Sunday, June 30, 2013

June Top 5

July is tomorrow. Which means summer is going way too fast. Also - it means I didn't get a ton of reading in this month. It's been crazy busy, but awesome. I love summer in New York. I've been reading mostly NA lately - they read so quickly and I can't get enough! Which really makes me wonder how I've read so little lately. But oh well, here are my top 5 from June - or my top 4 and Jackie's top read. 

1. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Duh. Of course this is my number one. Crown of Midnight is brilliant. This series is just so incredible and Maas is definitely writing on another level here.

2. Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
I love Jessica Spotswood's world and her take on witches. In the second book in this series, she just brings your emotions out. I was so tense and frustrated (but in a good way) through the whole book. And the end.... Read my review here.

3. Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters
I think A. Meredith Walters is one of the best NA authors out there right now. Her books are so intense and she really knows how to write relationships. Bad Rep just got me so worked up and it kept surprising me. And Jordan...is just freak-out worthy. It's so good. If you haven't read A. Meredith Walters yet, I suggest you get on that. 

4. Wait for You by J. Lynn
I started this and didn't expect to like it. It seems pretty typical - normal sheltered girl literally runs into the hottest guy on campus and he starts pursuing her... Yeah, I was a little worried. But it was amazing how it swept me away and I cared so much about these characters, I just hope they'll be happy forever. 

5. Falling Kingdoms 
Jackie says: I was in the mood for a good fantasy book when I picked this up, and I was not disappointed. The world in the book was SO great. I absolutely love how the author doesn't hold back--even when I think I want her to. The characters are complex, and the whole story is excellent. Stay tuned for my review on this one. 

What were your top reads this month? 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Team Garrick Giveaway!

Hello friends! We're just a week away from Garrick's first match in the NA Crush Tourney and I have some fun things planned until then that are all about how awesome Garrick is! Join the street team, get everyone you know to vote for Garrick, and win some awesome things while you're at it!

Garrick is up against Kayden from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden first on July 4th! Here's the whole tournament bracket - Garrick is 7th seed!

You can also grab some graphics below to rep Team Garrick love:



And of course if you're tweeting please be sure to use the #TeamGarrick, #BringOnTheBrit and #NACrushTourney hashtags whenever you can!

Now for the giveaway!

There will be seven (7) winners!
2 will recieve paperback or ebook copies of Losing It
2 will recieve paperback or ebook copies of Faking It
1 will recieve a signed copy of Losing It
1 will recieve a signed copy of Faking It

AND one (1) lucky person will get the whole package:
1 signed copy of Losing It, 1 signed copy of Faking It, and a preorder of Keeping Her and Finding It!

Giveaway is international and will run for as long as Garrick is still in the tourney!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter and make sure you spread the Team Garrick love!

Author Interview: Colina Brennan

I’m so excited to share this interview with Colina Brennan, author of Addicted to You, a New Adult novel that was just released this week! So see what Colina has to say, then check out her new book!
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Tell us what your book is about in 140 characters or less.
Addicted to You is about Leah, who has no interest in love because she's convinced everyone eventually lets you down. Then she meets Will. Dun dun dun! :P
Who’s your favorite character to write and why?
Leah, because it was amusing to push her character and see how she’d respond. There were times I actually had to scale her back a bit and soften her up because she already comes off a little harsh.
Where do you write, and what makes it the perfect place to write? What surrounds you?
I write at my kitchen table. It definitely is NOT the perfect place to write. There’s noise from the TV in the living room and people coming and going and so many distractions. I can rarely get anything done until after hours when everyone is asleep. I really need my own dedicated space!
What would you be doing if you couldn’t be a writer?
I have no idea. Writing is my passion. I don’t think I’d be happy doing anything else.
What first drew you to New Adult?
I didn’t get to experience a lot of what the typical college-aged person goes through because I got married my freshman year and then had a child the beginning of my sophomore year. So I love reading about this time in people’s lives and being able to enjoy those experiences safely through the pages instead.
What New Adult book is on top of your TBR pile?
Subject to Change by Alessandra Thomas. If only my To Do list wasn’t a mile long!
What writers inspire you?
Gayle Foreman, Katie McGarry, Lauren Oliver, and Jessica Park. I also enjoy Colleen Hoover and Cora Carmack.
Are there any authors you’d love to see do a New Adult book?
John Green. I think he’d rock it.
Leave us with a teaser/quote from your book?
“Will would show her that he was an addiction worth keeping.”

Find Colina Online: Blog ::  Facebook :: Twitter :: Tumblr :: Goodreads
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About the Book: 
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict - blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

True - Erin McCarthy

Synopsis: When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…


I wouldn't say this book is amazing, but it was definitely an enjoyable read. It very much brought me into the moment, but occasionally I'd shake my head and ultimately left it feeling no different than usual. Rory and Tyler are pretty typical NA main characters, But, while I was reading I defintely found myself wrapped up in their lives and their drama. I had some issues that would pull me out of the story briefly, and in the end it's not my favorite - but it's definitely one of those books where you're like - this makes no sense but I'm totally digging it.

I'm going to start with my negative nancy comment first. My biggest issue is the way Rory handles conflict. I mean, her roommates pay a dude to take Rory's virginity, so naturally I expect a lot of fall out from this when she finds out. Yeah...I don't want to spoil, I just want to say that her actual reaction really frustrated me. She's also stupid nice to a guy who sexually assaults her. And I just want to shake her and tell her to get angry. Those are pretty much the two things that drove me crazy. I get that part of Rory's character is that she's cool and logical - where most heroines tend to act rashly, she thinks things out thoroughly. This may have been the first time I got upset because a character wasn't getting upset. Maybe I'm weird.

But on to what I liked, because the majority of this book is very enjoyable. Despite the way Tyler comes into Rory's life, he's kind of great. He's dealing with a rough home life, but I think the sacrifices he makes are admirable. I was also really happy with the way Rory handles herself around his family and how she becomes kind of a beam of strength for them.

The emotions in this book run very high and are very much at the surface. Rory and Tyler's chemistry is incredible and you can feel everything they do. When they're happy it's incredible, but when they're unhappy it hurts. I was definitelly affected by them while I was reading the book.

Ultimately I definitely had mixed feelings about this one. I had some major issues with it, but I loved the relationships and the feelings that came with it. If you're looking for something quick and in the moment, this is a good choice.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Book Blast: Addicted to You

Out today is Addicted to You by Colina Brennan!

About the Book: 
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict - blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

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Excerpt:
Leah hated Thursdays. Specifically, she hated what she was forced to do on Thursdays—a program called ‘Heal the Heart, Save the Body,’ which was a convoluted way of saying ‘therapy for sex addicts.’
Despite her roommate’s insistence, Leah did not have a ‘sex problem.’ So she liked the occasional one night stand. So what? She was twenty-one and single. There was nothing wrong with wanting to make the most of it.
Yet here she was, preparing for another session where she’d have to listen to some old guy attempt to teach a room full of so-called sexual deviants the skills to function in a civilized world.
Because left to their own devices, they wouldn’t be able to resist the primal urge to hump everything that moved. Obviously.
Who decided sex was an addiction anyway? Or that someone should need therapy to “fix” it? Sex was good for you. It was a de-stresser. If it wasn’t, then you were doing it wrong.
She made a face at the platter of cookies set on an uneven seat a few feet away. She had tried one of them a few meetings ago, and it had nearly broken her tooth. They were sturdy enough to survive a nuclear apocalypse. They were cockroach cookies.
Maybe that was the key to these therapy sessions—to knock everyone out with stale confections so they were incapable of having sex.

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About the Author: 
Colina Brennan grew up in a small city, which gave her plenty of time to read and stretch her imagination. By day, she's attached to her kids, and by night, to her laptop. She writes about the fantastical and the romantic, and everything in between. Addicted to You is her first novel.

Find Colina Online: Facebook :: Twitter :: Goodreads
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Monday, June 24, 2013

Addicted to New Adult: How I Fell for New Adult

The amazing New Leaf Literary is running the Addicted to New Adult event and I'm so happy to be a part of it. You can read the kick-off post here. So here's why/how I fell for New Adult and make sure you check out the killer giveaway at the end.
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I fell for New Adult the same way I fell for YA. I read something a little different than what I was used to reading and it consumed me. Everything I read was an attempt to get back to that feeling of something new, exciting and encompassing. For New Adult, it was Beautiful Disaster that sucked me in. I’ve had the ebook version with the colorful tongue cover on my computer for ages, but it wasn’t until it was picked up, repackaged, and people were raving about it that I decided to finally read it. You know how readers always say, “I devoured that book.” Well, this book devoured me. I was so caught up in the story and the intensity, it crawled under my skin and left me wanting more. So I picked up Easy and Flat-Out Love and everything else that bore the NA label, if only because I associated that with Beautiful Disaster.
That’s how it happened. Why it happened is a realization that has come to me more slowly. New adult is reason vs. passion (Losing It reference…) after all and we can love things without ever knowing why, but passion burns and if you have reason left over it’s a love that can last a long time. I’ve actually spent a lot of time figuring out this field and what it is that draws me to it, what it is that makes me territorial and defensive.
The first is the romance aspect. I will (figuratively) slay people who lump NA in with erotica or call it sexed up YA.  However, romance is an important part of NA, the same way romance has a tendency to be a big part of YA – or literary fiction for that matter. Relationships are integral to a human life – whether you have them or not. I don’t know about you, but my life is has a tendency to revolve around other people. And I often think back on my life in terms of what boy I liked during that time. So, the best way I connect with a character is through his/her relationships with friends, family, and, yeah, the romantic interest. And with NA, that romantic interest is generally such a prominent part of the story that I feel strongly connected to both the main character and the dude she’s falling for.
The other thing I’ve begun to notice the more I read is how nostalgic it makes me. It’s weird, because I’ve read so many YA novels and never pined for my high school days. NA never fails to make me miss college – at least the novels where the characters are in college. I miss the freedom and the excitement of feeling grown up but still really pretty naïve. I miss parties and only having class Monday – Thursday for a few hours a day. I miss working a minimum wage job with very little pressure. I learned who I was in college. I mean, I’m still figuring it out, but I learned a lot about trust, friendship, responsibility, boys, and balance when I was given that huge amount of independence. The most important thing was, I figured out how to take care of myself. I think a lot of YA is figuring out who you are, and NA is about figuring out with to do with your life. And that still resonates across many age groups.
I love YA because everything feels urgent and like the end of the world. The stakes are always high and the relationships are intense and exciting. In NA, you do get a lot of the same angst that comes with YA, but you also get the nervous energy of being (seemingly) alone in the world for the first time, you get a person colored by their high school past, and often that includes romantic experience, bringing relationships to a much more passionate level. Long story short, I fell for NA because I connect with these characters so intensely - they are simultaniously reminders of who I was and who I am now.
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Friday, June 21, 2013

Team Garrick: NA Crush Tourney

In case you haven't heard, I've been lucky enough to be chosen to advocate for Garrick from Cora Carmack's Losing It in NA Alley's NA Crush Tourney! While Garrick is pretty amazing all on his own, we'll definitely need your help to see him through to the end. Because, in all honestly, Garrick is up against some pretty amazing dudes in NA lit. Garrick's first match is on July 4th and he's up against Kayden from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen. So yeah, help us out!

How?

Well, first of all - talk about all things Garrick! Tweet, Facebook, nudge your friends, stop strangers in the street, whatever works! Tell everyone you know how much you love Garrick and if they're all like...uhhhh I haven't read that book...tell them to read it (they'll thank you for it)!

You can also join the street team below. I'll send you reminders and let you know more specifics about how you can help out.

If you have a blog, I'll love you forever if you blog about how awesome Garrick is!

If you're Tweeting or Facebooking about all the amazingness that is Garrick - make sure you use the #TeamGarrick and #NACrushTourney hashtags

Also, grab a button! Use it for your Twitter picture, post it on your blog or your Facebook page! Print it out and post it on your bedroom wall. I will have more graphics coming up - but if you want to start reppin' Team Garrick now, grab the button below!

Team Garrick
   

And of course - Join the Team Garrick Street Team! 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cover Reveal: Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee

I can hardly begin to tell you how excited I am to share the gorgeous cover of Elizabeth Lee's newest novel, Escaping Me! Three reasons this makes me so happy 1) new Elizabeth Lee! She's awesome and I love her first two books (she writes the best country boys ever!) 2) This book sounds so good! 3) I could stare at the cover all day long. I could probably go on and on in a gushfest over this but I'll just stop and let the cover speak for itself.


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About Escaping Me:


All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere - she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out - sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.  
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About Elizabeth Lee:


When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing bak-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town - you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that! 



Find Elizabeth Online: Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Goodreads
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What do you think of the cover of Escaping Me?

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Wings of the Wicked - Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.
She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.
She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.


I picked up Angelfire last year because everyone was raving about Wings of the Wicked and it was so awesome and badass. So I bought Wings of the Wicked right away and 15 months later, I read it. I don’t know what made me wait, I loved the first one so much, but other books kept jumping in its way. But it finally worked its way back to the top of my reading pile and I was reminded how much I love Will and Ellie. Even after such a long time between books, the first one came back to me in bits and pieces. I actually found it easy to jump back into their lives as if no time had passed.

Ellie is still one of the toughest heroines out there. She has a lot of responsibility and a lot of power, but the way she handles it all is impressive. She keeps her human life and her friends – she can actually be a teenager and save the world at the same time. She’s very Buffy that way. She’s very Buffy in a lot of ways – being the chosen one and leading a group of people whose purpose is to rid the world of demons and still looking adorable and all. She goes through a lot in this book and my heart breaks for her more than once. She gets a little reckless, but I think she has every right to be that way.
Will and Ellie together are still frustrating. They keep sticking to the whole we-can’t-be-together dance way too long and it just doesn’t quite make sense why not. Especially when they’re already as close as they are. Yet, for the tension in the book it works. It’s frustrating, but you know I love it. I remember a lot of buzzing about Cadan stepping it up in this book and seeing Team Cadan camps popping up. Yet, I don’t see it. He has his moments, but I can’t see him as a real contender to replace Will in hero status. So, guess that makes me Team Will.
I will say that I came near the close of this book and was getting a little bit of a juvenile feeling from the story. I recognize completely that it’s YA, so this is very much a personal thing, but I felt slightly as I’d outgrown the story a bit – which may have been from the time gap between books and my own history since then or it could be my reading style. I’m not sure what it is, but I felt as though I’d left behind high school friends who never really left high school. This, actually, hasn’t happened to me before in reading YA. It’s curious, but not a big enough conundrum to stop me from loving the book and the story. I’ll definitely be reading book three, especially after that ending (!!).

Monday, June 17, 2013

2 Year Blogoversary

Two years ago today, I posted my first review. I don't know what I was expecting out of this when I sat down to start this blog. I do know it's gone through several stages and it's meant something different to me at different points. Two years ago, I had just returned from a year in Spain and was living back at home in Northern Minnesota. Since then I've lived in St. Louis teaching Freshman composition and I took time off from my grad program and moved back home. I've gone to Denver to attend the Denver Publishing Institute and then moved to New York to work in publishing. Seriously, these last two years have been crazy.

And, as always, books are the common thread through all the different places I've lived and paths I've been down. I've met a lot of wonderful bloggers and authors and other bookish people over these last two years. The first year was a lot of figuring out this blogging thing and cultivating my own little space to talk about books. This last year has seen a lot of changes, both in my life and in my blog. I've had the lovely Caralyn guest blogging she did a wonderful job keeping things running while I was at the Publishing Institute. Then in the last couple months, I've taken on a co-blogger, Jackie, who's been posting fabulous reviews on Thursdays - so watch out for her posts. I've also been lucky enough to have the lovely, Emily Ritter from (YA)y Books! tossing some great reviews my way.

The biggest change on this blog in the last year has been the emergence of New Adult. I'd had Beautiful Disaster hanging out on my computer for a long, long time and then it was published and was brought back to my attention, so I finally read it and since then I can't get enough NA. I wasn't going to review it on the blog at first, beause I wanted to stay strictly YA, so I started out with posts briefly highlighting NA books I was reading. Then I decided, it's my blog, it's my place to talk about books, and this is what I was reading. So I started posting NA reviews (although, still not frequently) and I created a NA guide (still a work in process) and I will stick up for this controversial genre any chance I get. And I'm proud to say that I now blog about YA and NA.

I can't imagine not having this outlet now - I have no idea how I read before. This day totally snuck up on me so I didn't get a chance to pull together an event or really think about my goals in the upcoming years, but I had to write something to mark this occasion. I just hope there's a lot of life left in this blog and that it will open more doors and bring new people into my life as it has done in the last two years.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Star Cursed - Jessica Spotswood

Synopsis: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.
Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.
In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.


This book...this series...I can hardly put into words what it puts me through. I'm shocked and awed. I was meeting Jackie for dinner and I got there before she did, so naturally I take out my book and read until she shows up. Well, I had about 20 pages left of Star Cursed and I figured things were winding down, but just before Jackie got there something switched and my heart started pounding. I was astounded, and I made Jackie sit and wait for me to finish the book because I just couldn't put it down.

I just don't know what's going to happen and I'm so worried for Cate and I just want to cry for her. I want so badly to slip into the pages and help her in any way I can. She's just so brave and strong and smart. I can't believe how she takes the time to step back and examine her options and to make the hard decisions when she has to. I also really like that she's one of the few heroines who's straight up like - I want to get married and have babies AND still be a bad-ass witch.. Normally, I'm all - ugh, babies and marriage - but I just want her to have everything she could ever want. And when getting married (to FINN, I mean, yeah...he might persuade me to marriage too) seems like the hard choice, it's somehow more appealing.

In Star Cursed all the characters seem so different, just because their circumstances have all changed and they've all grown. Finn is still perfect. Like, seriously, perfect. I was worried there wouldn't be enough Finn in book two, given how the Born Wicked ended, but I'm satisfied. There can always be more, but the page-time balance between Finn and Cate's sisters is right on. I'm loving watching Tess grow and come into herself. She surprised me in this book. Maura, on the other hand....goodness gracious.She has some serious Jan Brady issues, except she has powers and she's not afraid to use them to make people pay attention to her. She terrifies me. I want to sympathize with her, but I just can't. She's stubborn and dangerous and in this book she just seemed to make everything more poisonious.

The tension between the Brothers and the Sisters is so much more overwhelming in this book, especially since Cate is now in the middle of it and being groomed to lead the Sisters. The Brothers are revolting, but some of the Sisters have some pretty evil plans as well. There's no black and white in their struggle for power and everything is so complicated. I just love the way this book kind of spins on the Salem Witch Trial hysteria and creates its own sort of world. It's just awesome.

I almost wish I would have waited to read this book, though, but only because I can't believe I have to wait this long until I can read the next one. This book left me with a sore heart. I'm still wavering between furious and sad. I can't help but feel completely connected with these characters and their emotions. This is an incredible sequel in a beautiful series, which I highly recommend reading.   

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Rules - Stacey Kade

Synopsis: 1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules… 

More science fiction (seriously, I’m loving this stuff)! I completely zipped through this book, its character and its way with being light and intense at the same time just pulled me from one page to the next. I was quickly invested in Ariane’s life and I was kind of surprised at the way I connected with her. She took me into her world and showed me what it was like to have to hide who you really are. Her world and everything that’s at stake make an intense background, but there are times when it’s so light and happy. Because it all comes down to the fact that Ariane is just trying to be a teenager.
Ariane knows what makes her different and she knows she has power inside of her, so rather than trying to figure out who she is, she’s trying to hide herself and rediscover herself at the same time. She starts out pretty meek and invisible, but with so much room for growth, she really steps up to that challenge. She also doesn’t completely understand social cues, so it was fun to watch her try to figure out some nuances of human behavior. She’s just such a rounded character that I know her quirks and her habits without ever remembering learning them.
I also really adored that it took place in small town Wisconsin, because small-town Midwest is where I come from. And Stacey Kade pretty much hit that whole atmosphere right on the head. I liked, too, that it had the added mystery and intrigue of one really large company that pretty much ran things – even though no one really knew what it did. That company is, of course, the same one that Ariane is hiding from so you always have that great threat looming.
Everything about this book is really great. It’s well balanced, it’s enticing and entertaining. I can’t really point out anything that deterred me from it. However, there’s just something about it that’s keeping it from being really epic. Still, it’s a great book that kept me fully engrossed. I am looking forward to book two, because the beginning is definitely a solid foundation for a great series.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Book Blast: The Immortal Circus Act Two


I am so excited to be participating in the book blast to celebrate the release of A.R. Kahler's THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO today!

To help spread the word about its release in Kindle serial format, I have a GUEST POST from Mab, Ringmaster of the Cirque des Immortels, some information about this second book in the series and a couple of awesome giveaways to share.

With its stunning cover, its description which hints of dark things to come in this sequel and the even darker things that Mab alludes to in Vivienne's past, I am so unbelievably excited to be able to share this book on my blog.

Now let me turn things over to the Ringmaster...

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GUEST POST from Mab – Ringmaster Extraordinaire and Circus Fashionista

Hello loves,

A few months have passed since we did our last tour, and oh, how I've missed you all.

This week, I am pleased to announce the next installment in our little show. Although it pains me to admit that we will not be doing a full blog tour, I am sure the tale ACT TWO weaves will keep you entertained. So many of you were dying to know more about Vivienne's past. In fact, many people seem to be dying when it comes to Vivienne's past but...I'd hate to spoil her surprise. Needless to say, this will be a show she will never forget.

And for those of you who need more than pretty words to tempt them, I am also hosting a giveaway. Five winners will receive Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. One lucky winner will also get a signed copy of book one.

Six prizes, six winners. Six is my favorite number.

Step right up, loves. ACT TWO is just beginning....

Kisses, Mab

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About the Book

Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO (The Immortal Circus #2)
Author: A.R. Kahler
Publisher: 47North
Release date: June 11, 2013
Format: Kindle serial eBook (current). Paperback edition to be released.

Vivienne is almost content with her new life in the Cirque des Immortels. She has moved up from selling cotton candy to telling fortunes, she has a gorgeous, magical boyfriend, Kingston…and no one has been murdered since the clash between the otherworldly Courts. Her life under the faerie big top would be perfect, in fact, if not for the nightmares and visions that compel her to seek and confront her half-remembered past. But for Viv, not knowing her past may well be a blessing. There's a reason she ran away. But can she truly escape herself?

The second act of the fantastically evocative Cirque des Immortels series, The Immortal Circus: Act Two draws readers further into a world that’s at once wonderful, seductive…and deadly.

Step right up…


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About the Author

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, book one in his Cirque des Immortels series, is now available from 47North. ACT TWO releases today, June 11, 2013.

MARTYR, the first book in his post-apocalyptic YA fantasy series, THE HUNTED, is set to be published October 28, 2014 by Spencer Hill Press.


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About Book One


Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS (The Immortal Circus #1)
Author: A.R. Kahler
Publisher: 47North
Release date: December 4, 2012 (serial eBook); January 29, 2013 (paperback)
Formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback

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…

***

The Giveaways


Mab’s Giveaways (US ONLY):

GRAND PRIZE – A signed copy of book one, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, The Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. (ONE WINNER)

PRIZES – Trading Cards and a signed bookplate. (FIVE WINNERS)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rockstar Book Tours Giveaways (International to anywhere that can accept eBook gifts from Amazon US)

A Kindle Serial eGift of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO. (FIVE WINNERS)

(All winners will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 10, 2013

Linked - Imogen Howson

Synopsis: Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. 
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. 
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed. 
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. 
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.


Science fiction is becoming a thing in YA. It seems to be popping up everywhere. What's surprising to me is that I'm loving this new trend. So I was drawn to this book (which, a small part of my attraction was that gorgeous cover - seriously, this is an amazingly well-designed book) because of the sci-fi thing. And Imogen Howson did a fabulous job in creating an entire world that exists outside our time and world. She didn't just create an entire world, she created an entire planet. There were some cracks in the plot line and I didn't entirely connect with the characters, so it isn't my favorite. But, by heavens, this world is so. freaking. awesome. 

This story takes place in space and there are multiple planets that exist the way that we have countries. You can travel between them, there are immigration laws and each has its own history and government. It's fantastic. But my favorite thing, which I really wish there was more of, is that there are pirates. In space. I got really excited when I thought that was a possibility, but they didn't really show up the way I thought they would. So that bummed me out. (Now I just need someone to write Pirates of the Caribbean in space because that's pretty much the next book I want to read...) But with all the space travel and the danger and just the images that come with this world - it really is beautiful and an incredible achievement.

There were holes in the story that pulled me out of the flow a few times. The pacing was also a little bit off - with a slow start and a whirl-wind ending. I also had a hard time getting completely behind Elissa. She was always doing the right thing, even when it was hard, but I couldn't always follow her reasoning. Sometimes it seemed like she was following blindly or making some rash decisions. And Lin was even harder to connect to. I mean, it makes sense, considering her background, but I still wish I could have liked her a little bit. It was an interesting take on twins and I really liked the way that thread of the story eventually comes together.

It's not the best book I've ever read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm mostly just in love with this world though. It is a series I'll keep reading, because I think it has the potential to get a lot more rich as her characters develop a bit more. I have mixed feelings, but if you're digging this sci-fi trend as well I'd definitely recommend throwing this one on your reading list. 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Ten Tiny Breaths - K.A. Tucker

Synopsis: Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.
Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.
But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.


I had no idea what to expect going in to this book, but it completely sucked me in and it affected me greatly. I became enamored with every single character in this book and felt so wrapped up in their lives that my emotions sat right on the surface through the whole story. It's a lovely, shocking and captivating story that's an exemplary example of NA lit. 
Kacey is a tough heroine, she was hard to connect to - but the amazing part is - I wanted to connect with her. She's stand-offish and a little off-putting, but it was so easy to care about her and hope that she'd start showing me what was behind her defenses. She's admirably strong and scrappy and even though she deals with stress and a traumatic past, there's something to envy about her. But she's just the one of the many loveable characters in this book. She's taking care of her little sister, Livie, who might be the sweetest and most likeable character ever. I just want to hug her and buy her presents for being so perfect (and not in an obnoxious way). And her next door neighbor and her daughter are so wonderful. I just loved that the four of them are all a bit displaced, yet they come together to form a pretty strong family. 


I really don't know what to say about Trent. He came on too strong sometimes and I was  a little worried I wouldn't like him. But I think I was projecting from Kacey's feelings. She doesn't trust easily and her struggle comes through completely when it comes to him. But as she falls for him, I started to get it. And I came to really care about him. I think Tucker did a really great job of showing how two people can change each other's lives. Their relationship is rocky, but ultimately you root for it because both seem to be better off when their together. Kacey can heal herself, but he helps. 


There's a lot in this book that I didn't expect. And there's a point where I totally had the rug - no not just the rug, it was bigger than that - I had the whole freaking ground pulled out from under me. I was reading the book on my computer and I had to physically step away because my stomach fell and I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to be near the book. Then I read it again to see if it was really happening. But of course, I took a deep breath (or ten tiny ones...) and jumped back in. Because Kacey is definitely worth sticking around for. 
I really love this book (if you can't tell by now). If you're new to NA, this is one of the first books I'd recommend you read. Because it hits all the components that make a great NA book and it's a great story with fabulous characters. It's emotional and unexpected. And I can't wait for One Tiny Lie and Livie's story because it's going to be really interesting to see who she will become after she grows up a bit more and is living on her own. Her story is already fascinating and it can only get better. 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

When You Were Mine - Rebecca Serle

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

When You Were MineSynopsis: In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale.What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.
Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.
Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…


This was my first experience reading a Shakespeare retelling. I thought it sounded really cool that it would be from Rosaline's perspective. I'm sad to say I was more than a little disappointed with this one. I don't think trying to mesh a contemporary romance with one of the most iconic tragedies in history really worked out in this case. 

The first thing that turned me off was the overuse of snark. It was overwhelming to me (and I usually love that kind of voice!), but I didn't want to cast it aside just for that reason. This was about a girl who had a right to be all sorts of bitter. That being said, Rosaline was not at all mad, crazy, vengeful, or anything else you might expect a high school girl to be when they are flat out dumped for their cousin. She was still upset that it seemed like Juliet didn't like her. After all that happened, she wanted to be friends with Juliet. I don't think that is realistic at all. Unless Rosaline is a robot, she should be at least a little ticked off at someone. 

Another thing that actually made me upset over this book was the glorification of real-life mean girls. Rosaline and her friends (who are at times the only interesting people to really read about) were down right horrible. The girl who couldn't be mad at the guy, or her cousin who stole her guy, was surprisingly ok with seriously bashing her classmates who were less than popular. I never want to read another book that promotes, "I'm a stereotypical, pretty, mean girl high school senior, and I rule the school." That's what this one felt like to me.

The only thing I really found interesting in When You Were Mine was the explanation of the family feud. It was an interesting take, again, formatted to be contemporary. 

The end left me more than upset. I can't really get into it without spoiling anything, so I'll leave out the details. I can't say whether or not liking or not liking the original Romeo and Juliet will affect how you feel about this book. I was always a little indifferent about the play, but I found myself getting pretty defensive of Juliet, hating Romeo (whose name is Rob in this book, though all the others are the same), and not being able to stand Rosaline. If you choose to read this book, let me know how it leaves you feeling.  

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Book of Broken Hearts - Sarah Ockler

Synopsis: Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.


This was my first time reading Sarah Ockler and it definitely won't be my last. Thankfully this book was pushed into my hands with high recommendation so I moved it up my TBR. Within the first chapter, it’s pretty clear that you’re not in for a typical YA contemporary; however, it still contains all those elements that make a really great summer read. There’s so much to love in this book, but it’s the fresh voice of Jude’s character that makes this book something special.

It’s hard to put my finger on what makes Jude so different from other YA narrators. There are obvious things that make her stand out, but there’s something in her voice and her thoughts that are unique to her. She’ll say or think something and if you knew her in real life you’d probably shake your head and say, “That’s so Jude.” She’s bright and quirky, yet so accessible. And she’s in that transition between high school and the rest of her life, where it seems you have too much space and not enough time, that gives her a perfect opportunity to grow.

It seems with a title like Book of Broken Hearts, that romance would be a big part of this book. And it plays a role, but it’s not the focus. While Emilio is great, I actually feel like he’s the weakest part of the book. I never really got a chance to fall for him or grasp on to the nuances of his personality. But this wasn’t that big of a deal because I feel like he’s a catalyst for Jude to face some issues and to find out who she is outside her family.

Family is at the heart of this novel, with Jude’s father who has Alzheimer’s and her sisters who are significantly older than her. She’s grown up under their influence and after they’ve all been scorned by a Vargas boy, Jude takes an oath when she’s 12 to never date a Vargas boy. And, of course, Emilio is a Vargas. So in developing a relationship with him, she’s really learning who she is outside of the influence of her sisters. A lot of her triumph comes from learning to voice her own opinions and feelings and to speak up for herself, even over the volume of her sisters. The Alzheimer storyline is heartbreaking, yet there are moments of such joy that it’s hard to let her father’s progressing illness get you completely down.

I could probably talk about a lot of other components of this book – it’s just one of those stories that miraculously contains so much more than it appears to. There are the rebuilding motorcycles and the freedom that comes from that, and the way that Jude grows apart from her high school best friend as many of us unfortunately do. There’s the way the author brings in other books and the literary world as an influence in Jude’s life, and the feeling that there’s a nostalgic summer air around the whole book. It’s an accomplished and wonderful novel that impressed me so much.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Going Places

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Books Featuring Travel in Some Way

1. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
5. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

6. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
7. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
8. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
9. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Monday, June 3, 2013

Faking It - Cora Carmack

Synopsis: Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.
Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Cora Carmack is the kind of writer that just sucks you in to the world of her characters and you don't even realize it's happening. I loved Losing It for its humor, honesty, and just the fact that it left me grinning. And I know it’s really not fair, but it’s hard not to judge companion novels against each other – and really, how do you top Garrick? But in Faking It Cora takes on a different kind of story, a little darker, one where Cade thrives and comes to life. And Max is really a stunning, fascinating and well-rounded heroine, perfect to compliment Cade’s personality.

I was expecting a lot of Cora's second novel, but I was worried about one thing - Cade. He was not my favorite character in Losing It. And actually, I thought he was gay for a little while so I was curious how Cora was going to turn him around into a hero-level character. In the beginning, it felt a little bit like some aspects of his personality didn’t match up with who he was in Losing It. It’s kind of hard to put my finger on what exactly was different about him – but he was more on the broody side, than the sad and scorned side. But the farther I got into the book, the less I noticed his personality change.

Really, the joy of this book was getting to know Max. As Cade breaks down her walls, we get to see the layers of her character peeled back. She’s this tough, spitfire of a girl and it’s easy to admire her – and even be envious of her determination and spirit. She goes through a lot of healing in this book, and really, if we’re pointing out a star of the show, she’s it. Cade again, seems to fall into the background – but not in the sad way that he does in Bliss’s life. He’s there for support and to balance out Max. She changes him too, but this story is hers and he’s just the biggest part of it.

The way their relationship unfolds is so perfect. You can see it happening from page one, but it’s the journey that’s so fabulous. They have a lot of outside factors that they have to confront and then fold into the seams of the relationship they’re building, so how they manage to come together is so satisfying. I also love the banter they get going and the way they push each other’s buttons. While there are some deeper things happening, they still manage to keep things generally light and Cora’s humor still shines through.

If you want to swoon and laugh and leave a book feeling ultimately lighter and happier, I definitely recommend reading Cora Carmack. Losing It was wonderful and it feels like her writing is maturing and becoming more rich in Faking It. She has this way with creating individual characters who complement each other so well, really showing that it’s not about being perfect but being perfect for the right person. I can’t wait to see what happens when we get to follow Kelsey to Europe in Finding It.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

June Top 5

July is tomorrow. Which means summer is going way too fast. Also - it means I didn't get a ton of reading in this month. It's been crazy busy, but awesome. I love summer in New York. I've been reading mostly NA lately - they read so quickly and I can't get enough! Which really makes me wonder how I've read so little lately. But oh well, here are my top 5 from June - or my top 4 and Jackie's top read. 

1. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Duh. Of course this is my number one. Crown of Midnight is brilliant. This series is just so incredible and Maas is definitely writing on another level here.

2. Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
I love Jessica Spotswood's world and her take on witches. In the second book in this series, she just brings your emotions out. I was so tense and frustrated (but in a good way) through the whole book. And the end.... Read my review here.

3. Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters
I think A. Meredith Walters is one of the best NA authors out there right now. Her books are so intense and she really knows how to write relationships. Bad Rep just got me so worked up and it kept surprising me. And Jordan...is just freak-out worthy. It's so good. If you haven't read A. Meredith Walters yet, I suggest you get on that. 

4. Wait for You by J. Lynn
I started this and didn't expect to like it. It seems pretty typical - normal sheltered girl literally runs into the hottest guy on campus and he starts pursuing her... Yeah, I was a little worried. But it was amazing how it swept me away and I cared so much about these characters, I just hope they'll be happy forever. 

5. Falling Kingdoms 
Jackie says: I was in the mood for a good fantasy book when I picked this up, and I was not disappointed. The world in the book was SO great. I absolutely love how the author doesn't hold back--even when I think I want her to. The characters are complex, and the whole story is excellent. Stay tuned for my review on this one. 

What were your top reads this month? 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Team Garrick Giveaway!

Hello friends! We're just a week away from Garrick's first match in the NA Crush Tourney and I have some fun things planned until then that are all about how awesome Garrick is! Join the street team, get everyone you know to vote for Garrick, and win some awesome things while you're at it!

Garrick is up against Kayden from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden first on July 4th! Here's the whole tournament bracket - Garrick is 7th seed!

You can also grab some graphics below to rep Team Garrick love:



And of course if you're tweeting please be sure to use the #TeamGarrick, #BringOnTheBrit and #NACrushTourney hashtags whenever you can!

Now for the giveaway!

There will be seven (7) winners!
2 will recieve paperback or ebook copies of Losing It
2 will recieve paperback or ebook copies of Faking It
1 will recieve a signed copy of Losing It
1 will recieve a signed copy of Faking It

AND one (1) lucky person will get the whole package:
1 signed copy of Losing It, 1 signed copy of Faking It, and a preorder of Keeping Her and Finding It!

Giveaway is international and will run for as long as Garrick is still in the tourney!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter and make sure you spread the Team Garrick love!

Author Interview: Colina Brennan

I’m so excited to share this interview with Colina Brennan, author of Addicted to You, a New Adult novel that was just released this week! So see what Colina has to say, then check out her new book!
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Tell us what your book is about in 140 characters or less.
Addicted to You is about Leah, who has no interest in love because she's convinced everyone eventually lets you down. Then she meets Will. Dun dun dun! :P
Who’s your favorite character to write and why?
Leah, because it was amusing to push her character and see how she’d respond. There were times I actually had to scale her back a bit and soften her up because she already comes off a little harsh.
Where do you write, and what makes it the perfect place to write? What surrounds you?
I write at my kitchen table. It definitely is NOT the perfect place to write. There’s noise from the TV in the living room and people coming and going and so many distractions. I can rarely get anything done until after hours when everyone is asleep. I really need my own dedicated space!
What would you be doing if you couldn’t be a writer?
I have no idea. Writing is my passion. I don’t think I’d be happy doing anything else.
What first drew you to New Adult?
I didn’t get to experience a lot of what the typical college-aged person goes through because I got married my freshman year and then had a child the beginning of my sophomore year. So I love reading about this time in people’s lives and being able to enjoy those experiences safely through the pages instead.
What New Adult book is on top of your TBR pile?
Subject to Change by Alessandra Thomas. If only my To Do list wasn’t a mile long!
What writers inspire you?
Gayle Foreman, Katie McGarry, Lauren Oliver, and Jessica Park. I also enjoy Colleen Hoover and Cora Carmack.
Are there any authors you’d love to see do a New Adult book?
John Green. I think he’d rock it.
Leave us with a teaser/quote from your book?
“Will would show her that he was an addiction worth keeping.”

Find Colina Online: Blog ::  Facebook :: Twitter :: Tumblr :: Goodreads
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About the Book: 
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict - blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

True - Erin McCarthy

Synopsis: When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…


I wouldn't say this book is amazing, but it was definitely an enjoyable read. It very much brought me into the moment, but occasionally I'd shake my head and ultimately left it feeling no different than usual. Rory and Tyler are pretty typical NA main characters, But, while I was reading I defintely found myself wrapped up in their lives and their drama. I had some issues that would pull me out of the story briefly, and in the end it's not my favorite - but it's definitely one of those books where you're like - this makes no sense but I'm totally digging it.

I'm going to start with my negative nancy comment first. My biggest issue is the way Rory handles conflict. I mean, her roommates pay a dude to take Rory's virginity, so naturally I expect a lot of fall out from this when she finds out. Yeah...I don't want to spoil, I just want to say that her actual reaction really frustrated me. She's also stupid nice to a guy who sexually assaults her. And I just want to shake her and tell her to get angry. Those are pretty much the two things that drove me crazy. I get that part of Rory's character is that she's cool and logical - where most heroines tend to act rashly, she thinks things out thoroughly. This may have been the first time I got upset because a character wasn't getting upset. Maybe I'm weird.

But on to what I liked, because the majority of this book is very enjoyable. Despite the way Tyler comes into Rory's life, he's kind of great. He's dealing with a rough home life, but I think the sacrifices he makes are admirable. I was also really happy with the way Rory handles herself around his family and how she becomes kind of a beam of strength for them.

The emotions in this book run very high and are very much at the surface. Rory and Tyler's chemistry is incredible and you can feel everything they do. When they're happy it's incredible, but when they're unhappy it hurts. I was definitelly affected by them while I was reading the book.

Ultimately I definitely had mixed feelings about this one. I had some major issues with it, but I loved the relationships and the feelings that came with it. If you're looking for something quick and in the moment, this is a good choice.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Book Blast: Addicted to You

Out today is Addicted to You by Colina Brennan!

About the Book: 
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict - blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

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Excerpt:
Leah hated Thursdays. Specifically, she hated what she was forced to do on Thursdays—a program called ‘Heal the Heart, Save the Body,’ which was a convoluted way of saying ‘therapy for sex addicts.’
Despite her roommate’s insistence, Leah did not have a ‘sex problem.’ So she liked the occasional one night stand. So what? She was twenty-one and single. There was nothing wrong with wanting to make the most of it.
Yet here she was, preparing for another session where she’d have to listen to some old guy attempt to teach a room full of so-called sexual deviants the skills to function in a civilized world.
Because left to their own devices, they wouldn’t be able to resist the primal urge to hump everything that moved. Obviously.
Who decided sex was an addiction anyway? Or that someone should need therapy to “fix” it? Sex was good for you. It was a de-stresser. If it wasn’t, then you were doing it wrong.
She made a face at the platter of cookies set on an uneven seat a few feet away. She had tried one of them a few meetings ago, and it had nearly broken her tooth. They were sturdy enough to survive a nuclear apocalypse. They were cockroach cookies.
Maybe that was the key to these therapy sessions—to knock everyone out with stale confections so they were incapable of having sex.

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About the Author: 
Colina Brennan grew up in a small city, which gave her plenty of time to read and stretch her imagination. By day, she's attached to her kids, and by night, to her laptop. She writes about the fantastical and the romantic, and everything in between. Addicted to You is her first novel.

Find Colina Online: Facebook :: Twitter :: Goodreads
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Monday, June 24, 2013

Addicted to New Adult: How I Fell for New Adult

The amazing New Leaf Literary is running the Addicted to New Adult event and I'm so happy to be a part of it. You can read the kick-off post here. So here's why/how I fell for New Adult and make sure you check out the killer giveaway at the end.
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I fell for New Adult the same way I fell for YA. I read something a little different than what I was used to reading and it consumed me. Everything I read was an attempt to get back to that feeling of something new, exciting and encompassing. For New Adult, it was Beautiful Disaster that sucked me in. I’ve had the ebook version with the colorful tongue cover on my computer for ages, but it wasn’t until it was picked up, repackaged, and people were raving about it that I decided to finally read it. You know how readers always say, “I devoured that book.” Well, this book devoured me. I was so caught up in the story and the intensity, it crawled under my skin and left me wanting more. So I picked up Easy and Flat-Out Love and everything else that bore the NA label, if only because I associated that with Beautiful Disaster.
That’s how it happened. Why it happened is a realization that has come to me more slowly. New adult is reason vs. passion (Losing It reference…) after all and we can love things without ever knowing why, but passion burns and if you have reason left over it’s a love that can last a long time. I’ve actually spent a lot of time figuring out this field and what it is that draws me to it, what it is that makes me territorial and defensive.
The first is the romance aspect. I will (figuratively) slay people who lump NA in with erotica or call it sexed up YA.  However, romance is an important part of NA, the same way romance has a tendency to be a big part of YA – or literary fiction for that matter. Relationships are integral to a human life – whether you have them or not. I don’t know about you, but my life is has a tendency to revolve around other people. And I often think back on my life in terms of what boy I liked during that time. So, the best way I connect with a character is through his/her relationships with friends, family, and, yeah, the romantic interest. And with NA, that romantic interest is generally such a prominent part of the story that I feel strongly connected to both the main character and the dude she’s falling for.
The other thing I’ve begun to notice the more I read is how nostalgic it makes me. It’s weird, because I’ve read so many YA novels and never pined for my high school days. NA never fails to make me miss college – at least the novels where the characters are in college. I miss the freedom and the excitement of feeling grown up but still really pretty naïve. I miss parties and only having class Monday – Thursday for a few hours a day. I miss working a minimum wage job with very little pressure. I learned who I was in college. I mean, I’m still figuring it out, but I learned a lot about trust, friendship, responsibility, boys, and balance when I was given that huge amount of independence. The most important thing was, I figured out how to take care of myself. I think a lot of YA is figuring out who you are, and NA is about figuring out with to do with your life. And that still resonates across many age groups.
I love YA because everything feels urgent and like the end of the world. The stakes are always high and the relationships are intense and exciting. In NA, you do get a lot of the same angst that comes with YA, but you also get the nervous energy of being (seemingly) alone in the world for the first time, you get a person colored by their high school past, and often that includes romantic experience, bringing relationships to a much more passionate level. Long story short, I fell for NA because I connect with these characters so intensely - they are simultaniously reminders of who I was and who I am now.
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Friday, June 21, 2013

Team Garrick: NA Crush Tourney

In case you haven't heard, I've been lucky enough to be chosen to advocate for Garrick from Cora Carmack's Losing It in NA Alley's NA Crush Tourney! While Garrick is pretty amazing all on his own, we'll definitely need your help to see him through to the end. Because, in all honestly, Garrick is up against some pretty amazing dudes in NA lit. Garrick's first match is on July 4th and he's up against Kayden from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen. So yeah, help us out!

How?

Well, first of all - talk about all things Garrick! Tweet, Facebook, nudge your friends, stop strangers in the street, whatever works! Tell everyone you know how much you love Garrick and if they're all like...uhhhh I haven't read that book...tell them to read it (they'll thank you for it)!

You can also join the street team below. I'll send you reminders and let you know more specifics about how you can help out.

If you have a blog, I'll love you forever if you blog about how awesome Garrick is!

If you're Tweeting or Facebooking about all the amazingness that is Garrick - make sure you use the #TeamGarrick and #NACrushTourney hashtags

Also, grab a button! Use it for your Twitter picture, post it on your blog or your Facebook page! Print it out and post it on your bedroom wall. I will have more graphics coming up - but if you want to start reppin' Team Garrick now, grab the button below!

Team Garrick
   

And of course - Join the Team Garrick Street Team! 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cover Reveal: Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee

I can hardly begin to tell you how excited I am to share the gorgeous cover of Elizabeth Lee's newest novel, Escaping Me! Three reasons this makes me so happy 1) new Elizabeth Lee! She's awesome and I love her first two books (she writes the best country boys ever!) 2) This book sounds so good! 3) I could stare at the cover all day long. I could probably go on and on in a gushfest over this but I'll just stop and let the cover speak for itself.


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About Escaping Me:


All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere - she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out - sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.  
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About Elizabeth Lee:


When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing bak-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town - you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that! 



Find Elizabeth Online: Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Goodreads
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What do you think of the cover of Escaping Me?

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Wings of the Wicked - Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.
She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.
She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.


I picked up Angelfire last year because everyone was raving about Wings of the Wicked and it was so awesome and badass. So I bought Wings of the Wicked right away and 15 months later, I read it. I don’t know what made me wait, I loved the first one so much, but other books kept jumping in its way. But it finally worked its way back to the top of my reading pile and I was reminded how much I love Will and Ellie. Even after such a long time between books, the first one came back to me in bits and pieces. I actually found it easy to jump back into their lives as if no time had passed.

Ellie is still one of the toughest heroines out there. She has a lot of responsibility and a lot of power, but the way she handles it all is impressive. She keeps her human life and her friends – she can actually be a teenager and save the world at the same time. She’s very Buffy that way. She’s very Buffy in a lot of ways – being the chosen one and leading a group of people whose purpose is to rid the world of demons and still looking adorable and all. She goes through a lot in this book and my heart breaks for her more than once. She gets a little reckless, but I think she has every right to be that way.
Will and Ellie together are still frustrating. They keep sticking to the whole we-can’t-be-together dance way too long and it just doesn’t quite make sense why not. Especially when they’re already as close as they are. Yet, for the tension in the book it works. It’s frustrating, but you know I love it. I remember a lot of buzzing about Cadan stepping it up in this book and seeing Team Cadan camps popping up. Yet, I don’t see it. He has his moments, but I can’t see him as a real contender to replace Will in hero status. So, guess that makes me Team Will.
I will say that I came near the close of this book and was getting a little bit of a juvenile feeling from the story. I recognize completely that it’s YA, so this is very much a personal thing, but I felt slightly as I’d outgrown the story a bit – which may have been from the time gap between books and my own history since then or it could be my reading style. I’m not sure what it is, but I felt as though I’d left behind high school friends who never really left high school. This, actually, hasn’t happened to me before in reading YA. It’s curious, but not a big enough conundrum to stop me from loving the book and the story. I’ll definitely be reading book three, especially after that ending (!!).

Monday, June 17, 2013

2 Year Blogoversary

Two years ago today, I posted my first review. I don't know what I was expecting out of this when I sat down to start this blog. I do know it's gone through several stages and it's meant something different to me at different points. Two years ago, I had just returned from a year in Spain and was living back at home in Northern Minnesota. Since then I've lived in St. Louis teaching Freshman composition and I took time off from my grad program and moved back home. I've gone to Denver to attend the Denver Publishing Institute and then moved to New York to work in publishing. Seriously, these last two years have been crazy.

And, as always, books are the common thread through all the different places I've lived and paths I've been down. I've met a lot of wonderful bloggers and authors and other bookish people over these last two years. The first year was a lot of figuring out this blogging thing and cultivating my own little space to talk about books. This last year has seen a lot of changes, both in my life and in my blog. I've had the lovely Caralyn guest blogging she did a wonderful job keeping things running while I was at the Publishing Institute. Then in the last couple months, I've taken on a co-blogger, Jackie, who's been posting fabulous reviews on Thursdays - so watch out for her posts. I've also been lucky enough to have the lovely, Emily Ritter from (YA)y Books! tossing some great reviews my way.

The biggest change on this blog in the last year has been the emergence of New Adult. I'd had Beautiful Disaster hanging out on my computer for a long, long time and then it was published and was brought back to my attention, so I finally read it and since then I can't get enough NA. I wasn't going to review it on the blog at first, beause I wanted to stay strictly YA, so I started out with posts briefly highlighting NA books I was reading. Then I decided, it's my blog, it's my place to talk about books, and this is what I was reading. So I started posting NA reviews (although, still not frequently) and I created a NA guide (still a work in process) and I will stick up for this controversial genre any chance I get. And I'm proud to say that I now blog about YA and NA.

I can't imagine not having this outlet now - I have no idea how I read before. This day totally snuck up on me so I didn't get a chance to pull together an event or really think about my goals in the upcoming years, but I had to write something to mark this occasion. I just hope there's a lot of life left in this blog and that it will open more doors and bring new people into my life as it has done in the last two years.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Star Cursed - Jessica Spotswood

Synopsis: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.
Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.
In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.


This book...this series...I can hardly put into words what it puts me through. I'm shocked and awed. I was meeting Jackie for dinner and I got there before she did, so naturally I take out my book and read until she shows up. Well, I had about 20 pages left of Star Cursed and I figured things were winding down, but just before Jackie got there something switched and my heart started pounding. I was astounded, and I made Jackie sit and wait for me to finish the book because I just couldn't put it down.

I just don't know what's going to happen and I'm so worried for Cate and I just want to cry for her. I want so badly to slip into the pages and help her in any way I can. She's just so brave and strong and smart. I can't believe how she takes the time to step back and examine her options and to make the hard decisions when she has to. I also really like that she's one of the few heroines who's straight up like - I want to get married and have babies AND still be a bad-ass witch.. Normally, I'm all - ugh, babies and marriage - but I just want her to have everything she could ever want. And when getting married (to FINN, I mean, yeah...he might persuade me to marriage too) seems like the hard choice, it's somehow more appealing.

In Star Cursed all the characters seem so different, just because their circumstances have all changed and they've all grown. Finn is still perfect. Like, seriously, perfect. I was worried there wouldn't be enough Finn in book two, given how the Born Wicked ended, but I'm satisfied. There can always be more, but the page-time balance between Finn and Cate's sisters is right on. I'm loving watching Tess grow and come into herself. She surprised me in this book. Maura, on the other hand....goodness gracious.She has some serious Jan Brady issues, except she has powers and she's not afraid to use them to make people pay attention to her. She terrifies me. I want to sympathize with her, but I just can't. She's stubborn and dangerous and in this book she just seemed to make everything more poisonious.

The tension between the Brothers and the Sisters is so much more overwhelming in this book, especially since Cate is now in the middle of it and being groomed to lead the Sisters. The Brothers are revolting, but some of the Sisters have some pretty evil plans as well. There's no black and white in their struggle for power and everything is so complicated. I just love the way this book kind of spins on the Salem Witch Trial hysteria and creates its own sort of world. It's just awesome.

I almost wish I would have waited to read this book, though, but only because I can't believe I have to wait this long until I can read the next one. This book left me with a sore heart. I'm still wavering between furious and sad. I can't help but feel completely connected with these characters and their emotions. This is an incredible sequel in a beautiful series, which I highly recommend reading.   

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Rules - Stacey Kade

Synopsis: 1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules… 

More science fiction (seriously, I’m loving this stuff)! I completely zipped through this book, its character and its way with being light and intense at the same time just pulled me from one page to the next. I was quickly invested in Ariane’s life and I was kind of surprised at the way I connected with her. She took me into her world and showed me what it was like to have to hide who you really are. Her world and everything that’s at stake make an intense background, but there are times when it’s so light and happy. Because it all comes down to the fact that Ariane is just trying to be a teenager.
Ariane knows what makes her different and she knows she has power inside of her, so rather than trying to figure out who she is, she’s trying to hide herself and rediscover herself at the same time. She starts out pretty meek and invisible, but with so much room for growth, she really steps up to that challenge. She also doesn’t completely understand social cues, so it was fun to watch her try to figure out some nuances of human behavior. She’s just such a rounded character that I know her quirks and her habits without ever remembering learning them.
I also really adored that it took place in small town Wisconsin, because small-town Midwest is where I come from. And Stacey Kade pretty much hit that whole atmosphere right on the head. I liked, too, that it had the added mystery and intrigue of one really large company that pretty much ran things – even though no one really knew what it did. That company is, of course, the same one that Ariane is hiding from so you always have that great threat looming.
Everything about this book is really great. It’s well balanced, it’s enticing and entertaining. I can’t really point out anything that deterred me from it. However, there’s just something about it that’s keeping it from being really epic. Still, it’s a great book that kept me fully engrossed. I am looking forward to book two, because the beginning is definitely a solid foundation for a great series.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Book Blast: The Immortal Circus Act Two


I am so excited to be participating in the book blast to celebrate the release of A.R. Kahler's THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO today!

To help spread the word about its release in Kindle serial format, I have a GUEST POST from Mab, Ringmaster of the Cirque des Immortels, some information about this second book in the series and a couple of awesome giveaways to share.

With its stunning cover, its description which hints of dark things to come in this sequel and the even darker things that Mab alludes to in Vivienne's past, I am so unbelievably excited to be able to share this book on my blog.

Now let me turn things over to the Ringmaster...

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GUEST POST from Mab – Ringmaster Extraordinaire and Circus Fashionista

Hello loves,

A few months have passed since we did our last tour, and oh, how I've missed you all.

This week, I am pleased to announce the next installment in our little show. Although it pains me to admit that we will not be doing a full blog tour, I am sure the tale ACT TWO weaves will keep you entertained. So many of you were dying to know more about Vivienne's past. In fact, many people seem to be dying when it comes to Vivienne's past but...I'd hate to spoil her surprise. Needless to say, this will be a show she will never forget.

And for those of you who need more than pretty words to tempt them, I am also hosting a giveaway. Five winners will receive Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. One lucky winner will also get a signed copy of book one.

Six prizes, six winners. Six is my favorite number.

Step right up, loves. ACT TWO is just beginning....

Kisses, Mab

***

About the Book

Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO (The Immortal Circus #2)
Author: A.R. Kahler
Publisher: 47North
Release date: June 11, 2013
Format: Kindle serial eBook (current). Paperback edition to be released.

Vivienne is almost content with her new life in the Cirque des Immortels. She has moved up from selling cotton candy to telling fortunes, she has a gorgeous, magical boyfriend, Kingston…and no one has been murdered since the clash between the otherworldly Courts. Her life under the faerie big top would be perfect, in fact, if not for the nightmares and visions that compel her to seek and confront her half-remembered past. But for Viv, not knowing her past may well be a blessing. There's a reason she ran away. But can she truly escape herself?

The second act of the fantastically evocative Cirque des Immortels series, The Immortal Circus: Act Two draws readers further into a world that’s at once wonderful, seductive…and deadly.

Step right up…


***

About the Author

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, book one in his Cirque des Immortels series, is now available from 47North. ACT TWO releases today, June 11, 2013.

MARTYR, the first book in his post-apocalyptic YA fantasy series, THE HUNTED, is set to be published October 28, 2014 by Spencer Hill Press.


***

About Book One


Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS (The Immortal Circus #1)
Author: A.R. Kahler
Publisher: 47North
Release date: December 4, 2012 (serial eBook); January 29, 2013 (paperback)
Formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback

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…

***

The Giveaways


Mab’s Giveaways (US ONLY):

GRAND PRIZE – A signed copy of book one, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, The Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. (ONE WINNER)

PRIZES – Trading Cards and a signed bookplate. (FIVE WINNERS)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rockstar Book Tours Giveaways (International to anywhere that can accept eBook gifts from Amazon US)

A Kindle Serial eGift of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO. (FIVE WINNERS)

(All winners will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 10, 2013

Linked - Imogen Howson

Synopsis: Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. 
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. 
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed. 
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. 
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.


Science fiction is becoming a thing in YA. It seems to be popping up everywhere. What's surprising to me is that I'm loving this new trend. So I was drawn to this book (which, a small part of my attraction was that gorgeous cover - seriously, this is an amazingly well-designed book) because of the sci-fi thing. And Imogen Howson did a fabulous job in creating an entire world that exists outside our time and world. She didn't just create an entire world, she created an entire planet. There were some cracks in the plot line and I didn't entirely connect with the characters, so it isn't my favorite. But, by heavens, this world is so. freaking. awesome. 

This story takes place in space and there are multiple planets that exist the way that we have countries. You can travel between them, there are immigration laws and each has its own history and government. It's fantastic. But my favorite thing, which I really wish there was more of, is that there are pirates. In space. I got really excited when I thought that was a possibility, but they didn't really show up the way I thought they would. So that bummed me out. (Now I just need someone to write Pirates of the Caribbean in space because that's pretty much the next book I want to read...) But with all the space travel and the danger and just the images that come with this world - it really is beautiful and an incredible achievement.

There were holes in the story that pulled me out of the flow a few times. The pacing was also a little bit off - with a slow start and a whirl-wind ending. I also had a hard time getting completely behind Elissa. She was always doing the right thing, even when it was hard, but I couldn't always follow her reasoning. Sometimes it seemed like she was following blindly or making some rash decisions. And Lin was even harder to connect to. I mean, it makes sense, considering her background, but I still wish I could have liked her a little bit. It was an interesting take on twins and I really liked the way that thread of the story eventually comes together.

It's not the best book I've ever read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm mostly just in love with this world though. It is a series I'll keep reading, because I think it has the potential to get a lot more rich as her characters develop a bit more. I have mixed feelings, but if you're digging this sci-fi trend as well I'd definitely recommend throwing this one on your reading list. 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Ten Tiny Breaths - K.A. Tucker

Synopsis: Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.
Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.
But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.


I had no idea what to expect going in to this book, but it completely sucked me in and it affected me greatly. I became enamored with every single character in this book and felt so wrapped up in their lives that my emotions sat right on the surface through the whole story. It's a lovely, shocking and captivating story that's an exemplary example of NA lit. 
Kacey is a tough heroine, she was hard to connect to - but the amazing part is - I wanted to connect with her. She's stand-offish and a little off-putting, but it was so easy to care about her and hope that she'd start showing me what was behind her defenses. She's admirably strong and scrappy and even though she deals with stress and a traumatic past, there's something to envy about her. But she's just the one of the many loveable characters in this book. She's taking care of her little sister, Livie, who might be the sweetest and most likeable character ever. I just want to hug her and buy her presents for being so perfect (and not in an obnoxious way). And her next door neighbor and her daughter are so wonderful. I just loved that the four of them are all a bit displaced, yet they come together to form a pretty strong family. 


I really don't know what to say about Trent. He came on too strong sometimes and I was  a little worried I wouldn't like him. But I think I was projecting from Kacey's feelings. She doesn't trust easily and her struggle comes through completely when it comes to him. But as she falls for him, I started to get it. And I came to really care about him. I think Tucker did a really great job of showing how two people can change each other's lives. Their relationship is rocky, but ultimately you root for it because both seem to be better off when their together. Kacey can heal herself, but he helps. 


There's a lot in this book that I didn't expect. And there's a point where I totally had the rug - no not just the rug, it was bigger than that - I had the whole freaking ground pulled out from under me. I was reading the book on my computer and I had to physically step away because my stomach fell and I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to be near the book. Then I read it again to see if it was really happening. But of course, I took a deep breath (or ten tiny ones...) and jumped back in. Because Kacey is definitely worth sticking around for. 
I really love this book (if you can't tell by now). If you're new to NA, this is one of the first books I'd recommend you read. Because it hits all the components that make a great NA book and it's a great story with fabulous characters. It's emotional and unexpected. And I can't wait for One Tiny Lie and Livie's story because it's going to be really interesting to see who she will become after she grows up a bit more and is living on her own. Her story is already fascinating and it can only get better. 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

When You Were Mine - Rebecca Serle

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

When You Were MineSynopsis: In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale.What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.
Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.
Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…


This was my first experience reading a Shakespeare retelling. I thought it sounded really cool that it would be from Rosaline's perspective. I'm sad to say I was more than a little disappointed with this one. I don't think trying to mesh a contemporary romance with one of the most iconic tragedies in history really worked out in this case. 

The first thing that turned me off was the overuse of snark. It was overwhelming to me (and I usually love that kind of voice!), but I didn't want to cast it aside just for that reason. This was about a girl who had a right to be all sorts of bitter. That being said, Rosaline was not at all mad, crazy, vengeful, or anything else you might expect a high school girl to be when they are flat out dumped for their cousin. She was still upset that it seemed like Juliet didn't like her. After all that happened, she wanted to be friends with Juliet. I don't think that is realistic at all. Unless Rosaline is a robot, she should be at least a little ticked off at someone. 

Another thing that actually made me upset over this book was the glorification of real-life mean girls. Rosaline and her friends (who are at times the only interesting people to really read about) were down right horrible. The girl who couldn't be mad at the guy, or her cousin who stole her guy, was surprisingly ok with seriously bashing her classmates who were less than popular. I never want to read another book that promotes, "I'm a stereotypical, pretty, mean girl high school senior, and I rule the school." That's what this one felt like to me.

The only thing I really found interesting in When You Were Mine was the explanation of the family feud. It was an interesting take, again, formatted to be contemporary. 

The end left me more than upset. I can't really get into it without spoiling anything, so I'll leave out the details. I can't say whether or not liking or not liking the original Romeo and Juliet will affect how you feel about this book. I was always a little indifferent about the play, but I found myself getting pretty defensive of Juliet, hating Romeo (whose name is Rob in this book, though all the others are the same), and not being able to stand Rosaline. If you choose to read this book, let me know how it leaves you feeling.  

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Book of Broken Hearts - Sarah Ockler

Synopsis: Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.


This was my first time reading Sarah Ockler and it definitely won't be my last. Thankfully this book was pushed into my hands with high recommendation so I moved it up my TBR. Within the first chapter, it’s pretty clear that you’re not in for a typical YA contemporary; however, it still contains all those elements that make a really great summer read. There’s so much to love in this book, but it’s the fresh voice of Jude’s character that makes this book something special.

It’s hard to put my finger on what makes Jude so different from other YA narrators. There are obvious things that make her stand out, but there’s something in her voice and her thoughts that are unique to her. She’ll say or think something and if you knew her in real life you’d probably shake your head and say, “That’s so Jude.” She’s bright and quirky, yet so accessible. And she’s in that transition between high school and the rest of her life, where it seems you have too much space and not enough time, that gives her a perfect opportunity to grow.

It seems with a title like Book of Broken Hearts, that romance would be a big part of this book. And it plays a role, but it’s not the focus. While Emilio is great, I actually feel like he’s the weakest part of the book. I never really got a chance to fall for him or grasp on to the nuances of his personality. But this wasn’t that big of a deal because I feel like he’s a catalyst for Jude to face some issues and to find out who she is outside her family.

Family is at the heart of this novel, with Jude’s father who has Alzheimer’s and her sisters who are significantly older than her. She’s grown up under their influence and after they’ve all been scorned by a Vargas boy, Jude takes an oath when she’s 12 to never date a Vargas boy. And, of course, Emilio is a Vargas. So in developing a relationship with him, she’s really learning who she is outside of the influence of her sisters. A lot of her triumph comes from learning to voice her own opinions and feelings and to speak up for herself, even over the volume of her sisters. The Alzheimer storyline is heartbreaking, yet there are moments of such joy that it’s hard to let her father’s progressing illness get you completely down.

I could probably talk about a lot of other components of this book – it’s just one of those stories that miraculously contains so much more than it appears to. There are the rebuilding motorcycles and the freedom that comes from that, and the way that Jude grows apart from her high school best friend as many of us unfortunately do. There’s the way the author brings in other books and the literary world as an influence in Jude’s life, and the feeling that there’s a nostalgic summer air around the whole book. It’s an accomplished and wonderful novel that impressed me so much.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Going Places

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Books Featuring Travel in Some Way

1. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
5. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

6. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
7. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
8. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
9. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Monday, June 3, 2013

Faking It - Cora Carmack

Synopsis: Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.
Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Cora Carmack is the kind of writer that just sucks you in to the world of her characters and you don't even realize it's happening. I loved Losing It for its humor, honesty, and just the fact that it left me grinning. And I know it’s really not fair, but it’s hard not to judge companion novels against each other – and really, how do you top Garrick? But in Faking It Cora takes on a different kind of story, a little darker, one where Cade thrives and comes to life. And Max is really a stunning, fascinating and well-rounded heroine, perfect to compliment Cade’s personality.

I was expecting a lot of Cora's second novel, but I was worried about one thing - Cade. He was not my favorite character in Losing It. And actually, I thought he was gay for a little while so I was curious how Cora was going to turn him around into a hero-level character. In the beginning, it felt a little bit like some aspects of his personality didn’t match up with who he was in Losing It. It’s kind of hard to put my finger on what exactly was different about him – but he was more on the broody side, than the sad and scorned side. But the farther I got into the book, the less I noticed his personality change.

Really, the joy of this book was getting to know Max. As Cade breaks down her walls, we get to see the layers of her character peeled back. She’s this tough, spitfire of a girl and it’s easy to admire her – and even be envious of her determination and spirit. She goes through a lot of healing in this book, and really, if we’re pointing out a star of the show, she’s it. Cade again, seems to fall into the background – but not in the sad way that he does in Bliss’s life. He’s there for support and to balance out Max. She changes him too, but this story is hers and he’s just the biggest part of it.

The way their relationship unfolds is so perfect. You can see it happening from page one, but it’s the journey that’s so fabulous. They have a lot of outside factors that they have to confront and then fold into the seams of the relationship they’re building, so how they manage to come together is so satisfying. I also love the banter they get going and the way they push each other’s buttons. While there are some deeper things happening, they still manage to keep things generally light and Cora’s humor still shines through.

If you want to swoon and laugh and leave a book feeling ultimately lighter and happier, I definitely recommend reading Cora Carmack. Losing It was wonderful and it feels like her writing is maturing and becoming more rich in Faking It. She has this way with creating individual characters who complement each other so well, really showing that it’s not about being perfect but being perfect for the right person. I can’t wait to see what happens when we get to follow Kelsey to Europe in Finding It.