{January 28, 2014} {ARC Review} Vengeance by Megan Miranda (Fracture #2)

From Goodreads: Falcon Lake wants vengeance. And so, it seems, does someone else . . . An intense, heart-rending psychological thriller to accompany the chilling and seductive Fracture

When Decker drags his best friend Delaney’s lifeless body out of the frozen lake, he makes a deal: Anyone but her. Everyone but her. The lake releases her. It takes another . . .

All their friends blame Delaney for Carson’s death. But Decker knows the truth: Delaney is drawn to those who are dying, and she would have tried to help Carson.

Or so Decker believes until a body lies in front of him in a pool of water on his kitchen floor. Until he sees in Delaney’s eyes that she knew this would happen too – and she said nothing. Until he realizes it isn’t the lake that is looking for revenge – Delaney is part of someone else’s plan.

This powerful and emotionally charged psychological thriller follows Megan Miranda’s stunning debut Fracture.

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I haven’t read the first novel in this series, but Miranda does a great job keeping the reader on track, giving just enough information that we understand what went on in the first novel so we’re able to stay on top of everything in this second novel. I never felt like I was missing information and, while I do plan to go back and read book one eventually, I don’t feel like it is a prerequisite in order to read this second installment.

Whereas the first novel details the budding relationship between Decker and Delaney, Vengeance does just the opposite. With the death of an immediate loved one at the start of this novel, Decker begins to harbor an extreme hatred for Delaney, thus, breaking up their perfect relationship. Quickly dropped by the only person who really understands what happened to her on the ice at the end of book one, Delaney forges on, trying to find her place in the world while Decker trys to forgive and get over this monumental “betrayal,” as he sees it. And if the demise of Decker and Delaney is not difficult enough for the pair to endure, someone or something is terrorizing Decker and his group of friends—and won’t stop until more lives are claimed.

I really liked the mystery within this novel, and I never saw the truth coming. I think Miranda did a great job pulling it all together, and I loved the ending. But, I did find the novel a bit slow towards the middle of the book. While I understand Decker’s hang ups and feelings after an immediate family member dies, I felt like there was a little too much time spent on his and Delaney’s relationship and less on the action sequence that entices the reader forward. Suddenly, the actions seems to stop and it’s touch and go in the relationship department, and while I do understand that Decker and Delaney need to clear the air in terms of their relationship, I found myself wishing more was happening in terms of the mystery. I wasn’t a fan of Decker’s obsessiveness and his indecision, and I would have liked that section to be paired down so there was a little more focus on the mystery aspect of it all. But that might just be me. Overall, this was a very good read, and I can’t wait to read the prequel. Three and a half stars.

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books and Walker Childrens have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on February 4, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 27, 2014} {Review} The Antigone Poems by Marie Slaight (Author) and Terrence Tasker (Illustrator)

From Goodreads: Passionate, brutal, and infused with extraordinary lyricism, The Antigone Poems provides a special expedition into the depths of the ancient Sophocles tragedy. The work’s obsessive, ritualistic and ultimately mysterious force brings into sharp focus the heroic, tragic figure at the center of the primordial compact between gods and humans. The work, a collaboration between poet, Marie Slaight and artist, Terrence Tasker, was created in the 1970’s, while the artist were living in Montreal and Toronto.

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Like Emily Disckenson’s poems, this collection is full of short poems titled with roman numerals. Initially jarring and seemingly disjointed, the poems progress and, upon a closer inspection, speak volumes. Though not a poetry coinsure myself, I do teach Sophocles’ tragedies and many of these beautiful poems capture Antigone’s personal woes expertly. They would make a great supplemental read for any studying the great plays, and any interested in poetry should definitely pick up a copy of this short compilation of poems. They are very beautiful indeed. Four stars.

Altaire Productions & Publications has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on May 14, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 27, 2014} Announcing the Winner of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh

The giveaway for a paperback of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Mindy Demars

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner 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 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

Win an ARC of Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore –ENDS Feb. 11

{January 26, 2014} {ARC Review} Perfect Lies by Kiersten White (Mind Games #2)

From Goodreads: Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

From Goodreads: The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie’s visions of the future can’t show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia’s first love, Fia knows he’s hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other – but that may not be enough to save them.

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This was a decent read, but as I hadn’t read the prequel prior to starting this one, I felt a little lost at times. There are a lot of characters, and while I understand what’s happening in this novel, I really wish I had read these novels in order in order to have a better understanding of the characters and events they reference.

The girls in this novel have been exploited and are seeking revenge; separated due to a plan that is apparently devised in the first novel, it picks right up where I can only assume book one left off, and it’s a whirlwind ride. Annie launches right in to her “shock” and “awe” at still being alive, and the fast pace starts immediately as the sister’s alternate their chapters, each in a different place, going back days and even months at a time to set up all the events that eventually bring them together again. It sort of reminds me of the movie Momento as readers have to piece everything together as the girls share their information and backtrack a bit, neither knowing exactly what the other is doing, but using their powers to try and make amends.

Annie can see the future, and Fia has flawless instincts—two powers that I found really interesting. Separated, they must make choices that will ensure the survival of the other, all while lying about their true natures and plans. It’s very intriguing, however, I never really made any connections with any of the character mentioned, and I think part of this is due to there being so many, and partly because I didn’t read the first book. Lately I’ve read a few sequels of novels and been able to follow the story just fine without needing to read the first in the series, but that is just not the case with this one.

Would I recommend it? Only if you’ve read the first book, which I plan to go back and do. The story is well written and intense, as I imagine the first book will be as well. Three stars.

3 stars Harper Collins has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Edelweiss, prior to its release on January 30, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 25, 2014} {Freebie Sale} From Where I Stand by Robert Zimmerman

If you’re a fan of poetry, make sure you scoop up Robert Zimmerman’s From Where I Stand–FREE for a limited time!

About the collection:

From Robert Zimmermann comes From Where I Stand, an emotional debut poetry collection. Zimmermann explores strained parental relationships, loss of life, and the despair associated with grief. Alongside these darker themes, he delves into the small areas of life that often go unnoticed but become the hope we are searching for.

Available on Smashwords

Coupon Code: VH54N
Expires: January 27, 2014

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About the author:

Robert is a writer. Most of the time his thoughts will grace the pages in the form of poetry, but occasionally some short pieces of fiction will show their faces. His work mainly touches on experiences that shape who he is today and are emotionally engaging but easily accessible to those not familiar with much poetry.

When Robert isn’t writing for himself, he’s writing to help others. In his blog, A Life Among The Pages, Robert posts numerous book reviews, interviews, and other book related posts to help out fellow writers in any way he can.

Connect with Robert:

Goodreads | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

{January 25, 2014} {Excerpt and Giveaway} Bringing Dirty Back with Heather Hildenbrand

Heather Hildenbrand is currently working furiously on book five in her amazing Dirty Blood series, and today we have a teaser and giveaway to celebrate–she’s bringing Dirty Back!

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EXCLUSIVE Prologue to book five, coming Summer 2014!

Tara:

“Day 14. I know because I’ve scratched another notch into the wall with a piece of white plastic I found wedged into the baseboard. Is it weird I’m protective of this tiny sliver of plastic? If they tried to take it from me I’d … well, I’d fight. Not that I’d win. Still, it’s strange how protective one becomes when your possessions are limited. In my case, this piece of plastic is all that stands between me and NOTHING. No freedom, no contact, no possessions, and no power.

No means to escape.

Believe me, I’ve tried. And I’ve spent countless hours dreaming up plans and diversions and whatever else my foggy, exhausted brain can focus on between visits from Them.

I shudder and redirect my thoughts. But the only thing left besides contemplating my ownership of this plastic shard is Wes. Every once in a while I’ll think of him and my mind will wander to others. My mom, Grandma, George, Jack and Fee, Cambria, Angela, Alex.

My chest aches for all of them. But mostly, it hurts for him. I don’t know if he’s all right. Whatever illness he’d fallen prey to before I was taken—I don’t know if it’s something he can heal from and not knowing terrifies me.

My nightmares are filled with images of his face, pale and unmoving. No breath in his lungs. The more horrific ones include Them tossing him into a shallow grave and pouring dirt over his exposed body. I’ve woken screaming so many times, They’ve started giving me sleeping pills at night. I tried not swallowing them but frankly, the rest is better when I do. And my body heals faster when I rest.

I return the plastic shard to its hiding place against the base board and crawl away from the homemade calendar. It’s a sad attempt to stay sane, counting time, but it’s better than nothing. And it’s all I’ve got. Until someone comes for me. Or until I can find a way home.”

Check out my reviews of the series:

Dirty Blood: Review | Amazon

Cold Blood: Review | Amazon

Blood Bond: Review | Amazon

Blood Rule: Review | Amazon

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About Heather Hildenbrand:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she’s not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she’s lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.
Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she’d grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

Author Links:
Website: www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heather.L.Hildenbrand
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHildenbrandsFanPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherHildenbr
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4607856.Heather_Hildenbrand
Newsletter: http://blogspot.us4.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=77abacb38959bc9c0f7b4e81b&id=739fdcef83

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And now for the giveaway!!

Click this link to go to Heather Hildenbrands giveaway! You could win a signed paperback of Blood Rule and Signed Dirty Blood Swag!

{January 25, 2014} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 81–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.)

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The Life & Death of Jorja Graham by Brynn Myers

A dark paranormal romance.

Jorja Graham was the quintessential southern bell: blonde, stunningly beautiful, and overtly enchanting. That was the face she shared with the world and no one would ever know the hell she had endured.

After returning to Savannah, Jorja had everything she’d ever wanted: a new home, a handsome suitor, and the job of her dreams as an antique dealer. Little did she know that the choice to move on with her life would be the last decision she’d ever make.

THE LIFE & DEATH OF JORJA GRAHAM. Not every romance has a happy ending.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Girl Jacked (A Jack Stratton Mystery) by Christopher Greyson

Officer Jack Stratton is hiding. Hiding from the world. From pain. From the memories of losing his best friend, Chandler, in Iraq.
Isolated from those he cares about, the last thing Jack expects to hear is; “Michelle is gone.”

The words cut straight to his core. Chandler’s sister is missing. Although the police think she just took off he knows Michelle would never leave those she loved behind – like he did.

Now he must take action, find Michelle and bring her home… or die trying.

The first novel in the Jack Stratton Mystery Series “Girl Jacked” introduces us to noble badass Jack Stratton and his dark past. With a debt of honor to his dead foster brother, Chandler, Jack’s guilt drives him into a world of deception and lies. Chandler’s sister Michelle is missing and the police have nothing to go on. As Jack’s walls begin to crumble, he must navigate the quirky characters that seep into the mystery of Michelle’s disappearance.

Jack has returned to the sleepy community of Darrington but like so many things in this world, nothing is as it appears to be. The hidden mysteries that often go unnoticed begin to emerge as Jack and his new unpredictable sidekick begin to turn over the rocks.

Following a trail that has grown cold, Jack must tread carefully to protect his job, his family, and his own life…

Christopher Greyson’s debut novel weaves a tale full of mystery and action with humor and suspense. His unique stories and no-nonsense style of writing will take you on a page turning roller-coaster ride of emotions right up until the end.

Find it on Amazon.

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Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everythingright until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again

Don’t miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Beyond Betrayal (Clarissa Abbot Thriller) by L.T. Ryan

Recalled from her assignment in London, England, Clarissa Abbot is handed her most difficult assignment yet. To observe and isolate a potential threat to national security that resides inside the White House. Facing a conspiracy that threatens to rock Washington, D.C. to its core, Clarissa is pitted against an overwhelming force that won’t stop until she’s dead.

Find it on Amazon.

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Wait for You by J. Lynn

The #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling phenomenon

Some things are worth waiting for . . .

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at that fateful Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. What she never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing . . .

Cameron Hamilton is six feet, three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, com-plete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make Avery want things she believed had been irrevocably stolen from her. Getting involved with him is dangerous. Yet ignoring the simmering tension that sparks between them—and brings out a side of her she never knew existed—is impossible.

Some things shouldn’t be kept quiet . . .

But when Avery starts receiving threatening e-mails and phone calls, she’s forced to face a past she wants to keep buried and acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. If the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface with one less scar? And will Cam be there to help her?

And some things are worth fighting for . . .

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Smokeless Fire (Fire Spirits #1) by Samantha Young

From the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of On Dublin Street.

Smokeless Fire (Fire Spirits #1) – YA Urban Fantasy Romance

FEAR THE HEAT…

When eighteen year old Ari Johnson is transported from her bedroom into the chilling realm of Mount Qaf – home to the terrifying and mercurial Jinn – she learns a truth that rocks her very world. Suddenly her anxiety over college and her broken friendship with Charlie seem like small change compared to the war she now finds herself stuck in the middle of. Her unease isn’t lessened any by the hot guardian, Jai, who won’t stop following her around everywhere – a Jinn whose loyalty Ari hates to question but must. She has no idea who she can trust.

When the truth burns through her life in its determination to turn it to ashes, Ari will have to battle with ancient deadly creatures, epic family drama and heart-wrenching romantic entanglements.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Relentless (Book One) by Karen Lynch

Sara Grey’s world shattered ten years ago when her father was brutally murdered. Now at seventeen, she is still haunted by memories of that day and driven by the need to understand why it happened. She lives a life full of secrets and her family and friends have no idea of the supernatural world she is immersed in or of Sara’s own very powerful gift.

In her quest for answers about her father’s death, Sara takes risks that expose her and her friends to danger and puts herself into the sights of a sadistic vampire. On the same fateful night she meets Nikolas, a warrior who turns Sara’s world upside down and is determined to protect her even if it’s the last thing she wants.

Sara’s life starts to spin out of control as she is hunted by an obsessed vampire, learns that her friends have secrets of their own and reels from the truth about her own ancestry. Sara has always been fiercely independent but in order to survive now she must open herself to others, to reveal her deepest secrets. And she must learn to trust the one person capable of breaking down the walls around her.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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The Darkest Dream (The Darkest Trilogy) by Michelle Brewer

In one dark and fateful night, everything about seventeen year old Lucinda Malone’s life changes. Having already lost both of her parents, Lucy loses the one remaining person she can rely on—and, worst of all, she loses her to a darkness she never knew existed, but to which she had always felt drawn.

The moment Lucy discovers that there’s another world existing within her own—that vampires and casters aren’t just mythical beings—she feels nothing. Nothing but a quiet acceptance. For as long as she can remember, she’s dreamed of the darkness. She’s felt its pull, calling out to her—but it isn’t until she meets Darren O’Connor—the vampire who saves her life—that it all begins to make sense.

The Darkest Dream is the first book of The Darkest Trilogy.

Find it on Amazon.

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Reborn by S. L. Stacy

Back in high school, Siobhan Elliot’s life was simple: Cheerleading, friends, and parties. But that all changed the night she and her friends investigated a mysterious light in the woods. There they found an injured man–an irresistible man with hypnotic blue eyes and magnificent black wings. A man Siobhan recognized. He was the handsome dark angel from her dreams. And with one touch of his hand, he left her with a special gift: a set of mythical wings that would change her life forever. Then he disappeared without a trace. Siobhan thought she would never see him again.

Now, six years later, her dark angel reappears –this time as a teaching assistant at her college. He calls himself Jasper. He challenges everything Siobhan thought she knew about herself and her world. And he’s come back for only one thing: her.

Or so he says. Siobhan is about to find out that nothing is what it seems in this strange, new world.

Find it on Amazon.

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Hellhound: Dogs of War (Hellhound Series) by Rue Volley

In ‘Dogs of War’ we rejoin Halo Bay and the Hellhounds as they adjust to an unexpected loss. Weakened and feeling as if they may be losing the battle, the Hellhounds reach out to the most unlikely of creatures…that of the vampires. At Ari’s insistence, two very powerful vampires are called upon to help them. Hunter, who has a sordid past with Dorin and Vanessa, Queen of the vampires and daughter to Dracula himself. As they struggle to solidify their new alliance, Halo finds she has to barter with the only thing she truly owns. Herself. This is a deal that Lucifer is eager to seal and, blinded by love, Halo may be stepping into a plan set in motion centuries before she even existed. Will she restore the balance between Heaven and Hell? Or will be become the final seal?

Find it on Amazon.

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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 24, 2014} {ARC Review} Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

From Goodreads: Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other’s backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can’t remember and Brooke’s boyfriend, Aiden, can’t forget. Suddenly there’s a question mark in Natalie and Brooke’s friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.

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I wanted to like this novel, but in the end I really didn’t care for it all that much. The main characters, both Natalie and Brooke, grated on my nerves. The way they interacted with one another, the flirting, drinking, and obsessive behavior made them less than likable, in my opinion, and I didn’t find any redeeming qualities in either of them. Brooke wants all the boys attention, even if that means flirting right in front of her own long-term boyfriend. She’s melodramatic and doesn’t know a good thing when she sees it. She’s a party girl all the way, definitely not the type I’d be friends with, and her overall demeanor made me sick.

Natalie, on the other hand, is quiet. She doesn’t date or party—in fact, she rarely goes out anymore. Nor does she drink. However, she does go out one evening, under the intense pressure of her “best friend” Brooke, and ends up getting so wasted that she can’t remember anything, but she knows she slept with someone. I don’t know, perhaps I was just a good kid, but I’ve never ever been in a situation where I didn’t know what was going on, and I found it a little hard to believe that Natalie’s goody two shoes self would allow herself to get this drunk knowing that she was a lush. I know it can happen to the best of us, but I just didn’t see this as being all that feasible. At least, Brooke should have been watching out for her best friend knowing that she didn’t like to drink and obviously was a light weight… but, I guess we travel in different crowds.

Even so, Natalie doesn’t come clean right away. She’s not sure what happened, it too afraid to ask, and then continues to “accidentally flirt with Brooke’s boyfriend, Aiden—the boy she thinks she might have slept with.

In the end, this novel isn’t what I expected it to be. Based on the title and cover photo, I thought it would be something like Fatal Attraction, but it really isn’t. Two stars.

Harlequin TEEN had been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 28, 2013.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 24, 2014} {Review} I, Zombie by Jo Michaels

From Goodreads: It’s the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won’t take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog’s mutilated body and realizes she’s to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they’ve been screaming about on the news isn’t a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she’s one of the infected.

Now it’s a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?

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When I think of zombies, I generally think of the deranged creatures that give us nightmares. In I, Zombie, Michaels combats this mentality by turning the zombies into the good guys, the heroes. This is one of the reasons I really wanted to read this novel—it’s a different take on zombies, giving readers food for thought as the story progresses.

Fairly soon after the story begins, Trixie finds herself turning into the “walking dead,” having caught a virus from one of her peers at a party. From here we learn about her ability to read minds—a gift that is glanced over quite quickly and never thoroughly fleshed out, and the novel then begins a fast paced race to the end. While I found the mainstream reaction to a zombie apocalypse quite realistic, the rest of the novel seemed a little too far-fetched for me as a reader, and I’m sorry to say that, overall, this novel just wasn’t for me.

Truth be told, some of the events and situations within the novel weren’t believable for me as a reader. Early on in the novel, Trixie and Jack, teenagers, figure out the cure for the zombie apocalypse and send it to a medical office before any of the world’s great scientist are able to even get close to a cure. This just didn’t seem real to me, nor did Trixie herself. Her thought process, her ability… it all just seemed to be a little too neat and unrealistic. For instance, the conversations between Trixie and her mother felt artificial to me as they were always lighthearted and understanding. If my daughter ate the family dog, I would not be calm about it. Likewise, I wouldn’t be able to tell my only child to go out and risk her life for the greater good. Thus, I personally felt like the interactions within the novel were a bit superficial.

There seemed to always be a ready answer to every problem, each perilous situation was quickly alleviated, and there really wasn’t any point that I felt the characters were in extreme danger. It’s almost as if every time something bad was about to happen, the situation smoothed itself over, making as little waves within the story as possible, fixing the problems nearly as soon as they began. It’s a relatively short novel, a stand alone, so perhaps a little more fleshing out of scenes and characters would alleviate this pattern I saw while reading, but overall, I thought it was a little too fast-paced without giving enough explanation or peril. It’s a great premise, but it just wasn’t for me. Two stars.

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

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 23, 2014} {Sale} Kiss Kiss: Fall In Love with 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 $2.99 (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

{January 23, 2014} {ARC Review} Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

From Goodreads: Life. Death. And…Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can’t tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn’t have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

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This novel completely blew my mind. It’s extremely well written and deals with a really tough topic; one I’d never even thought of before. Emma’s mother died while she was pregnant—legally brain dead, she can’t survive without machines. But without these machines, her unborn child doesn’t have a chance at survival. Faced with a difficult decision, Emma’s step-father, Dan, opts to keep his wife on life support in order to give his son a chance, but Emma doesn’t disagrees with his decisions wholeheartedly, believing his choice of a son over her mother means he’s more interested in having a legacy than doing what is right for her brain-dead mother, his wife.

The novel opens exactly 30 days after Emma’s mother died, and our first meeting with Emma takes place in the hospital as she speaks with her mother, a task she adheres to every day alongside Dan, a man she’s steadily grown to hate over the past month. From the start, Emma’s pain is palpable, and I immediately found myself on Emma’s side–why would her step-father, Dan, keep Emma’s mother on a ventilator like that, forcing Emma to go see her deceased mother every day, when all Emma really wants is to be able to put her mother to rest, to gain some closure? Because let’s face it, there’s no closure when you still see the dead day after day.

And then, Dan’s side came out, and while this really isn’t a story about sides at all, the idea that Dan wanted to keep a part of his wife, Emma’s mother, alive, to give his baby a fighting chance, makes sense too. So what do you do in a situation like this? This novel is raw and full of emotion, and I was cut in two as I read. I wanted to see the baby live, but I wanted Emma to obtain closure; I wanted Dan to understand where Emma was coming from, and I wanted Emma to understand why Dan made his choices.

Scott treats this extremely delicate topic with care, and it’s so beautifully written. I was engulfed in the story from the get go, and it’s really a story of healing, while also bringing to light a topic I never knew existed. Interestingly enough, while reading this novel, this article popped up in my newsfeed: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/pregnant-woman-kept-alive-against-familys-wishes-texas-2D11792149. I guess I never realized the extent of this issue before, and it really opened my eyes about it. And it’s hard to take a side because there is so much at stake here. Do a parent’s wishes override that of an unborn child? Should the parents’ wishes matter? Should doctor’s do everything in their power to keep the unborn child alive? This is food for thought, and I absolutely loved this novel. Five stars.

Harlequin TEEN has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 28,2 014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Update: Check out this article from Huffington Post: Here’s Where Your Living Will Can Be Ignored When You’re A Pregnant Woman

{January 23, 2014} {Review} The Token 2 by Marata Eros (The Token #2)

From Goodreads: Faren Mitchell keeps the secret of her second job from the one man who could see her through some of the darkest moments of her life. She doesn’t want Jared “Mick” McKenna for the billions he’s amassed, but for the one thing she’s never given any man: her innocence.

Mick’s guilt over the injury he inflicted fuels the beginnings of something more; a sexual consumption of each other that neither were anticipating. When Faren’s actions don’t match her words, Mick suspicions are raised. His feelings turn to ones of protection after Faren is mugged and he can’t reconcile his desire for her with the reality they now find themselves in.

As Faren’s bucket list grows, so does the danger that surrounds the choices she’s made. Can she take what she needs from Mick and also secure her mother’s life? Or will the truth she has weaved between the lies doom them both?

This is volume two in a novella serial. Each volume is app. 20-25,000 words.
Disclaimer: This story contains sexual themes, situations, profanity and violence. Ages 17+.

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This was another great novella by the talented Marata Eros. Picking up where book one’s cliffhanger left us, my heart was in my throat as Faren dealt with her situation–and that’s all I can say because if you haven’t read book one, well, I don’t want to spoil it. Packed with some action and some scary antics, Eros smoothes over the situation for the time being, but nothing is resolved, and it comes down to whether or not Faren is ready to start trusting people and open up, or if she’ll allow herself to be caught in another scary situation like the one that opens this sequel.

Faren is a bit frustrating to me in that she doesn’t open up. I get her reasoning, I do, but if I were in her place, I’d be screaming from the rooftops looking for someone to take care of me, especially if my time was running out. I like her, but I want her to finally give in and tell Mick… especially when she learns a bit of truth about his businesses…

The sexcapades in this novel are heightened quite a bit in this sequel–remember Faren dances on the side and makes bank doing specialty gigs, so there is quite a bit more touching and detail than I personally enjoy, and there is one scene that just made me sick (I think it was meant to, though), so readers need to be aware–this is definitely for mature readers of NA. While extremely well written, I personally will not be continuing the series because I’m a bit of a prude. Four stars.

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

Amazon

{January 22, 2014} {Review} Impostor by Susanne Winnacker

From Goodreads: Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

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If you’re a fan of X-Men, then this is definitely the book for you. Tessa is a Variant; her special ability allowing her to morph her appearance into anyone after one simple touch. And she’s about to go on her first mission: taking the place of a teenager on her death bed, another victim of what the FBI is certain is a serial killer Variant gone rogue.

But taking over someone’s life isn’t as easy as it sounds, even if you do look identical. There’s the problem with memories, friendships, and daily interactions in general that Tessa is going to have to take in stride if she’s going to play her cards right and stop the killer before her time runs out—and that may be sooner than she thinks. Forced to lie on a daily basis, torn between her feelings for her co-worker and the real Madison’s brother, Tessa has her work cut out for her as everything around her begins to unravel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this very fast-paced read! I’ve always wished I had special abilities like the X-Men do, and Winnacker really brings it to life through her novel, Imposter. There is a lot going on, and I must say, Winnacker did a great job putting me off the trail. I had the wrong person pegged as the killer from the get-go, and while I sometimes questioned my choice, I stuck with them only to find that, in the end, Winnacker not only fooled Madison and her team, but me as well. I really enjoy it when authors are able to keep me guessing, and that’s exactly what happened in this novel. Overall, it was a great read with just a few slow spots here and there, and I highly recommend it to any readers out there who love the idea of X-Men. Four stars.

Hachette Children’s Books and Hodder Children’s Books have been extremely gracious is allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{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.

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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.

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{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?

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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

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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

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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!

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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?
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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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The giveaway for a paperback of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Mindy Demars

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner 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:

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If you’re a fan of poetry, make sure you scoop up Robert Zimmerman’s From Where I Stand–FREE for a limited time!

About the collection:

Available on Smashwords

Coupon Code: VH54N Expires: January 27, 2014

About the author:

Connect with Robert:

Goodreads | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

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Heather Hildenbrand is currently working furiously on book five in her amazing Dirty Blood series, and today we have a teaser and giveaway to celebrate–she’s bringing Dirty Back!

_________________________________

EXCLUSIVE**** Prologue to book five, coming Summer 2014!

Tara:

No means to escape.

Believe me, I’ve tried. And I’ve spent countless hours dreaming up plans and diversions and whatever else my foggy, exhausted brain can focus on between visits from Them.

I shudder and redirect my thoughts. But the only thing left besides contemplating my ownership of this plastic shard is Wes. Every once in a while I’ll think of him and my mind will wander to others. My mom, Grandma, George, Jack and Fee, Cambria, Angela, Alex.

My chest aches for all of them. But mostly, it hurts for him. I don’t know if he’s all right. Whatever illness he’d fallen prey to before I was taken—I don’t know if it’s something he can heal from and not knowing terrifies me.

I return the plastic shard to its hiding place against the base board and crawl away from the homemade calendar. It’s a sad attempt to stay sane, counting time, but it’s better than nothing. And it’s all I’ve got. Until someone comes for me. Or until I can find a way home.”

And now for the giveaway!!

Click this link to go to Heather Hildenbrands giveaway! You could win a signed paperback of Blood Rule and Signed Dirty Blood Swag!

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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.

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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:

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 $2.99 (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!!

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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)

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The Darkest Joy

by Marata Eros

Coupon Code: VH54N
Expires: January 27, 2014

EXCLUSIVE Prologue to book five, coming Summer 2014!

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