{January 22, 2014} {ARC Review} And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

From Goodreads: When high school senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school library with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend Emily Beam, then takes his own life. In the wake of the tragedy, an angry and guilt-ridden Emily is shipped off to boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she encounters a ghostly presence who shares her name. The spirit of Emily Dickinson and two quirky girls offer helping hands, but it is up to Emily to heal her own damaged self.

This inventive story, told in verse and in prose, paints the aftermath of tragedy as a landscape where there is good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.

____________________________________________________

If you’re not ready for it, and maybe even if you are, this novel will jar your senses. Written in third person limited, what jars readers is that it’s in present tense as opposed to past, like most third person narratives. Thus, the story is happening as you read it, making it read in a most discomforting manner, even though it makes perfect sense. I’ve read very few novels that employ this writing technique, and I think this is one of the reasons that it feels so off—it’s not done nearly enough for it so sound normal. Because of this, it keeps readers on their toes, but I constantly found myself analyzing the writing style and, therefore, focusing less on the story itself, which was not my intention. While parts of it flow very well, others become disjointed and choppy, and I really feel this has to do with it being in present tense. And though I sometimes enjoyed it, most often I found myself wishing it was written in past tense so I could just melt into the story.
Writing style aside, I really felt for Emily in this novel; she made some choices that, on the outside seem normal, choices you and I would make, but that ultimately change her entire future due to the reaction of her (ex)boyfriend, Paul. In all truth, no one could have known he would go off the deep end, and it isn’t her fault he makes the choices he does, but ultimately, one bad choice leads to another, and this is how we find Emily when the story begins.

Sent to boarding school to get away from is all, Emily is closed off and recluse, but pours her heart out through poetry–and the poems are quite good. Though I’m not necessarily a fan of poetry, I really enjoyed how Hubbard joined both prose and poetry together to bring about the essence of this story, even though the present tense narration drove me a bit insane. If you’re looking for something completely different, I highly suggest picking this one up. Three stars.

Random House Children’s and Delacorte BFYR have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 28, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 21, 2014} {ARC Review} Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental #4)

From Goodreads: Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

___________________________________________________________

This fourth full installment in the five part Elemental series is finally here, and it’s just what we’ve come to expect from the talented Brigid Kemmerer! Intense, sensual, fast-paced, and heart-wrenching, it’s an unputdownable read, keeping readers up late into the night until the very last sentence leaps off the page.

It’s a beautiful story following the life of Nick—the only Merrick brother who, as of yet, has not been the full center of his own book. Whereas Michael has Elemental, Chris has Storm, Gabriel has Spark, and even Hunter, an outsider to the family, has Spirit, Nick has, until this moment, been more so on the sidelines. In other words, Kemmerer was saving the best for last. Granted Michael has not had a full novel all to himself yet either, but he has appeared more so as a central character within all the books. And though we get a small taste of Nick in his novella Breathless, this is the first time we really, really see him front and center in a full length novel.

Nick has always been a quiet, level headed soul. He’s the brother everyone can count on, and in so being, he has internalized much of his emotions. Convinced his family wouldn’t understand his wants and needs, he keeps his desires to himself, bottled up from the whole world, refusing to face his inner being. Yearning to run away from it all and attend college out of state, he also struggles with admitting his newfound attraction to Adam, a beautiful soul that really helps make this story.

The threat of the Guides, the lack of income, and the pressure of school steadily overcomes Nick as he attempts to keep his life together. But as tensions rise, his outlets begin to diminish while his ever present fear for those around him continues to mount, causing Nick to begin to fall in more ways than one.

This is a beautiful story of acceptance, focusing not only the choices at hand, but also on the past. It is a story of forgiveness, of finding one’s way in the world and picking up the pieces when it all falls apart. And ultimately, it is a story of love—through friendship, family, and romance.

This novel is by far the best of the series, though I’ve loved every single book, and I cannot wait for the final installment, that of Michael Merrick, to bring the series full circle. It begins with Michael, and so it will end with Michael, and I just know Kemmerer has some amazing things in store for her readers. Five amazing stars.

Kensington Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this beautiful novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 28, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

_____________________________________________

Elemental Kindle | Nook
Storm Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Fearless Kindle | Nook
Spark Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Breathless Kindle | Nook
Spirit Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Secret Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Sacrifice Kindle | Paperback

______________________________________________________________________________

Book Depository | iBooks | IndieBound

Read the full series!

Elemental (#0.5)

Storm (#1)

Fearless (#1.5)

Spark (#2)

Breathless (#2.5)

Spirit (#3)

Secret (#4)

{January 21, 2014} {Giveaway} The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros

The Darkest Joy

by Marata Eros

Release Date: February 18, 2014

Synopsis:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

_______________________________________________________________________

Sound good? You can win a galley of The Darkest Joy AND an author swag pack on Marata Eros’s blog! Check out the information below and enter to win!

Prizes:

5 Copies of The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros

5 Author Swag Packs

(5 winners total)

Enter Marata Eros’ Giveaway here!!!

Giveaway ends January 31, 2014

{January 21, 2014} {Giveaway} Win an ARC of Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

I have yet another ARC giveaway up for grabs thanks to Disney-Hyperion, who gave this to me at NCTE in November! Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore releases June 17, 2014, and the winner needs to be someone who promises to review the ARC within the next few months! If that’s you, then I highly recommend you enter to win! Check out the synopsis below:

________________________________________________________

Synopsis:

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder’s mother is cursed with a spell that’s driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city’s secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they’re not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don’t always seem to stay that way.

______________________________________________________________________

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on February 11th. Please don’t cheat. The winner will be announced later on February 11th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

______________________________________________________________________

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win an ARC of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh–ENDS January 27

Win a T-Shirt, 5 Prints, and a Signed Paperback of Vampire Seeker by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS January 30

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

Win an Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber–ENDS February 2, 2014

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

{January 20, 2014} {Review} Double Clutch by Liz Reinhardt (Brenna Blixen #1)

From Goodreads: What happens when you fall in love with the perfect guy… twice… in one day?

Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark; now that she’s back in the States, she’s determined to make her sophomore year unforgettable. And by unforgettable, she imagined awesome classes, fun friendships, and maybe a little romance.

What she got was a whole lot of romance, and all at once.

The same day that dark, brooding Saxon Maclean charmed her with his killer good looks and whip-smart wit, Jake Kelly stole her breath away with his heart-wrenching smile and intelligent, thoughtful focus.

But Saxon is a proud player who makes it clear that he doesn’t know why he can’t get Brenna off of his mind and out of his system, and Jake’s sweet and humble attitude hides a secret past life that might be more darker and more complex than Brenna’s willing to handle.

Complicating the matter is the fact that Saxon and Jake were once best friends and are now arch-enemies… and the more Brenna finds out about their connection to each other, the more intrigued and worried she becomes.

Between keeping the peace with her lovingly over-protective parents, designing t-shirts for her high school’s rising punk band, keeping up her grades in both academic and technical high school, and running the track like a maniac, Brenna has enough to worry about with out juggling two guys who make her heart thud and drive her crazy all at once.

She has to make a choice. But how can she when giving her heart to one of them might mean breaking the other’s?
_______________________________________________________

I started out really liking this novel. It’s very well written and it definitely holds reader attention, however, as the plot thickened, I found myself becoming more and more disgusted with the main character, Brenna, due to her actions. Her tantrums over her boyfriend Jake, and her inability to stay away from Saxon, made me lose a lot of respect for her… I just felt like she wasn’t making wise choices and was ultimately becoming a playgirl. Add to that her ridiculous tantrum about sex when Jake asked her to respect his wishes and slow down, and well, her immature attitude just sent my head spinning.

Brenna’s constant sense of secrecy and the fact that she falls in “love” so quickly, within 3-4 weeks, also rubbed me the wrong way. The first time she tells Jake she loves him is after a sexual escapade, and in truth, I just felt like she was a bratty young woman concerned only about herself, confusing love with lust. I do understand the teenage mind and how easy it is to get wrapped up in these types of feelings, misconstruing signals, but the way Brenna handled herself and dealt with her feelings left me shaking my head on many an occasion. The fact that she’s a very real portrayal of the teenage mind adds validity to it all, but also scares me just a bit…

And yet, I was drawn to the story as I watched her continually do petty and immature things, and I did like the novel, overall–I just didn’t like the main character, and for me, that’s a huge part of my books. I almost felt like Brenna was a train wreck and I just couldn’t look away which, in the end, made for a fairly interesting read. It’s definitely worth the read; even though I wasn’t a fan of Brenna doesn’t mean you won’t be… and although I really didn’t like her, I did enjoy Jake and Saxon—they are two beautiful young men and I just adored them and their tolerance of Brenna’s craziness; they definitely help make the story. Three stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 19, 2014} {ARC Review} The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin

From Goodreads: An astonishing civil rights story from Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin.

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution. This is a fascinating story of the prejudice that faced black men and women in America’s armed forces during World War II, and a nuanced look at those who gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights.

___________________________________________________________

I wouldn’t classify this book as a novel, but more of a MG/YA history book told in narrative form. It presents the history of Port Chicago and the fight for civil rights during WWII, a time when whites and blacks were still segregated, regardless of the war efforts. Told in sections, it begins with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and shows how the Navy unjustly treated its black servicemen: they were not allowed to fight, but rather could only work in the mess hall as servants to their white comrades. The opening chapter details the bravery of one such man, Dorie Miller, during the Pearl Harbor bombing, going on to show the immense racism that pervaded all walks of life, including the Navy, during this time in US history. Miller, awarded for his service in a time of need, is unceremoniously sent back to the kitchens to serve even though he has proved himself just as capable as any other man, regardless of color.
This scene sets the stage for what is to come: extreme injustice, racism, and betrayal for all black servicemen and women, and especially the 50 young black men accused of mutiny in Port Chicago. These young men refused to continue loading ammo and bombs on ships–a task only delegated to black servicemen—after an explosion that decimated their friends in other platoons and showed just how dangerous a task was delegated to black servicemen while all white servicemen set sail at sea. The book details the injustice of this segregation and also shows how their own country, a country that’s constitution states that all men are free and are created equal, treated them like cattle–refusing to train them to handle explosives, expecting them to work long shifts, and ultimately making a game of their dangerous task in loading bombs.

After the huge explosion and the death of many young black servicemen, some very brave souls refuse to continue, even on pain of death, and so begins a trial that is spoken little of today. In fact, until I picked up this book, I’d never heard of this event in history–it’s like the US has swept it under the rug, trying to blot out the true ugliness of racism, intolerance, and segregation that has plagued the nation for most of its colonized life.

I am not one who generally picks up history books, but this was an eye-opening story told in a narrative voice that makes reading history interesting. Complete with pictures, it details the lives of those who fought back against segregation, fighting for freedom in an unjust world, and who ultimately caused the entire armed forces to change their policies in terms segregation. This event is indeed one of the sparks that promoted change and revolution, even though it took approximately 20 more years for the successful civil rights movement to fully come into being.

Overall, this is an educational read that is interesting and well written; I highly suggest picking it up, especially if you’re interested in the armed forces and the truth behind US history. Three stars.

Roaring Book Press, an imprint of Macmillian Children’s Publishers, graciously gave me an ARC of this book during NCTE 2013.

This title releases on January 21, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 18, 2014} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 80–Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon, with a few on Barnes and Noble. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

______________________________________________________________

Always You by Missy Johnson

I was thrilled when I was offered a graduate teaching position at the prestigious Tennerson Girls Academy. At twenty-three, this would be my first ‘real’ teaching assignment. Working at the elite boarding school, home to the daughters of some of the wealthiest people in the world, was a great opportunity that I would’ve been stupid to pass up.

One week into my new job, and I suddenly had no idea why I chose high school…I was a seventeen year old boy once, I knew how teenage girls behaved.

You can’t even imagine the hell of trying to teach thirty, hormonal driven seventeen year olds who have been cooped up, away from any male contact.

I could handle the whispers every time I entered the room. I could even handle the obvious attempts at gaining my attention. What I couldn’t handle was her…

Rich bitches and way too many rules. Was it any wonder that I hated school?

Add to that the lack of male contact, and I was going insane. Like literally. I wasn’t used to this. A year ago I was normal. I had a boyfriend, friends and a loving family. There is nothing normal about me anymore, and nobody here lets me forget that.

My name is Wrenn, and I’m only here because my aunt took me in after what happened, but my aunt also happens to be the headmistress of this academy…Can you see my problem?

I’m hated for my lack of money, and I’m hated for who my Aunt is.

Then he arrived. Dalton Reed. My new history teacher.

Slowly, he helped me see that even in the worst situations, there is always hope.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Rumor Has It by Elisabeth Grace

All publicity is good publicity, right? Unless you’re recent college grad Ellie Wagner and an embarrassing video of you and your boyfriend goes viral. Every man in your life abandons you, but who knew a one-minute clip of your latest doomed relationship would brand you a slut, prevent you from getting your perfect job, and force you to keep doing the one thing you swore you’d never do again…live with your mother.

But staying with mom and her latest boy-toy (is this husband number four or five?) until your life turns around might not be all bad. Especially when you fall – literally – at the feet of a sexy, green-eyed stranger who offers you freedom and a life of luxury on a gold-rimmed platter.

There’s only one little problem – the man of your dreams is none other than Mason Nash, the latest hip-hop star busting up the music charts. Fame and fortune are his calling cards and he’s vying to steal the show on a new reality TV series that will catapult him into mainstream stardom. Hello spotlight.

The man behind the famous persona is perfect for Ellie in every way, but can she overcome the ugly pitfalls that come with Mason’s celebrity status? Or will she be forced to choose between the man she loves and the independent life she longs for? After all, fame and fortune aren’t always what they seem and not all publicity is good publicity…

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Truths and Dares by Amity Hope

**PLEASE NOTE: Truths and Dares will only be available until MARCH 1, 2014

Somewhere in between playing in the sandbox and starting high school, Harper Monroe fell in love with her best friend. Seth Ryerson was the boy who lived next door. He was the boy who dared to give her her first kiss. He was the boy she cried over when her mother decided to uproot her from her hometown. He’s also the boy with a secret.

When Seth finds out that Harper is coming back to town halfway through their senior year, he hates that he can’t be happy about it. Because Harper is the one person who knows the truth. And as far as Seth is concerned, the truth really doesn’t set you free.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Never by Ellery Rhodes

What happens after happily ever after?

After a devastating break-up that drove her to a school on the other side of the country, Juliet Stowe swore she would never fall in love again. She wasn’t counting on finding Lucas McNamara, the first guy she ever loved.

Finally reunited after years apart, Juliet jumps in headfirst–but obstacles to their happiness remain. Lucas’ ex, Candi Mann, is determined to unearth Juliet’s past and drive a wedge between them.

Lucas McNamara knew Juliet was special the moment he saw her. She’s a girl worth giving up his player ways; a girl he wants to wake up to the next morning and every morning after. A girl that makes everything else go away.

All the BS with his parents? Irrelevant. His friend’s complaints that he’s acting weird, losing himself in some girl? Ridiculous. All he needs is Juliet. And then he does something he never, ever thought he would do. Something that could ruin everything…

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Every Breath by Tasha Ivey

How does someone give their heart away when they don’t have all of the pieces?

Not that Makenna really wants a second chance at love anyway. She is stuck in her tragic past, secretly living every day for her deceased fiancé, while her new boyfriend, Drew, is gently nudging her into the present.

Desperate to appear normal again, she slaps on a happy face and goes through the motions of a normal, healthy relationship-but with the exception of even a single kiss. And she’s okay with pretending, but Drew needs more than she’s willing to give.

Surprisingly, it’s an innocent letter from a soldier halfway around the world that has her seeing life differently. Sawyer is at his breaking point, and his depression sucks him in deeper every day. Makenna becomes his only lifeline to home, and he’s hanging on by a very weak thread.

By helping him, Makenna learns to let go of grief before she’s left with only a ghost of the woman she once was, finally freeing her from guilt and showing her that it is possible to love again. But when she discovers that both of the men in her life are hiding something, she makes two shocking revelations.
One of them is insanely in love with her, and one of them destroyed her happy ever after.

Even though a fairytale ending does await her, is she willing to face her own demons to fight for it?

**Contains mild language, adult situations, and sexual content. Mature audiences only.**

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Hereditary by Jane Washington

Beatrice Harrow has the blood of a tainted creature running through her veins. It makes her more powerful, more beautiful and more despised than any other being in the human kingdom. So she is naturally suspicious when the ever-smiling Cale and his comparatively tacit counterpart, Prince Hazen, befriend her.
Armed with an ability that is becoming more threatening to her own health by the day and a repertoire of surprising friends that may or may not have her best interests at heart, she quickly finds herself struggling against forces much bigger than any of them. How long until her tenuous connection to each kingdom is severed, and she is forced to chose between humanity and the tainted creatures?

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Lost by M. Lathan

Three months ago, Christine found herself, love, and impossible friends, while losing the memories of the biggest piece of her past. Now her powers are spinning out of control and must be tamed by the woman who saved the world, the same woman she is predicted to kill in less than a month. Wanting to punish catty orphans was just the beginning. The world is not as safe from her as she hoped it was.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Bully by Penelope Douglas

My name is Tate. He doesn’t call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all. No, he’ll barely even speak to me.

But he still won’t leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I’ve been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went to France for a year, just to avoid him.

But I’m done hiding from him now, and there’s no way in hell I’ll allow him to ruin my senior year. He might not have changed, but I have. It’s time to fight back.

*This novel contains adult situations and should NOT be considered appropriate for young adults. It is only suitable for ages 18+ due to harsh language, violence, and sexual situations.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Sinners and Scorchers by SM Reine, et. al.

WITCH HUNT (Preternatural Affairs) – SM Reine
Cesar Hawke wakes up with a dead waitress in his bathtub after a night of drunken partying, but he knows he didn’t kill her. He works for the Office of Preternatural Affairs. He doesn’t hurt people – he saves them. The cops disagree. Now he’s running. He’ll have to find Isobel Stonecrow, a witch that speaks to the dead, to clear his name and get his life back. He’s bagged a dozen witches before. How hard can one more be?
___________________

CALLED (Southern Watch) – Robert J. Crane
A local cop keeping order in Midian, Tennessee, Archibald “Arch” Stan lives a good but ultimately empty life. Until the drifter with a sword comes to town. Lafayette Hendricks fights things that don’t die – even when shot. As demons, chaos and unspeakable evils threaten Arch’s small town, he and Hendricks must join forces to keep watch on the darkness before it swallows Midian — and from there, the world.
___________________

FLAMING DOVE – Daniel Arenson
A child of both angel and demon, Laila is outcast from Hell, banished from Heaven and lost on an Earth left in ruins. Yet the armies of Armageddon, ended now in an uneasy truce set to implode, both need her. She can become the ultimate spy…or ultimate soldier. As the armies of Heaven and Hell pursue her, Laila’s forced to confront the struggle between her demonic and heavenly blood that battles within her heart.
___________________

CURSED! – Scott Nicholson & J.R. Rain
Albert Shipway is an ordinary SoCal guy, an insurance negotiator who likes booze and women and never having to say he’s sorry. But a little old woman knows about the storm of broken things — promises, hearts, families — littering his past, and she has one heck of a recipe for supernatural revenge: a psychotic ex, a pinch of childhood fear, a life-stealing great-granddad and a notorious mass murderer who doesn’t know he’s dead. Albert’s about to get a chance to right some wrongs.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Sterling by Dannika Dark

Zoë Merrick lived an ordinary life until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead.

She was found, covered in blood, and taken in by an ex-soldier named Adam. Zoë didn’t just survive that night – she underwent a physical transformation and acquired unexplainable abilities. Severed from her old life, her frustration grows as she tries to comprehend what’s happening to her.

Serendipity leads her to Justus De Gradi. He’s handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. Through Justus, Zoë learns the truth about what she is and where she belongs. A young Mage is vulnerable in this dangerous world. The only way Zoë will understand her power is by putting her trust in a stranger and accepting the protection that he offers.

When her immortal freedom is threatened by the one man who has a right to claim her, Zoë learns the price of freedom…and the value of loyalty.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

{January 17, 2014} {Review} The Stranger by Albert Camus

From Goodreads: Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed “the nakedness of man faced with the absurd.” This edition includes the original English translation by Stuart Gilbert, first published in 1946.

____________________________________________________________

I first read this when I was in high school. I hated it. I didn’t get it—not ever a little bit. The only thing that resounds in my mind is my English teacher asking the class if the main character had a name, and we all said “no.” WRONG. I remember her telling us that he did have a name, and then showing us where it was… but that’s all I remember besides not understand the book or liking it in the least.

So, of course it’s only fitting that, fifteen years later, I find myself in the classroom being asked to discuss The Stranger. I hemmed. I hawed. I asked fellow educators what to do—I did not want to work with this book. First of all, I still didn’t understand either the philosophy of absurdism or existentialism, and trying to wrap my head around these two concepts was throwing me for a serious loop. Secondly, my own experience with the book was getting in my way of attempting it again. But of course, we do what we must, and I reread the book with my personalized, watered down notes on absurdism and existentialism in front of me every step of the way. And guess what? I finally got it. But it took a while.

I think my main issue stemmed from the fact that absurdism and existentialism have such convoluted definitions that trying to muddle through the definitions themselves bogs the mind and causes extreme confusion. If you google the terms, you will see that most of the language used in trying to decipher the philosophies is extremely formal and above and beyond easy recognition. So, it took me a while to search through multiple definitions and finally come up with a watered down version that I would be able to not only understand, but also be comfortable in presenting in a manner that made understanding the text easier for others. This took a while, but I eventually got there.

Absurdism is the belief that there is no meaning in life, but that the individual will continue to search for meaning regardless, trying to make meaning in a meaningless world. So, an absurdist would believe that there is no point to anything. In other words, our main character, Mersault, who has adopted this absurdist worldview, finds no meaning in life, death, work, friendship—and understanding this allows for our comprehension as Camus develops the story. We see Mersault constantly shrugging off questions and concerns from his peers:

Do you want to be friends?

–I guess; it doesn’t matter.

Are you sad your mother died?

–Not really; it doesn’t matter to me; I’d like to take a nap.

Do you want to get married?

–Umm, if it makes you happy? It doesn’t matter to me.

Why did you kill that man?

–I don’t know, because I could, I guess.

And so on and so forth go these interactions throughout the book. Understanding absurdism and the fact that there is no meaning behind anything sheds light on Mersault’s casual, blasé manner. And while I constantly want to put meaning behind his actions, stating that Mersault’s a depressed person and that’s why he acts the way he does, absurdism actually stops me from being able to do this. And that’s because there is no meaning behind anything, this book included, so in other words, there is no ability to state that Mersault’s depressed as there’s no meaning behind his actions. Read that again. My definition is still a bit convoluted, I believe.

As a person who is constantly searching out the meaning behind a text, I find myself searching for meaning and trying to attribute meaning to Mersault’s actions and characters, BUT, as there’s no meaning, I can’t actually do that. So says and absurdist. And while I disagree, it makes sense on a philosophical level. In other words, the book just is, and Mersault just is, and no one can attribute meaning to what is happening because there is no meaning in the world. However, we will constantly try, and fail, to assert meaning. Okay…

Existentialism has a very widespread meaning, but the easiest form for me to understand is that it goes along the lines that there is nothing above man, above “me,” and that life revolves around me. I am, therefore, responsible for just me, and you for just you. We, as readers, constantly see this philosophy show up in The Stranger as well. Mersault is constantly wondering how everything affects him–he doesn’t worry about how it affects others. He pays more attention to the details around him than other’s feelings because it’s all about him. But in the end, it doesn’t matter, because there isn’t any meaning, so… Ugh. I feel like we’re going around in circles now.

But, all this philosophy speak aside, I actually found that I enjoyed this book so much more this time around, and discussing absurdism and existentialism with others made this a fun read, so I’ll say that overall, I enjoyed it. I’m not in love with it yet. No, not yet; but perhaps that will change when I re-read this again next year. Three stars.

I’ve owned a copy of this novel since high school.

{January 16, 2014} {Giveaway} Tim O’Rourke Vampire Seeker Release Party!

It’s here! Vampire Seeker by the talented Tim O’Rourke is releasing in paperback today! This is an extremely well written novel following the life of Samantha Carter, and you don’t want to miss it!

______________________________________________

Synopsis:

Samantha Carter believes a vampire is responsible for the brutal deaths of four women in London and finally she has the chance to catch him. Desperate to prove the killer’s identity, she chases him onto a late night tube train. But Samantha doesn’t reach the next station – instead she’s pulled into a very different journey, back in t

ime to the Wild West – where friendship, desire and even love all come hand in hand with deadly danger. To stay alive she’ll have to work out who to trust – and when to resist temptation. For Sammy’s nightmares are about to come true – vampires are real and more lethal than she ever imagined…

This is a mature New Adult Novel for ages 17 and up. Contains sexual situations and scenes of horror

“…Tim O’Rourke has ventured into the adult genre with a spectacular entrance. ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker’ is a whole lot of fun, not to mention some awesome new characters for us to get to know and

enjoy. All I am going to say is chapter 23!!!! I do blush!” – Novels On The Run.

“…O’Rourke has once again written a wonderful novel filled with mystery and intrigue, and it definitely piqued my interest and kept me guessing.” – A BookVacation

“…Sammy was shameless and totally consumed by the moment. I can’t believe Tim wrote it!” – Talk Supe

Amazon | Goodreads | Kobo

Check out my review of this awesome novel here!

______________________________________________

About Tim O’Rourke

Tim has written over twenty novels and is the author of the bestselling ‘Kiera Hudson Series’, ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker Series’, ‘The Sydney Hart Novels’ & ‘The Moon Trilogy’ amongst other titles.

Little Brown/Piatkus Publishing Group have recently signed Tim to a three book deal for his ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker Series’. Book one is now out!

The world publishing rights to Tim’s latest novel ‘Flashes’ have just been signed by Chicken House/Scholastic and the book will be published Spring 2014!

Tim is currently working on new Kiera Hudson books and other works.

Connect with Tim:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

______________________________________________

To celebrate its release, Tim O’Rourke is doing a special giveaway that includes a t-shirt, five signed prints that relate to the novel, and a signed paperback of Vampire Seeker.

And one lucky winner will win it all!

To enter you must:

Be 18 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)
Fill in the required information on the rafflecopter entry form (extra entries optional)

Click HERE to go to the Rafflecopter Entry Form!

This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY and will end January 30th at 12:01am EST. The winner will be announced on January 30th in a new post, and he/she will receive email notification! Please read the giveaway policy and leave a thoughtful comment!

______________________________________________

Check out O’Rourke’s other novels (they are indeed all amazing):

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

Dead Push (#7)

Dead Lost (#8)

Dead End (#9)–Coming Soon

Kiera Hudson Series 3

Lethal Infected (1)–Coming Soon

Jack Seth Novellas

Hollow Pit (#1)

Vampire Shift Graphic Novels

Vampire Shift Volume 1

Black Hill Farm Series

Black Hill Farm (#1)

Black Hill Farm Andy’s Diary (#2)

Return to Black Hill Farm (#3)–Coming Soon

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

The Queen of the Doorways (#3)–Coming Soon

Samantha Carter Series

Vampire Seeker (#1)

(Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

The Moon Trilogy

Moonlight (#1)

Moonbeam (#2)

Moonshine (3)–Coming Soon

Sidney Hart Series

Witch (#1)

Yellow (#2)

Raven (#3)–Coming Soon

Unscathed Series(?)

Unscathed

Stilts Series

Stilts (#1)

Eat Me Series

Eat Me (#1)–Coming Soon

Pick Series

Pick (#1)–Coming Soon

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win an ARC of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh–ENDS January 27

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

Win an Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber–ENDS February 2, 2014

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

{January 15, 2014} {Review} Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

From Goodreads: TWO MISFITS. ONE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE.  It’s 1986 and two star-crossed teens are smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love–and just how hard it pulled you under.   A cross between the iconic ’80s movie Sixteen Candles and the classic coming-of-age novel Looking for Alaska, Eleanor & Park is a brilliantly written young adult novel.

_____________________________________________________________

Set in the 1980s, this is a very cute throw-back story of first love. Though I was just a little girl in the 80s, the references and details of the time period still hit home for me, and I loved this look back in time, especially as most YA books nowadays are set in either the present or future, therefore making Eleanor & Park a refreshing and unique read.

One aspect that I really enjoyed about this novel is that neither Eleanor or Park are particularly unique. Instead, they are average, just like a majority of the world, and it was especially nice to read about a semi plump girl and a misfit boy because most books I pick up tend to have the ultra-perfect hero and heroine. And while I enjoy those books, there really aren’t that many perfect people in the world, so I don’t always find myself connecting with those characters. But with Eleanor and Park, I was able to connect. I am that plump little girl who doesn’t necessarily fit in—and it doesn’t bother me. Some of my best friends in high school were Asian, and I dated a few of them, though my school was an international boarding school in the 90s, so it’s a little different, but the idea is still the same. It was great to just read about average high schoolers living a little less than average lives, and I really felt for the characters, especially Eleanor and her nightmare home situation.

Eleanor is a no nonsense young woman. She pushed her way into Park’s heart, unintentionally, and though he tries to fight it and is less than accommodating at first, he eventually falls hard for her. It’s a little different from Eleanor’s perspective. She reciprocates, but non-verbally, and I really liked this slow paced “first-love” story.

The ending, however, is what really got me. I, personally, didn’t see it as being real. Suddenly their lives are thrown into chaos and everything is upset, which is understandable, but how Park’s parents dealt with it struck me as odd. Now, remember, everyone experiences different things growing up, but my parents and my friends’ parents wouldn’t have reacted the way Park’s do, and so that’s why I see it as unbelievable on my end. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen; I just haven’t experienced it so it sits a little heavy on my heart. Likewise, the ending was left completely open to interpretation, and while I’m always telling my students to infer, to read between the lines and figure it out, I don’t want to do that with this ending. It’s just… I need closure. And while, yes, I can go back through and make an educated guess about what happens, it’s still my interpretation, and this is one of those books where I don’t want my interpretation; I want to know exactly what happens, exactly what the author was thinking. Of course, I can’t have that, and I’ll accept it, but it did leave me hanging in the end, which left a twinge of bad taste in my mouth. Overall, however, is was a cute little story that I enjoyed. Three stars.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 14, 2014} {Review} Darla’s Story by Mike Mullin (Ashfall #0.5)

From Goodreads: Darla Edmunds has faced a lot of challenges in her seventeen years: Her dad died in a farming accident when she was fourteen. Her mother retreated into hyper-religiosity, leaving Darla to run the family farm almost single-handedly. But those struggles pale in comparison to the one she faces after the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plummeting the world–and Darla’s small corner of Iowa–into a cataclysmic natural disaster.

___________________________________________________________________

Fans of the Ashfall series will be happy to note that Mullin has indeed written a novella that focuses on the life and times of Darla and her mother prior to the volcano and their meeting of Alex. However, as it is a novella, it is extremely short and, in my opinion, a bit redundant for readers who have already picked up the series. For those who have read Ashfall, we already have a good knowledge base of Darla’s story as she’s told it before; all this novella does is give a birds-eye view as it all unfolds.

Truth be told, I wasn’t as impressed with this novella as I had hoped to be. As I said before, it was a bit redundant for me as I’ve already read the other books in the series (this novella having just recently released as a prequel), and while I was interested in the novella, I didn’t feel like I learned anything knew. Perhaps it would be a good jump off point for those interested in starting the series, but I certainly wouldn’t want readers to base their impression of the whole series on this novella, because the full books themselves have much more going on and leave readers on the edge of their seat in anticipation. This novella, however, falls a bit flat, and Darla comes across as a somewhat boring person with a real chip on her shoulder—and while she is smarter than all the adults around her, the novella is too short to really show her true colors, and she puts a bad taste in the readers’ mouth. Because I read Ashfall and learned to really like her, I had no issues with Darla in this novella, but I can foresee her attitude being a turn off for potential readers of the series… so I honestly don’t suggest reading this prequel prior to the first novel in the series, Ashfall. Two and a half stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 13, 2014} {Review} Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

From Goodreads: Katie McGarry captivated readers with her “riveting, emotional”* Young Adult debut, Pushing the Limits. In this gripping novella, she tells the story of Lila and Lincoln, who discover that sometimes it’s worth crossing the line for love…

Lila McCormick, Echo’s best friend from Pushing the Limits, first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives. But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters—or that she’d fall for the boy she’s only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most.

Hurting Lila is the last thing Lincoln wanted. For two years, her letters have been the only thing getting him through the day. Admitting his feelings would cross a line he’s never dared breach before. But Lincoln will do whatever it takes to fix his mistakes, earn Lila’s forgiveness—and finally win a chance to be with the girl he loves.
_________________________________________________________

I read this short novella immediately after finishing Crash Into You by Katie McGarry as I really enjoyed CIY. I also wanted to know how the novels related to one another as I knew they were a series, but Crash Into You stood so well alone. What I found is that the series is very similar to the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer: the novels each follow different characters within the same world, and that’s perfect for a reader like me. While I do love sequels, sometimes I don’t have the money to purchase all the novels that come before the one I’m interested in at that very moment, and I might not have the time to read them all prior to the one I want to read, so it was great to be able to pick up in the midst of this series and know exactly what was happening as the focus was on the characters present, and didn’t have much to do with their backstory. Of course, I immediately fell in love with McGarry’s writing and couldn’t wait to read more, so I picked up this novella as it was the cheapest of the series and I wanted something quick to read.

What I found in Crossing the Line is a great novella that furthered my yearning to read the rest of the full series! The characterization is great, as is the storyline! I just loved how Lila and Lincoln come together in this novel through letters, and I loved that the letters act as the opening of their back and forth point of view/alternating chapters as well. It was a refreshing way to introduce the character’s thoughts and feelings, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although short, sitting at about 60 some odd pages, it’s the perfect length to whet the appetite, though of course I wanted it to be longer once I became immersed in the story. I can’t wait to read more in the series, and I’ve already purchased them in anticipation. Four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 13, 2014} {Giveaway} Win Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh

Here’s another giveaway thanks to Hyperion Books, who gave this to me at NCTE! Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh, is up for grabs! The winner needs to be someone who promises to review the novel within a month of receiving the book (if you’ve already reviewed the book, even better!!). If that’s you, then I highly recommend you enter to win! Check out the synopsis below:

________________________________________________________

Synopsis:

Fate:
Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born?
Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands?

Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.

He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in a luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish Infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them; but it breaks Jepp’s heart to see his friend Lia suffer.

After Jepp and Lia attempt a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe in a kidnapper’s carriage, Jepp fears where his unfortunate stars may lead him. But he can’t even begin to imagine the brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—who awaits him. Or the girl who will help him mend his heart and unearth the long-buried secrets of his past.

Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the tale of an extraordinary hero and his inspiring quest to become the master of his own destiny.

______________________________________________________________________

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on January 27th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on January 27th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

_____________________________________________________________________

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win a T-Shirt, 5 Prints, and a Signed Paperback of Vampire Seeker by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS January 30

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

Win an Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber–ENDS February 2, 2014

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

{January 12, 2014} {Giveaway 1} Win a Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber

Have you read Tammara Webber’s amazing novel, Easy? I did, and I adored it! In fact, I loved it so much, I bought a ton of copies so I could give them away to my awesome blog readers!! The winner needs to be someone who promises to review the novel within a month of receiving the book (if you’ve already reviewed the book, even better!!). If that’s you, then I highly recommend you enter to win! Check out my 5 star review and the synopsis below:

_________________________________________________________________

Synopsis:

Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl’s struggle to regain the trust she’s lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

______________________________________________________

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on February 2nd. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on February 2nd, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

______________________________________________________________________

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win an ARC of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh–ENDS January 27

Win a T-Shirt, 5 Prints, and a Signed Paperback of Vampire Seeker by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS January 30

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

{January 11, 2014} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 79–Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every weekend I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

______________________________________________________________

MADDIE by Cia Leah

Sweet western romance short story.

Maddie Jacobs was devastated when her husband of three years was killed. Three months after Adam’s death, the women in town took it upon themselves to arrange for her to marry again. She felt it too soon, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the Reverand repeating wedding vows to retired Marshall, Luke Cole, who made her feel things her late husband never had.

Luke’s wife died two years ago and he was lonesome, so when his friend, Blake Barker, told him about Maddie, he agreed to marry her, hoping for the best. When he met Maddie, he felt he made the right choice, but soon thought she’d never stop comparing him to her late husband. Adam’s memory was driving a wedge between them and all he wanted was Maddie’s love.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

A Little New Year’s Romance by Katie Ingersoll

Allison does not think she has the courage to love again. Though she is a beautiful woman, she hardly expects a New Year’s romance. Normally this time of year, she is planning her New Year’s resolutions. But life gets complicated when she loses her job, and meets a very handsome stranger. This stirs some familiar but confusing emotions for her. It may prove to be a whole new holiday New Years, if she can just open her heart.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Guilt by Leen Elle

Claire has secrets.

When Claire befriends the brother of the boy whose death she caused twelve years ago, she stirs up old emotions and triggers a new dilemma. By the end of the visit to her home town, a search for closure may turn into a fight for survival.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language, and adult situations.
This story will touch on some dark themes: murder, rape, suicide.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Two Sisters by Leen Elle

Jasmine Hale is going through many hardships in her marriage, however, she copes by keeping a cool relationship with her husband. Things are rather calm, until Aaron Hale threatens to kick her out of their home and strip her from their daughter, Jade. Panicked at losing her child, Jasmine turns to her sister, Jennifer Miles, for help in ways to put a stop to Aaron before it’s too late; never did Jasmine think that Jennifer would take her place and bring Aaron down with every bit of power that she has.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Accused by Jack Parker

When he finds himself forced to run.

Accused of killing his parents, Chad Stiles is determined to clear his name. But when the murder weapon shows up in his closet, he’s forced to run. Strange phone calls from the true killer lead him to Seattle WA in order to find him and ask him why.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Teddy Roosevelt is Dead by Connie Claymore

Author, historian, jerk extraordinaire, Peter Friesen is dead. Found slaughtered with the sword he used during his portrayals of Teddy Roosevelt, no one in the small town of Medora cares. Was it the frustrated wife? Jealous husband? Ambitious professor?

Jessie Monroe will look for the truth, but at what cost?

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Against the Heart by Kat Martin

Some Women Find Trouble Wherever They Go.
Some Are Lucky Enough To Find A Man Tough Enough To Handle It.
When Meriwether Jones takes her four-year-old daughter and runs from trouble in L.A., that trouble follows. By the time Meri reaches rural Spokane, she’s out of gas, out of money, and out of ideas.
Ian Brodie has troubles of his own. His father is the shell of the man he once was, lonely, bitter and determined to stay that way–even after Ian, an ex-cop, now the owner of Brodie Security in Seattle, shows up to help him get his farmhouse clean and his life back in order.
Hiring Meriwether Jones to help seems the answer to Ian’s prayers. But Meri is keeping a dangerous secret, one that poses a threat to all of them.
As Ian delves deeper, the danger increases.
But the biggest threat he faces is losing his heart to Meriwether Jones and her sweet little girl.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

After 12 years on the pro. tennis tour and four years with her sort-of boyfriend, Lucy Bennett has had enough. She wants real life… and real love.

Her life, her decision. Right? Well, no one else seems to think so. With opinions on all sides, Lucy’s head is spinning. And she’s stumbling right into the arms of long-term crush and fellow player Sam. Shame her boyfriend – his arch-rival – would sooner smash a racquet over their heads than agree to a simple change of partners.

As the Wimbledon Championships play out, Lucy fights for her life on and off the courts. The question is: what will she be left with after Wimbledon?

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Love and Candy by Elizabeth Famous

LOVE and CANDY is an emotional coming-of-age romance that delves into the intimate details of a young woman’s first serious relationship. Overwrought after discovering that her biological father is an aloof Italian aristocrat, Samantha Montclare falls for a tortured, sarcastic guy who doesn’t believe in love — all the while she’s navigating the hypersexual world of an upper class suburban high school.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Identity X by Michelle Muckley

How are you supposed to survive when you are already dead?

Ben Stone has one aim; discover the cure for genetic disease. He watched his father die and promised himself that it would never happen again, especially to his own son. After his appointment as lead researcher in Bionics Laboratories he begins his desperate research. It takes four years, but he succeeds. He discovers NEMREC, a serum able to reconstruct DNA and cure the diseases that have driven him. It should be the beginning of a new future, but by changing the face of the world, he has unwittingly destroyed his own.

His world falls apart

After arriving at his laboratory to find that it has disappeared, he is sucked into a world of conspiracy and betrayal. The Agency wants NEMREC and will do anything to get it, believing it to be the most powerful scientific discovery in decades. But it wasn’t just NEMREC that they wanted. The Agency wanted Ben dead, but somehow he survived. His best friend, his wife, and Ami, the beautiful scientist who he has fallen for at work all offer to help him, but each has a different version of the truth. They all have their own agenda, only one of them wants what he wants, and in a world where you are already dead, how is it that you are supposed to survive?

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

{January 10, 2014} {Cover Reveal} Perfect Kind of Trouble by Chelsea Fine

PERFECT KIND OF TROUBLE

(Forever E-Book; June 3, 2014; $4.99)

Daren Ackwood is a bad boy with a mysterious past. He’s the kind of guy who knows he can get any girl he wants. Kayla doesn’t do bad boys—in any sense of the word. They have a tendency to leave scars and dust trails in their wake, and Kayla isn’t running short on either. So when Daren rolls up to her father’s funeral in his shiny sports car, Kayla knows she needs to keep her distance during her brief stay in this tiny God-forsaken town. She’s here to take care of her father’s will, nothing more. The trouble is, Daren doesn’t see it that way. And he usually gets his way.

______________________________________________________________________

About the author

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

Social Media Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

{January 9, 2014} {Review} Destiny’s Kiss by Misti Wolanski (Destiny Walker #1)

From Goodreads: Destiny Walker is an exceptional student despite her youth, sullenness, and the werewolf baby she left on a stranger’s doorstep. Across the Atlantic, Kismet Baros was a rare mutt of a Magik—essentially immune to magic but nonetheless able to magically modify scents and heal herself—who was under the protection of the vampire court. Only Destiny and the judge who emancipated her know why Kismet no longer exists.

When powerful Magiks from Kismet’s past come into town to celebrate a classmate’s coming of age, Destiny must face her demons. She must decide what she is—person or property—and if she’ll sacrifice the few friends she has to save the many. If she doesn’t, she’ll be the next face to launch a thousand ships.

____________________________________________________________________

Destiny is a magik running from a very dark past; a past her own parents sold her into in order to protect themselves. Finally free, yet living in constant fear, it seems that Des’ luck is about to run out as her past begins to rear its ugly head, sending her life spiraling out of control once more. This entire plot line really sparked my interest, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Destiny. She’s a strong character and I can’t image all she’s gone through in order to get to where she is today. Thankfully, it’s not graphic, but readers do learn fairly early on that slavery is an accepted practice among magiks and that the trade of young women is rampant in some circles. While it’s sickening to think about, Wolanski does an amazing job setting up the scene, showcasing the truths of human trafficking and slavery. But like I said, graphics are not involved, making it a little easier to read, but it’s still harrowing.

Wolinski intertwines her story with both the present and past experiences of Destiny, focusing mainly on the present, but giving glimpses into her past and her choice to run when the coast finally cleared. I liked the back and forth narrative, though it was a bit jarring the first time it happened because of the name change, but it was still obvious who the story was about.

There are many magiks within this novel, from vampires and werewolves to gnomes and druids, the list is extensive. Perhaps the most interesting but also jarring addition to this novel is that they all co-exist with humans–humans bending to magiks’ policies and customs, having special branches within their forces, such as the police, to deal with magiks, and to also honor their laws. The fact that the humans just seem to roll over whenever a magik showed itself made me a little queasy, but at the same time, it makes sense. If you can’t fight it, and you can’t beat it, the next best thing is to befriend it, right? Even if you disagree with their values and practices? Well, maybe not.

The one aspect of this novel I really struggle with, though, it was it was all a little too fast paced for me. I actually feel weird saying that because I usually love fast-paced books, but in this case, it just was too much too fast. So many characters are introduced to us right off the bat, and I never felt like I was able to wrap my head around it all. Each group has its own powers, customs, laws, and traditions, and once politics came on the scene, I found myself quite lost. The story itself made sense for the most part as it focused on Destiny, but whenever the politics came into play, I personally had a hard time following along. I think a little less information overload would have helped me follow the storyline a little better, but overall, it was a good read. Three stars.

I was given this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 9, 2014} Announcing the Winner of No Attachments by Tiffany King

The giveaway for an ebook of No Attachments by Tiffany King has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winners are…

Angie Cottrell Hulsman

Camille Teakwondo

An email has already gone out to the winners! If I don’t hear from them within 48 hours, I will select a new winner(s) using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

{January 8, 2014} {Review} William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher

From Goodreads: Inspired by one of the greatest creative minds in the English language-and William Shakespeare-here is an officially licensed retelling of George Lucas’s epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. ’Tis a tale told by fretful droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearstome Stormtroopers, signifying…pretty much everything.

Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter—and complete with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations–William Shakespeare’s Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the book you’re looking for.

__________________________________________________________

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is a read every Shakespeare enthusiast will love! Likewise, it will make teaching Shakespeare to students that much more interesting. To take a story like Star Wars, one the masses know, love, and understand, and to transition it into Shakespearean language is ingenious, and I am very excited to work with it in the classroom a bit as we gear up to read Hamlet.

The play begins with a sonnet that I can’t wait to show my students, and Doescher does a great job sticking to the Elizabethan form—it looks and sounds just like Shakespeare! I am highly impressed, and I’m so very glad I stumbled across this book.

Perhaps my favorite part was the humor of R2D2, especially his asides in which he actually speaks in sentences as opposed to beeps! I’ve always wondered what a transcript of what R2 was saying would look like, and Doescher gives us some hilarious insights. I also really enjoyed picking out the references to Shakespeare’s great classics throughout the novel. There is one such scene in which Luke laments killing a starship trooper, and it actually mirror’s Hamlet’s famous “Poor Yorick” monologue quite well.

All in all, this is great fun and I highly suggest lovers (and teachers) of Shakespeare scoop it up. Four Stars.

The novel was given to me for free during NCTE 2013.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 7, 2014} {ARC Review} Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum (Revolution 19 #2)

From Goodreads: Their fight for freedom is humanity’s last hope for survival. The chilling Revolution 19 trilogy continues in Fugitive X.

A war between humans and robots is on the horizon, and only one side will survive.

Siblings Nick, Kevin, and Cass are struggling to survive in a world where deadly, sophisticated robots have turned on their creators and enslaved mankind. Fugitives from one of the bot-controlled Cities, the siblings venture into the woods, but when they are attacked by bot foot soldiers, the siblings are separated…and for the first time, they are on their own.

Created in conjunction with Alloy Entertainment; Howard Gordon, showrunner of 24 and Showtime’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Homeland; and James Wong, writer-director of the Final Destination films, Fugitive X is the gripping next installment in the cinematic Revolution 19 series.

___________________________________________________________

This is an interesting look at the concept of machines taking over the world. Following three siblings as they find themselves separated at the onset of the novel, readers learn the ins and outs of life in a world where bots control everything and humans are confined to rejuvenation cells until their minds no longer remember the truth of man versus machine. With one sibling transported back in the city for rejuvenation, one held against his will on “the island” with a group content to hide under the radar, and one joining forces with the rebels intent on fighting back against the bots, readers are able to watch each story unfold as the siblings attempt to make their way back to one another.

Although I haven’t read the first novel in this series, Fugitive X was easy to follow, and Rosenblum filled in just enough back-information to allow me a fluid reading experience. I had relatively no issues jumping right into the story, and it does hit the ground running, which makes it all the more fun.

I really enjoy when authors give the birds-eye view of all the characters and their experiences, and that is exactly what Rosenblum does as he moves from one sibling to the next, paralleling their stories and experiences as they come closer to finding one another once again. In truth, I would have liked a bit more information regarding Cass as she goes through the rejuvenation experience, but I have a feeling this was covered more so in the first novel, so it makes sense that Rosenblum would want to spend the majority of this story focusing on the two boys as they run different gamuts of rebellion.

While I will say that I enjoyed this story, I must admit that I wasn’t glued to the pages like I had hoped to be. The prose is simple and easy to understand, but I would have preferred a little faster pacing. Likewise, while I liked the main characters, I didn’t really connect with them on a deeper level, so their trials and tribulations didn’t pull at my heart strings, but overall it was very well done. If you’re interested in Dystopian war against machines (but not like Terminator), then I think you’ll enjoy this one. Three stars.

Harper Collins Publishers has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

This title publishes today!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Share this:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Elemental Kindle | Nook Storm Kindle | Paperback | Nook Fearless Kindle | Nook Spark Kindle | Paperback | Nook Breathless Kindle | Nook Spirit Kindle | Paperback | Nook Secret Kindle | Paperback | Nook Sacrifice Kindle | Paperback

Book Depository | iBooks | IndieBound

Read the full series!

Elemental (#0.5)

Storm (#1)

Fearless (#1.5)

Spark (#2)

Breathless (#2.5)

Spirit (#3)

Secret (#4)

Share this:

The Darkest Joy

by Marata Eros

Release Date: February 18, 2014

Synopsis:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Sound good? You can win a galley of The Darkest Joy AND an author swag pack on Marata Eros’s blog! Check out the information below and enter to win!

Prizes:

5 Copies of The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros

5 Author Swag Packs

Share this:

________________________________________________________

Synopsis:

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they’re not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don’t always seem to stay that way.

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on February 11th. Please don’t cheat. The winner will be announced later on February 11th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Share this:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Share this:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Share this:

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

Share this:

Do you want to be friends?

–I guess; it doesn’t matter.

Are you sad your mother died?

–Not really; it doesn’t matter to me; I’d like to take a nap.

Do you want to get married?

–Umm, if it makes you happy? It doesn’t matter to me.

Why did you kill that man?

–I don’t know, because I could, I guess.

Share this:

It’s here! Vampire Seeker by the talented Tim O’Rourke is releasing in paperback today! This is an extremely well written novel following the life of Samantha Carter, and you don’t want to miss it!

______________________________________________

Synopsis:

**This is a mature New Adult Novel for ages 17 and up. Contains sexual situations and scenes of horror**

“…Tim O’Rourke has ventured into the adult genre with a spectacular entrance. ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker’ is a whole lot of fun, not to mention some awesome new characters for us to get to know and

enjoy. All I am going to say is chapter 23!!!! I do blush!” – Novels On The Run.

“…O’Rourke has once again written a wonderful novel filled with mystery and intrigue, and it definitely piqued my interest and kept me guessing.” – A BookVacation “…Sammy was shameless and totally consumed by the moment. I can’t believe Tim wrote it!” – Talk Supe

Amazon | Goodreads | Kobo

Check out my review of this awesome novel here!

______________________________________________

About Tim O’Rourke

Tim has written over twenty novels and is the author of the bestselling ‘Kiera Hudson Series’, ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker Series’, ‘The Sydney Hart Novels’ & ‘The Moon Trilogy’ amongst other titles.

Little Brown/Piatkus Publishing Group have recently signed Tim to a three book deal for his ‘Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker Series’. Book one is now out!

The world publishing rights to Tim’s latest novel ‘Flashes’ have just been signed by Chicken House/Scholastic and the book will be published Spring 2014!

Tim is currently working on new Kiera Hudson books and other works.

Connect with Tim:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

______________________________________________

To celebrate its release, Tim O’Rourke is doing a special giveaway that includes a t-shirt, five signed prints that relate to the novel, and a signed paperback of Vampire Seeker.

And one lucky winner will win it all!

To enter you must:

Be 18 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

Fill in the required information on the rafflecopter entry form (extra entries optional)

Click HERE to go to the Rafflecopter Entry Form!

This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY and will end January 30th at 12:01am EST. The winner will be announced on January 30th in a new post, and he/she will receive email notification! Please read the giveaway policy and leave a thoughtful comment!

______________________________________________

Check out O’Rourke’s other novels (they are indeed all amazing):

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Elemental Kindle | Nook
Storm Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Fearless Kindle | Nook
Spark Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Breathless Kindle | Nook
Spirit Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Secret Kindle | Paperback | Nook
Sacrifice Kindle | Paperback

This is a mature New Adult Novel for ages 17 and up. Contains sexual situations and scenes of horror

“…O’Rourke has once again written a wonderful novel filled with mystery and intrigue, and it definitely piqued my interest and kept me guessing.” – A BookVacation

“…Sammy was shameless and totally consumed by the moment. I can’t believe Tim wrote it!” – Talk Supe

Fate:
Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born?
Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands?

Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the tale of an extraordinary hero and his inspiring quest to become the master of his own destiny.