{April 7, 2014} {ARC Review} Sunrise by Mike Mullin (Ashfall #3)

From Goodreads: The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors’ constant companions.

When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever — and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

This epic finale has the heart of Ashfall, the action of Ashen Winter, and a depth all its own, examining questions of responsibility and bravery, civilization and society, illuminated by the story of an unshakable love that transcends a post-apocalyptic world and even life itself.
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This is the third and final installment in the Ashfall series, and while I do really like it, part of me is left wanting. Years pass by in this novel, and while it’s great to be back together with Alex and Darla—I do love them—I almost feel like not much happens in this final installment.

Yes, there are deaths. Within the first few pages, one character I really cared for died, but s/he was more so a minor character, so in the realm of things, my heart wasn’t broken for too long. In the greater spectrum of things, I feel like there was more of a rollercoaster effect in books one and two, and I was holding my breath a lot as I read those novels, but that didn’t happen as much in this third installment. Everything just tends to work out in the favor of the main characters from beginning to end, and while there is one scene that made me really cringe, again, Alex and Darla ultimately come out of it stronger than before.

This novel read more as a nice litter wrap-up, complete with bow on top, instead of an intense battle for survival, and I just felt like it all went too quickly and without too many hitches. At one point, Darla and Alex do the same thing four times, and each time they get away scott-free. Of course, the next time, they aren’t as lucky, but by that point, the build-up and let down had happened so many times that I didn’t really connect anymore.

I feel like this sort of sounds like I wanted the main characters to suffer more; that’s not the case at all–I’m glad life is finally working out for them, but with all the risks they’re taking (and not taking), it just felt like more should be happening. Instead, Mullin spends much time explaining the complicated green house and heating system that they’ve created, and that didn’t really pique my interest.

Of course, I hold some intense animosity for characters like Red, Petty, and Alex’s mom, but in the end, it’s all resolved very neatly… and yet, there really is no end. But in truth, could there really be an end? I don’t know that I’d be satisfied if everything was suddenly okay—if the ash had suddenly disappeared and life began to go back to normal, I don’t think I would have been satisfied, either. But the way Mullin leaves it opens everything to speculation more than anything else, and those endings aren’t really my favorite.

All in all, this series is really good; books one and two, Ashfall and Ashen Winter, captivated me and I fell in love with them from the get go, but this final installment left me wanting. Three and a half stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Tanglewood Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its official release on April 15, 2014.

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{April 6, 2014} {Review} Sector C by Phoenix Sullivan

From Goodreads: A rise in stroke-like cases has CDC analyst Mike Shafer on alert. Patients in every demographic in the Great Plains area, from toddlers to healthy adults to the elderly, are succumbing to rapid deterioration – and death.

Veterinarian Donna Bailey, meanwhile, is dealing with an outbreak of her own. It looks like mad cow disease. But to be affecting so many species? Impossible.

Whatever it is, it’s spreading. Fast.

As state and federal agencies race to contain the growing threats, Mike and Donna’s searches for Patient Zero intersect at a big-game compound in a remote corner of North Dakota. There they find their answer buried in a secret thought extinct for 10,000 years. A secret entrepreneur Walt Thurman will kill to protect.

But even if Mike and Donna can escape the compound with the secret of Sector C, it may already be too late.

Because after today, extinct no longer means forever.

Ripped from today’s research and tomorrow’s headlines, SECTOR C is a near-future medical thriller fans of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook are sure to enjoy.
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if we suffered a country or worldwide lethal pandemic? While we’ve had our share of SARS, Mad Cow, and even Bird Flu, those virus’ were contained relatively quickly—but what if it was an even higher scale of outbreak? Sector C takes a look at how the government would and could respond should an outbreak like SARS or Mad Cow happen on a much higher level, and let me tell you, it isn’t pretty—though I’m sure it’s more realistic than we’d like to admit. I was appalled by the situations and reactions of some characters in this novel, but realistically it calls into question the philosophical debate of the greater good. Is it better to let a limited number suffer for the greater good, or should all suffer? Sullivan looks at this question as her riveting novel unfolds, and while it isn’t a pretty picture, it is definitely one to make readers really think.

This is a very well-written novel that takes a look at cloning. It’s intense and very interesting–both the situations and the characters kept me glued to the pages, and I highly enjoyed it.

The novel follows different characters as it unfolds—Donna the rural vet, Mike the CDC analyst, and the workers at Triple E—allowing readers to gain omniscient insight into everything that is happening across the spectrum as a rash of animals and people begin to show symptoms of stroke… ultimately leading to their death. Though it sounds scientific in nature, and it is, Sector C is easy to follow and I found myself highly interested in all the characters and the situations they found themselves in. Sullivan does a great job explaining everything, but not boring readers with scientific data or jargon, which was much appreciated. I highly suggest giving this novel a read. Four stars.

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

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{April 6, 2014} {ARC Review} The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

From Goodreads: An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.
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This was unlike any other time travel novel I’ve ever read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Traveling back in time, Prenna, her mother, and a few survivors have come to the present, though they have no intention of trying to stop the plague that runs rampant in their own time.

With technology beyond the current times dreams, the elders run a strict regiment, one that Prenna is intent on defying for the good of society.
It’s scary how efficient the elders are, and one must question why they choose to do nothing to alter the future or save the time they come from. As I read this novel, I was never 100% certain who was truly right—Prenna and Ethan in their suspicions, the homeless man, the elders… Brashares has done a superb job keeping the reader guessing as the novel unfolds, and as events come to a head, the truth, a stunning truth, is revealed to all.

I really enjoyed the characterization of this novel, though truth be told, Prenna was a little weak in my eyes. She must go against the grain, and that is hard for anyone, but there were times that I really wanted her to take control, only to have her rely on Ethan when I wanted her to care for herself. And yet, it works for this novel. Having been brainwashed for much of her life, it makes sense that she is not as strong as some female leads we see in novels, and in retrospect, her reactions help drive the novel onwards. Overall, this is a great read that I highly suggest. Four stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 8, 2014.

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{April 5, 2014} {Review} The Savage Protector by Tamara Rose Blodgett (Savage #5)

From Goodreads: Queen Clara has chosen her future king but as the Wedded Joining draws nearer, the Kingdom of Kentucky’s sphere continues to degrade. Relations with the outside are non-existent and the beleaguered people housed within the confines of the kingdom will soon be loosed to join the fragment.

Calia and Evie join forces to escape the plan that Edwin has for Calia’s future. Frantic to locate the women, Maddoc, Jonathan, Philip and Daniel join forces to cinch the net of safety around the pair before it’s too late.

Calia doesn’t long for a future where a male is the answer. However, when biology and destiny collide, she will find the choice that she wants the least, may be the correct one.

Will Calia be allowed to remain true to herself by protecting those she has vowed to defend? Can she overcome her past and be healed by the love of her one, true soulmate?
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This is another beautiful novel written by the ever talented Tamara Rose Blodgett. Her ability to captivate readers with not only her storyline, but also her imagery, characterization, and intense action sequence always makes her novels a joy to read, and The Savage Protector is no different.

I was drawn into this fifth novel in the series from the very first page, and as Blodgett continues the perilous story of Princess Clara, the band, the spheres, and the fragment, I was riveted to the spot. I absolutely adore the writing in this series. A bit archaic in nature, this world Blodgett has created is beyond amazing, and she designs it perfectly, from the clothes and character mentalities to the language and mannerism, it flows off the page in perfection.

And the imagery? Wow. I don’t usually reflect on the writing in novels–I usually am too wrapped up in the story itself, but in Blodgett’s novels, her writing flows so beautifully that it’s impossible not to notice, and on many an occasion it brought me up short, going back and rereading the beautiful imagery Blodgett presents, even in the more dire of situations within the text.

“The mans flesh opened like a terrible flower in full bloom, blood pouring from the petals.”

“Though the temperature was not truly freezing, the bite of winter was evident everywhere, with small patches of the previous week’s snow surrounding stranded islands of blond prairie grass.”

It is just beautiful, and this, mixed with the heart-pounding sequence of events, is definitely a must read.

I also love the way Blodgett intertwines her story, shifting between character viewpoints throughout the novel. Though the entire novel reads in third person, events unfold simultaneously, which creates the need to follow different characters on their perilous adventures throughout the story, bringing each separate entity back to the main story and intertwining them perfectly. While this is indeed the fifth novel in this amazing series, and I do suggest reading these novels in order, all the novels in the Savage series read as beautifully as this, and I highly suggest you start from the beginning if you have not already done so. Five stars.

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

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And, if you haven’t yet read any of this series, make sure you pick up the first three books, which are currently FREE at the time of this post.

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{April 4, 2014} {ARC Review} Frenzy by Robert Lettrick

From Goodreads: 14-year-old Heath Lambert is spending his summer at Camp Harmony in the picturesque Cascade Mountain Valley. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the soothing calm of nature as he weighs a heavy decision. The camp offers distractions: his friends, Cricket and Dunbar, always up for trouble; his reluctant crush on Emily, one half of the beautiful Em & Em Twins; and hulking bullies Thumper and Floaties, who are determined to make him their punching bag for the summer. But no one rattles Heath like his creepy cabin mate, Will Stringer. Brilliant, cold and calculating, Will views the world as one big chess game, and he’s always three moves ahead of everyone else.

Heath soon learns there’s a much bigger threat to contend with. Something’s wrong with the animals in the surrounding forest. A darkness is spreading, driving them mad with rage. Wolves, bears, mountain lions-even the chipmunks are infected, spurred on in droves by one horrific goal: hunt and kill every human they find.

Heath and a ragtag band of campers are faced with a choice: follow Will’s lead and possibly survive, or follow the camp staff and die. But how do you trust a leader when you suspect he’s more dangerous than the animals you’re running from?

Heath came to Camp Harmony to be surrounded by nature. He’s about to get his wish.
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What would happen if the land-dwelling animals of the world suddenly lost their fear/love of humans and began outright attacking us? It would be like a zombie apocalypse, but with animals, which in my opinion, is even more scary… and that’s exactly what Lettrick pens in his exciting novel, Frenzy. With an airborne virus that spreads an altered version of rabies, animals of all shapes and sizes are infected, shedding their fears and lusting for blood–mainly, the blood of humans.

Enter Heath, a young man who’s already staring death in the face due to a resurgence of cancer, and the prospects don’t look good. But at least he has this last summer pretending everything is okay. That is, until a brood of animals begins slaughtering his campmates.

With the river as their only respite from the hoards of animals intent on obliterating their existence, Heath and his “friends,” Cricket, the Ems, Will, Dunbar, Miles, and a handful of others find themselves trapped and running out of options fast.

This is a fast paced read that I highly enjoyed, and I think most MG and YA readers will feel the same. There is a lot of death within the novel–animals are quick, as it is, but even so, it’s a believable and enticing enough read–and thankfully it’s not too graphic.

While there are a lot of characters, Lettrick makes it easy to tell them apart and their plights are believable. It’s awesome. Four stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Disney-Hyperion has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 8, 2014.

{April 3, 2014} {Review} Blood Duty by J.R. Tomlin and C.R. Daems

From Goodreads: In a remote mountain valley, a scout is tortured and killed in a brutal rite of summoning. An army of demons will soon be on the move. Fellow scout Jessup Inntour wouldn’t care very much if the empire he reluctantly serves is attacked, but the woman he loves is another matter.

Tamra Dervon, Captain of the Guard of Wayfare Keep, thinks her biggest problem is her love affair with Jessup. The scout is holding things back from her, and she doesn’t know what. But when the seemingly unbeatable army of demons invades, Tamra’s personal problems look very small. Tamra and Jessup find themselves leading a last-ditch defense. Their army is defeated. Jessup disappears in the retreat. As Tamra continues the struggle to defend her homeland, she discovers that another duty lies ahead — to face a demon horde alone.
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For those who really enjoy Fantasy novels, I highly suggest this book. Although my tastes have changed over the past few years and I’m no longer a fantasy fanatic, this novel definitely piqued my interest and kept me captivated from beginning to end. It’s a fast paced novel full of battle scenes and preparation as a blood-lusting King and his army, full of dark magic, march across the land, leaving no survivors. Bent on taking the kingdom of Ilkasar as they approach, the dark King and his mages torture and kill those in their paths, using magic to bind the dead to huge creatures of the dark. Jessup and Tamra, the two main characters of this novel, work to battle against the incoming force, but the army they are up against is much more than they can handle, and it will take an offset of strong magic to break the dark King and his army from taking over all the land.

I really enjoyed the imagery in this novel, and for me, it was like the battles of Helms Deep and Gondor (Lord of the Rings Series) in my mind. With the lumbering monsters and the evil army attaching the forge, it played out in my mind much the same, and it was great fun to read, especially as the defending kingdom is caught completely unawares. The Ixich is a great beast full of magic, and I could see it in my minds-eye as it attacked, using magic of its own to take down the enemy… in this case Tamra and Jessup and their army.

I also liked that in this world, woman fight as warriors alongside the men, and while Jessup is a talented scout, Tamra is the leader of the Keep’s army. She is a great warrior, though tied to her duty even though she wants nothing more than to ride off into the abyss with be lover, Jessup. I love that she is strong and that both men and women alike are shown as strong entities in this novel—it was a fresh change from the many fantasy books I’ve read where the women are helpless and the men must care for all.

Overall, this is a great novel that I highly recommend. Four stars.

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

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{April 2, 2014} {ARC Review} Do Anything by Wendy Owens

From Goodreads: A broken heart is only the beginning for her.

Bookworm Annabelle Hart thinks she’s found the love of her life. But when her fiancé’s philandering ways shatter their happy future, she decides she’s through playing the victim. Now, rather than read about life, she wants to live it—starting with a sabbatical from her editing job in Chicago to travel the world. But the past refuses to let her go so easily.

He thinks he has his life figured out.

After watching the woman he thought he loved walk away from him, Holden Blackburn is still picking up the pieces. Content with his life as the owner of an English Inn, just outside the sleepy town of Alton, he’s living his new and peaceful normal. That is, at least, until Annabelle stumbles into his life, and he’s overwhelmed by a desire to learn all he can about her. Now if only he can get her to stay in one place long enough.
Will they risk their hearts on a new chance at love?

When her past returns in a way she can’t ignore, Anna panics, running from any possible future with Holden. She’s determined to keep her life from falling apart again, but she soon discovers the only place she feels safe is in Holden’s arms.

But some things even he can’t protect her from.

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Annabelle Hart doesn’t have the greatest self-esteem. She tends to settle more often than she should, and she very rarely fights back when someone wrongs her. But when her world comes crumbling down—her fiancé’s true colors coming forth—Annabelle finally speaks up and begins to live for herself. Caught in a whirl-wind romance she wasn’t expecting, Annabelle begins to find herself, only to have a bomb shell dropped on her that changes everything.

This is a beautifully written story of heart-ache, new beginnings, and the fierceness of a mother’s love. Truth be told, I thought this NA novel was lovely from the very beginning, but it wasn’t necessarily setting itself apart from the many others I’ve read before it. That is, until Owens threw a kink into the story that I never expected; a kink that set this novel apart from all the rest, placing it in its own category of love and protection. And I loved it!

The characterization is superb—all the characters, even the despicable fiancé, are extremely real and easy to relate to, given the shifting circumstances throughout the novel. Annabelle has some extremely difficult choices to make throughout the novel, and I must say, I don’t envy her at all. And while I might not have made all the same choices in the end, she is an extremely strong character that came into herself as the novel unfolded, and I really enjoyed her.

Holden is, of course, extremely swoon-worthy, and I want him all to myself… Owens has indeed drafted the perfect man, and as he too picks up the pieces of his life, both his and Annabelle’s happily ever after dream is realized. Four stars.

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

Available now for just 99 cents!!

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{April 2, 2014} {Blog Tour Review} Desolate by Amy Miles (The Immortal Rose #1)

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Desolate From Goodreads: A wedding massacre. An innocence stolen. Mortality stripped away.

In a single night, everyone Roseline Dragomir has ever loved is slaughtered before her eyes. Alone in the world and bound by a solemn marriage vow to a vicious murderer, she must find a strength buried deep within her to keep going or risk completely losing herself.

When a mysterious stranger crosses her path, Roseline will discover that not all immortals are evil. Some even bear emotional scars that run just as deep as her own.

Will she uncover a will not just to survive…but to fight back?

***DESOLATE is the first book of the prequel trilogy to my YA paranormal romance AROTAS trilogy. This book contains elements that may be sensitive for some YA readers. Please download a sample before purchasing this book to ensure it is suitable for your teen***

Desolate is book I of the Immortal Rose trilogy, prequel to the Arotas series.

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This is my first novel by Amy Miles, but it certainly won’t be my last! Desolate, the first in a prequel series to the bestselling Arotas trilogy, is indeed a beautiful novel, and though dealing with difficult topics such as abuse, rape, and attempted suicide, Miles eloquently addresses these issues, breaking Roseline down before building her back up again. I can’t say I didn’t cringe as the story unfolded, but I will say that it is a beautiful portrayal of resilience and self-worth.

As Desolate deals with incredibly sensitive issues, I was thankful that Miles didn’t flaunt the events, or give the gritty details. She glosses over many, instead giving the reader just enough information to make the peril and torture Rose is experiencing obvious for readers, but also leaving much to the imagination. But even so, it is enough to cause my heart to bleed for Rose. Miles has put herself in the shoes of an abuse victim and shown the inner depths of hatred, fear, and loss of innocence.

The characterization of this novel was superb, and though I absolutely hate Rose’s husband, a forced union knit together through sociopathic tendencies on his part, Miles portrays a true sociopath vividly, putting the reader right in the midst of events. And while I truly don’t want to experience anything Rose goes through in this novel, Miles makes it impossible not to feel as the novel unfolds. Rose in my hero.

I will admit that some of the events in the novel proved to be a bit much for me; I can’t fathom anyone reading this novel and walking away unscathed, but Miles has done a superb job expressing Rose’s experiences, and I can’t wait for the next novel in the series, and to read the Arotas trilogy itself, as I know Rose becomes stronger for all her suffering. Four stars.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Coming Soon:

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About Amy Miles:

Amy Miles has been a carbaholic since birth and is hopelessly addicted to Frozen Cokes. When she’s not chatting with fans on Facebook she can be found goofing off with family, traveling or stomping her husband at golf. She is an obsessive writer and an avid reader who loves to chat about all things books.

She is the author of the Forbidden, Reckoning, Redemption and Evermore of the Arotas Series. Also Defiance Rising and Relinquish of the Rising Trilogy. She has a stand alone romance, Captivate and has just begun releasing books in her Immortal Rose prequel trilogy.

Want to know what she is currently working on? Check out her website: www.AmyMilesBooks.com
Follow on Twitter: @AmyMilesBooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmyMiles.Author

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And don’t miss out on this deal: Get all three books in the Arotas series for just $4.99

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{March 31, 2014} {Review} The Knowing by L.J. Charles (Gemini Women #1)

From Goodreads: Not everyone can stay sane watching murder through the eyes of the killer, feeling him kill. She’s Haitian, born from love, raised with strength. Can she stop the visions if she stops the killer? His secrets threaten to destroy her world. Which one will survive?
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This was a fun paranormal novel surrounding a psychic connection between a young woman and a murderer. Nia struggles when the snow comes; it means that the murderer is on the prowl, and soon she’ll witness him murder again, just as she does every year… but this year she decides to do something about it. Though perhaps not the most rational of ideas, she runs to the warmest climate she can find in a pinch: Hawaii. Little does she know, this is exactly what the killer wants…

Though a little unrealistic at times, The Knowing was a good read overall. It was fun getting to know Nia; she’s a little bit spacey and flakey at times, and I definitely had my “yelling through the pages” moments as she made a few poor decisions, but with the help of unlikely friends, she stays on top of it all in this game of cat and mouse, a game that ends with a suspenseful climax that had me on the edge of my seat.

Though I didn’t necessarily find Nia’s relationships with the people of Hawaii to be too believable—they were all just a little too accepting, especially Trace and Whitney—I also have never lived in Hawaii, and I have indeed heard it is a much more laid back place. While it has it’s own share of crime, the people there tend to be just a little more understanding, so as I reflect, I have to note that yes, it actually is possible… it just isn’t be the way I personally approach people. I would have liked the relationship building here to have been a little more in-depth, I guess, because then I might have felt it was more believable as I read, but either way, in the end, it works for the story.

There is a lot of action in the novel surrounding Haitian roots, and it was fun to learn the lore as well as learn the true reason that Nia is connected to a psychopathic killer. I have to admit I wasn’t ready for the reveal—and neither was Nia—but as it’s revealed relatively early on in the story, it grew on me and as everything began to fall into place, it began to make perfect sense. Three stars.

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

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{March 30, 2014} {Review} Blue Moon by Pat Spence (The Blue Crystal Trilogy #1)

From Goodreads: “Forget vampires,” he laughed dismissively.

“Who wants to drink blood for eternity? What we have discovered is far more seductive and a great deal more dangerous…”

When 17-year old Emily Morgan meets beautiful but strange Theo de Lucis, there is an immediate attraction between them. But what is his secret? What ancient link ties him to Emily? And what is the significance of the Blue Moon Ball?

As Emily is drawn irrevocably into the glamorous and mysterious world of the de Lucis family, so she is forced to change every perception she has ever had about life, love, aging and death. The truth is terrifying and the consequences unthinkable…

A supernatural horror story, based on society’s obsession with aging and the desire for eternal youth, Blue Moon is the first book in the ‘Blue Crystal’ trilogy…

“For all ‘Twilight’ fans who want a change from vampires, this is the book for you.”
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This is an interesting look at the fountain of youth myth that has followed mankind since its conception. No one wants to grow old and die, and the idea of an element that can stop death in its tracks is indeed a great one. Imagine if there were a crystal that, through bathing in its light could restore your youth to you for all eternity? Now, imagine shadow creatures who are forever searching for this crystal, wishing to become human, who will stop at nothing to obtain it? Intriguing, right? It is, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel, though I would have loved more of the story to be devoted to these two elements. As the novel stands, we are given glimpses of these entities, but their presence is more or less felt but not seen. Hence, I am hoping that more comes of them in the second novel in the series.

While I liked this novel overall, I will admit that there are a vast number of similarities between it and Twilight/New Moon, which I have to say lessoned a bit of the fun of this novel because the story itself was not necessarily unique in this aspect. The instant attraction between Emily and Theo, the underlying secret kept, Emily’s curiosity and sleuthing, the near fatal accident that puts it all in perspective for her, and the appearance of the three Guardians and their ultimatum are just a few of the many similarities that brought Meyer’s novels to the mind. In turn, this made it hard for me to really focus on Blue Moon because my mind continued to assess similarities while I read.

I’ve read many books that are similar to others in this respect, but depending on the storyline and the differences, it’s either easily overlooked on my part, or impossible to ignore. I’m sorry to say that in this instance, I had a hard time ignoring the similarities and focusing on the originality, but do note that originality is indeed there. Spence adds in elements of horror, though not horror in the way that I usually think of it—there is no blood and guts strewn about—but there is a darkness that follows the story, giving it small elements of horror in a more suspenseful manner, such as the shadow creatures.

I really enjoyed the introduction of the shadow creatures, the shape shifters, and the crystal itself, and I would have loved the novel to give a more intensive look at all these aspects instead of focusing so much on Emily, who is indeed a very aggravating character. But even so, Spence has created the perfect workings for her next novel should she choose to pursue the shadow creature angle.

In regard to Emily, well, she is not my favorite, which is unfortunate, but understandable. Emily and I are two completely different people, and whereas she acts and defies those around her, I tend to listen to reason and observe from the sidelines. Her intense desire to know everything that is happening around her puts her into situations that I found to have been avoidable had she thought more clearly before acting, but even so, she is not me. And though I do not agree with many of her choices throughout the novel, she is still a very real representation of rash, curious people, and although I personally didn’t like her, Spence did a great job making her a valid character.

Theo is perhaps my favorite of the novel. Intent on keeping Emily safe, though cryptic in his explanations, he has a good heart and will do anything for her and his family in order to keep them all safe. He, like Emily, is driven by passion more than reason, and yet it works for him… perhaps I dislike Emily so much because I am jealous?

The novel is told in first person from Emily’s viewpoint, but occasionally switches to third person in a few chapters as outside elements unfold—those Emily is not privy to. It was a bit jarring at first, but as the novel progressed, I found that it worked well and that I thoroughly enjoyed this style. First person narration is in fact my favorite narration, but in order to get all the information concerning events unfolding, third person was needed, and I think that was a great choice on Spence’s part.

Overall, this is a good story that looks at the depths people are willing to go to procure beauty. Three stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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{March 30, 2014} {Review} Enemy in Blue by Derek Blass (The Cruz Marquez Thrillers)

From Goodreads: YOU KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS?

The streets aren’t safe when your enemy wears a blue uniform and a gold badge.

What if the good guys weren’t good?

What if a cop went rogue and killed an innocent man?

What if it was all caught on video and the cop would do anything to cover it up?

Chase this lawless cop through the streets and to a scintillating series of showdowns with Cruz Marquez, a young attorney trying to nail down his enemy in blue.

Will justice be served?

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Imagine if you witnessed a murder but couldn’t go to the police. Who would you turn to? As I read this novel, I kept thinking, call the police! But these people WERE the police, and obviously no help was going to come to their aide. I know there are crooked people in all walks of life, but this novel really made me sit back and wonder how many crooked cops are actually out there… I seem to hear about it on the news every other day, though I’d like to think that if I had a problem I could call on them. This novel, however, shows a very ugly side that I never want to see, and that I’m going to say is unusual and not the norm because it’ll help me sleep better at night.

This is definitely a thriller. The characterization is superb and it’s full of heart stopping actions that keeps going and going… it was really good, but it also felt just a tad too long. The novel came to its climax at about half-way through, and at that point, it could have ended, but instead it kept going, focusing more on new characters and situations that revolved around the original ones, but weren’t necessarily needed to carry the original story.

In light of the length, it seems that Blass has taken reviews of his original novel into account, and indeed did split his novel into two separate segments–The Chase and The Trial. In retrospect, I think this is a great idea on his part, and I’m glad he did so–though I read the original version which was the novel in its entirety. Regardless, though, it’s a very well thought out story that will leave readers questioning just how safe they really are… and I highly suggest picking up Enemy in Blue: The Chase to get a feel for Blass’ writing. The cover I have shown here is for part one: The Chase. Four stars.

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

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{March 30, 2014} {99 Cent Sale} Kiss Kiss: 12 Full-Length Novels in One Limited Edition Set

Fall In Love with 12 full-length novels in one limited edition set by some of today’s hottest romance authors, including USA Today Best Selling Authors, J. Sterling, Tara Sivec, and Tiffany King.

Authors and Books include:

Melissa Brown- Bouquet Toss

Jillian Dodd- That Boy

Priscilla Glenn- Back to You

Tiffany King- Unlikely Allies

Michelle Mankin- Love Revolution

Charles Sheehan-Miles- A Song For Julia

Michelle Pace & Tammy Coons- The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life

Andrea Randall- Ten Days of Perfect

Tara Sivec- A Beautiful Lie

J. Sterling- Chance Encounters

Michelle Warren- Protecting Truth

Ashley Wilcox- Waiting on Forever

Right now this compilation is on SALE for $.99 (at time of this post)!!!! PLEASE check the price before hitting BUY.

These e-books would cost over $40 if purchased separately.

This set will be be available for a limited time, so get yours today!!

Buy it on Amazon

{March 29, 2014} {Epic 99 Cent Sale} Destiny’s Dark Fantasy Boxed Set (Eight Book Bundle) by Tamara Rose Blodgett, JL Bryan, Karina Halle, Kristen Middleton, SM Reine, and Alexia Purdy

With over 1,022 5-star reviews across all 8 titles, this is a deal that you just can’t pass up–an eight full-length novel collaboration of New York Times, USA Today and Amazon Top 100 Horror Bestselling Authors at a special price, just 99 cents!!!

Explore eight different worlds of vampire, werewolves, post-apocalyptic aftermath, supernatural humanity, necromancy, zombies, government conspiracy, and ghosts in one tight bundle of bestselling dark fantasy fiction.

Young adult to new adult elements reign supreme in this tense collection of intrigue, suspense, thriller, comedic dialog, war, romantic tension and out-of-the-box writing styles. If you’re a reader that craves the unique, this bundle’s for you!

Get it on AMAZON

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DEATH WHISPERS (The Death Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

Almost fifteen-year-old Caleb Hart is a Cadaver-Manipulator in the year 2025. When teens receive a government-sanctioned pharmaceutical cocktail during school, paranormal abilities begin manifesting… making the teens more powerful than the adults.

After Caleb discovers he has the rare, Affinity for the Dead, he must do whatever it takes to hide it from a super-secret government agency whose goal is exploitation.

Caleb seeks refuge in his new girlfriend, Jade, until he realizes that she needs as much protection from her family, as he does from the government.

Suddenly, Caleb finds that hiding his ability while protecting Jade and his friends is a full time job; can he escape the government, protect Jade and lose the bullies that are making him miserable?

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BLOOD SINGERS (The Blood Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

A sub-species of human beings…

Twenty-year old Julia Wade, a young woman tragically widowed, is in the middle of a bizarre bid between two mythical species who are vying for the unique properties she offers; her blood. The vampires need her to balance the food load of the human species and give them their coveted “Lightwalkers.” The Were wish to be moonless changers; a Rare One can make that a reality.

Julia wants to belong to herself.

Can she free herself and begin a new life?

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THE PEARL SAVAGE (The Savage Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

Seventeen-year old princess, Clara Williamson, lives an old-fashioned existence in a biosphere of the future.

When her sadistic mother, Queen Ada, betroths her to an abusive prince of a neighboring sphere, Clara determines to escape Outside, where savages roam free.

Clara escapes tyranny only to discover the savages are not the only people who survived the cataclysmic events of one hundred forty years prior.

Once Outside, Clara finds herself trapped, unable to return to the abusive life of the sphere while facing certain danger Outside.

Can Clara find love and freedom with the peril that threatens to consume her?

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JENNY POX (The Paranormals)- J.L. Bryan

Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the “Jenny pox.” She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.

Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth…but if she’s going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

* * *

Not recommended for readers under eighteen.

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DARKHOUSE (Experiment in Terror)- Karina Halle

There’s always been something a bit off about Perry Palomino. Though she’s been dealing with a quarter-life crisis and post-college syndrome like any other twentysomething, she’s still not what you would call “ordinary.” For one thing, there’s her past which she likes to pretend never happened, and then there’s the fact that she sees ghosts. Luckily for her, that all comes in handy when she stumbles across Dex Foray, an eccentric producer for an upcoming webcast on ghost hunters. Even though the show’s budget is non-existent and Dex himself is a maddening enigma, Perry is instantly drawn into a world that both threatens her life and seduces her with a sense of importance. Her uncle’s haunted lighthouse provides the perfect catalyst and backdrop for a horrific mystery that unravels the threads of Perry’s fragile sanity and causes her to fall for a man, who, like the most dangerous of ghosts, may not be all that he seems.

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ZOMBIE GAMES (ORIGINS)- Kristen Middleton

Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mother’s home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts’ instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down.

When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk, and the living…run!

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SIX MOON SUMMER (Seasons of the Moon)- SM Reine

Rylie’s been bitten.

She’s changing.

And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf… forever.

Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she’s craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn’t figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She’ll be a monster.

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REIGN of BLOOD ( Reign of Blood)- Alexia Purdy

Never tease anything that wants to eat you.

My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I’m just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise…”

In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she’s willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.

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AMAZON

{March 28, 2014} {Blog Tour: Review and Excerpt} Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr (Mac Faraday Mysteries #7)

Twelve to Murder Review:

From Goodreads: Two people are brutally murdered in their summer place on Deep Creek Lake. Suspected of the murders, former child star and one-time teenybopper idol Lenny Frost takes innocent bystanders hostage in a local pub and demands that Mac Faraday find the killer. Can Mac save the hostages and himself from the wrath of the enraged has-been by piecing together the clues in less than twelve hours, or will it be a fatal last call at the stroke of midnight?

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If you’ve ever wondered about the has-beens, the child stars that disappear from view, who wake up one morning and realize they’ve passed their prime and they’re not even 20 yet, then this is definitely a story for you. Complete with murder, mayhem, and a mystery that will keep you guessing, Carr once again delivers a punch with her latest Mac Faraday novel, Twelve to Murder.

Like all Carr’s other novels, Twelve to Murder glued me to its pages from the very start, and while this murder mystery looks like it may be a cut and dried whodunit, Carr’s expertise keeps readers guessing as the twists and turns unfold.

Mac Faraday is perhaps my favorite sleuth of all time. He’s rational and extremely good at what he does, and I always get excited when another novel in the series releases. Carr’s novels maintains an air of mystery yet is offset with humor as Farday’s fiancé Archie and his canine “helper” Gnarly come of the scene. The characterization of all the characters, both stationary and new is always superbly done, and Carr’s latest release, Twelve to Murder, is no different. I love her attention to detail and the many “aha” moments as it all unfolds. The fact that each of these novels can stand alone is also a testament to Carr’s sheer writing ability, though you don’t want to miss out on any of Mac Faraday’s awesome mysteries, so make sure you read them all—Twelve to Murder is as good a place to start as any! Four stars!

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review–scoop it up, it’s only 99 cents on Kindle!!

Amazon | Kindle

Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE

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Book Excerpt:

Stillman Mansion on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Sunday: 6:12 am

“Austin is back this year,” Olivia said in rhythm with the pace she had set for her power walk.

Two paces behind his wife, Roland took note of the white stone mansion along the chilly lakeshore. The mansion looked closed up. All was quiet, as it was with many of the estates along the lake in the early spring. With each passing day, the quiet was giving way to the snowbirds came in to roost at their summer homes in the resort town of Spencer, located in the corner of Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

As the middle aged athletic couple walked briskly on the running trail along the lake, they noted that that mansion was quiet. The only tell-tale sign of change from its winter hibernation was the yacht on the dock in the back. It had not been there the morning before.

“I wonder if Janice will be throwing her week long Fourth of July bash with all her has-been clients this year?” Roland asked.

“I can tell you right now that I’m not going if that loser Lenny is here.” Feeling her heartbeat slowing down, she picked up her pace.

“Come on,” her husband said with a laugh, “Lenny Frost isn’t that bad. He’s really kind of funny.”

“He’s crude,” she shot over her shoulder at him.

He was going to respond that he felt sorry for the least popular of Janice Stillman’s former celebrity client when a black Porsche almost hit the couple rushing pass them and turning sharply into the driveway of the white mansion.

“Do you two ever take a break?” the young man shouted at them when he threw open the door and climbed out of the sports car.

“Never,” Olivia answered with a frown at Derrick Stillman’s apparent lack of self-discipline displayed in the slight stagger in his pace, and clearly having slept in his clothes, or maybe not slept in them, but clearly having worn them the day before judging by their wrinkled and disheveled appearance.

“Well, you can work-out for me, too.”

“Party last night?” Roland asked.

“Date.” Derrick ran his fingers through his dark curly hair. “I was going to come in yesterday with my folks, but when I met Maddie the other day—“ He let out a cocky laugh. “Well, you know how it is.”

“I can imagine,” Olivia said in a bland tone.

“She’s got a body to die for and she’s crazy about me.” With a swagger in his walk, he made his way to the front door.

“Come along, Roland,” Olivia ordered.

The couple continued on their way. They had only made it to the other end of the property before Derrick’s screams stopped them. The young man was running out the front door and dropped to his knees in the yard when they made it back to the driveway.

Olivia rushed over to the young man, who had his face buried in his hands. “Cliff, what’s wrong?”

Shrieking, the young man pointed to the door.

Roland ran inside.

“What happened, Derrick?” she demanded to know. “What’s going on? What’s in there?”

His face white, Roland came running back outside.

Olivia’s heartbeat was racing. “Roland …”

“They’re dead,” he said in a panicked tone while taking his cell phone out of his pocket. “Both of them. Janice and Austin. I can’t believe this would happen here … in Spencer.”

“Who—“ she asked with tears in her eyes.

“Janice wrote something in her blood—” He stopped to turn his attention to the cell phone. “I’d like to report two murders.”

“Her killer,” Derrick spat out. “I saw it, too. Lenny. Why else would Mom have written out his name in her blood while she was dying? Lenny Frost did it. He killed my parents.”

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About the Author:

Lauren Carr is the best-selling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Twelve to Murder is the seventh installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series.

In addition to her series set on Deep Creek Lake, Lauren Carr has also written the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates, who were introduced in Shades of Murder, the third book in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. They also make an appearance in The Lady Who Cried Murder. Dead on Ice (A Lovers in Crime Mystery) was released September 2012. The second installment, Real Murder will be out in 2014.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. This year, several books, over a variety of genre, written by independent authors will be released through the management of Acorn Book Services, which is currently accepting submissions. Visit Acorn Book Services website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Visit her author website at www.mysterylady.net.

Connect & Socialize!

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

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Twelve to Murder Tour Page:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/02/12/pump-up-your-book-presents-twelve-to-murder-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

{March 27, 2014} {Review and Giveaway} The Kiera Hudson Prequels 2 by Tim O’Rourke (The Kiera Hudson Prequels #2)

From Goodreads: When police recruits Kiera and Tom are ordered to stay away from each other by Sergeant Philips, they can’t help but be drawn back together again.

Working side by side Kiera and Tom solve three more unique mysteries. The first deals with betrayal, the second revenge and the third the greatest mystery of all – love.

Book Two in the ‘The Kiera Hudson Prequels Series’ set before ‘Kiera Hudson Series One and Two).

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In this second round of Kiera Hudson Prequels, readers continue to follow Kiera and Tom as they unintentionally find themselves encased in three more unsolved mysteries, unbeknownst to their police Sergeant. And as sparks fly between Kiera and Tom, and the harrowing situations increase, readers easily find themselves transported to the little seaside town, becoming a part of the mystery as it evolves.

It’s no secret that Tim O’Rourke is one of my favorite authors, and as his upcoming novel, Flashes, gets ready for release, O’Rourke is working to tie his characters and readers together as the characters novels branch off to their own novels, and I am so epically excited to read Flashes! Having read a adored the Kiera Hudson Series, both one and two, I am excited that O’Rourke is yet again creating a crossover series, tying together characters so seamlessly and allowing readers to experience the full spectrum of awesomeness that is O’Rourke’s writing.

Kiera can see what others miss—not in a paranormal manner, but more so like Sherlock Holmes, and these prequels, along with the first set, are definitely a must read, especially if you’re new to Tim O’Rourke’s writing. I definitely suggest picking up this series to whet your appetite. Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

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Giveaway Information:

Thanks to Tim O’Rourke, FOUR Winners will receive:

An ebook of The Kiera Hudson Series Prequels 2 AND a Signed Print of the Cover

To enter you must:

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

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

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on April 11th. The winner will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a thoughtful comment!

{March 27, 2014} {Review} River in the Sea by Tina Boscha

From Goodreads: At fifteen, Leen De Graaf likes everything she shouldn’t: smoking cigarettes, wearing red lipstick, driving illegally, and working in the fields. It seems the only thing she shares with her fellow Dutchmen is a fear of the German soldiers stationed nearby and a frantic wish for the war to end.

When a soldier’s dog runs in front of Leen’s truck, her split-second reaction sets off a storm of events that pitches her family against the German forces when they are most desperate – and fierce. Leen tries to hold her family together, but despite her efforts, bit by bit everything falls apart, and just when Leen experiences a horrific loss, she must make a decision that could forever brand her a traitor, yet finally allows her to live as her heart desires.

Inspired by events experienced by the author’s mother, River in the Sea is a powerfully moving account of one girl reaching adulthood when everything she believes about family, friendship, and loyalty is questioned by war.

Readers who want to immerse themselves in a story with both a plot and characters that keep the pages turning will love River in the Sea. For fans of The Book Thief, Those Who Save Us, and Sarah’s Key.
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This is an absolutely stunning, captivating read that held me in its grip from the very beginning. I started it late at night, yet stayed up well into the wee hours of the morning to finish this gem–and it absolutely blew me away.

We hear much about the Holocaust and WWII, but I feel that we don’t hear as much about the other countries and people groups who were affected by Hitler’s regime outside of Germany and Poland, and this novel, River in the Sea, focuses on the German occupation of one small town and its people in the Netherlands in late 1944.

Leen De Graaf is just a young teen, but she knows the taste of fear and death; she knows to keep her head down and not draw attention to herself, but in one sweep of panic, upsets all the rules and barely escapes with her innocence intact. And with this simple misstep comes a series of events that create a domino effect, leaving none untouched.

As the underground resistance works to thwart the German army and save the innocent, intense fear, a lack of food, disunity among families, and immense feelings of sorrow and guilt splash across the pages and evolve in such a way that it makes for a truly superb, poignant, and beautiful read. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby as the novel definitely tugs at the heartstrings. Five amazing stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review and I highly recommend it (especially at just 99 cents on Kindle!!)

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{March 26, 2014} {ARC Review} Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

From Goodreads: It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

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Love Letters to the Dead spans Laurel’s 9^th grade year as she tries to sort through her life—her older sister May has only recently died and the circumstances behind her death remain shrouded in mystery as the novel unfolds, spurring readers on as Laurel relays many different facts about her life. This is an extremely well written epistolary novel that captured my attention immediately. I really adore novels told through letters, diary entries, and the like, and Dellaira does a superb job getting Laurel’s voice across using this writing style.

When the novel first picks up, Laurel is writing a letter to Kurt Cobain, and as she begins to relate to him through their shared experiences, she starts to tell the story of her sister, and soon finds herself working her way through multiple letters and truths about the past, present, and future. With the death of May, Laurel’s family fell apart; her mother now lives in California, and Laurel splits her time between the homes of her father and aunt, yet none know the truth as Laurel does. And as the story unfolds, readers learn that there are many heavy underlying truths that Laurel must eventually face in order to move from the past and begin living in the present. I will admit that it took me a little while to warm up to Laurel, but as she pours out her heart, I found it impossible to not connect with her and her experiences, both trials and triumphs.

One aspect of this novel that I truly love is that, as Laurel writes letters to the dead, she connects the dead’s lives, music, accomplishments, and decisions with those that she is currently experiencing. It flows together seamlessly, and helps bring validity and emotion to the novel as Laurel tells her story, asks her questions, and struggles with the answers. The letters show how Laurel is on a downward spiral, and as it all comes to a head, we learn what Laurel really knows of the night her sister died, and why Laurel has slowly allowed herself to become someone else as the school year progresses. It’s an intriguing, heartfelt read that I highly recommend. Four stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 1, 2014.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{March 26, 2014} {Full Cover Reveal and Giveaway} When We Met by A.L. Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams

WHEN WE MET by A.L. Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams releases November 4, 2014!

Today’s premier New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house. When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson

Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King

Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee

In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams

On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

Pre-Order On Amazon

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Click HERE to learn about the epic giveaway and ENTER!!

{March 25, 2014} {ARC Review} Going Over by Beth Kephart

From Goodreads: In the early 1980s Ada and Stefan are young, would-be lovers living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall–Ada lives with her mother and grandmother and paints graffiti on the Wall, and Stefan lives with his grandmother in the East and dreams of escaping to the West.

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I really enjoyed the back and forth narrative style of this novel, alternating chapters between Ada and Stefan, two lovers divided by the Berlin Wall. While this story is technically about Ada trying to survive in the West and convince Stefan to scale the wall from the East, in truth, it’s really not about their relationship, per se, but rather about their individual struggles on their sides of the wall. East Berlin’s fascist government limits any and all freedom, while West Berlin struggles with extremely poverty, squatters, and immigration.

It’s a touching story, though it isn’t what I was expecting going in. I had it in my mind that this would be a romance story about overcoming barriers, but that isn’t its focus at all. Instead, it focuses on the West, on Ada and her struggles as a squatter working in a daycare for foreign children during a time when foreigners had no rights and atrocities abounded. It focuses on survival and injustice, on a time period we don’t hear much about in school. And it’s beautifully written.

Coming out of this novel, my interest has definitely been piqued concerning the building of the wall and the circumstances that lead to its coming down. As this isn’t a topic we really discuss in schools, and it’s not something I ever learned about aside from a glancing comment here or there, this novel really opened my eyes to some of the things happening in Germany from 1961-1989, yet I still don’t know enough about the how or why to understand all of the situations that Ada and Stefan find themselves in within the novel. Likewise, it was sometimes hard for me to understand what Ada or Stefan were doing because, again, this isn’t a topic I am extremely familiar with, and I feel like readers should be when going into this story. So, if you’re like me, I highly suggest you do a little research before picking up this YA novel so you don’t find yourself confused.

Going Over isn’t a history book by any means, but rather a fictional piece Kephart created after visiting Berlin and researching the wall. It is easy to read and I definitely plan to put this on my Outside Reading list for students because I think it’s an interesting read, with lots of historical information, and if it sparked my curiosity to learn more about Berlin and the wall, then I know it will do so for my students as well. Three and a half stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Chronicle Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via edelweiss, prior to its release on April 1, 2014.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{March 25, 2014} {Contest} When We Met Puzzle Piece Contest–from A.L. Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams

In anticipation of WHEN WE MET, a novel by A.L. Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams, we have a fun puzzle piece contest for you!

Cover Reveal Puzzle Piece:

Collect them all to fill in the cover below!

BECAUSE….

A.L Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams are giving away signed print copies and ecopies of their books!

Stop by all the blogs participating in the tour and collect puzzle pieces for a greater chance to win!

Holly Loves Indie Books

Naughty and Nice

Vilma’s Book Blog

Flirty and Dirty

Read This ~ Hear That

Shh…Mom’s Reading

Aestas

Natasha is a Book Junkie

Book Temptations

The Rock Stars of Romance

Reviews by Tammy and Kim

A Book Vacation

(Hint ~ Links to all blogs participating are in the Rafflecopter Giveaway below!)

Rafflecopter Giveaway Link

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WHEN WE MET by A.L. Jackson, Tiffany King, Christina Lee, and Molly McAdams releases November 4, 2014!

Today’s premier New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house. When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson

Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King

Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee

In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams

On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

Pre-Order On Amazon

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About A.L. Jackson:

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

Website www.aljacksonauthor.com
www.facebook.com/aljacksonauthor
Newsletter http://bit.ly/ALJacksonNewsletter
Text jackson to 96000 for mobile updates!

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About Tiffany King:

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

For information on any of Author Tiffany’s titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Where to connect with Tiffany

Twitter– @AuthorTiffany
Facebook– AuthorTiffanyKing
Pinterest– Tiffany King
Blog– authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com
Goodreads– Tiffany King
Email-authortiffany@yahoo.com.

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About Christina Lee:

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two
favorite guys. She’s addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin/InterMix. ALL OF YOU and BEFORE YOU BREAK available now, WHISPER TO ME on May 20th, 2014.

Also the creator of Tags-n-Stones (dot com) jewelry.

MY Twitter: @Christina_Lee04
My FB page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristinaLee

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About Molly McAdams:

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

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And, if you haven’t yet read any of this series, make sure you pick up the first three books, which are currently FREE at the time of this post.

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(Free at time of this posting)

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Available now for just 99 cents!!

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And don’t miss out on this deal: Get all three books in the Arotas series for just $4.99

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Fall In Love with 12 full-length novels in one limited edition set by some of today’s hottest romance authors, including USA Today Best Selling Authors, J. Sterling, Tara Sivec, and Tiffany King.

Authors and Books include:

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Jillian Dodd- That Boy

Priscilla Glenn- Back to You

Tiffany King- Unlikely Allies

Michelle Mankin- Love Revolution

Charles Sheehan-Miles- A Song For Julia

Michelle Pace & Tammy Coons- The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life

Andrea Randall- Ten Days of Perfect

Tara Sivec- A Beautiful Lie

J. Sterling- Chance Encounters

Michelle Warren- Protecting Truth

Ashley Wilcox- Waiting on Forever

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With over 1,022 5-star reviews across all 8 titles, this is a deal that you just can’t pass up–an eight full-length novel collaboration of New York Times, USA Today and Amazon Top 100 Horror Bestselling Authors at a special price, just 99 cents!!!

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DEATH WHISPERS (The Death Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

Almost fifteen-year-old Caleb Hart is a Cadaver-Manipulator in the year 2025. When teens receive a government-sanctioned pharmaceutical cocktail during school, paranormal abilities begin manifesting… making the teens more powerful than the adults.

After Caleb discovers he has the rare, Affinity for the Dead, he must do whatever it takes to hide it from a super-secret government agency whose goal is exploitation.

Caleb seeks refuge in his new girlfriend, Jade, until he realizes that she needs as much protection from her family, as he does from the government.

Suddenly, Caleb finds that hiding his ability while protecting Jade and his friends is a full time job; can he escape the government, protect Jade and lose the bullies that are making him miserable?

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BLOOD SINGERS (The Blood Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

A sub-species of human beings…

Julia wants to belong to herself.

Can she free herself and begin a new life?

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THE PEARL SAVAGE (The Savage Series) – Tamara Rose Blodgett

Seventeen-year old princess, Clara Williamson, lives an old-fashioned existence in a biosphere of the future.

When her sadistic mother, Queen Ada, betroths her to an abusive prince of a neighboring sphere, Clara determines to escape Outside, where savages roam free.

Clara escapes tyranny only to discover the savages are not the only people who survived the cataclysmic events of one hundred forty years prior.

Once Outside, Clara finds herself trapped, unable to return to the abusive life of the sphere while facing certain danger Outside.

Can Clara find love and freedom with the peril that threatens to consume her?

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JENNY POX (The Paranormals)- J.L. Bryan

Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the “Jenny pox.” She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.

Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth…but if she’s going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

* * *

Not recommended for readers under eighteen.

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DARKHOUSE (Experiment in Terror)- Karina Halle

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ZOMBIE GAMES (ORIGINS)- Kristen Middleton

Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mother’s home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts’ instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down.