{July 26, 2013} Cover Reveal: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (Elementals #4)

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Kensington Books

Release Date: January 28, 2014

ISBN: 0758294379

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Summary:

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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Brigid Kemmerer is the author of The Elemental Series, about a family of four brothers who control the elements, and their battle with those who want them dead. Storm, Spark, and Spirit are available now wherever books are sold. To read the novella introducing Nick’s story, be sure to check out Breathless available as an e-book only from major e-book retailers. You can learn more about Brigid and the Elemental boys at www.brigidkemmerer.com.

Follow Brigid:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Where to buy:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

Book Depository (Free International Shipping)

{July 25, 2013} {Review} Entangled by Nikki Jefford (Spellbound #1)

From Goodreads: Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

***Entangled is a young adult paranormal fantasy romance suitable for ages 15 and up.**

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The idea of witches and warlocks has always been fascinating to me, so I jumped at the chance to read this one when I saw it on Netgalley. The fact that it deals with a resurrection spell that doesn’t go as planned, mashing twins Gray and Charlene together in one body, alternating between 24 hour shifts, was an added bonus and I read through this novel fairly quickly. The novel speeds by, giving readers insight into the major differences between the twins prior to Grays death, an event that is heavily foreshadowed, and all fingers point in one direction. Yet, Gray is unawares, and her plight upon resurrection, pared with the angst and sleuthing done on each end by the girls, was fascinating as they each tried to piece together what the other was doing on their “on” days. I liked how they fought, writing in notebooks to each other and destroying each other’s things, and it really made me think about who was at fault. Technically, it’s Charlene’s body, so Gray needs to adhere to Char’s rules about food, boys, and social interactions. However, Gray died and lost two months, now only glimpsing every other day, and it’s not fair to ask her to run around as the school harlot and not be able to eat her fill of food… and then there’s the whole fact that Charlene has never truly been nice to Gray, so. It’s mind-boggling, really, and it would be a great discussion for book club.

Discussion topics aside, though, I would have liked to have more fleshing out of the plotline and side-characters. The novel moves very quickly once Gray dies, and at times I felt like I was missing things because it goes from 0 to 60 so quickly. For instance, Raj and Gray’s attraction was non-existent and then the next minute she began making out with him, which makes sense in a way, but I would have liked the romance aspect to slow way down. I would have also enjoyed more information about Ryan, Nolan, and even Raj for that matter, to slow it all down and give me time to process it all with the choppy nature of switching between twins (which I actually really liked). And as I said earlier, the foreshadowing pointed fingers to clue readers in concerning what really happened, giving it away a little too early for my liking, but it was good nonetheless.

I also would have liked a stronger parental presence. Gray’s and Charlene’s mother is a pushover, giving in to Charlene’s every whim and not acting when Charlene does things that are obviously wrong. Instead, she tells Gray that she needs to be patient, to forgive Charlene repeatedly, when I’d scratch the girls eye’s out, sister or not. And Charlene seems to have everyone wrapped around her finger, but I don’t really understand why because she’s such a horrible person–thus some insight into her friendships and the side-characters would have been nice. However, this is just the first novel in the series, and though we’re left with a cliffhanger in which we don’t know what happened to Adrien, Ryan, or Charlene, I’m hoping for more answers in the next installment. Three stars.

Nikki Jefford has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel via Netgalley.

{July 25, 2013} Heather Hildenbrand Bundle SALE! Get Imitation, Whisper, and Across the Galaxy for just $2.99 This Weekend!!

SALE!!! Heather Hildenbrand’s amazing novels, Imitation, Whisper, and Across the Galaxy are ON SALE for just $2.99 in this bundle pack–which is AMAZING! BUT, this is only for this weekend, so hurry and scoop it up stat! You won’t be disappointed!

Grab it on Amazon!

{July 24, 2013} {Review} Watched by Cindy M. Hogan (Watched #1)

From Goodreads: It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy’s life. It takes murder.

A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator’s aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.

She discovers that if she can’t help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

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This is an interesting novel that deals with real life drama, politics, terrorist attacks, and love triangles. It’s an easy read, though I can’t attest how accurate it is as I’ve, thankfully, never been in any situation quite like Christy’s, with witnessing a murder, being tailed by terrorists, and dealing with the FBI. Part of me thinks that as a minor her parents would have needed to be contacted at some point during all of this, but then again, this is the FBI we’re talking about, so those rules for minors probably don’t apply.

Regardless, though, this was a good read that had just enough romance for those of us looking for that triangle, and just enough pacing to keep reader interest. Parts of it sped up, parts slowed down, but the pacing worked very well and I enjoyed it, especially the paranoia of it all because neither Christy nor her seven mates on the D.C. trip ever really knew who to trust or who was after them. While some of the events were foreshadowed enough that I knew they were coming, other portions were a complete surprise, and I liked it.

I did feel some type of way about the fact that the terrorists in this novel are middle-eastern. I understand the USA has dealt with terrorist threats and attacks from the middle-east a lot in the past 15 years, and that this is a “real-life” drama, but part of me really wanted the terrorist group to be from a made-up part of the world or something because the text deals in politics and I felt a little like there was an underlying commentary here, but perhaps that just me.

While this novel doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, per say, it does leave readers wondering what will happen next because there isn’t a real conclusion. The novel just sort of stops, and it’s a great place to stop, but I would have liked to be either on the edge of my seat in anticipation, or peaceful about the ending, but I didn’t feel either.

I think this would be a great MG or YA books. It’s clean and insightful into the teenage mind, and I love that Christy is so smart, and in this case, it isn’t really looked down upon by others. While her peers back home don’t like her, Christy is able to make friends and be herself in D.C. despite her “geekyness,” and I liked this. However, she seems to get a complete make-over in regards to her appearance, which was a tiny turnoff as I’m an advocate of inner beauty, not the outer beauty mantra, but… it’s really no biggie in the grand scheme of things. Three stars.

All Night Reads has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel via Netgalley.

{July 23, 2013} {Review} Uncharted by Tracey Garvis-Graces (An On The Island Novella)

From Barnes and Noble: When twenty-three-year-old dot-com millionaire Owen Sparks walked away from his charmed life, he had one goal in mind: get as far away as possible from the people who resented his success, or had their hand out for a piece of it. A remote uncharted island halfway around the world seemed like a perfectly logical place to get away from it all.

Calia Reed wasn’t part of Owen’s plans. The beautiful British girl—on holiday in the Maldives with her brother, James—made Owen wonder if getting away from it all might be a lot more enjoyable with a carefree girl who didn’t know anything about the life he left behind.

But Owen had no idea how much his carefully detailed plans would go awry. Nor did he realize that a decision he made would have such a catastrophic effect on two passengers who boarded a plane in Chicago.

And when Owen shows up at Anna and T.J.’s door with an incredible story to tell, everyone involved will learn just how much their lives are intertwined.

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If you haven’t yet read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves, then you’re truly missing out. It is the most stunning, captivating story; one of those that keeps you up all night because it’s impossible to put down. And just earlier this month, Garvis-Graves released her companion novella, Uncharted, taking readers back to the island in the Maldives that started it all.

If you’ve read On the Island, then you’ve wondered right alongside Anna and T.J. about the skeleton in the cave and the cabin on the beach, and Uncharted, following the life of Owen Sparks, finally gives readers exactly what they’ve been waiting for, the truth behind the mystery.

In this short novella, we again meet up with Anna and T.J. and their children, and we learn just how many “what ifs” occurred that left Anna and T.J. stranded for so long. I was immediately wrapped up in Owen’s story, and while I really wanted more Anna and T.J., this was exactly what readers needed to understand all the events surrounding their time on the island. It’s impossible not to connect with Owen, Calia, and James, and though heartbreaking, it’s a beautiful story that brings hope to the reader, just as On The Island does. Four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.com

{July 22, 2013} {ARC Review} Canary by Rachele Alpine

From Goodreads: Staying quiet will destroy her, but speaking up will destroy everyone.

Kate Franklin’s life changes for the better when her dad lands a job at Beacon Prep, an elite private school with one of the best basketball teams in the state. She begins to date a player on the team and quickly gets caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, learning that there are perks to being an athlete.

But those perks also come with a price. Another player takes his power too far and Kate is assaulted at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The world that Kate was once welcomed into is now her worst enemy, and she must decide whether to stay silent or expose the corruption, destroying her father’s career and bringing down a town’s heroes.

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Written through a mixture of prose and verse, this novel is unlike any I’ve ever read before. One aspect that really set it apart from others I’ve read is the online journal that begins every chapter. Kate is a blogger, albeit a private blogger, and she records her thoughts and feelings on the site www.allmytruths.com (seriously, go look at it!) from the very beginning, before she ever begins her year at Beacon. Each new entry has a “Today’s Truth” statement that sets the stage for the blog entry and the chapter, and I really enjoyed this, although I didn’t realize just how important these journal entries were until it really came down to it all.

The novel begins in August and ends in January, opening and closing with Kate’s initial and final words on the blog, and I found this extremely interesting and well-rounding, a great final touch for closure. This is also the portion of the novel that is written in both prose and verse, and while I’m not necessarily a verse guru (I shy away from verse as much as possible in my every day life), it was awesome to see Kate’s thoughts and feelings thrown on the page in such an unconventional way. It’s completely different and extremely powerful.

Alpine’s novel follows Kate as she moves to Beacon and finds instant popularity, something she’s never had before and, as we all know, popularity makes people do crazy things. Over the course of the story, Kate changes, as her brother Brett points out, and it’s not for the better. But what I really enjoyed was that, though blinded by her need to fit in and feel loved, she didn’t forget her family, and when her “friends” said rude and nasty things about her brother and his girlfriend, Kate stuck up for them. Now, while it’s true that that’s about all she did, it still shows that she hasn’t lost all her humanity trying to fit in with others. Though the newest addition to the popular group, she told them how she felt and had no qualms standing up and walking away when the comments became increasingly rude concerning those not in the “popular crowd,” and I loved watching this strong will of hers because it foreshadows her will power that we’ll see later on in the novel.

Now, I know the synopsis says it, but I feel the need to point it out again: there is an assault, an attempted rape, in this novel. The good news is that it’s late in the novel, it’s not graphic, and Kate is able to fend off her attacker. The bad news is that any type of assault leaves the victim wounded internally, regardless of physical pain. Now, the reason I wanted to draw potential reader attention to this is I tend to shy away from novels where I know that rape or sexual abuse will be portrayed, but I’m glad I didn’t with this novel, and I suggest you don’t let that stop you from picking it up, either. It’s a powerful story, and although Kate loses everything–her friends, popularity, even her father’s protection–she remains strong and ultimately must make a choice: to protect her father’s job and the basketball team who will probably continue to attempt and succeed in harming women, or to tell the truth, face the taunts of the school, and stand for what is right. It’s powerful; a great story that I highly recommend. Four stars.

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

Canary releases on August 1, 2013.

{July 21, 2013} Announcing the Winners of the UtopYA 2014 Ticket and Other Prizes

The giveaway for an entrance ticket into UtopYA 2014 as well as some amazing Prize Packs has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Prize Pack 1: Amy Leigh Strickland

Prize Pack 2: Elyse Schramm

So, what have they won?

Prize Pack 1: AMY**

One Ticket into UtopYA 2014 (for 3-day pass to conference, admission to awards and after party, Friday night book signing, and Sunday write-in)
One Signed UtopYA T-Shirt size L (womens)—Signed by the authors attending UtopYA 2013

Signed Books:

Signed paperback of Pieces of Me by Eisley Jacobs
Signed paperback of Awaken OR Echo of an Earth Angel by Sarah M. Ross (winner’s choice)
Signed paperback of one of Raine Thomas’ books—winner’s choice

Ebooks and Swag:

eARC of A Stroke of Luck by Desiree DeOrto
eARC of Steel Lily by Megan Curd
Ebook of Promise Me This by Sarah Ashley Jones
Ebook of Cornerstone by Misty Provencher
Ebook of Soul Quest by Amy Maurer Jones
Ebook of Wildflower by Amy Maurer Jones
Ebook of Reveal by Brina Courtney (Cryptid Tales 1)
Ebook of The Modified by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of One Tiny Secret by Adam Kunz
Ebook of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole
Ebook of Clicks by Amy Evans
Ebook of Bluffing the Devil by Christy Foster
Ebook of Forbidden by Amy Miles
Ebook of Reckoning by Amy Miles
Ebook of Touching Smoke by Airicka Phoenix
Ebook of Games of Fire by Airicka Phoenix
Ebook of Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp, autographed bookmark, autographed postcard for each of the Forces of Nature books
A leather bookmark from Chelsea Starling
A BookLover Journal and A BookLover Tee designed by Whit&Ware Design from Victoria Alday
A specialty signed goodie pack from Tiffany King

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Prize Pack 2: ELYSE**

One Ticket into UtopYA 2014 (for 3-day pass to conference, admission to awards and after party, Friday night book signing, and Sunday write-in)
One Signed UtopYA T-Shirt size L (womens)—Signed by the authors attending UtopYA 2013

Signed Books:

Signed paperback of Promise by Kristie Cook and a set of embellished bookmarks
A signed copy of Awaken or Echo of an Earth Angel by Sarah M. Ross– winner’s choice

Ebooks and Swag:

eARC of A Stroke of Luck by Desiree DeOrto
eARC of Steel Lily by Megan Curd
Ebook of Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Scorched Treachery by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Semester Abroad by Elizabeth Kirke and 6 signed trading cards
Ebook of The Amulet by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Emerald Staff by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Cypher Wheel by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Ice Diamond Cuff by Alison Pensy
Ebook of Reveal by Brina Courtney (Cryptid Tales 1)
Ebook of The Childe by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of Dark Days by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of Hale Maree by Misty Provencher
Ebook of Mercy, A Gargoyle Story by Misty Provencher
A leather bookmark from Chelsea Starling
Winner’s Choice Ebooks: Tiffany King Saving Angels Bundle pack (including ebooks of Meant to Be, Forgotten Souls, The Ascended) OR YA Contemporary ebook Bundle pack (including ebooks of Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies)

Disclaimer: The winners of this epic giveaway MUST plan on attending UtopYA 2014 in Nashville, have their own transportation to and from the conference, provide their own lodging, and accept the winning of the ticket along with all other prizes. Should the winner already have purchased a ticket to UtopYA, we will discuss other options, such as the winner giving it to a friend of theirs, in which case we will purchase the ticket in the friend’s name, etc. These tickets hold NO MONETARY VALUE and cannot be refunded by the winner for any financial gain as the refund will come back to those of us purchasing the tickets for the winner. Refusal of the ticket will result in refusal of the entire prize pack.**

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

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

Giveaway Policy

Contests are international, unless otherwise stated.
Winners are chosen by rafflecopter and random.org.
Books and prizes may be sent from The Book Depository, the author/publisher themselves, or from A Book Vacation Reviews personally. A Book VacationReviews is not liable for prizes not sent by author/publisher or that are lost, stolen, or damaged by the postal service or The Book Depository.
Prizes will be shipped via postal service or electronically upon the completion of the contest and response from the winner.
Time frames for receiving prizes will vary immensely based on type of prize.
A Book Vacation is not at fault if winner in unable to read ebooks due to lack of technology or technological issues.
Entrants may only enter each giveaway once unless otherwise specified.
All contests have an age stipulation, either 13+ with parent/guardian permission, or 18+ years of age or older, and these stipulations must be adhered to or winner voids receipt of prize.
Winners will be announced in a blog post dedicated to the giveaway on the date the giveaway ends.
Winners will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen using rafflecopter and random.org.
A Book Vacation Reviews is not responsible if the item is lost, damaged, or stolen.
A Book Vacation Reviews holds the right to end a contest before its original deadline without any prior notice.
A Book Vacation Reviews reserves the right to terminate a giveaway at any reason or to deny prizes should unforeseen issues arise.
No cheating. A Book Vacation Reviews will check each entry and cheaters will be disqualified without notification.
Your personal information will not be saved or used for any other purpose.
If you have any questions, please email A Book Vacation Reviews. If you are the winner, please email upon receipt of prize.

-A Book Vacation

{July 20, 2013} {Review} Vampire Shift: The Graphic Novel (Volume One) Written by Tim O’Rourke, Illustrated by Craig Twyman

From Goodreads: Vampire Shift: The Graphic Novel (Volume One) is based on the Number 1 Bestselling Novel by Tim O’Rourke and full of dark illustrations by artist Craig Twyman.

When 20-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations, and missing persons, Kiera uses her unique ability of seeing, and soon realizes her own life is in danger.

When Kiera falls for police officer Luke Bishop, not only are her mind and heart opened to a terrifyingly new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings.

In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who – or what – is behind the gruesome deaths on her Vampire Shift.

This is Volume 1 in 4 Volumes of Vampire Shift. This book is approximately 62 pages long. Volume 2 Coming Soon!

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Tim O’Rourke’s latest release, Vampire Shift: The Graphic Novel (Volume One) isn’t just a beautiful graphic novel, but a collector’s item, and if you’ve fallen in love with the Kiera Hudson series as I have, then it’s a must have addition to your bookshelves. Released in a series of four volumes, this graphic novel portrays events within the full novel, but leaves readers with a cliffhanger as they wait for the next installment. And honestly, this aspect makes it the perfect read to whet your appetite if you haven’t already read the first full book in the Kiera Hudson series, Vampire Shift, especially if you’re a more visual person.

Usually my reviews focus on the story—I have rarely reviewed a graphic novel, so aside from a cover, I don’t talk about art, but let me tell you, the artwork in this graphic novel really brings the beautiful and enchanting story of Kiera Hudson to life. Twyman’s art is amazing and I love the black and white drawings with the splash of red that pervades the pages as the story progresses, creating an ominous feel as it all unfolds. I read this on both of my Kindles (Keyboard and Fire to view the differences) and while it’s better on the Kindle Fire version that shows it’s detailed color, the paperback version is, indeed, the best, as you can see from the photo of one of the pages below. I highly, highly recommend this graphic novel. It’s gorgeous. Five stars.

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

For MORE books by Tim O’Rourke:

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

Vampire Shift Graphic Novels

Vampire Shift Volume 1

(Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

{July 20, 2013} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 54–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 some of Barnes and Noble, too). 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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Fly Away by Amy Maurer Jones

Joshua Bangs and Jordan Stone are vying for the love of Laney Stillwater. They can’t walk away because their souls have been bound by the spirits for all of eternity.

In the second installment of The Wildflower Series, the stakes are higher than the guy getting the girl. Laney struggles with her feelings as the two boys fight for her affection, but a broken heart pales in comparison to the soul-devouring perils awaiting them in the spirit world.

Over the course of hundreds of years the past lives of the three reincarnates have proven time and time again that their love is beyond tragic. It’s fatal.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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SAVE by Ella Col

Twenty-two year old, Bree Jensen is a survivor who managed to break free from her abuser and start a new life.

Falling in love is the last thing on her mind, now that Bree has the chance to start over.

That is…until she meets her neighbor, Josh. Josh oozes sexual charm. He’s confident, talented, and he adores her. Bree finds everything about Josh hard to resist right down to his decorated body of tattoos, piercings and shag haircut. Don’t forget about those damn green eyes.

Josh has endured his own personal hell and meeting Bree has triggered emotions he thought were buried deep.

Can they SAVE each other from their chilling pasts and begin the fairytale both so desperately want?

Find it on Amazon.

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Speed of My Heart by Erika Trevathan

After clawing her way out of an abusive relationship, the last thing Mara Campbell is looking for is love. Even after a year, dating seems like a laughable prospect at best. She has no interest in getting wrapped up in another emotionally draining relationship; and that’s all Mara ever seems to find when it comes to guys — losers, who seem to suck the life right out of her. No, Mara is much more interested in training relentlessly to pursue a career in dance — and she’ll let nothing stand in her way.

Cole Davenport is a drop-dead gorgeous professional racecar driver; who’s an ace on the track and even better when it comes to driving Mara’s heart rate up to top speeds. But, while Mara tries to juggle between advancing her dance career and not losing her heart to a guy who’s use to winning; someone else has an entirely different agenda where she’s concerned. One that could test the boundaries of her trust and change everything…

Find it on Amazon.

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A Stroke of Luck by Desiree DeOrto

When you work in an all-night diner, you never know who will walk in the door.

Katie Jones doesn’t believe in love at first sight. After divorcing her abusive husband, she doesn’t believe in love at all. But when Jacob Richmond walked into Bud’s Diner, her disbelief was put to the test.

Jacob came to Kansas to find inspiration. He was searching for the subject that would be the muse for his next masterpiece. He wasn’t expecting to find himself completely consumed by a waitress who had more baggage than he thought possible.

When love at first sight just doesn’t cut it, your burning desire can’t be controlled. Sometimes you need just a little luck to put it all together.

He was searching for inspiration….
She was searching for an escape…
But with a Stroke Of Luck, anything can happen.

Find it on Amazon.

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Loving Liberty by Belinda Boring

Liberty Montgomery is many things:

A dutiful daughter.
Perfect wife-in-training.
Easy to manipulate.
Compliant.

But secretly she wants more.

For years, Liberty has dreamed of a life filled with opportunities—a life where she makes the decisions, living by her own rules. Unfortunately, her parents have other plans for her, ones that involve her submission and total obedience. Every attempt to break free from their control is met with threats, leaving her feeling trapped. Just when all seems hopeless, Liberty meets Oliver Nichols. With just two words, be brave, he stirs up her secret longings for more . . . friendship, fun, and independence. He almost has her believing her dreams are possible. However, taking a stand can be terrifying when you’ve spent your entire life pleasing others.

Are some chances worth taking? What would she risk for freedom?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez

When Beth Michaels high tailed it out of the hole-in-the-road town she grew up in, she only had two goals. One-get as far away as quickly as possible, and two-never set foot in her parent’s home again. But when she receives a heart breaking call from her childhood best friend, Jen, she has no choice but to turn her ’56 Ford pickup back in the direction of Salem, Missouri to attend a funeral.

There’s a new local in town when Beth arrives, and suddenly, it ain’t all that easy for her to remember her rules for dating. #1. Cookie-cutter-perfect guys ain’t her type. #2. Tie wearin’ and church frequentin’ is an automatic dismissal. #3. Most importantly, never date anyone from small minded, conservative, Bible-thumping towns like Salem. Unfortunately, Matthew Wright breaks all her rules and then some.

Matt might be from a small town and have small town values, but that doesn’t mean he fits into a little slot of Beth’s preconceived notions. After all, ever so often good guys are good. Now if he could just convince Beth to let go of her past and give him a chance, he’s pretty sure there’s a whole lotta sweet under that prickly exterior. His own … Sweet Contradiction.

***FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you.***

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Always by Ellery Rhodes

A new university, a fresh start, and no falling in love.

After a freshman year from hell, Juliet Stowe’s heart is in a million pieces. She transfers to a new school, determined to leave the past behind.
But when she’s paired up with Lucas McNamara, the ‘boy next door’ all deliciously grown up, she knows she’s in trouble. Back then she didn’t understand why her mother, who used to work for Lucas’ family, told her not to get attached. But they were inseparable -until her mother was fired because the McNamaras don’t mix with the help.

He never thought he’d see her again…

Lucas McNamara knew there was something familiar about his biology partner and is floored when it hits him. She’s ‘Julie’–the barefoot beauty who was unlike any girl he’d ever met then or since.

While years have passed and he’s far from the carefree kid that Juliet once knew, one thing remains the same. He wants her. He’s always wanted her–but he’s the heir to the McNamara multi-million dollar empire and his family is hell bent on keeping them apart.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Demanding Ransom by Megan Squires

Sometimes life takes things away from you.

In nineteen-year-old Maggie Carson’s case, it’s taken more than its fair share.

Determined to move forward, Maggie embarks on her first year of college, hoping to finally put her past behind her, exactly where it belongs.

But that’s hard to do when the present is just as difficult. And even harder when someone like Ran, the gorgeous paramedic that keeps crossing Maggie’s path, challenges her to face things head on, rather than bury them like she always does.

Ran hasn’t had a perfect life either. But there’s something different about him, and something different about the way he makes Maggie feel. Maybe meeting Ran is life’s little gift for Maggie—a sort of consolation prize for enduring everything she’s had to go through.

But things don’t come easy for Maggie. Why should love be the exception? And just when everything starts to settle, it’s all turned on its head once again.

If there is one thing Ran has taught Maggie, it’s that you can’t sit on the sidelines of your own existence. When life takes something that’s yours, you have every right to demand it back.

Only for Maggie, that is easier said than done.

Find it on Amazon.

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Forbidden by Amy Miles

Roseline Enescue didn’t ask to become an Immortal, to have all of the guests at her wedding slaughtered, or be forced into marriage with a man whose lust for blood would one day ignite the vampire legend. Willing to risk everything for a chance at a normal life, Roseline escapes to America. Terrified her husband Vladimir will find her, Roseline enrolls as a senior in Chicago’s elite Rosewood Prep school. Mingling with humans is the last place he would look for her.But her transition into the human world isn’t easy. Mortal men flock after her while cutthroat girls plot her demise. Yet Roseline remains relatively unfazed by the petty hysteria until she falters into the arms of Gabriel Marston, reluctant MVP quarterback, unwilling ladies man, sensitive artist in hiding, and blah, blah, blah. Troubled by the bond that pulls her towards the mortal boy, Roseline tries to ignore him, but Gabriel is persistent. As their lives entwine, Roseline begins to realize that Gabriel is much more than he appears. His ability to toss a football the entire length of the field and grind concrete into dust pales in comparison to the glowing blue cross tattoo that mysteriously appears on his forearms. Despite the forbidden bond between them, Roseline can’t help wondering what Gabriel is: He’s not human. He’s not Immortal. So just what is he?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Walking Away by Adriane Boyd

Twenty -five year old Coraline Renfro is in mourning. She and her long time boyfriend, Blake Parrish, have broken up and Cora hasn’t been dealing with it well. She’s shut herself off from the world around her, and buried herself in her work. Tired of being alone, Cora accepts a date from a colleague, and slowly begins to move on. When Blake comes calling again, will Cora take him back or will she show him how it feels to have a door slammed in his face and his hopes and dreams of a future with her dashed?

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.

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{July 19, 2013} {Review} Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll

From Goodreads: Paradise Manor is depressing – the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won’t let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn’t benefit the community?

But working with the Alzheimer’s patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don’t have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy – even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it.

But when tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny’s left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life and her death.

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This novel opens in the beginning stages of our main character’s trial. You see, Sunny has been accused of manslaughter–the intentional murder of an elderly woman in a nursing home, but she says she didn’t do it. Sound intriguing? It is.

Forced to volunteer at Paradise Manner (a name synonymous with irony) for a school project, and keeping a journal every step of the way, readers get to know the real Sunny through her own written words, but also others’ perceptions of her as the trial commences. My favorite aspect of the novel, by far, is that we, as readers, become a part of the jury. The evidence is presented in such a way that we are given the opportunity to weigh all the evidence for and against Sunny, and it’s especially intriguing because we get to see Sunny’s thoughts as she sits in her seat listening to the witnesses. Yes, we get to see inside Sunny’s head a little more than the jury, and she gets to explain herself, but even way before the end, my mind was made up in terms of her guilt. Did she or didn’t she do it? You’ll have to make that judgment call as you read.

And, as the story progresses, the title reverberates in the readers’ minds: Crush. Candy. Corpse. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why this was the title, but it’s is perfect. Sunny has a crush. There is candy involved. And a death. One thing leads to another, but not necessarily in the way you think. Along with the title, I have to say the cover itself it perfect. Not only striking, it shows the main character exactly as I envision her, even though I didn’t understand the meaning behind the pink hair for quite some time. I love it.

When I first began this novel, I thought Sunny was going to be a brat. She begins the novel with her rants about having to work at paradise Manor and she spells out just how much she hated the idea and the people in the very beginning. While her observations and wit are often times quite amusing, it does paint the picture of a bratty little girl. But, rest assured, she grows on you. It’s not long before Sunny begins to enjoy volunteering, partly because he gets to see Cole, and partly because she really does care about the patients, and as the novel progresses, it becomes more and more about the patients. From start to finish, Sunny morphs into a completely different person, and I loved this, especially as we see the different testaments about her “breaking of rules” and other’s perceptions of her. It’s true that first impressions are hard to dispel, and in Sunny’s trial, it becomes evident that many people hold vastly to those first impressions. However, she doesn’t make it easy for them to see past her pink hair and destructive ways, so it makes sense that so many would testify against her. Her past hasn’t necessarily been a great one.

Overall, this is a great, clean story that makes you think, and I really enjoyed it. Four stars.

James Lorimer & Company have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel via Netgalley.

{July 18, 2013} {Review} Eyes Ever to the Sky by Katie French

From Goodreads: When Hugh wakes up in a smoldering crater—no memory, no clothes—a single thought echoes in his head…trust no one. Frightened and alone, with no memory of who he is, he stumbles upon a grisly murder scene and is fatally shot. He wakes, only to find he can heal himself. He has superpowers, and he’s going to need them.

Desperate and bleeding, Hugh stumbles upon fifteen-year-old Cece, who’s got enough troubles of her own. Between caring for her bipolar mother and trying not to get evicted from her run-down trailer, Cece may be the only person struggling as much as Hugh. Drawn to Hugh, Cece finds a love she’s never known. But when the real killer—a man-hunting beast—chooses another victim, Hugh and Cece realize they must unlock the clues to their past if they have any chance at a future.

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This is a very short novel. At just under 200 pages, it is a quick read for those looking for something on the shorter side. Overall, I think it had a great concept and premise, but the execution just wasn’t my style. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was well done, but as I’ve found with many shorter novels, I just didn’t have time to connect with the characters on that deep level that I enjoy so much. Hugh and Cece are both interesting in their own right, and God knows they’ve been through hell and back, with Hugh’s inability to remember the past and trust a soul, and Cece’s home-life in a hoarding situation with her bipolar mother, but I wanted more. While I felt badly for them throughout the novel, that’s about as far as my feelings were able to extend because I just didn’t get to know either of them well enough. A little more fleshing out of character and an explanation and slowing down of the “whirlwind romance” would have been preferred for me, personally, but to each his/her own.

One aspect that I had a very difficult time with was that of the aliens. I am intrigued by stories of this nature and wanted to understand more about Hugh and his people right away, but French gives very little information in terms of Hugh’s background, and I never did figure out why all the murders were taking place or what the purpose was behind them. Obviously it’s connected to Hugh, but why it’s happening escaped me. Perhaps I just missed it, or maybe it’s something that will be addressed in the next book, but overall, I finished the book with more questions than answers. Two stars.

Katie French Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel via Netgalley.

{July 17, 2013} {Review} Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

From Goodreads: There’s bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don’t have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway. A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant), the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to find their places in a school that has no place for them. T.J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket–exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T.J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High–will also be an effective tool. He’s right. He’s also wrong. Still, it’s always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets soon becomes the space where they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to grow. Together they’ll fight for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment’s inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.

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This isn’t a book I would normally pick up to read because sports novels really aren’t my thing, but since I am seriously lacking sports novels on my Outside Reading List for my students, and students keep asking me to add more, I read this novel on the recommendation of the school librarian.

Overall, it was a good story. It’s well written and deals with many emotional topics, such as bullying, abuse, hatred, and even death. Crutcher treads lightly, and I liked how he broached each topic throughout his novel, making this a great MG or YA read. Although not really a swim team, T.J. Jones brings together a band of misfits who, through practice, swim meets, and long bus rides, learn to trust one another. Through their personal stories that they share with one another, readers are further able to connect with them on a deeper level, and I enjoyed this aspect of the novel. While I wasn’t necessarily a fan of T.J. and his cocky demeanor, I don’t think he means any harm; he’s just trying to do right by those around him and to dispel the bullying and prejudice others hold against himself, his friends, and even his family. The ending is somewhat depressing, in my opinion, but overall it works to bring everything together and I thought it was a good read. If you have any younger males looking for a good story, especially if they’re into sports, then I highly recommend this novel to them. Three stars.

I borrowed this novel from the library.

{July 16, 2013} {Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway} Found by Alyssa Rose Ivy (The Crescent Chronicles #3)

From Goodreads: Levi might be hot, strong, and have a cool set of wings, but it’s not enough to make up for keeping Allie in the dark.

Allie’s tired of being left with more questions than answers. She’s tired of loving a guy who refuses to level with her. Most of all, she’s tired of her life spinning out of control.

Desperate to save Jess no matter the personal cost, Allie has to face the possibility that the only one she can trust is herself.

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This final installment in the Crescent Chronicles finally finds Allie and Levi at peace, in love, and on the same wave length, well, most of the time. The fighting is virtually over, and now that all the angst and trickery is out of the way, Allie and Levi are free to live their lives in bliss, except that Allie just learned something that has her questioning Levi’s love for her and her role in the Pteron world.

I enjoyed this novel just as much as the first two, but reader beware, Ivy is no long “fading to black” in her sex scenes, giving the full play by play, and it happens a lot as Allie’s and Levi’s newly reciprocated love has them whisking off for alone time much more often than not. If you’ve been waiting for our beloved characters to finally make amends and truly be together, then this final novel will give you everything you want. If you’re like me, then you’ll just gloss over those scenes and continue on with the meat of the story: how Allie is going to save Jess.

I have to say that I missed the constant bickering and banter between Allie and Levi in this novel, but Ivy makes up for it by finally putting the two lovers at ease with one another. Although Allie learns something about herself that has her questioning Levi’s love, and the admiration of all the Pteron heirs in the country, she remains strong and endeavors to save her best friend and solidify the Pteron.

I enjoyed that this novel is much more laid back than the others, starting off almost floating along as Allie and Levi are finally able to just enjoy themselves and their relationship. Interspersed here and there with the appearance of Allie’s deranged ex, Toby, and Levi’s callous grandmother, the novel gives readers jolts of anticipation, heeding the warnings as they come. Thus, readers are given a sense of calm and joy and then are overtaken by a sense of foreboding as the novel unfolds, and I really liked this combination. I was surprised by Allie’s decisions in the later half of the novel as everything began to heat up—her decisions to make a move for Jess on her own didn’t floor me, per say, because of her strong nature, but her bargaining and interactions with others made me tense. It’s a beautiful ending, though. Perfect in every way, but it’s not over. Not really. Ivy just announced that she’s not ready to give up the Pteron’s, and a spinoff series will be releasing late this year. Oh thank heaven. If you haven’t read the Crescent Chronicles yet, I highly suggest you do in time for the next installment. Four stars.

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

Check out the rest of The Crescent Chronicles:

Flight #1

Focus #2

Found #3

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About Alyssa Rose Ivy:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college.

After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Website | Facebook | FOUND Goodreads

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And now for the giveaway!

Alyssa Rose Ivy is giving away TWO signed paperbacks of FOUND!

Click this Rafflecopter link to go to the entry form!

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{July 15, 2013} {Review} Focus by Alyssa Rose Ivy (The Crescent Chronicles #2)

From Goodreads: Freshman year of college is hard even when you’re not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she’s with Levi or not, she’s in far too deep to turn back.

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This second novel picks up virtually where the first one, Flight, ended, making it a sequential novel that will leave readers clueless if they don’t read in order. I personally really like series novels, and as I picked up Focus just a few minutes after finishing Flight, which was perfect. While there is a little bit of what’s known as “info dumping” in the beginning chapters of book two, it’s not overbearing and Ivy seamlessly weaves it into the story, allowing those who have had down time between the novels time enough to remember the main plotline before whisking the reader away on a new and awesome adventure.

Allie, a strong-willed female, asserts herself even more in this novel, and though she struggles with her attraction and feelings for Levi, I love that she doesn’t just give in to his constant “charm,” especially after what he did to her in the previous novel (no spoilers, sorry, but if you read Flight, I’m sure you’ll be just as livid as Allie AND I were). I was exceptionally happy to note that Allie doesn’t let Levi off the hook, even though everyone around her tells her to get over it, and I really enjoyed her strong sense of self of worth. While she constantly questions her heart, she doesn’t immediately give in to her sexual desires, and she doesn’t let Levi’s treachery slide, either. Way to go, Allie!

I also loved the strong female bond between Hailey and Allie, which began to develop in the first novel and really solidifies in this second. There is no rolling-over to the men in their lives, and while there is definitely much sexual tension and relationship woes, Ivy keeps this novel clean as well, just like she did in the first, “fading to black” for all sexual encounters and focusing more on fleshing out the relationships and working through the characters’ issues. I absolutely adore Ivy’s adherence to leaving it to the imagination, and her writing style makes me comfortable as I read, which is a major plus. This novel has real relationship depth and I just loved how everything ended up in the end, especially with the twist. I’d like to say that I saw it coming, and a part of me did, but even so, I was still shocked and nearly died when I realized it was a cliffhanger, but lucky for us all, Ivy’s final installment in the Crescent Series has just released. Excited? You should be. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Check out the rest of The Crescent Chronicles:

Flight #1

Focus #2

Found #3

{July 15, 2013} {Review} Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy (The Crescent Chronicles #1)

From Goodreads: Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

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Alyssa Rose Ivy has done a phenomenal job creating a paranormal world that really draws the reader in. Set in New Orleans, Ivy places her fictional characters in a place that exudes otherworldly power, and I loved that Ivy really gave readers a taste of the area and culture, weaving it into the story alongside her interesting plotline. The paranormal aspect of this novel was extremely unique, and Ivy does a great job whetting readers’ appetites; I can’t wait for more because she’s only just begun to scratch the surface in terms of who the Pteron really are and what power they hold over the entire paranormal world.

Initially, however, I didn’t like Levi. He is the representation of the cocky male who knows he looks good and won’t take no for an answer, and this persona has never impressed me in real life or fiction. Levi is arrogant, and he’s always turning the conversation into something sexual, so I was worried that I actually wasn’t going to like the novel since Allie seemed to be giving in to him too easily, which is a big no-no for me as I’m a supporter of the strong female lead. Yet, as the book progressed, Levi grew on me a little, and I began to enjoy his and Allie’s whirlwind summer romance, especially once I knew more about Levi’s background and noted that Allie was strong in her own right. My love for Levi was once again suspended, though, when he went ahead and did something that angered me to no end, something I’m not okay with by any means, and neither is Allie, as is evidenced from the last 30% of the novel. But truth be told, I’m very proud of Allie’s reaction. I feel exactly the same way Allie does when everything comes to light, but I am also a little worried that her defenses will fall away too easily as Levi attempts to smooth talk his way out of this situation. Only time will tell.

I really do like Allie, but many times throughout the novel I found her making rash and ill-advised decisions, which turned me off a bit. However, she has just graduated from high school, she’s 18, has no supervision, and has just ended a long relationship. I know how it feels to be let loose and trying to turn over a new leaf, so I can’t hold it against her.

I also was very thankful that Ivy keeps her novel clean. With Levi as the main character and his obsession, it seems, with getting Allie into bed, it was nice that Allie held out and that any and all sexual encounters between the characters were all “fade to black.” This is turn makes it more YA friendly in that it’s not explicit or overbearing for younger readers whom I think will really enjoy the story and Allie’s strong sense of self-worth. She doesn’t need a man to make her strong, and I loved that she was so assertive and a good role model in that respect. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Check out the rest of The Crescent Chronicles:

Flight #1

Focus #2

Found #3

{July 15, 2013} {Review} Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

From Goodreads: “I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.”

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

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I really enjoyed how completely unique this novel ended up being. Elizabeth does not feel emotion, so she forces herself to play the part day in and day out as she struggles through her abusive existence. Her ability to talk to the emotions was intriguing and I liked how they materialized from nowhere and were able to carbon copy themselves to control all human emotions in the world at the same time. The novel went off in a completely different direction than I thought it would, and I loved the surprises. Kudos to Sutton because I believe it’s virtually impossible to write a character with zero emotions, and Sutton does a very good job with this, even though on occasion Elizabeth does show emotion in a muted sort of sense.

This novel has a great pace, but I felt that the ending went on for much longer than it needed to. Everything seems to come to a climax about 70% in, but it doesn’t end there. Instead, it takes a turn for the worst and a whole new story seems to develop, fleshing out the truth behind Elizabeth’s past, and while it was definitely well done, I just found it a little long for my tastes.

I also would have liked to see the weak, abusive characters get their due. There are multiple instances in which characters hurt, mock, and abuse Elizabeth, and she allows it because she does not feel emotion, but these evil people are never put to task for their actions. Bullying should never go unpunished, and neither should abuse, in my opinion, and I really would have liked to see repercussions for these actions.

But all in all, this is a very interesting story about emotions, or lack there of, and the different plains that exist outside our reality. I’ve never thought of emotions as having human thoughts and feelings (sort of like the four horsemen, in a way), and I loved how their characterization came across to really show their traits. Fears appearance, actions, and dialogue fit him well, as did Courage’s and all the other emotions. As I said before, this novel went in a completely different direction than I expected it to, and it was a fun read, though a little drawn out here and there. Three and a half stars.

Flux books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

{July 15, 2013} Announcing the Winners of Jaden Baker by Courtney Kirchoff

The giveaway for signed copies of Jaden Baker by Courtney Krichoff has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Amanda ODonovan — First Edition Novel

FIRST edition paperback (on the right) ====>

Lisa Vazquezanzua — Second Edition Novel

<==== SECOND edition paperback (on the left)

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a ticket to UtopYA 2014, a Signed t-shirt from the con, Signed paperbacks, ebooks, and swag–(ENDS July 21)

There are TWO Prize packs (show above and below)

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

{July 14, 2013} Announcing the Winners of Armored Hearts by Melissa Turner Lee and Pauline Creeden

The Flash Giveaway for ebooks of Armored Hearts by Melissa Turner Lee and Pauline Creeden has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Jemilla Cook
Shelly Hammond
Pamela Winn
Cassie Sansom
Mary Preston

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a SIGNED First or Second Edition Paperback of Jaden Baker–ENDS July 15

Win a ticket to UtopYA 2014, a Signed t-shirt from the con, Signed paperbacks, ebooks, and swag–(ENDS July 21)

There are TWO Prize packs (show above and below)

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

{July 14, 2013} {ARC Review} Left Drowning by Jessica Park

From Goodreads: What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

*This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.

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I read some reviews about Left Drowning prior to reading it, which is something I hardly ever do, but as the note above states that it’s a novel for mature audiences as it includes strong language and sexual content, recommended for Ages 17+, I wanted to do a little research first. Those of you who have read my reviews on the blog over the past few years already know that I’m a bit of a prude, and those of you who haven’t read my reviews, well… I’m a bit of a prude. And, as the New Adult genre has become more prolific (and I love it), I’ve learned to research my novels with the above warnings prior to reading them because I don’t want any surprises. That being said, I feel like the reviews I read prepared me quite well for this novel’s delving into the sexual aspect, but not so much for the intensity of the characters as they bare their souls.

This read is intense. The characters are extremely deep and their plights really moved me. Both Blythe and Chris are extremely raw inside, running from their pasts, and it’s hard to keep from crying as you read through their situations. And it’s not just them, it’s every character. Park reels her readers in with the authenticity of her characters, splitting them wide open and forcing them to work through the pain, face their pasts, and triumph or die trying. Originally I thought this novel was just about Blythe and Chris, but really it’s about them all: Sabin, Eric, Estelle, Zach, and James… each one playing an integral part in this story; each one is hurting, and though it takes a while for protective walls to come down around the characters for the reader to really see their true selves, it’s there, it’s raw, full of emotion, and I just loved how Park portrayed them, forcing them deep into my heart and making me feel like I truly know them. The fact that this novel took place over a few years was an ingenious idea that further connected me to the characters as I watched them graduate from college and begin living lives on their own, and while I don’t agree with all the decisions the characters make, it’s absolutely beautiful.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this novel, even more than I originally thought I would, and it all has to do with Park’s undeniable ability to create characters and events so real that the reader cannot walk away untouched. Park focuses on some very difficult topics in this novel and she does so with extreme care, and though my emotions were all over the place as I read, I wouldn’t have it any other way (make sure you have tissues nearby). The one aspect I, personally, could have done without, though, were the very graphic “mature” scenes that I felt were a bit too long (I really prefer fade to black sequences, but to each their own), but overall, the power of the novel really overrides that aspect for me. Four stars.

Amazon Publishing has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 16, 2013.

{July 14, 2013} Win One Ticket to UtopYA 2014, One Signed T-Shirt from the Con, and over 18 Other Prizes Including Ebooks, Signed Books, and Swag

UtopYA 2013 was one of the best experiences of my life, and I think the 300+ participants that were there with me this year would agree 100%. Right now, tickets for next year are on an early-bird sale, but they’ll no longer be on discounted sale after July 31. In fact, you won’t be able to buy them again until Black Friday when they will be released for full price admission. But never fear!! We’d love to see you down in Nashville, Tennessee, with us in 2014, and so, with the permission of UtopYA founder Janet Wallace, many authors and bloggers have come together to create TWO epic prize packs complete with one ticket to UtopYA 2014 (for 3-day pass to conference, admission to awards and after party, Friday night book signing, and Sunday write-in), a UtopYA 2013 t-shirt signed by a majority of the authors in attendance, signed books, ebooks, and swag. The sheer amount of prizes and support from authors and bloggers for this giveaway just goes to show you how much we adore UtopYA and each other, and we’d really like to see you there (prize pack does NOT include transportation to the conference or lodging, you’ll have to provide that on your own, sorry).

Below is a list of what each Prize Pack includes:

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Prize Pack 1

One Ticket into UtopYA 2014 (for 3-day pass to conference, admission to awards and after party, Friday night book signing, and Sunday write-in)
One Signed UtopYA T-Shirt size L (womens)—Signed by the authors attending UtopYA 2013

Signed Books:

Signed paperback of Pieces of Me by Eisley Jacobs
Signed paperback of Awaken OR Echo of an Earth Angel by Sarah M. Ross (winner’s choice)
Signed paperback of one of Raine Thomas’ books—winner’s choice

Ebooks and Swag:

eARC of A Stroke of Luck by Desiree DeOrto
eARC of Steel Lily by Megan Curd
Ebook of Promise Me This by Sarah Ashley Jones
Ebook of Cornerstone by Misty Provencher
Ebook of Soul Quest by Amy Maurer Jones
Ebook of Wildflower by Amy Maurer Jones
Ebook of Reveal by Brina Courtney (Cryptid Tales 1)
Ebook of The Modified by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of One Tiny Secret by Adam Kunz
Ebook of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole
Ebook of Clicks by Amy Evans
Ebook of Bluffing the Devil by Christy Foster
Ebook of Forbidden by Amy Miles
Ebook of Reckoning by Amy Miles
Ebook of Touching Smoke by Airicka Phoenix
Ebook of Games of Fire by Airicka Phoenix
Ebook of Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp, autographed bookmark, autographed postcard for each of the Forces of Nature books
A leather bookmark from Chelsea Starling
A BookLover Journal and A BookLover Tee designed by Whit&Ware Design from Victoria Alday
A specialty signed goodie pack from Tiffany King

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Prize Pack 2

One Ticket into UtopYA 2014 (for 3-day pass to conference, admission to awards and after party, Friday night book signing, and Sunday write-in)
One Signed UtopYA T-Shirt size L (womens)—Signed by the authors attending UtopYA 2013

Signed Books:

Signed paperback of Promise by Kristie Cook and a set of embellished bookmarks
A signed copy of Awaken or Echo of an Earth Angel by Sarah M. Ross– winner’s choice

Ebooks and Swag:

eARC of A Stroke of Luck by Desiree DeOrto
eARC of Steel Lily by Megan Curd
Ebook of Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Scorched Treachery by Rebecca Ethington
Ebook of Semester Abroad by Elizabeth Kirke and 6 signed trading cards
Ebook of The Amulet by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Emerald Staff by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Cypher Wheel by Alison Pensy
Ebook of The Ice Diamond Cuff by Alison Pensy
Ebook of Reveal by Brina Courtney (Cryptid Tales 1)
Ebook of The Childe by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of Dark Days by C.A. Kunz
Ebook of Hale Maree by Misty Provencher
Ebook of Mercy, A Gargoyle Story by Misty Provencher
A leather bookmark from Chelsea Starling
Winner’s Choice Ebooks: Tiffany King Saving Angels Bundle pack (including ebooks of Meant to Be, Forgotten Souls, The Ascended) OR YA Contemporary ebook Bundle pack (including ebooks of Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies)

Honestly, I am salivating just looking at all the prizes in the Prize Packs! I am also in awe of the authors’ and bloggers’ willingness to donate so much, and it’s all because we really want you to come to UtopYA 2014 and experience how amazing the conference is for everyone in attendance: authors, readers, bloggers, publicists, editors… and the list goes on.

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Need to know more about the conference before you commit? Click the links below to learn more and read real testaments from those who attended UtopYA 2013:

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To enter this giveaway you must:

Be 18 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)
Plan to attend the UtopYA 2014 conference (the whole reason the giveaway was started was to give away tickets to this amazing event)
Fill in the mandatory questions on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Disclaimer: The winner of this epic giveaway MUST plan on attending UtopYA 2014 in Nashville, have their own transportation to and from the conference, provide their own lodging, and accept the winning of the ticket along with all other prizes. Should the winner already have purchased a ticket to UtopYA, we will discuss other options, such as the winner giving it to a friend of theirs, in which case we will purchase the ticket in the friend’s name, etc. These tickets hold NO MONETARY VALUE and cannot be refunded by the winner for any financial gain as the refund will come back to those of us purchasing the tickets for the winner. Please do not enter this giveaway if you DO NOT plan to attend UtopYA 2014 or are under the pretense of accepting only the t-shirt, ebooks, swag, and signed books. Refusal of the ticket will result in refusal of the entire prize pack.**

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

(Because WordPress doesn’t support Rafflecopter forms)

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on July 21th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on July 21th, and will receive email notification! Please read our giveaway policy and leave us a comment!

And, MAKE SURE you ALSO enter to win tickets over on Supagurlbooks as well! She’s running a giveaway too: UtopYA 2014… Take Me To Your Reader INFO and GIVEAWAY

ALSO, bookmark this site: https://utopya2014.eventbrite.com/ just in case. Early registration ends July 31 and won’t open again until Black Friday (at full price).

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Giveaway Policy

Contests are international, unless otherwise stated.
Winners are chosen by rafflecopter and random.org.
Books and prizes may be sent from The Book Depository, the author/publisher themselves, or from A Book Vacation Reviews personally. A Book VacationReviews is not liable for prizes not sent by author/publisher or that are lost, stolen, or damaged by the postal service or The Book Depository.
Prizes will be shipped via postal service or electronically upon the completion of the contest and response from the winner.
Time frames for receiving prizes will vary immensely based on type of prize.
A Book Vacation is not at fault if winner in unable to read ebooks due to lack of technology or technological issues.
Entrants may only enter each giveaway once unless otherwise specified.
All contests have an age stipulation, either 13+ with parent/guardian permission, or 18+ years of age or older, and these stipulations must be adhered to or winner voids receipt of prize.
Winners will be announced in a blog post dedicated to the giveaway on the date the giveaway ends.
Winners will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen using rafflecopter and random.org.
A Book Vacation Reviews is not responsible if the item is lost, damaged, or stolen.
A Book Vacation Reviews holds the right to end a contest before its original deadline without any prior notice.
A Book Vacation Reviews reserves the right to terminate a giveaway at any reason or to deny prizes should unforeseen issues arise.
No cheating. A Book Vacation Reviews will check each entry and cheaters will be disqualified without notification.
Your personal information will not be saved or used for any other purpose.
If you have any questions, please email A Book Vacation Reviews. If you are the winner, please email upon receipt of prize.

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Kensington Books

Release Date: January 28, 2014

ISBN: 0758294379

Follow Brigid:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Where to buy:

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SALE!!! Heather Hildenbrand’s amazing novels, Imitation, Whisper, and Across the Galaxy are ON SALE for just $2.99 in this bundle pack–which is AMAZING! BUT, this is only for this weekend, so hurry and scoop it up stat! You won’t be disappointed!

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The giveaway for an entrance ticket into UtopYA 2014 as well as some amazing Prize Packs has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Prize Pack 1: Amy Leigh Strickland

Prize Pack 2: Elyse Schramm

So, what have they won?

Prize Pack 1: AMY**

Prize Pack 2: ELYSE**

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

-A Book Vacation

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Kiera Hudson Series 1

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Vampire Shift Graphic Novels

Black Hill Farm Series

The Moon Trilogy

Samantha Carter Series

Doorways Series

Flashes Series

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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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About Alyssa Rose Ivy:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college.

After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Links:

Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Website | Facebook | FOUND Goodreads

And now for the giveaway!

Alyssa Rose Ivy is giving away TWO signed paperbacks of FOUND!

Click this Rafflecopter link to go to the entry form!

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The giveaway for signed copies of Jaden Baker by Courtney Krichoff has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Amanda ODonovan — First Edition Novel

Lisa Vazquezanzua — Second Edition Novel

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

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The Flash Giveaway for ebooks of Armored Hearts by Melissa Turner Lee and Pauline Creeden has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winners are…

Jemilla Cook

Shelly Hammond

Pamela Winn

Cassie Sansom

Mary Preston

A tweet has already gone out to the winners with an email to follow later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winners within 48 hours, I will select new winners using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

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Prize Pack 1

Prize Pack 2

Need to know more about the conference before you commit? Click the links below to learn more and read real testaments from those who attended UtopYA 2013:

To enter this giveaway you must:

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

Plan to attend the UtopYA 2014 conference (the whole reason the giveaway was started was to give away tickets to this amazing event)

Fill in the mandatory questions on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)