Thursday, January 31, 2013

January Top 5

This has been a slow reading month for me - I've been working like crazy and my book group picked a 600 page Thomas Jefferson biography this month, so I didn't rip through the amount that I normally do. It's crazy because so many awesome books came out this month and they're sitting on myself just begging me to love them. I read 8 books and loved 3 of them. But for the sake of keeping my usual end of the month post going, I asked my friends, Jackie and Jessica, to pick their top book this month. If you want to stalk Jackie and Jessica you can find them on Twitter: @JackieLindert & @readsthings.

1. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
This one went straight onto my favorite books ever. This book is the reason I read. You can check out my full review here

2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
This book is a mash-up of The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Host. It's pretty amazing, I completely devoured it. 

3. Indigo Awakening by Jordan Dane
This book was a great surprise - the narration totally made a supernatural book feel fresh. Read my review here. 

4. Arcadia Burns by Kai Meyer
Jackie says: I'm not a huge action buff, but this book had me biting my nails and stressing out--and I liked it! Plus, Romeo and Juliet can move over for Alessandro and Rosa. (Watch out for her review up on the blog soon! You can also check out her review of Arcadia Awakens here.)

5. Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting
Jessica says: I frickin' love this series and the next installment didn't disappoint. Jay was as swoony as ever, Violet found some more dead bodies, and Rafe... well, he was so Rafe. Violet takes a deeper look into her talent's history learning more about the members of the group and why it might be more dangerous to stay in it. Not to mention a super creepy killer is on the loose. It all adds up to awesome.

What were your top reads this month?  

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway :: Week 8


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

We're getting down towards the end of this race! We need your support more than ever!

Stop by every Wednesday for the next 2 weeks for Immortal Circus fun! There will be reviews, guest posts, teasers and of course an incredible giveaway! We're competing with the Winter Court, and whoever has the most comments wins! You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. 

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support!

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Guest Post: Letter from King Oberon

My dear readers,
Over the past few weeks, Queen Mab and I have kept a rather civilized debate going between these blogs. We have done our best to gain your hearts and your votes. We have used our strengths to sway your opinions. And last week, we combined forces to share a cause for the greater good.
And last week, Mab took that civil trust and destroyed it.
Perhaps you know what I speak of. Perhaps not. A.R. Kahler has detailed the entire experience in the previous episode of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS. If you feel in the dark, that is how I recommend enlightening yourself.
In any case, today I declare war.
Mab has crossed the line in her dealings with my squire, my dearest Senchan. There are two weeks left in this blog tour. Two weeks before the final vote is cast.
And in those two weeks, I plan on destroying the empire Mab has so treacherously built.
I suggest you join the winning side now. Before my anger turns to you.
This week, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS released its final episode and came out in paperback around the world. Grab your copy. Share Summer's banner, tweet the hashtags #ImmortalCirus #SummerVictory. And let the path to glory begin.
Regards-Oberon

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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

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Week Eight Tour Schedule:

Monday, Jan. 28: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Jan. 29: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Jan. 30: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode 1
Thursday, Jan. 31: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 1

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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Clayton Falls Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway


So excited to be a part of the Clayton Falls Blog Tour. Here I have my review of Derailed and at the end of this post you can enter to win an e-copy of Veer, the second book in the Clayton Falls series! Click HERE to see the tour schedule.

Derailed (Clayton Falls, #1) Alyssa Rose Ivy  -- September, 2012
When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.


FREE until the end of the tour on Kindle!
Find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble!


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Book Trailer: 


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About the Author:
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Find Aylssa Online: Website :: Goodreads :: Facebook :: Twitter




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My review of Derailed:

Do you ever start reading a book and think, oh great, this is going to hit close to home? Girl goes to school, girl comes home to small town to find that not much has changed. Oh, hello my life. Although I didn't lose a fiance or go to law school, I still relate. Especially since there are ghosts in my hometown it took a little bit of energy to confront as well.

I think the setting is what really made me love this book. In each scene I had a very clear picture of where the characters what was surrounding them. Then you have the intimacy of a small town bringing two people together, but making them kind of crazy (you can't escape each other in a small town) at the same time. Sometimes I really like it when people come together because of their circumstances.

One thing that irked me a little bit was how quickly Molly's fiance seemed forgotten. Or, at least, he just wasn't given enough time on the page. She's so upset about his death, but it almost feels like she gets over it too quickly. Still that's a smaller part and I adored this book and the characters.

It was so amazing that Molly came home and was able to just slide back into her own circle of friends. Those are the best kind of friends, when you can leave and still it feels like no time has passed when you see one another again. And of course, Ben is wonderful. He actually reminds me a lot of Jake from Sweet Home Alabama. Quick tempered, stubborn, and so adorable.

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The Giveaway: 
*Please note that this is NOT a YA book. It is New Adult and may have some material that isn't suitable for everyone. You should be 17 or older to enter.
This giveaway is open to anyone who can accept e-copies. Giveaway ends on February 4th and prizes will be sent out around the 12th.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Indigo Awakening Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway


Welcome to my stop on the Indigo Awakening Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound! To see the full schedule click here.

Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1)
Release Date: 12/18/12
Paperback/e-book
304 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.
Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.
A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.


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About the Author:

Bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Jordan Dane’s gritty romantic thrillers are ripped from the headlines with vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense novels to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag, naming her debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM as Best Books of 2008. She also pens young-adult novels for Harlequin Teen. Formerly an energy sales manager, she now writes full time. Jordan and her husband share their Texas residence with two cats of highborn lineage and two lucky rescue dogs.
Social Media Links:
Thriller/Crime Fiction Blogs:
YA Blogs:

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Book Trailer:

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My Review:

 The first couple chapters took me some time to get through, and then all of a sudden I was sucked into this story. It's brilliant, you guys. Why is it brilliant? Because of the narration. Everyone involved in this story has a voice, so the whole experience is so rich. It was so easy to get wrapped into this story and it took me a little by surprise.

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting with this book. With the cover, my first thought was werewolves - which, not even going to lie, is what got me interested in the first place. Then I read (okay skimmed) the synopsis and thought it would be about something cultish. But it's none of these things - it's kind of about superheroes and ghosts and government-like operations. And it's AWESOME.

We start from Rayne's perspective, and even though there's really no one main character, she sticks out to me as one. I love that she has no special talents and is a straight-up human, yet she's so involved in all this and manages to make herself useful. Also, this is another book in a handful that has a boy who I immediately picture as Jamie Campbell Bower (this has been happening since the Mortal Instruments trailer released). I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he always has his hood up and is pretty much a shady, but sweet, bad-ass character. I also thoroughly appreciated how much he actually respected Rayne, treated her as equal, and let her make her own decisions - whether it was "good" for her or not. Seriously, that's what makes a dreamy dude.

Then you have an inside track into the bad guy's minds. The depth these characters were given made their motivations so much clearer than most books do, and avoid the cheesy - this is why I did this, mwah ha ha - confession at the end of a book. It's also makes this read more like an action movie, where you can see things coming and you get really anxious wanting to scream at the characters to watch their backs.

Somehow Dane managed to pull off two different love plots, three different aspects to one event going down, and nothing was overwhelming and no situation was glossed over. It's really impressive.

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The Giveaway


Up for grabs: 

HarlequinTEEN prize pack, includes (US only):
·         INDIGO AWAKENING by Jordan Dane
·         ON A DARK WING by Jordan Dane
·         IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS by Jordan Dane
·         THE JULIET SPELL by Douglas Rees
·         BELONGING by Karen Ann Hopkins (ARC)
·         DANCERGIRL by Carol M. Tanzman
·         2 Harlequin notebooks



4 Infinity Bracelets: (US only)
For anyone who has read an advance copy of INDIGO AWAKENING, you know that a silver infinity bracelet plays an important part in the story. Special bracelets will be given away on the virtual tour so the lucky winners will be part of Rafael’s street family. Rafe’s bracelet was in black leather, but I’ve added a white leather braid as my personal remembrance to you for being in MY family.



-1 audio book of In the Arms of Stone Angels. Digital download only. (International)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Arcadia Awakens - Kai Meyers (Guest Review)

Summary: To New Yorker Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic, and wholly unknown. But when tragedy strikes, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where her sister and aunt have built their lives and where centuries of family secrets await her. Once there, Rosa wastes no time falling head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both intrigue and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.
Ancient myths brought to life in the Sicilian countryside, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a long history of familial bloodlust prove to Rosa that she can’t trust anyone—not even her own family. Torn between loyalty to her aunt and love for her family’s mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love . . . or run as far and as fast as she can. (From Goodreads)

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Hey everyone! I want to introduce a new guest reviewer for In the Best Worlds - Jackie! She's a lovely person and an avid reader. We actually have very similar tastes in books. We met at the University of Denver Publishing Institute and now we're roommates in New York. Jackie is a former intern of New Leaf Literary (they represent Leigh Bardugo, Veronica Roth, Dan Krokos and so many more amazing authors!) and she just started working at Penguin as a subsidiary rights assistant. She's pretty much amazing and hopefully you'll be seeing her around the blog a lot more! So do me a solid and show her some love for her first review! 

You can find Jackie on Twitter and show her some love! 

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This book seriously rocked my world. Sicilian mafia, badass chick, hot boy (Alessandro...even the name is hot), mystery, mythology, legends, fast cars, love, secrets, and loyalty. This book seriously has it all, and it takes it to the next level. I'm not usually a huge fan of paranormal, but Arcadia Awakens totally pulls it off using such original stories.

My favorite part of this book? Rosa Alcantara and Alessandro Carnevare have the most amazing star-crossed romance. Not the love at first sight kind of love that doesn't make sense. My pet peeve in books is when two characters fall in love all of a sudden, and there doesn't even seem to be an explanation why. That's not the case with Rosa and Alessandro. She's a cynical, kind of devious, damaged girl from New York City, and he is the capo of his Sicilian mafia clan (hot!). They bring out the best in each other, and it is adorable. 

Just in case I haven't mentioned it yet, this book takes place in Sicily. Rosa moves from the big city to Italy to change her life (note to self, always move to Italy if the opportunity arises). It does change her life, but in so many more ways than she could have imagined. At times, they just whip around the countryside in expensive sports cars. Excuse me while I drool! There is really something for everyone in this book.

I love never knowing who to trust in this book. That sounds weird, but it's true. Opposing mafia clans with inner conflict mixed with death and love affairs makes for some shifty characters and trust issues. It makes it even crazier that despite all the betrayal going on in their own families, Rosa and Alessandro keep faith in each other. Call me sappy, but their love is so amazing. 

I honestly can't even think of something I didn't like in this book. There is a lot going on, and around every corner there is something new brought to the story, but the author does an outstanding job at keeping the reader clued in just enough to keep them completely hooked. I cannot wait for more Alessandro and Rosa. Bring it on!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Raw Blue - Kirsty Eagar

Synopsis: Carly has dropped out of uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at schoolies week.

And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail. When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she let the past bury her? Or can she let go of her anger and shame, and find the courage to be happy? (From Goodreads)

I've seen a few bloggers rave about this book, so when it was published in the UK and available through Book Depository I didn't hesitate to order it. Not gonna lie, Blue Crush is a total guilty pleasure, so I was excited to read about a girl who surfs. I mean, Raw Blue is absolutely nothing like Blue Crush, but the surfing part was still pretty great.

This book is actually pretty dark. The entire story is about Carly dealing with the aftermath of rape. Surfing is what keeps her sane and grounded, but it's through surfing that she meets people who give her ties to life. The characters make this book worth reading. Ryan is pretty great. Then there's the boy she meets who registers people and emotions as colors. He was such a fascinating part of this book. I kind of wish he would have spent more time on the page.

I'm a little torn, though, about how I feel about how the storyline progressed. I didn't feel like Carly's character grew very much, if at all. She stays pretty stagnant, even though things happen to her and she tries to open up to people, by the end it doesn't feel like she's moved very far. As a reader, this was frustrating because you kind of want to push her along. On the other hand, I do have to appreciate that this is very true to life. You can't just meet some people and find yourself completely healed from physical and emotional trauma. Healing is slow and gradual, so in that sense, the storyline makes complete sense.

I did really like this book, but in this case I think I went in with too many expectations. It didn't live up to what I was hoping for. Still it's good, it's worth reading and I do think this is an important story. Plus, it's always great to read the amazing literature that's coming out of Australia right now.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Review, Teaser and Giveaway :: Week 7


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

Stop by every Wednesday for the next three weeks for Immortal Circus fun! There will be reviews, guest posts, teasers and of course an incredible giveaway! We're competing with the Winter Court, and whoever has the most comments wins! You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. 

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support!

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Review of Episode Four:

So many questions. This is one of those cases, where you get the answers to some of your questions and all of a sudden nothing makes sense anymore. I'm jumping to conclusions all over the place and I'm confusing myself. Now I feel like I have all this information and I'm just waiting for it all to be placed into some sort of context.

This episode is pretty spectacular. There's a really cool writing technique that Kahler uses that shone through in this part of the story. There's an incident in which there is a lot of activity and Vivienne is kind of experiencing it through a filter. This part isn't told in traditional paragraph form, and I wouldn't exactly call it a poem - but it's fragmented and the words jump all over the page. When you read it you feel like you're getting small clips of a bigger picture and it leaves you trying to grasp onto something to keep you grounded in reality. It's pretty genius, actually.

It's so crazy that there's only one more episode left. It seems like there's still so much that has to happen, so I'm curious how everything is going to go down in the end. The wait between episodes has gotten harder each time, and waiting for the final one is no exception. 

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Teaser:

My thoughts are racing, burning like wildfire. "The fire. Lilith." My head throbs. "Lilith set everything on fire."
"Lillith's just a little girl," Kingston says. "I'm the only one with any real magic in this troupe. There was a fire, yes. But that was the bonfire the Shifters had last night - some embers set part of the field on fire. I put it out."
"But  "
"You passed out, Vivienne. I've never seen someone have such a bad reaction to snake venom." He bites his lip and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, he's looking out the window. 
"Last night was a shit show," he says, finally. "But what you're talking about never happened."

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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

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Week Seven Tour Schedule:

Monday, Jan. 21: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Jan. 22: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Jan. 23: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Jan. 24: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4

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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday - Let's Go To The Mall, Today

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Settings I'd Like to See More Of


I don't know why but the Robin Sparkles song just popped into my head when I saw this topic. That said, why don't more books happen in malls or at least have their characters GO to the mall?? I mean, that's what I did for entertainment when I was a teenager...do high schoolers not do that anymore? Okay, I'm on a tangent before the post even begins. Sorry about that. 

1. South America: Thank you Kristen Hubbard for bringing us to South America. It was wonderful. Now I'd love to see more YA lit that takes place there. 

2. Africa: Post-colonial lit is my favorite when I'm reading grown up books. It'd be awesome to see some post-colonial topics in young adult books. 

3. Minnesota: Because it's an awesome place. So far we have these gems: http://read.rifflebooks.com/list/24652 But I'd love to see some more! 

4. Made up lands based on real places: Like Shadow and Bone and The Girl of Fire and Thorns. They use places and cultures that already exist to inspire a fantasy world and it's great. I love worlds built like this. 

5. Road trips: They're my favorite. Can't get enough road trip books. Why have your setting in one place when you can have a variety of settings? 

6. Anywhere in Europe: Particularly Prague, Paris, London, anywhere in Ireland. Budapest would be awesome, so would Greece. Basically, if you just tell me a book happens anywhere out of the U.S., I'm probably all over that. 

7. Small Towns: Basically, I relate to the small town life. I thoroughly enjoy seeing what kind of craziness kids can get up to when they have to be creative. 

And settings I want to see less of: 

8. Biodomes: Or any kind of protected sphere, building, place, from a hostile environment. Enough. 

9. Futuristic America: There are some good books with visions of the future out there, but I'm starting to border on loving it an getting sick of it. 

10. Afterlife Dimensions: Ok, I loved Velveteen, but I so easily could have hated it. It generally takes a lot for me to pick up a book that happens after the protag is already dead. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Interred Blog Tour


Welcome to my stop on the Interred Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound! Click HERE to check out the rest of the tour schedule!

Release Date: 01/22/13
Summary from Goodreads:
Time has never been an issue for Baxter Jacobs, but then she never knew she had the ability to Bend it.
As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Baxter inherits a pendant that will change her life. Connected to the pendant is a dark and mysterious young man named Declan Ashdown. Trapped in a Time loop for the past 122 years, Declan needs Baxter’s help to escape. The only problem is, she has no idea how to do it.To acquire the power she needs to free him, she’ll become one of the Interred, those whose Magical abilities emerge as they come of age. When she does, she’ll discover that Declan isn’t the only one interested in the fact that she’s a Time Bender.
As the Interment arrives, Baxter knows this will be no Sweet Sixteen. A vengeful relative and ruthless Council are determined to control her. Declan’s powerful and charming descendant, Jack Ashdown, claims he can save her. She’ll soon have to decide who she can trust, and how to master her new abilities before Time runs out.

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About the Author:
Marilyn Almodóvar is the author of a series of YA paranormal novels. Born in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, Lyn is a lover of words whose reading tastes range from Victorian novels to the books of Stephen King. Her favorite past-times have always been reading and writing, two activities that let her escape to other worlds.

It was this love that propelled her to choose Theater and French as majors in University, with a minor in English Victorian Literature. Lyn lived for almost a decade in England followed by three years in France before returning home to the States. A self-confessed citizen of the world, she is fluent in English, French and Spanish, with basic knowledge of the Italian language.Lyn could happily exist breathing the clean air of Narnia, trapped in a cupboard under the stairs with Harry, fighting alongside Captain Jack Sparrow, doing an internship in Torchwood, or traveling around time and space with the Doctor…as long as she can have Mr. Spock, Captain Kirk and Captain Mal as companions.
Lyn currently lives in Central Florida with her French husband, English-born eldest son, and French-born youngest son. Her debut YA Novel, Interred, will be published by Iambe books on 01/22/2013.


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My Review:

Worst. 16th. Birthday. Ever. I've read quite a few books where stuff goes down when the protag turns 16. Sometimes this is anticipated, sometimes it's something dreaded or unpleasant...but poor Baxter has the worst 16th birthday. I mean, she's facing being buried alive and learning about how all of these people are after her. They target her family, her friends, she has to move, and learn how to do things on her own. And the horribleness keeps on coming, if I thought turning sixteen looked anything like this I think I would have stayed fifteen forever. 

Although she has some pretty awesome powers. The way time travel is dealt with in this book is definitely interesting. I loved how visual it was, every time Baxter created a time portal. It kind of made it easier to grasp onto the idea that she's traveling. I also completely love that one of her travels takes them to the 80's. Can I just say thanks for that?! Why aren't there more books that time travel to the 80's?? So awesome. It's also amazing that you actually age when you travel through time, and that Baxter needs a healer to fix the aging - that was a unique aspect that I'd never considered before, when it comes to time travel. 

Declan was a great character, literally stuck in a time loop and from Victorian London. He was my favorite part of this book. He's always popping up and in and out. He's the kind of character where you think, ok things are going to get better now that he's around. 

I did have some issues with repeated phrases an I didn't feel a real connection between Baxter and Jack, her healer. They were just kind of all of a sudden making out, and I just kind of went with it, but when it came to the love story, I was kind of indifferent. 

However, if you just kind of roll with the punches in the romantic areas of this book - it's worth reading for the time travel and the fascinating characters. 


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Giveaway: 

The giveaway includes:

- One signed paperback of Interred

- One autographed Interred tote bag
- One onyx pendant inspired by the book
- One angel pin inspired by the book
- Misc. book swag (magnet, wristband, postcard, phone skin)

Open Internationally!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Poison Princess - Kresley Cole

Synopsis: Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.
But she can’t do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…. (From Goodreads)

Apocalypse and tarot cards come to life? Yes, please. Who knew these two things went together so well? There's this really great, old-south feel to the story and then all of a sudden the world ends and you're transported from the past, directly into the future. The way the before and after are such complete opposities is so vivid and incredible. Then you throw in a girl who's discovering her powers and her part in the larger scheme of things and you have all of these components that don't quite fit together, yet, by the end, they make perfect sense.

I spent a lot of this book thinking - I have no idea what's going on right now, but I'm excited (think Chandler, from friends)! There are so many pieces to this larger picture, and you get the sense that every bit of information you get iss just giving you a small part of what they're actually dealing with. Frustrating and alluring at the same time. But as things start to come together, it's just so awesome. The way the tarot cards are set into play - and how some cards are friends and others enemies is a great concept.

Part of the book is narrated by a crazy psycho-killer. He gets Evie to tell him her story as she takes refuge in his home - after apocolypse kind of stuff goes down. This adds a bit of an extra layer to the story that I haven't quite figured out yet. I do know that it adds a sense of urgency to the book and it puts Evie's story in a whole different context than if she was just telling it to tell it.

Then there's Jack...who actually rubs me the wrong way. He's a bad boy, through and through, but he very rarely has those moments where you feel like you can see through his act. So, I'm kind of worried he might just not be a very good person. Also, my one irritation with this book is that his speech is written in Cajun dialect and that got to be obnoxious after awhile.

If you're going to blend different genres, this is the way to do it. Paranormal and apocalypse do make sense to go together, but the tarot aspect is an unexpected match. It seems like Kresley Cole really took a risk here and it paid off. I'm definitely surprised and amazed by this book.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Madman's Daughter - Megan Shepherd

Synopsis: In the darkest places, even love is deadly.
Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.
Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.
Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect. (From Goodreads)

I loved every second of this incredible story. For reasons unknown, the second I had it in my hands I knew it was a drop-everything-and-read kind of book. I just found myself immediately swept up into this Victorian gothic horror story that was simultaneously beautiful and terrifying. I was fascinated, enthralled, and more than once my pulse sped up. I closed this book feeling like I had just lived through Juliet's experience, her world, her fears, the characters in her life had all danced in front of me. Not only did it paint an amazing picture, but it triggered my imagination and gave me room for my own visions of what it looked like when the story unfolded.

Everything I love about gothic and Victorian literature was executed so perfectly in this novel. Juliet travels a long way from living in poverty and cleaning hospitals in London to a remote island to find her long-lost father. Each point in the story, each secret unveiled, raises the stakes and it becomes much more than a book than can easily fall into any category. It really stands out to me as unique.

Juliet is the perfect gothic heroine. She's torn between her sense of propriety and staying true to her strong, willful-self. She's been put through the ringer - her family has faced scandal, she's lived in poverty as an orphan, and then she braves a sketchy ship to live on a remote island. Yet she manages to maintain grace and the fierce fire within her. She's also struggling to identify who she is outside of society's view of her and whether or not she's like her father. The way she rationalizes all the ways she is like him, yet is completely horrified by him at the same time is so fascinating. This also sets up an interesting relationship with Montgomery, who believes he has no choice but to follow in Juliet's father's footsteps. I love their relationship, but if any couple is built on moral shades of gray - this one is.

The characters are brilliant, but the way in which this world is sculpted is absolutely breathtaking. It's dark and you can almost see it playing out in front of you in tones of sepia and black. It has that vintage feel to it, yet it's so vivid. Even the island with the jungle, created so outside of society is still governed by it's rules in a way that makes it impossible to forget just where and when this is taking place. The animals turned human are so well detailed, the screams they make when they're operated on are so loud, and the way they are humanized by Montgomery is so tender they just become a vital piece of this world.

The Madman's Daughter is an exceptional debut by Megan Shepherd. It's everything a novel should be, incuding something I feel like I haven't read before, even despite the fact that it's inspired by another book. I'm so grateful this is the first in a series, because I'm not willing to let go yet.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

January Top 5

This has been a slow reading month for me - I've been working like crazy and my book group picked a 600 page Thomas Jefferson biography this month, so I didn't rip through the amount that I normally do. It's crazy because so many awesome books came out this month and they're sitting on myself just begging me to love them. I read 8 books and loved 3 of them. But for the sake of keeping my usual end of the month post going, I asked my friends, Jackie and Jessica, to pick their top book this month. If you want to stalk Jackie and Jessica you can find them on Twitter: @JackieLindert & @readsthings.

1. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
This one went straight onto my favorite books ever. This book is the reason I read. You can check out my full review here

2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
This book is a mash-up of The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Host. It's pretty amazing, I completely devoured it. 

3. Indigo Awakening by Jordan Dane
This book was a great surprise - the narration totally made a supernatural book feel fresh. Read my review here. 

4. Arcadia Burns by Kai Meyer
Jackie says: I'm not a huge action buff, but this book had me biting my nails and stressing out--and I liked it! Plus, Romeo and Juliet can move over for Alessandro and Rosa. (Watch out for her review up on the blog soon! You can also check out her review of Arcadia Awakens here.)

5. Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting
Jessica says: I frickin' love this series and the next installment didn't disappoint. Jay was as swoony as ever, Violet found some more dead bodies, and Rafe... well, he was so Rafe. Violet takes a deeper look into her talent's history learning more about the members of the group and why it might be more dangerous to stay in it. Not to mention a super creepy killer is on the loose. It all adds up to awesome.

What were your top reads this month?  

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway :: Week 8


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

We're getting down towards the end of this race! We need your support more than ever!

Stop by every Wednesday for the next 2 weeks for Immortal Circus fun! There will be reviews, guest posts, teasers and of course an incredible giveaway! We're competing with the Winter Court, and whoever has the most comments wins! You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. 

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support!

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Guest Post: Letter from King Oberon

My dear readers,
Over the past few weeks, Queen Mab and I have kept a rather civilized debate going between these blogs. We have done our best to gain your hearts and your votes. We have used our strengths to sway your opinions. And last week, we combined forces to share a cause for the greater good.
And last week, Mab took that civil trust and destroyed it.
Perhaps you know what I speak of. Perhaps not. A.R. Kahler has detailed the entire experience in the previous episode of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS. If you feel in the dark, that is how I recommend enlightening yourself.
In any case, today I declare war.
Mab has crossed the line in her dealings with my squire, my dearest Senchan. There are two weeks left in this blog tour. Two weeks before the final vote is cast.
And in those two weeks, I plan on destroying the empire Mab has so treacherously built.
I suggest you join the winning side now. Before my anger turns to you.
This week, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS released its final episode and came out in paperback around the world. Grab your copy. Share Summer's banner, tweet the hashtags #ImmortalCirus #SummerVictory. And let the path to glory begin.
Regards-Oberon

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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

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Week Eight Tour Schedule:

Monday, Jan. 28: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Jan. 29: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Jan. 30: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode 1
Thursday, Jan. 31: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 1

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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Clayton Falls Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway


So excited to be a part of the Clayton Falls Blog Tour. Here I have my review of Derailed and at the end of this post you can enter to win an e-copy of Veer, the second book in the Clayton Falls series! Click HERE to see the tour schedule.

Derailed (Clayton Falls, #1) Alyssa Rose Ivy  -- September, 2012
When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.


FREE until the end of the tour on Kindle!
Find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble!


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Book Trailer: 


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About the Author:
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Find Aylssa Online: Website :: Goodreads :: Facebook :: Twitter




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My review of Derailed:

Do you ever start reading a book and think, oh great, this is going to hit close to home? Girl goes to school, girl comes home to small town to find that not much has changed. Oh, hello my life. Although I didn't lose a fiance or go to law school, I still relate. Especially since there are ghosts in my hometown it took a little bit of energy to confront as well.

I think the setting is what really made me love this book. In each scene I had a very clear picture of where the characters what was surrounding them. Then you have the intimacy of a small town bringing two people together, but making them kind of crazy (you can't escape each other in a small town) at the same time. Sometimes I really like it when people come together because of their circumstances.

One thing that irked me a little bit was how quickly Molly's fiance seemed forgotten. Or, at least, he just wasn't given enough time on the page. She's so upset about his death, but it almost feels like she gets over it too quickly. Still that's a smaller part and I adored this book and the characters.

It was so amazing that Molly came home and was able to just slide back into her own circle of friends. Those are the best kind of friends, when you can leave and still it feels like no time has passed when you see one another again. And of course, Ben is wonderful. He actually reminds me a lot of Jake from Sweet Home Alabama. Quick tempered, stubborn, and so adorable.

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The Giveaway: 
*Please note that this is NOT a YA book. It is New Adult and may have some material that isn't suitable for everyone. You should be 17 or older to enter.
This giveaway is open to anyone who can accept e-copies. Giveaway ends on February 4th and prizes will be sent out around the 12th.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Indigo Awakening Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway


Welcome to my stop on the Indigo Awakening Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound! To see the full schedule click here.

Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1)
Release Date: 12/18/12
Paperback/e-book
304 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.
Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.
A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.


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About the Author:

Bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Jordan Dane’s gritty romantic thrillers are ripped from the headlines with vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense novels to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag, naming her debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM as Best Books of 2008. She also pens young-adult novels for Harlequin Teen. Formerly an energy sales manager, she now writes full time. Jordan and her husband share their Texas residence with two cats of highborn lineage and two lucky rescue dogs.
Social Media Links:
Thriller/Crime Fiction Blogs:
YA Blogs:

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Book Trailer:

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My Review:

 The first couple chapters took me some time to get through, and then all of a sudden I was sucked into this story. It's brilliant, you guys. Why is it brilliant? Because of the narration. Everyone involved in this story has a voice, so the whole experience is so rich. It was so easy to get wrapped into this story and it took me a little by surprise.

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting with this book. With the cover, my first thought was werewolves - which, not even going to lie, is what got me interested in the first place. Then I read (okay skimmed) the synopsis and thought it would be about something cultish. But it's none of these things - it's kind of about superheroes and ghosts and government-like operations. And it's AWESOME.

We start from Rayne's perspective, and even though there's really no one main character, she sticks out to me as one. I love that she has no special talents and is a straight-up human, yet she's so involved in all this and manages to make herself useful. Also, this is another book in a handful that has a boy who I immediately picture as Jamie Campbell Bower (this has been happening since the Mortal Instruments trailer released). I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he always has his hood up and is pretty much a shady, but sweet, bad-ass character. I also thoroughly appreciated how much he actually respected Rayne, treated her as equal, and let her make her own decisions - whether it was "good" for her or not. Seriously, that's what makes a dreamy dude.

Then you have an inside track into the bad guy's minds. The depth these characters were given made their motivations so much clearer than most books do, and avoid the cheesy - this is why I did this, mwah ha ha - confession at the end of a book. It's also makes this read more like an action movie, where you can see things coming and you get really anxious wanting to scream at the characters to watch their backs.

Somehow Dane managed to pull off two different love plots, three different aspects to one event going down, and nothing was overwhelming and no situation was glossed over. It's really impressive.

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The Giveaway


Up for grabs: 

HarlequinTEEN prize pack, includes (US only):
·         INDIGO AWAKENING by Jordan Dane
·         ON A DARK WING by Jordan Dane
·         IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS by Jordan Dane
·         THE JULIET SPELL by Douglas Rees
·         BELONGING by Karen Ann Hopkins (ARC)
·         DANCERGIRL by Carol M. Tanzman
·         2 Harlequin notebooks



4 Infinity Bracelets: (US only)
For anyone who has read an advance copy of INDIGO AWAKENING, you know that a silver infinity bracelet plays an important part in the story. Special bracelets will be given away on the virtual tour so the lucky winners will be part of Rafael’s street family. Rafe’s bracelet was in black leather, but I’ve added a white leather braid as my personal remembrance to you for being in MY family.



-1 audio book of In the Arms of Stone Angels. Digital download only. (International)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Arcadia Awakens - Kai Meyers (Guest Review)

Summary: To New Yorker Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic, and wholly unknown. But when tragedy strikes, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where her sister and aunt have built their lives and where centuries of family secrets await her. Once there, Rosa wastes no time falling head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both intrigue and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.
Ancient myths brought to life in the Sicilian countryside, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a long history of familial bloodlust prove to Rosa that she can’t trust anyone—not even her own family. Torn between loyalty to her aunt and love for her family’s mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love . . . or run as far and as fast as she can. (From Goodreads)

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Hey everyone! I want to introduce a new guest reviewer for In the Best Worlds - Jackie! She's a lovely person and an avid reader. We actually have very similar tastes in books. We met at the University of Denver Publishing Institute and now we're roommates in New York. Jackie is a former intern of New Leaf Literary (they represent Leigh Bardugo, Veronica Roth, Dan Krokos and so many more amazing authors!) and she just started working at Penguin as a subsidiary rights assistant. She's pretty much amazing and hopefully you'll be seeing her around the blog a lot more! So do me a solid and show her some love for her first review! 

You can find Jackie on Twitter and show her some love! 

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This book seriously rocked my world. Sicilian mafia, badass chick, hot boy (Alessandro...even the name is hot), mystery, mythology, legends, fast cars, love, secrets, and loyalty. This book seriously has it all, and it takes it to the next level. I'm not usually a huge fan of paranormal, but Arcadia Awakens totally pulls it off using such original stories.

My favorite part of this book? Rosa Alcantara and Alessandro Carnevare have the most amazing star-crossed romance. Not the love at first sight kind of love that doesn't make sense. My pet peeve in books is when two characters fall in love all of a sudden, and there doesn't even seem to be an explanation why. That's not the case with Rosa and Alessandro. She's a cynical, kind of devious, damaged girl from New York City, and he is the capo of his Sicilian mafia clan (hot!). They bring out the best in each other, and it is adorable. 

Just in case I haven't mentioned it yet, this book takes place in Sicily. Rosa moves from the big city to Italy to change her life (note to self, always move to Italy if the opportunity arises). It does change her life, but in so many more ways than she could have imagined. At times, they just whip around the countryside in expensive sports cars. Excuse me while I drool! There is really something for everyone in this book.

I love never knowing who to trust in this book. That sounds weird, but it's true. Opposing mafia clans with inner conflict mixed with death and love affairs makes for some shifty characters and trust issues. It makes it even crazier that despite all the betrayal going on in their own families, Rosa and Alessandro keep faith in each other. Call me sappy, but their love is so amazing. 

I honestly can't even think of something I didn't like in this book. There is a lot going on, and around every corner there is something new brought to the story, but the author does an outstanding job at keeping the reader clued in just enough to keep them completely hooked. I cannot wait for more Alessandro and Rosa. Bring it on!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Raw Blue - Kirsty Eagar

Synopsis: Carly has dropped out of uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at schoolies week.

And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail. When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she let the past bury her? Or can she let go of her anger and shame, and find the courage to be happy? (From Goodreads)

I've seen a few bloggers rave about this book, so when it was published in the UK and available through Book Depository I didn't hesitate to order it. Not gonna lie, Blue Crush is a total guilty pleasure, so I was excited to read about a girl who surfs. I mean, Raw Blue is absolutely nothing like Blue Crush, but the surfing part was still pretty great.

This book is actually pretty dark. The entire story is about Carly dealing with the aftermath of rape. Surfing is what keeps her sane and grounded, but it's through surfing that she meets people who give her ties to life. The characters make this book worth reading. Ryan is pretty great. Then there's the boy she meets who registers people and emotions as colors. He was such a fascinating part of this book. I kind of wish he would have spent more time on the page.

I'm a little torn, though, about how I feel about how the storyline progressed. I didn't feel like Carly's character grew very much, if at all. She stays pretty stagnant, even though things happen to her and she tries to open up to people, by the end it doesn't feel like she's moved very far. As a reader, this was frustrating because you kind of want to push her along. On the other hand, I do have to appreciate that this is very true to life. You can't just meet some people and find yourself completely healed from physical and emotional trauma. Healing is slow and gradual, so in that sense, the storyline makes complete sense.

I did really like this book, but in this case I think I went in with too many expectations. It didn't live up to what I was hoping for. Still it's good, it's worth reading and I do think this is an important story. Plus, it's always great to read the amazing literature that's coming out of Australia right now.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Review, Teaser and Giveaway :: Week 7


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

Stop by every Wednesday for the next three weeks for Immortal Circus fun! There will be reviews, guest posts, teasers and of course an incredible giveaway! We're competing with the Winter Court, and whoever has the most comments wins! You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. 

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support!

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Review of Episode Four:

So many questions. This is one of those cases, where you get the answers to some of your questions and all of a sudden nothing makes sense anymore. I'm jumping to conclusions all over the place and I'm confusing myself. Now I feel like I have all this information and I'm just waiting for it all to be placed into some sort of context.

This episode is pretty spectacular. There's a really cool writing technique that Kahler uses that shone through in this part of the story. There's an incident in which there is a lot of activity and Vivienne is kind of experiencing it through a filter. This part isn't told in traditional paragraph form, and I wouldn't exactly call it a poem - but it's fragmented and the words jump all over the page. When you read it you feel like you're getting small clips of a bigger picture and it leaves you trying to grasp onto something to keep you grounded in reality. It's pretty genius, actually.

It's so crazy that there's only one more episode left. It seems like there's still so much that has to happen, so I'm curious how everything is going to go down in the end. The wait between episodes has gotten harder each time, and waiting for the final one is no exception. 

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Teaser:

My thoughts are racing, burning like wildfire. "The fire. Lilith." My head throbs. "Lilith set everything on fire."
"Lillith's just a little girl," Kingston says. "I'm the only one with any real magic in this troupe. There was a fire, yes. But that was the bonfire the Shifters had last night - some embers set part of the field on fire. I put it out."
"But  "
"You passed out, Vivienne. I've never seen someone have such a bad reaction to snake venom." He bites his lip and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, he's looking out the window. 
"Last night was a shit show," he says, finally. "But what you're talking about never happened."

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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

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Week Seven Tour Schedule:

Monday, Jan. 21: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Jan. 22: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Jan. 23: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Jan. 24: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4

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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday - Let's Go To The Mall, Today

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Settings I'd Like to See More Of


I don't know why but the Robin Sparkles song just popped into my head when I saw this topic. That said, why don't more books happen in malls or at least have their characters GO to the mall?? I mean, that's what I did for entertainment when I was a teenager...do high schoolers not do that anymore? Okay, I'm on a tangent before the post even begins. Sorry about that. 

1. South America: Thank you Kristen Hubbard for bringing us to South America. It was wonderful. Now I'd love to see more YA lit that takes place there. 

2. Africa: Post-colonial lit is my favorite when I'm reading grown up books. It'd be awesome to see some post-colonial topics in young adult books. 

3. Minnesota: Because it's an awesome place. So far we have these gems: http://read.rifflebooks.com/list/24652 But I'd love to see some more! 

4. Made up lands based on real places: Like Shadow and Bone and The Girl of Fire and Thorns. They use places and cultures that already exist to inspire a fantasy world and it's great. I love worlds built like this. 

5. Road trips: They're my favorite. Can't get enough road trip books. Why have your setting in one place when you can have a variety of settings? 

6. Anywhere in Europe: Particularly Prague, Paris, London, anywhere in Ireland. Budapest would be awesome, so would Greece. Basically, if you just tell me a book happens anywhere out of the U.S., I'm probably all over that. 

7. Small Towns: Basically, I relate to the small town life. I thoroughly enjoy seeing what kind of craziness kids can get up to when they have to be creative. 

And settings I want to see less of: 

8. Biodomes: Or any kind of protected sphere, building, place, from a hostile environment. Enough. 

9. Futuristic America: There are some good books with visions of the future out there, but I'm starting to border on loving it an getting sick of it. 

10. Afterlife Dimensions: Ok, I loved Velveteen, but I so easily could have hated it. It generally takes a lot for me to pick up a book that happens after the protag is already dead. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Interred Blog Tour


Welcome to my stop on the Interred Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound! Click HERE to check out the rest of the tour schedule!

Release Date: 01/22/13
Summary from Goodreads:
Time has never been an issue for Baxter Jacobs, but then she never knew she had the ability to Bend it.
As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Baxter inherits a pendant that will change her life. Connected to the pendant is a dark and mysterious young man named Declan Ashdown. Trapped in a Time loop for the past 122 years, Declan needs Baxter’s help to escape. The only problem is, she has no idea how to do it.To acquire the power she needs to free him, she’ll become one of the Interred, those whose Magical abilities emerge as they come of age. When she does, she’ll discover that Declan isn’t the only one interested in the fact that she’s a Time Bender.
As the Interment arrives, Baxter knows this will be no Sweet Sixteen. A vengeful relative and ruthless Council are determined to control her. Declan’s powerful and charming descendant, Jack Ashdown, claims he can save her. She’ll soon have to decide who she can trust, and how to master her new abilities before Time runs out.

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About the Author:
Marilyn Almodóvar is the author of a series of YA paranormal novels. Born in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, Lyn is a lover of words whose reading tastes range from Victorian novels to the books of Stephen King. Her favorite past-times have always been reading and writing, two activities that let her escape to other worlds.

It was this love that propelled her to choose Theater and French as majors in University, with a minor in English Victorian Literature. Lyn lived for almost a decade in England followed by three years in France before returning home to the States. A self-confessed citizen of the world, she is fluent in English, French and Spanish, with basic knowledge of the Italian language.Lyn could happily exist breathing the clean air of Narnia, trapped in a cupboard under the stairs with Harry, fighting alongside Captain Jack Sparrow, doing an internship in Torchwood, or traveling around time and space with the Doctor…as long as she can have Mr. Spock, Captain Kirk and Captain Mal as companions.
Lyn currently lives in Central Florida with her French husband, English-born eldest son, and French-born youngest son. Her debut YA Novel, Interred, will be published by Iambe books on 01/22/2013.


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My Review:

Worst. 16th. Birthday. Ever. I've read quite a few books where stuff goes down when the protag turns 16. Sometimes this is anticipated, sometimes it's something dreaded or unpleasant...but poor Baxter has the worst 16th birthday. I mean, she's facing being buried alive and learning about how all of these people are after her. They target her family, her friends, she has to move, and learn how to do things on her own. And the horribleness keeps on coming, if I thought turning sixteen looked anything like this I think I would have stayed fifteen forever. 

Although she has some pretty awesome powers. The way time travel is dealt with in this book is definitely interesting. I loved how visual it was, every time Baxter created a time portal. It kind of made it easier to grasp onto the idea that she's traveling. I also completely love that one of her travels takes them to the 80's. Can I just say thanks for that?! Why aren't there more books that time travel to the 80's?? So awesome. It's also amazing that you actually age when you travel through time, and that Baxter needs a healer to fix the aging - that was a unique aspect that I'd never considered before, when it comes to time travel. 

Declan was a great character, literally stuck in a time loop and from Victorian London. He was my favorite part of this book. He's always popping up and in and out. He's the kind of character where you think, ok things are going to get better now that he's around. 

I did have some issues with repeated phrases an I didn't feel a real connection between Baxter and Jack, her healer. They were just kind of all of a sudden making out, and I just kind of went with it, but when it came to the love story, I was kind of indifferent. 

However, if you just kind of roll with the punches in the romantic areas of this book - it's worth reading for the time travel and the fascinating characters. 


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Giveaway: 

The giveaway includes:

- One signed paperback of Interred

- One autographed Interred tote bag
- One onyx pendant inspired by the book
- One angel pin inspired by the book
- Misc. book swag (magnet, wristband, postcard, phone skin)

Open Internationally!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Poison Princess - Kresley Cole

Synopsis: Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.
But she can’t do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…. (From Goodreads)

Apocalypse and tarot cards come to life? Yes, please. Who knew these two things went together so well? There's this really great, old-south feel to the story and then all of a sudden the world ends and you're transported from the past, directly into the future. The way the before and after are such complete opposities is so vivid and incredible. Then you throw in a girl who's discovering her powers and her part in the larger scheme of things and you have all of these components that don't quite fit together, yet, by the end, they make perfect sense.

I spent a lot of this book thinking - I have no idea what's going on right now, but I'm excited (think Chandler, from friends)! There are so many pieces to this larger picture, and you get the sense that every bit of information you get iss just giving you a small part of what they're actually dealing with. Frustrating and alluring at the same time. But as things start to come together, it's just so awesome. The way the tarot cards are set into play - and how some cards are friends and others enemies is a great concept.

Part of the book is narrated by a crazy psycho-killer. He gets Evie to tell him her story as she takes refuge in his home - after apocolypse kind of stuff goes down. This adds a bit of an extra layer to the story that I haven't quite figured out yet. I do know that it adds a sense of urgency to the book and it puts Evie's story in a whole different context than if she was just telling it to tell it.

Then there's Jack...who actually rubs me the wrong way. He's a bad boy, through and through, but he very rarely has those moments where you feel like you can see through his act. So, I'm kind of worried he might just not be a very good person. Also, my one irritation with this book is that his speech is written in Cajun dialect and that got to be obnoxious after awhile.

If you're going to blend different genres, this is the way to do it. Paranormal and apocalypse do make sense to go together, but the tarot aspect is an unexpected match. It seems like Kresley Cole really took a risk here and it paid off. I'm definitely surprised and amazed by this book.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Madman's Daughter - Megan Shepherd

Synopsis: In the darkest places, even love is deadly.
Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.
Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.
Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect. (From Goodreads)

I loved every second of this incredible story. For reasons unknown, the second I had it in my hands I knew it was a drop-everything-and-read kind of book. I just found myself immediately swept up into this Victorian gothic horror story that was simultaneously beautiful and terrifying. I was fascinated, enthralled, and more than once my pulse sped up. I closed this book feeling like I had just lived through Juliet's experience, her world, her fears, the characters in her life had all danced in front of me. Not only did it paint an amazing picture, but it triggered my imagination and gave me room for my own visions of what it looked like when the story unfolded.

Everything I love about gothic and Victorian literature was executed so perfectly in this novel. Juliet travels a long way from living in poverty and cleaning hospitals in London to a remote island to find her long-lost father. Each point in the story, each secret unveiled, raises the stakes and it becomes much more than a book than can easily fall into any category. It really stands out to me as unique.

Juliet is the perfect gothic heroine. She's torn between her sense of propriety and staying true to her strong, willful-self. She's been put through the ringer - her family has faced scandal, she's lived in poverty as an orphan, and then she braves a sketchy ship to live on a remote island. Yet she manages to maintain grace and the fierce fire within her. She's also struggling to identify who she is outside of society's view of her and whether or not she's like her father. The way she rationalizes all the ways she is like him, yet is completely horrified by him at the same time is so fascinating. This also sets up an interesting relationship with Montgomery, who believes he has no choice but to follow in Juliet's father's footsteps. I love their relationship, but if any couple is built on moral shades of gray - this one is.

The characters are brilliant, but the way in which this world is sculpted is absolutely breathtaking. It's dark and you can almost see it playing out in front of you in tones of sepia and black. It has that vintage feel to it, yet it's so vivid. Even the island with the jungle, created so outside of society is still governed by it's rules in a way that makes it impossible to forget just where and when this is taking place. The animals turned human are so well detailed, the screams they make when they're operated on are so loud, and the way they are humanized by Montgomery is so tender they just become a vital piece of this world.

The Madman's Daughter is an exceptional debut by Megan Shepherd. It's everything a novel should be, incuding something I feel like I haven't read before, even despite the fact that it's inspired by another book. I'm so grateful this is the first in a series, because I'm not willing to let go yet.