Thursday, May 31, 2012

Duplicity (Spellbound #2) by Nikki Jefford

Amazon / Goodreads


Blurb via Goodreads-

"If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Grays to be his.

Nearly a year later, the council is onto them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.

If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive
"


Duplicity was a fantastic sequel to Entangled! The characters once again were fantastic and the story continued to be fresh and original. I personally love to wear good luck charms, so I loved the magic/talisman aspect! I also loved that one of my favorite movies was mentioned and there were quite a few funny moments, especially a certain a Lady Gaga moment!

Just a warning- Duplicity is a book that you really have to follow closely or you could become a tad mixed up, in terms of the characters! So, get in your comfy chair and tune out everything around you.

I loved Duplicity and I was left wanting more! Enchantment (Spellbound #3) is coming soon, and I can't wait!!

5 out of 5 stars!!

Nikki Jefford is a fantastic writer and a great person. I was completely honored to have been mentioned in her Acknowledgments. It honestly made me teary eyed! Thank you so much, Nikki, I'm so glad I tweeted you!  :)

 I was honored to have received an e-book of Duplicty in exchange for a completely HONEST review.

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti



Amazon / Goodreads

Keep Holding On is about a sad teenager named Noelle. Her mother neglects her, she has a "secret" boyfriend who is ashamed to be seen in public with her and her classmates bully her because she is poor. After being tormented and an unfortunate event occurs, Noelle finally realizes its time to stand up for herself.

Oh, what a powerful book Keep Holding On is! This book should be in every middle and high school, and not only do students need to read this but teachers and parents.  This short book is packed with emotional heartache and brought back some painful memories. I have always had weight issues my entire life and have been bullied numerous times. Being bullied is horrible, yet I feel that I am a much stronger person. It took me quite some time to realize that I just really don't care what people think or say about me.  Every single person on this planet is the same on the inside.  Everyone has a brain and a heart.  Materialistic things, clothes, shoes, body weight, skin color..... DOES NOT MATTER!

Keep Holding on easily made it to my top favorite books. The characters were realistic and well written. The story was excellent.

5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

My Favorite Reads Hop


2 winners will receive their choice of 1 of the following Kindle Edition books below:
   










Losing Elizabeth by Tanya J. Peterson                                                  





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My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick



Amazon / Goodreads


My Life Next Door is about the prim and proper Reed family and that loud and messy Garrett family. Seventeen year old Samantha Reed was told (by her snobbish mother) from the start not to ever talk to the crazy Garrett family and keep to herself but Samantha couldn't resist watching the Garrett family from her balcony. She watched the Garrets rambunctious family grow larger for years until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs up the Samantha's terrace and everything changes.

Ooooh I loved this book! It was so sweet, funny and sad at the same time. The characters were fantastic. The Garrett family was the glue that held this book together. I loved their family, especially George!  The romance was sweet and Jace is very swoon-worthy. Sam's best friend Nan and her brother Tim were a great addition to the book as well.
I was honestly very surprised to find out that My Life Next Door is Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel. It was perfectly written and I really became engrossed in the book. An amazing read!

Definitely 5 our of 5 stars!!  I hope to read a lot more from Huntley Fitzpatrick!

Special Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Talented by Sophie Davis

Reading Addiction Blog Tours

Young Adult
Title: Talented
Author: Sophie Davis
Date Published: January 2012
 
 B&N         Amazon       Sony        ipad        Smashwords


Synopsis:

"Talia Lyons is Talented.  Born after a nuclear spill, she is part of a new generation possessing special abilities; Talia can read the minds of others and manipulate their thoughts.  Whether Morphers, Light Manipulators or Telekinetics, the Talented are taught to control their abilities under the protective eye of the government- to use their Talents for good. But all Talia wants is revenge.

Talia joins the Hunters, an elite group of government operatives, hoping to one day kill Ian Crane - the man who ordered the execution of her parents. Ever since she witnessed their brutal deaths, Talia has spent her life honing her abilities, determined to settle the score.  But she still has a lot to learn before she can ease the pain inside. Talia turns to a boy who can mimic her Talents, a boy who truly understands her inner turmoil.  But even he can’t help Talia, when she’s forced to choose between saving herself and avenging the lives of her parents.

Talented is an action-packed adventure, about a group of teenagers who aren't afraid to embrace their fears and fight for what they believe in."



Review:

I have to point out right away that dystopian / sci-fi novels aren't my top favorite genres. For some reason, usually, I just can't seem to stay interested. This was NOT the case with Talented.  I was instantly hooked on this fast paced, creative, and unique story and was practically glued to my kindle! Talented was actioned packed and had some swoon-worthy romance. The characters were extremely well written, had great chemistry and Talia's character was amazing. . This was an fantastic debut and I can't wait to read more from Sophie Davis.

5 out of 5 stars

Author Bio:
Sophie moved to Washington, D.C. after graduating from Penn State University to pursue a career in the Sciences. After deciding to actually write down one of the stories she makes up in her head, Sophie began the long journey towards her first full-length novel, Talented. Caged is her second novel, and the second in the Talented Saga. When Sophie isn't hunched over her computer, she can be found shopping in Georgetown, running in Rock Creek Park, or at the local dive bars in her Columbia Heights Neighborhood.


 
DISCLOSURE
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson


Amazon / Goodreads

Blurb Via Goodreads

"Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!"

Flirting In Italian is about a London teen named Violet, who always thought it was strange that she looked different from her parents. One day Violet sees an Italian painting in an art museum, of a girl that looks exactly like her.  Because of this strange coincidence, Violet decides to take a summer trip to Italy to discover more about the painting and who was the model.

Flirting In Italian is very difficult for me to rate. For the most, part I really enjoyed it. It held my interest and the writing was good.  The characters were interesting, some I loved..some I really hated. Violet was a bit naive and just didn't use her brain. The romance aspect was..meh.. I just wasn't feeling it.  The part that bugs me the most is that there is NO ENDING! Ugh, Come on authors, don't do cliffhangers! They make some readers not want to bother reading any more of your books! A great novel doesn't need a cliffhanger to have a sequel!!   *sigh* Because of that and the "ho-hum" romance, I decided to rate Flirting In Italian 3 out of 5 stars. It had great potential to be a fantastic novel but seriously fell flat.

Special Thanks to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown




Amazon / Goodreads

Lies Beneath is about Calder a merman who lives in Lake Superior. He is the only brother of a murderous family of mermaids. Calder and his family kill humans to absorb their energy. Seeking their next victim for revenge, Calders' anger turns to love.

Lies Beneath was an interesting read. I loved that it was from the male..eh..mermale point of view. Calder was definitely interesting in a weird creepy conceited stalker yet gorgeous kind of way and Anne Greenwood Brown wrote the male point of view perfectly and is fantastic at describing backgrounds/scenes.  I enjoyed that the romance aspect was not instant (yay!) and enjoyed reading build of the romance. The characters were well written and developed extremely well, especially Calder's sisters.

Lies Beneath was a good read. I recommend to YA and Adults!

4 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, May 28, 2012

My Enchanted Life by Lauro Eno- Book Tour & GIVEAWAY


          Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Summary: "An American teen finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed in England's magical community of Wode Gate. While dealing with gnomes, a cranky dragon, murder and mayhem, Emma tries to cope with her unwanted duties as Sentinel and fights to get back home again.

She finds that things aren't always what they seem, people aren't who they pretend to be, and someone wants her dead. The king of the underworld wants her too, but he may be the least of her problems as Emma struggles to control her powers—while losing her heart to a demon." (provided by author)


When eighteen year old Emma discovers that she inherited a country house in England from her long-lost uncle, Emma realizes that she's inherited a lot more than just a house.  Emma learns about the magical community of Wode Gate and her magical destiny.

My Enchanted Life was a wonderful light read that was filled with fantasy, romance, adventure, and humor. The story was unique and well written, I was hooked from the start. Emma made the perfect heroine and the quirky characters of Wode Gate were fun and creative. I really hope to read more about all of magical creatures and My Enchanted Life is a perfect start to what I hope to a be a series of books. My Enchanted Life was a clean read that I highly recommend to young and old!
5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Enchanting Book Tours and Laura Eno for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.
 
 
About the author:
 
"Laura Eno lives in Florida with a very tolerant husband, three skulking cats and two absurdly happy dogs. After spending years immersed in English literature courses, she now writes novels late at night with the help of muses from the underworld. Please visit her strange imagination at Laura Eno and follow her on Twitter at lauraeno"
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Sunday, May 27, 2012

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor


Amazon / Goodreads


What I Didn't Say is about High School senior Jake.  Jake has been in love with Samantha for years and has never told her. After a wild night of partying, Jake (with the help of some liquid courage) decides its finally time to tell Samantha, but unfortunately Jake and his friends get in a horrible car accident. When Jake wakes up, he finds out that he will never be able to speak to Samantha or any one else ever again.

Oh how I loved this boooook!  It was SO heartbreaking beautiful. The love story between Jake and Sam was sweet and sincere.  The message of the story is absolutely wonderful! The writing was perfect.

The only things that bugged me were *spoiler alert* The fact that Jake didn't tell his parents about Samantha's living situation, and that he talked to his parents about someone elses' living situation first and they allowed this person to move in- and the fact that social services allowed Samantha's father to take her without researching his history..grrr  *end spoiler*

This was an amazing and beautiful read and what made it even more beautiful was the personal and emotional authors note at the end of the novel. Keary Taylor has definitely made a new fan.

I HIGHLY recommend.   5 out of 5 stars


Special Thanks to Keary Taylor and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.


******I was just about to post my review on amazon when I realized this is selling at kindle price .99 cents right now!!!****  although Ive read the e-galley, I just had to have this in my kindle collection!



The Boo Hag by David Morgan


Amazon / Goodreads


The Boo Hag is about sixteen year old Lenny. She's just a quiet, normal high school student. When Lenny begins to get the eerie "being watched" feeling while she's trying to sleep, Lenny's normal life turns upside down. But with the help of her best friend and other classmates, Lenny faces her fears.

The Boo Hag was a great read! The story was original and creepy! The characters well written , realistic and Lenny was a strong heroine. There were one or two times where I did get a little lost/confused, the romance aspect seemed a bit awkward but then again so are all (real life) teenage romances and I feel it could have used more Boo Hag moments. But overall, I did enjoy The Boo Hag and can't wait to read more!

Recommend to young and old- especially paranormal lovers needing a break from vampires!

4 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to David Morgan for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, May 25, 2012

MISS WORLD by Randi Black FREE Amazon Kindle May 25th & 26th!!!



The awesome Randi Black is promoting her book Miss World on amazon for FREE May 25th and 26th!

Miss World happens to be one of my favorite reads! I absolutely LOVED this book. I do want to point out that due to the content I would recommend this to the older/mature YA and I want to especially recommend this to anyone who was a teenager in the 90's..especially if you enjoy punk.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Splash Into Summer GIVEAWAY hop


          One winner will receive one hardback copy of         

 The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
This is open to anywhere the Book Depository ships.

13 and older please.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged books.


I follow back, please leave a comment with your blog address (if you have a blog) and I'll follow :) a Rafflecopter giveaway Check out all of the other fabulous hoppers

Masters of the Veil Book Blast


Today I'm honored to be a part of the Book Blast for Masters of the Veil by Daniel Cohen.
The Book Blast is hosted by the fabulous I am a Reader, Not a Writer.

Blurb via Goodreads-

"Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind."


About Author:  Daniel A. Cohen
Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.


Giveaway Details
Author Daniel Cohen is offering one lucky person a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card.
Last day to enter is May 31st

LINKS:


Praise-

"Masters of the Veil is a fun, fresh fantasy that delivers an intriguing story and fantastic world-building, and is a great first volume in what is sure to be an excellent trilogy."
-Aeicha @ Word Spelunking

"Mr. Cohen has done a spectacular job on Masters of the Veil and I look forward to what comes next!"
-Kristi @ The Book Faery


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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Entanged by Nikki Jefford is free on Amazon kindle May 23rd, 24th, and 27th!!!



Nab your free copy of Entangled this week during amazon promo days (May 23, 24, & 27).

 Book two, Duplicity, is now available for kindle and nook.

And don’t miss the Cover Reveal of book three, Enchantment, at designer Najla Qamber’s review site: Unputdownable Books on June 7th. http://unputdownablebookies.blogspot.com/

Make sure to return to Memories Overtaking Me on Friday, June 1st when the Spellbound Tour stops HERE!

Enter to win the SPELLBOUND SWAG PACK (International) ·

-Evil Eye Amulet and Bracelet: In Duplicity, Gray wears an evil eye pendant, also known as a nazar, to protect herself from a spell that’s causing havoc over the witches and warlocks in her coven.
The evil eye (a Turkish amulet) is used for both luck and protection against envy. ·

-Two Headed Quarter: Two Grays are better than none and two heads are better than one, especially when flipping over who gets to choose which movie to watch with a trick coin. Adrian returns in Duplicity and opens a magic shop. ·       

-Entangled bookmark

A Kiss For Emily by J.P. Galuska Review-Q&A-Excerpt-Giveaway!








Amazon / Goodreads

A Kiss For Emily is about seventeen year old high school student, Emily.  Emily has a big crush on her friend Alex and has been patiently waiting for him to ask her to the prom. Unfortunately, her parents decide to move her family out to a rural part of Kansas. Frustrated with Alex's mixed signals and having to now go to a new school, Emily decides to take a simple walk in the woods around her new country home. Emily discovers that there is more than just woods surrounding her home.

I am so happy that I am apart of this tour. I absolutely devoured A Kiss For Emily in one sitting. This was an excellent and refreshing read. The characters were well written and the story was fantastic. I enjoyed the historic aspect and the chemistry between Emily and Sam was perfect. J.P. Galuska is a wonderful writer and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

5 out of 5 stars- highly recommend to young adults and older!

**at the END of this post is a e-book rafflecopter giveaway- this is open to anyone who can receive an e-book**

  There is also a U.S. giveaway at http://darkmindbooktours.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/kiss-for-emily-now-on-tour.html for signed printed copy + swag

Q&A With J.P. Galuska

Hi JP, Thank you so much for interviewing with me today.

Thanks for having me, Brianne. You have a great blog! And thanks for the friend request on Goodreads. How long did it take to read 1811 books anyway?  

*Thank you so much, actually I dont think ive read 1811 books yet, alot of those might be my "to-read" wishlist lol  but im working on it!*


Well, today is day three of the tour and I'm excited to give away another free eBook to one of your viewers!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
 I'm not sure where the years went, but I'm already in my 40's! Gad! I loved going to college, ended up receiving my master's degree, but didn't care for office politics so I've continued to work odd jobs that allow me to be home with the children before and after school. I'd say I've been pretty fortunate.


What inspired you to be an author?
My kids and I went to a school rummage sale and my youngest picked out a book bag for me. Out of a mother's love, I accepted the gift warmly. On it was the quote, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." - Thoreau. But reading that made me realize that my life was rather stagnant at the time. Being a mom is great, but sometimes it can lead to "a loss of self" which is a whole-'nother boring story. Nevertheless, it got my wheels turning. About a year later, the job market crashed, I was out of a job, so I turned to my computer and the little curser blinking on a blank screen. Obviously, it didn't stay blank for long.


I absolutely LOVED A Kiss for Emily, where did the idea come from?
I'm so glad you enjoyed my book! Hearing compliments fills me with warm fuzzies. I'd have to say that I've always been a pretty creative person, but I really believe that I get my talents from "the man upstairs." I've had some people question how God could possible inspire a ghost story... This is what I have to say - the Bible is filled with all sort of crazy stuff like turning water into blood, raising people from the dead, and being swallowed by a fish. I think God enjoys a good story as much as the next reader. :D

What project are you working on now?
I am currently in the middle of the second book in the Emily Stokes Series, A Gift for Emily. Since so many people have told me how much they've enjoyed the A Kiss for Emily, I'm really feeling the pressure to put out another book that is equally as good, if not better. I have the entire draft written out and I can tell you that the ending leaves me with goosebumps. I'm sooooo pumped!

What do you do when you're not writing?
 OMG! My day is nonstop. It starts at 5:27am when I wake up my oldest child. After breakfast, I kiss them all good-day and start on my blog, tweets, and emails. About 3 hours later, I start on the novel. By 1pm, I head over to my mom's house to fix her lunch and keep her company. She's 83 and not well. Naturally she doesn't want to end up in a nursing home so I'm trying to keep that from happening. My family and I hang out there until about 9pm. During that time, we're also birding, landscaping, gardening...having fun in the outdoors. Life is too short not to enjoy it!


What is best writing advice you can give?
I just so happen to tweet advise under #amwriting and #amediting most days. Please check it out @JGaluska. In addition to that, I recommend joining a small writers' group of about four people who can meet weekly and aren't afraid to really critique each other's work. It's great to hear complements, but the corrections make it better. I also recommend the book, "Thanks, but this isn't for us," by Jessica Page Morrell

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I know some of you will cringe reading this...black licorice. Yes! There really is that flavor of ice cream and it's very difficult to find. Plus, not all of it is very tasty. When we had a Baskin' Robins in town, I'd get it there. Now we drive just about an hour (one-way) to Wabasha, MN where they have it shipped in from Tim's out of Eau Clair, Wisconsin. Here's a hint to really good flavor: the blacker, the better!

Thanks again, Brianne. And everyone else who's taken the time to stop by and read today's interview. Please feel free to leave a comment or question, or even post a comment on my author page. Good luck at winning the eBook!




Excerpt-
"After a good brushing and other bedtime rituals, I headed back to my bedroom. On the way, I noticed a dim glow coming from Kat's room.  
"Are you still up?"

"Yeah, I'm not tired." She was watching a video on a small TV that sat upon her dresser.

"Guess what?" I taunted.

"You hit your head and now you don't remember who you are."

"Whatever," I sneered. "I met someone today." I whispered, almost like it was a secret.

"Kat sat up in her bed. "Who?"

"His name is Sam. Come here, I want to show you something. He have me a flower." I grabbed her small hand and pulled her out from under her quilted bedspread. Grabbing my shirt from the back of my desk chair, I reached into the pocket to retrieve the delicate red bud from its place of safety. Only there were no soft petals. Instead, I felt...grit. I pulled the pocket open wide and peered into its depths. It was filled with dark, dry dirt.

"That's strange."

"What is?"

"I must have lost it," I said disappointingly, shaking the dirt out into the wastebasket.

"It's just a stupid flower."

"And you're too little to understand."

She crossed her arms. "All right, tell me more."

"He's the cutest guy I've ever seen in my life. No one at T-West even begins to hold a candle next to him."

"Oh," she said. Then added, "Did ya kiss him?"

I imagined him and me in a romantic first kiss. "No."

Her eyes dimmed.

"But I'd like to."

Kat's nose crinkled."
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Monday, May 21, 2012

Feature Blurb: Why Aren't You Sweet Like Me? by Carrie Nyman



Blurb via GoodReads

"A young couple, Camille “Honey” Shaughnessy and Don Shepard fall in love on the eve of World War II. As America enters the war, and Don is pressured into the service by his father, the two newlyweds struggle to maintain contact. Don becomes a hero, saving the lives of his comrades, but will he make it home alive? Why Aren’t You Sweet Like Me? is a novel based on the actual love letters exchanged between the author’s grandparents.

It is available in print and eBook formats. Please see carrienyman.com for more information."


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara by Terry Baldwin


Amazon / Goodreads

Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara is about thirteen-year old Tess. Tess and her perfect older sister are invited to spend the summer with their grandparents at their lake house to help take care of their Grandmother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Tess and her sister have been given a contest, the sister who wins the most helpful points will win their Grandmother's beauty queen crown.
Although Tess always has the best intentions, everything seems to go wrong for her. Especially when she becomes obsessed with finding out who the mysterious people are that just moved into the cottage next door.

This short read expressed an excellent point. We all know not to judge a book by its cover, the same rule applies to people. Just because someone looks different, dresses different, or has a different culture does not automatically mean they are a bad person.  I enjoyed this Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara, it was well written and I was hooked from page one. This is a perfect read for middle and high school readers.

5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Middleton Books for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Losing Elizabeth by Tanya J. Peterson


Amazon / Goodreads

Losing Elizabeth is about high school junior, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is ready to start a great junior year. She is an excellent outgoing student who enjoys being on the tennis team. Elizabeth thinks her year is getting even better when she meets Brad.  On the outside, Brad is the picture perfect boyfriend that all of the girls wish they had. Elizabeth soon discovers that Brad isn't so perfect.

Losing Elizabeth is a powerful read that needs to be in every high school. Tanya J. Peterson did an excellent job and the characters were very realistic. This book made me very angry to think how often this story happens.

*Now, if you are familiar with my reviews, I always try to be as spoiler free as possible and keep my reviews short but its hard to be spoiler free with Losing Elizabeth. Brad controlled Elizabeth. Brad called Elizabeth stupid. Brad physically abused Elizabeth.  Elizabeth let Brad do and say these things because Brad said he loved Elizabeth.   This is NOT love. If someone truly loves you they would never stop you from you goals, never call you stupid,  never raise a hand. You make the decisions in your life, not your boyfriend.*

HIGHLY Recommend! 5 out of 5 stars.

Special Thanks to Tanya J. Peterson for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Love In Bloom GIVEAWAY!!! Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker



The Love In Bloom GIVEAWAY Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Portrait of a Book



One winner will receive One Hardback copy of Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker  shipped via Book Depository

I loved this book!!  See my review here



a Rafflecopter giveaway See all of the other fantastic giveaways here:

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen



Goodreads

Blurb via Goodreads-
"I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising..."

I REALLY really wanted to like Dark Kiss. I tried numerous times to really get involved with the characters and the story, but unfortunately I just could not connect. I have read other books by Michelle Rowen and enjoyed them. She is an excellent writer. However, Dark Kiss was just not for me. The best way for me to describe it was that it was just "meh..okay" 

I rate Dark Kiss 2.5 stars out of 5  "Meh..Okay " Just wasn't for me.  Loved the cover though!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Real Me by Ann Herrick



The Real Me is about a teenager named Mattie, who is just trying to fit in. When her new doctor tells her that she needs to loose twenty pounds and being tired of getting teased about her weight. Mattie decides its time for a change.

After loving Ann Herricks' The Farewell Season, I was completely honored to be given the chance to read and review The Real Me. Ann has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. I absolutely love her writing style. I loved the realistic characters and the fact that the moment I start reading her novels, I just can't put them down. The Real Me has a great message and makes you think about how everyone has insecurities, no matter what they look like or how popular they are.  I've had weight issues my whole life and it took me quite some time to be comfortable in my own skin. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

The Real Me was a refreshingly wonderful contemporary read, that I highly recommend.

5 out of 5 stars!

Special Thanks to Ann Herrick for providing a kindle edition copy in exchange for an honest review!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes



Amazon / Goodreads


Soon-to-be High School Senior, Paige Sheridan HAD a perfect popular life until one wild night of partying ends in a car crash, which involved her best friends. Although only one of her friends was seriously hurt, Paige found herself exiled to Paris and spent the summer as an Au pair. All Paige wants is her life to be back to normal, but upon returning from Paris everything seems very different.

This was a very interesting book to read. I found myself seriously wanting to smack all of Paige's snobby friends and Paige upside the head.  Although annoyed, I find it to be a good thing..It means that I really got into this book. There were so many interesting characters in this book, some obviously I hated, but others I really loved. The Princesses of Iowa deals with a lot of issues from teen drinking to homophobia to self-discovery and growth. I really enjoyed this book and the writing style, from the unusual beginning to the end.

I would absolutely love to read a sequel especially if its more about the down-to earth characters Shanti, Ethan and Mr. Tremont , who in my opinion made the book even more fantastic!

5 out of 5 stars

I really loved that this was based in Iowa! I was born in Iowa, but moved to Texas when I was 6. I have many lovely memories of Iowa. It is a very beautiful state!

Special Thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review

The Farewell Season by Ann Herrick


Amazon  /  Goodreads

The Farewell Season is about Eric, a high school football player who is grieving the loss of his father. With the new football season about to start, Eric is hoping that his life will return to normal again. That hope gets shredded when he starts fighting more with his sister, best friend Rolf, and his mother.

I absolutely loved this book. This was a quick read that held my interest from page one. The Farewell Season is an inspirational book that would tremendously help any young adult who's dealing or has dealt with a loss in their life. I know from experience, I lost my father five years ago.   I am not a football lover, however my father was and I wanted to point out that this book isn't all about football, its more about Eric, his family, and his grieving.  There is a little sweet innocent romance which was refreshingly simple. Ann Herrick has a wonderful way with words and and the characters were realistic.  This is a book that will make you cry, laugh, and sigh with a smile at the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Farewell Season. Ann Herrick did an amazing job and has made a new fan!

5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Ann Herrick for providing a kindle copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker



Amazon / Goodreads


Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker is about Clementine Williams a.k.a. Clem. During her sophomore year she falls for her best friend's boyfriend. Her best friend decides to take her boyfriends' side leaving Clem friendless and alone. Summer vacation starts and Clem's family spends their summer on their sailboat, which gives Clem time to think and meet a cute boy a long the way.

I absolutely loved Unbreak My Heart!!! The novel held my interest from the first page to the last. Fantastic writing and great characters. Normally when books go back and forth from the current time to "memories" or the past, It can get confusing or just not written well. This book was written perfectly! I have to gush about how much I love the name Clementine, in fact while reading Unbreak My Heart I told my husband that if we ever have a girl, we are naming her Clementine. He quickly said "No!"  :-(     Clem's character was a little selfish and melodramatic however realistic.  This was a fun read that went straight to my favorites, and also teaches a great message about friendship and learning to love yourself.  Unbreak My Heart is a perfect read for teens, adults will enjoy it too!

5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.


I just have to add that every time I read the title, I sing Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart in my head LOL!

Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci and Nate Powell





Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci and Nate Powell is about sisters Tessa and Lulu who are ready to go to the annual summer carnival for rides, food and boys! This summer turns out to be different, they experience jealousy which starts a course of tragic events, testing their relationship.

Year of the Beasts is a beautiful story that at first I had trouble getting into. I absolutely love the gorgeous art work of Nate Powell and once finally into the story everything made sense. I loved the connection with Greek Mythology and the characters were well written.  This was a very powerful roller coaster of emotions! Cecil Castellucci and Nate Powell did a wonderful job!

Recommend to young and old readers!

4 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group who provided me an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, May 7, 2012

BOOK BLAST! Kings & Queens by Courtney Vail

This Book Blast is hosted by the wonderful
I am a Reader Not a Writer
And will through May 14th. The prize will be a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card Provided by the Author.
**Rafflecopter near end of post** (you may need to click on read more)


*I absolutely love this cover!!*

Blurb via Goodreads
"Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.

All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.

So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves"


About Courtney Vail:

"COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets."

Links:
Blog: http://gottahaveya.blogspot.com
Twitter @cvwriter http://www.twitter.com/cvwriter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4744654.Courtney_Vail

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Visions (The Holly Nather Trilogy) by Sara Daniell


Amazon / Goodreads

Visions is about Holly, its her freshman year at college and the only interesting thing in her life are her classes...Until one night, Holly receives a mysterious text message. Little does she know that be responding to the unusual text message, Holly's life changes forever.

I really loved Visions!! This was a quick quirky read that held my interest from the first page. Visions is Sara Daniell's debut novel and she did an excellent job! The characters were fun and interesting.  Visions had a wonderful mix of humor, action, suspense, and romance. It was a nice blend of contemporary and fantasy.

Wonderful read, highly recommend!!

5 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Sara Daniell for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review!


Starters by Lissa Price


Amazon / Goodreads

Teen Callie and her brother Tyler are on the run after the Spore Wars wiped out anyone between the ages of Twenty to Sixty, which included her parents. Living from building to building, fighting for food. Desperate Callie finds her self caught up in the world of Prime Destinations and discovers the ugly truth.

OK, first I wanted to mention that I'm not a huge YA Dystopian fan. I have no clue why, but I tend to stick with YA contemporary and paranormal. But Starters might have changed my mind. I enjoyed Starters, it was an original, entertaining, and a fast paced read. What was missing however, was what exactly happened during the Spore Wars. The whole concept of the Spore Wars kind of confused me. Overall, I enjoyed Starters and am interested to read more from Lissa Price

4 out of 5 stars

Special Thanks to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.