram.com/p/zI73kuDMdK/http://instagram.com/p/zP7q5pDMcZ


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #186 - P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20698530-p-s-i-still-love-you
P.S. I Still Love You
(To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2)
by Jenny Han
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 26th 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781442426733

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20698530-p-s-i-still-love-you

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of makes it so amazing. (Goodreads)

I'm almost finished reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before,
and I'm already dying to get my hands on P.S. I Still Love You!!
Everyone said I would love the first book,
and I totally am!
I can't wait for P.S. I Still Love You!
HURRY MAY!!

Edited to Add:
It's 1:45am, and I just finished reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before,.
This book was SO good you guys.
If you haven't read it yet, you totally should.
And now I'm EVEN MORE excited to get my hands on P.S. I Still Love You!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


P.S. I Still Love You cover reveal on Instagram | Tumblr


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Review: Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22392915-better-than-perfect
Better Than Perfect
by Melissa Kantor
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 17th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780062279231
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss / From Publisher

Add to Goodreads

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

Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either.
(Goodreads)
I’ve been pretty curious for a while now to read Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor, as I really loved Maybe One Day so very much, and I was pretty eager to see how new release was going to compare. While I didn’t love Better Than Perfect as much as Maybe One Day, I still found it to be an interesting read.

The main character in the story is Juliet. Juliet has her life already planned out: ace her SAT’s and get into Harvard, spend the rest of her life with the boy she’s been with for years, and have the perfect life, just like her parents. But life is not always perfect, which is proved to Juliet when her dad moves out, her mom falls apart, and her careful planned life starts to crumble. 

While I could relate with Juliet for some of the things she went through during the story, I couldn’t exactly connect with the character herself, and I can’t exactly put my finger on why that is. The girl had way too much going on in her life, and it left her completely oblivious to certain things that were happening around her. She learns the hard way that her life is not exactly how she’d always seen it. At times it felt like Juliet overdramatized situations that shouldn’t have been so dramatic, and then hardly reacted to things that should have been pretty dramatic.  Also, some of the choices she made throughout the book disappointed me in some ways.  However, I do empathize with her for all that she went through in the book, and I admire her for the decisions she made in the end as well.

I think a lot of readers will definitely be able to relate with the storyline for the book, especially teen readers. We’ve all been there at one point or another, and it’s nice to know there’s someone else out there going through something that you may be going through as well.

Overall; while Better Than Perfect didn’t top Maybe One Day for me, it was still an interesting read. I’m looking forward to reading more by Melissa Kantor in the future!


Better Than Perfect on Instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/zLFbFtjMSN http://instagram.com/p/ypmyAnDMS9/

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Related Problems I Have

February 17:
Ten Book Related Problems I Have

1. SO many books, so little time. -- Seriously, sometimes my to-read pile gets a little overwhelming. But I can't stop getting books from the library, buying books, and requesting review books. It's an obsession!

2. Book Buying Issues. -- I have a problem where I buy books that I REALLY want to read, and then find myself never having time to read them because I'm always reading something else!

3. I like books more than people. -- Admit it, we all like our books more than *most* people. There are always exceptions, like my closest family and friends.

4. Reading too late. -- I always stay up too late reading, but I have no regrets the next day. I know I shouldn't do it, as I have enough problems sleeping as it is, but I can't help but stay up late at night reading. :)

5. I always have a book with me EVERYWHERE I go. -- In some form or another, I have a book with me. In my purse, on my iPad, on my iPhone... I always have reading options available.

6. Reading is more fun that just about anything else. -- This is pretty self explanatory.

7. Book Hangovers. -- Being SO wrapped up in a book or series that I can't even think straight after I finish them.

8. Book mail. -- Having to restrain yourself from tackle hugging the mail mail/UPS man when you know you have books in the mail.

9. Interruptions when reading. -- I can go a whole day without anyone bothering me, but as soon as I pick up a book, I'm interrupted every 5 seconds, and it makes me insane!

10. Book Photos. Not only am I obsessed with reading books, and smelling books, and buying books... I also love taking pictures of books and browsing through pictures of books on Instagram and Tumblr. :)

 Well, these were supposed to be book problems, but they don't really seem like problems to me! haha!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Review: The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15750874-the-glass-arrow
The Glass Arrow
by Kristen Simmons
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 10th 2015
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780765336613
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopia | Fantasy
Source: Netgalley

Add to Goodreads

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

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning. (Goodreads)
I was really looking forward to reading The Glass Arrow, as I am a super huge fan of Kristen Simmons’ Article 5 series. I absolutely couldn’t wait to see what adventure she was going to come up with next with this new release, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

The main character in the story, Aya, is a rebel in her own right. Having lived in the wild all her life made her fearless and daring. She was not willing to conform to anything that society tried to make her, and took every chance she could to try to escape.  All she wanted was to escape the city and get back to her family in the wild, and she is willing to do whatever she has to do to reach them. While there were a few times throughout the story when I wanted to shake her for the decisions she made, I was really rooting for her throughout the story. I wanted nothing more than for her to escape this horrible world in which she was thrown into.

There are quite a few characters in the story that you’ll love in an instant; Brax and Kiran being two of my favorites. Then there are characters that will grow on you over time. But there are also some characters that you are going to hate with a purple passion throughout the whole entire story.

The world-building for this book was both unique and completely terrifying. Imagine living in a world where a girl has not rights at all, not even her body is her own. Imagine being put up for auction and sold to the highest bidder just to be a breeding instrument to boost the male population. And if you go against the rules of the city, you are punished in the worst ways possible. Some parts of the story were super hard to read, as they were so insanely terrifying. This is the world that exists in The Glass Arrow. It was definitely interesting, and the suspense was pretty intense as I flew through the pages. I also like that this book is a standalone novel as well, so everything came together pretty nicely in the end of the book.

Overall; I thought The Glass Arrow was a really interesting novel. It’s always interesting when an author starts a new book or series, and it’s completely different in every single way from the worlds they’ve created before. I’m really excited to see what Simmons’ will come up with next!


The Glass Arrow on Instagram:
http://instagram.com/p/zAvWCojMRX

Saturday, February 14, 2015

HeartBreakers Blog Tour {Day 6} Sara Hantz, Ashley Poston, Dawn Ius & Brenda Hiatt


It's the 6th and final day of the HeartBreakers Blog Tour!
Check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 & Day 5 of the tour for more information.

Each day we will be featuring two awesome authors, their books and answers to a few Valentines themed questions! Don't forget to check out the other bloggers on the tour as well!

__________________________________________________
Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up?
by Sara Hantz
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Abi Saunders might be a kickboxing champion, but when it comes to being the center of attention, she’d rather take a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus any day. So when her trainer convinces her to audition to be the stunt double for hot teen starlet Tilly Watson, Abi is shocked—and a little freaked out—when she gets the job.

Being a stunt double is overwhelming, but once the wig and makeup are on, Abi feels like a different person. Tilly Watson, to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend, Jon, mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi's completely smitten. In fact, she’s so in love with her new life, it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old one.

But when the cameras are turned off, will she discover running with the Hollywood A-list isn’t quite the glamorous existence she thought it was?


More about this book:
Entangled: Teen | Goodreads

Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Books


About the Author:

Sara Hantz comes from the UK and now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Australia (via 10 years in New Zealand). She lectured for many years before deciding to devote more time to her writing and working in the family business. She has two grown-up children and when not writing or working she spends more time than most people she knows watching TV - in fact if TV watching was an Olympic sport she'd win gold.


1. What is your favorite movie to watch on Valentines Day? (Love story,etc?)
Love Actually.  

2. What is your most favorite Valentine candy or food??
Red Velvet Cupcakes 


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The Sound of Us
by Ashley Poston
Website | Twitter | Facebook

America's favorite pop band, Roman Holiday, is done, dead, and so totally last year. For eighteen-year-old rockoholic Junie Baltimore, this is music to her ears. But when she discovers their sexy ex-lead singer hiding out on the boardwalk, her summer vacation becomes the cover story of the year.

She's willing to keep him a secret, but when a sleazy paparazzo offers her the cash she needs to save the bar her father left behind, could she sell out for the chance to save her future? Who is she kidding? That's a no-brainer...but she never planned on falling head over heels for the lead singer. 






More about this book:
Bloomsbury Spark | Goodreads

Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play


About The Author: Ashley Poston is a fangirl at heart. Inspired by everything from Sailor Moon to Firefly to Harry Potter, she began writing at a very young age and never stopped. Her play, MOTHLIGHT, won best direction, best actor/actress, and best stage play at SCTA's 2008 conference. Since then, she's written for Quirk and ThoughtCatolog, apprenticed under a Hollywood screenwriter, spoke at Anime Expo's Academic Conference, interned at Random House, and somehow found herself a book contract.
She currently lives in South Carolina with her catand a plethora of books. When not writing, she hangs around on Twitter fangirling about all the feels. THE SOUND OF US, from Bloomsbury Spark, is her first novel. Tweet her at @ashposton and read her inner-most rambles atcasuallybeingweird.com.


1. What is your favorite movie to watch on Valentines Day? (Love story,etc?)
I’ve never had a Valentine’s date before, so I’ve done the same thing for the last seven years—me, myself, and a bottle of sparkling grape juice, watching When Harry Met Sally!   

2. What is your most favorite Valentine candy or food??
Chinese takeout, always. It goes surprisingly well with sparkling grape juice! 


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Anne & Henry
by Dawn Ius
Website | Twitter

Anne
Wild, brazen, mischievous, bewitching

Henry
Driven, haunted, charming, magnetic

Apart, they are bound to destroy themselves. Together, they are bound to destroy each other.

Henry Tudor's life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father's. But ever since the death of Henry's brother—perfect, high-achieving Arthur—his family has been twice as demanding. And now Henry's trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who's not Tudor approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Anne is wild, brash and outspoken. She is everything Henry is not allowed to be—or to want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, yet his desire for Anne consumes him. Henry is willing to do anything to be with her. But once he has her, their romance could destroy them both.

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.



More about this book:
Goodreads


Purchase:
Amazon


About the Author: Thriller Writers Association’s monthly magazine, THE BIG THRILL, co-founder and senior editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and the author of ten educational graphic novels published by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission. When she’s not slaying fictional monsters, she’s geeking out over fairy tales, Jack Bauer, Halloween, sports cars, and all things that go bump in the night. Dawn lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Jeff, and their giant English Mastiff, Roarke.


1. What is your favorite movie to watch on Valentines Day? (Love story,etc?)
Princess Bride, FTW. Tough to compete with “wuv, tru wuv.” And of course, sweet Wesley.

2. What is your most favorite Valentine candy or food??
Chocolate — but that’s for ANY day, special or not. Runner up: fresh bread & good cheese.   


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Starfall
(Starstuck #4)
by Brenda Hiatt
Website | Twitter | Facebook

The electrifying conclusion to the Starstruck series!

M, no longer a nerdy nobody, has finally been acclaimed Sovereign Emileia, ruler of the Martian colony Nuath. But at what cost? Without her soulmate Rigel, life seems pointless but she’s expected to shake off her heart break and assume her responsibilities. Reluctantly, M does what she must until an unexpected discovery restores a glimmer of hope for the future. Now she is determined to do whatever she can to salvage her longed-for happy ending—if it’s not already too late.





More about this book:
  BrendaHiatt.com

Purchase:
Amazon | iBooks | Google Play
 
 
About the Author:

Brenda Hiatt is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty novels (so far), including traditional Regency romance, time travel romance, historical romance, and humorous mystery. She is as excited about her STARSTRUCK series as she's ever been about any of her books. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (she has over 60 dives to hercredit), Taekwondo (where she is currently pursuing her 3rd degree black belt), hiking, traveling, and pursuing new experiences and skills. 



1. What is your favorite movie to watch on Valentines Day? (Love story,etc?)
The Princess Bride  

2. What is your most favorite Valentine candy or food??
Dark chocolate—the darker the better. With yummy fillings. :) 




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