Thursday, March 21, 2013

~Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway: Starseed~

Tour Schedule



Starseed
Author: Liz Gruder
ISBN: 978-1937178291
Publisher: WiDo Publishing
Published: February 2013

SUMMARY


*************************
Starseed concerns a sixteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a starseed boy who reveals that she, too, is half extraterrestrial, and is forced to choose her allegiance between Earth and her star family.
*************************


Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. When she meets Jordyn Stryker at school, she finds out just how different.

Jordyn was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent to Louisiana's Bush High to learn human ways. But Jordyn didn't count on meeting someone like Kaila.

When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn awakens her to a new reality—and to love. But to prove herself, Kaila must look the other way as the real purposes of the starseeds unfold.

As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves inexorably forward, Kaila and Jordan, caught in an impossible love, must determine where their true loyalties lie.

MY REVIEW:

Kaila Guidry has always been different from other kids.  She has always been home schooled and her mother is too overprotective for her liking.  Now she is finally getting the chance to go to a real high school.  Kaila can't wait to make new friends.  She just wants to fit in with the rest of the teenagers.  The first kids she meets are Jordyn Stryker and his crew.  She feels an instant connection to him and  he holds a key to her past.  Kaila must ask herself who and what is most important in her life.

I read this book in one day!  A really good Sci-Fi is hard to find but this is definitely one of them.  The characters are well thought out.  This is one book that you will not want to put down.  Good from the first paragraph to the last sentence.  Liz Gruder is an author that I am going to keep my eye on.



Praise


"After reading Starseed, my faith in YA sci-fi has been restored! ... I didn't want to put it down ... it had enough mystery and suspense to keep me going, page after page. Superb job 4.5 out of 5!"
-- The Forbidden Library Book Reviews

"I would recommend this book to all sci-fi lovers and, to those who aren't into it, take a chance. Who knows? You may love this book just as much as I did! Liz Gruder is definitely an author you should keep a look out for as she has great talent in writing and a huge imagination. Starseed was a wonderful read and very different from other books I've read. It was a very nice change from what I usually read and kept me enticed all the way."
--Starlight Book Reviews

"Interesting read. A lot like Roswell, but different. Gruder does a great job building the dark mystery of what the aliens are really up to on earth."
--Charity Bradford, sci-fi author, "The Magic Wakes"

“The story caught me off guard and won me over after the first chapter. The main conflict is a personal one for Kalia. Will she embrace her alien side or continue life as a human?”
--Pixie Dust Book Reviews

Starseed is a fun sci-fi read with romance. It brings light to the cliques of high school, and challenges the main character, Kaila, to be herself, instead of how others expect her to be.
--Kerri Cuevas, YA Author "Deadly Kisses"

"Liz Gruder's characters come alive through youthful, spunky narrative, and her headstrong heroine, Kaila Guidry, elicits a reader's encouragement from the first page. Fans of P.C. Cast will find themselves similarly transported into Gruder's exploration of the dark sides of faith, love, higher dimensions, and, of course, high school."
-- Jadie Jones, YA author "Moonlit"



Purchase



Author Liz Gruder

As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.









Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

~Book Review and Giveaway: Aura~

Tour Schedule


Aura

"I half-turned to her and shrugged, still processing what I'd seen, or at least what I thought I'd seen, in Ms. Neal's eyes—like they weren't hers. Obviously, they were her eyes, but it looked like she'd plucked them from someone else's head. A dead someone else's head."

In the fight between good and evil, Light is your only weapon.

Crystal Scott finally feels like a normal teenager. She has a lead in the high school play, a best friend, and a gorgeous boyfriend. With prom only a few days away, Crystal’s ordinary life seems perfect.

Endowed with great Light because of her virtuous choices and her inherent gifts, Crystal’s aura has become visible to those with the ability to see auras. Unfortunately, her power has also attracted the attention of demons intent on destroying all Light.

When Vincent Crandall, the human host for a powerful demon, discovers that Crystal’s Light is strong enough to disrupt the connection between demons and their hosts, he realizes she may be able to sever the connection altogether. Determined to stop her from interfering with his plans to rule the world, he sends operatives to neutralize her Light.

After the operatives fail to disable Crystal, Vincent decides he must harness her power for himself. He kidnaps her parents, and Crystal is thrust into battle against a demon army she didn’t even know existed. With the help of a mysterious young man and his mother, Crystal must learn to use the power within her before Vincent kills her parents and exploits her Light.



Goodreads * Amazon

MY REVIEW
Crystal has spent most of her life moving from one place to another with her parents.  It is finally her senior year in high school and everything has fallen into place.  For the first time in her life she has a best friend, a hot boyfriend and the lead in the senior play.  Things start getting strange the weekend of the Prom.  The only one of her friends to have a curfew, Crystal's friends try to pressure her to be disobedient.  Crystal has strong values and has always obeyed her parents and has chosen to remain a virgin until marriage.  No one can compromise her beliefs.  With her best friend, boyfriend and even teachers acting strange, Crystal has no idea what is going on.  When something happens to her parents, the most important people in her life, she finally must use her Light in order to save them and defeat evil.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  A perfect blend of YA Paranormal.  Crystal has the gift of Light and goodness but has never know it.  She must learn how to harvest it to defeat evil and save the ones she loves. This is the perfect book if you want to read a good, clean YA book for a change.  



Author Rebecca Lynn Talley

Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children.

Rebecca is the author of a children's picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children's chapter book, Gabby's Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children's stories and articles for both print and online magazines.

When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.





Reviews

This YA urban fantasy is fantastic! The story grabbed me from the start and kept me enthralled until the end! I love books that keep me thinking about the characters and events and possibilities even after putting them down...Aura is one of those books! Rebecca Lynn Talley has created characters you care about in a world begging for the special gifts they possess. I love the premise of Aura and imagine I'll be enjoying many more Light vs. Demon novels in the future....at least I hope there are more to come!
~KindleQueen

I loved the clasic good VS evil in Aura. I loved that Crystal made the conscious choice to be good inspite of feelings and doubts. I also loved the idea of demons posessing somone who had made dark choices, or greedy bargains. The book is clean and well handled inspite of the serious subject matter.Well done.
~C. Michelle Jefferies

This is one of those books that you hope will become widespread enough to make a positive impact in this world. Personally, I think this is a book every teenager should read and I will definitely be passing it along to my own kids. Thank you, Rebecca, for writing a beautiful story with a wonderful message! I hope you keep at it because now I want a sequel!
~Rachael Anderson

Aura sucked me in from the first page. The book is intense and well-written. I loved that Crystal is innocent and makes a conscious choice to stay that way in the face of intense pressure. I would recommend Aura to young adults on up.
~Cami Checketts

Wonderful, wonderful message. Probably the most solid moral message I’ve ever read in contemporary literature, but without being too heavy or feeling like a lecture. You could almost look at it like an allegory, I think, representing real life with fictional symbols. I’m trying to explain without giving anything away, and I think I’m doing a bad job. Anyway, I have four boys, but if I had a girl, I would definitely have her read it. The story is imaginative and creative, Crystal is a strong but believable heroine, caught up in high school cares and not realizing her own potential or the battle that is waged around and for her. I thought at times it was a bit predictable, and that the first half of the book drug a little. It probably could have been told quicker or perhaps made a little more interesting. But all in all, I enjoyed it. The story kept me going and the characters were sweet and compelling.
~May Abbey

Wow! I got this book for free and LOVED it! I can't wait to read any follow up books! (There WILL be follow up books, right?) In this story Crystal is full of light, thanks to making good choices, and she has to figure out how to keep the light in the midst of high school where temptation runs rampant and where she just wants to be an average girl! I like that things never went too far, and I felt like it was very well-written, with rounded out characters!
~Tamera Westhoff

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3.21.13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 8, 2013

~Book Review and Giveaway: Baked Alaska~

Tour Schedule



Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.




Praise for Baked Alaska
Josi Kilpack has done it again. You would think that all these events that occur in Sadie's life wouldn't be natural, but Josi Kilpack has a way of making you believe that it just "happens" and it is normal. I have grown to love Sadie's character, even if she is a busybody, you can't help but cheer for her as she attempts to solve a mystery or crime. One of my favorite series. :)
~Goodreads Reviewer Lacey McNeill









Author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.



MY REVIEW:
In Baked Alaska, Sadie is taking a much needed cruise to Alaska with her wonderful boyfriend Pete.  Joining them is Sadie's son Shawn and daughter Breanna.  What is supposed to be fun and relaxating quickly turns ugly.  Shawn is arguing with a lady that Sadie has never seen before.  What in the world has gotten into her son?  Breanna is in her own little world trying to plan her dream wedding with the help of an overbearing future mother in law.  At least she still has Pete to lean on.  When an untimely death happens aboard the ship, Sadie will use her detective skills to help solve the mystery.  Things are not always what they seem and hopefully Sadie will find the culprit before it is to late.

I love a good, clean mystery and this book is the complete package.  A mystery aboard a cruise ship and delicious recipes that actually look like they would be fun to try.  It makes me want to dust off my passport and go on my own cruise.  I have not read any mystery books in a while and this is so good.  I will be reading more books by  Josi S. Kilpack.



Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, March 4, 2013

~Blog Tour With Review and Giveaway: The Grimm Chronicles~

Tour Schedule


The Grimm Chronicles

200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world. Literally. Now the characters of the Grimms' stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can stop them.

For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.




This book contains the first 3 episodes of the critically acclaimed series
Episode 1: Prince Charming Must Die!
Episode 2: Happily Never After
Episode 3: Revenge of the Castle Cats

Additional features for this special edition:
- An introduction
- Two special "Lost Diaries"
- A behind-the-scenes interview
- A collection of original Grimms' Fairy Tales

The Grimm Chronicles is intended for Young Adults aged 13 and up. The goal is to provide Young Adult readers with a strong, charismatic young woman in the role of the hero and provide readers with a positive protagonist who uses her brain to overcome obstacles life throws in her way.


Also Available Volume 2 of the Grimm Chronicles

Book 4: The Orphanage of Doom
Book 5: Blood and Thunder
Book 6: The Order of the Golden Dragon


Praise

“5 stars!” ~ Bookies Book Blog

"Highly recommended for all who love fairy tales and the YA genre." ~ My Cozie Corner

"All in all the books were excellent." ~ LilyElement

"If you love fairy tales and them being turned into modern day stories you will love these short stories." ~ Mom With a Kindle

5 stars (out of 5) ~ I Am, Indeed

“Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky’s incredible talent for storytelling takes the reader on an amazing action-packed ride fueled by endless creativity and limitless imagination. TGC is like a high-stakes version of Harold and the Purple Crayon meets a contemporary, above ground Alice in Wonderland. “ ~ Bookfetish

“I absolutely loved this book! No, let me rephrase that, I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK! Nope, that doesn't even do it justice. Vol. 1 has the first three stories from the 12 that will ultimately make up the chronicles.” ~ Jesse Kimmel-Freeman


MY REVIEW:
Alice is your typical teenage high school kid.  She has a normal life and the perfect boyfriend, Edward.  With nothing to do the summer before senior year, Alice plans on volunteering at the library and spending time with her friends.  Her very first day at the library things start to happen that she can't explain.  She meets Briar Rabbit, a huge white rabbit that only she can see.  Briar tells her a remarkable story about how the Grimm Brothers wrote their fairy tales and how some of them are not make believe.  Alice, with the help of her magic pen and rabbit friend must hunt them down and destroy them.  Will she be able to do this?  What happens when she must destroy someone close to her?

I love fairy tale retelling books and this is one of the best I have read in a long time.  I love the character of Alice.  She is a tough cookie and never backs down from a challenge.  She takes everything in stride since she is the chosen one.  Briar Rabbit did kind of creep me out a bit but he is a wonderful addition to this book.  This does have some gruesome parts so I would definitely recommend it for teens and older YA readers.  I will be reading and reviewing Volume 2 soon and I am looking forward to it.  A wonderful new twist on some old classics.


Purchase:


About the Authors
Ken Brosky received his MFA in fiction writing from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also teaches English at Madison College. This is his first Young Adult series.

Isabella Fontaine owns a farm in Wisconsin and enjoys reading weird books like House of Leaves. This is her first Young Adult series.

Website * Facebook

EXCERPT:


I remember ending up on a hospital bed. I remember a metallic taste in my mouth and the smell of disinfectant. I even remember the doctor’s faint voice, and the words “antibiotics,” and then some relieved sighs. But then everything went black.

The dream came on fast and vivid, more vivid than any of the dreams I’d had previously about any Corrupted. I was in the dark woods, moving between the trees with a terrifying swiftness. I could smell the pine and hear an owl calling out somewhere far above. I was following someone … no, something.
He was tall. He moved like some kind of ninja, darting from tree to tree. He breathed heavily, letting a low growl escape from his throat as he lifted his narrow snout in the air, sniffing.

There were lights far ahead coming from a building, but I couldn’t see well enough through the trees. I felt a strange unease come over me. Why had this dream come on so vividly? Was it the poison running through my body?

I moved closer to the creature. I could see its outline a little better now, and it looked strange, almost as if it had something on its back. A creature with a backpack? No, no … the shape wasn’t quite like that. The creature darted to the next tree, grabbing it with one hand-shaped paw. It bent over to sniff at the ground, and its back seemed to arch up. There were things on its back. Pointy things.

We reached the edge of the clearing. Now I could see the creature more clearly: he had a long, rat-like snout and beady black eyes and little pointed ears. On his back were long, pointy quills—hundreds of them, maybe thousands of them. The quills were black, except at the sharp tips where they were a pale white. He had the torso and arms of a strong man, with hands that were a mix between an animal’s paws and human fingers. Definitely an animal’s claws. One hand went to his furry brown belly, scratching absently as he examined his target.

A hospital.

I didn’t need a talking rabbit to help me put two and two together: I was somewhere in that hospital. He was coming for me, and I was fast asleep.

Wake up, Alice! my mind screamed.


Tour Giveaway
5 Kindle ebook copies of The Grimm Chronicles Volume 1
Ends 3/15/13


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

~Book Review and Giveaway: None of the Regular Rules~


None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing
Publication date: November 20th 2012
Genre: YA Romance/Coming-of-Age

Sometimes, a few dares can change lives…



The weekend before the start of senior year, Sophie Erickson and her best friends, Ella and Grace, discover a handwritten list of dares tucked away in the glove compartment of Sophie’s beat-up old Toyota. But this isn’t just any list; it’s a dead girl's bucket list.


Sophie's beloved aunt Suzy died as a teenager in a fatal fall, leaving Sophie with an overly cautious family, a few fading photographs, and a bucket of bolts that barely passes for a car. But now, Sophie has Suzy’s list of the things she wanted to do in her last year of high school. Sophie can't help but wonder: What would happen if she tried to fulfill Suzy’s last wishes, to live out the longed-for life of her aunt, her hero?



As Sophie and her friends attempt to knock off the things on Suzy's list of dares, love blossoms in unexpected places and Sophie begins to feel that her life is finally coming together...when in fact, everything is slowly unraveling around her. When the truth about a long-held family secret threatens to shatter everything she believed to be true, Sophie is forced to question everything she knew about the life and people she believed in, and ultimately herself.


PURCHASE AT AMAZON

MY REVIEW:


It is the weekend before senior year for Sophie and her best friends Ella and Grace.  Hindered by a flat tire, they discover a bucket list left by Sophie's Aunt Suzy in the glove compartment.  Sophie loved her Aunt Suzy who died ten years earlier.  The list really gets Sophie to thinking about her life and what is important.  To honor Aunt Suzy, the three friends are going to attempt the items on the list to honor Suzy.  Friendship will be tested and family secrets may be revealed as they embark on this journey.  That is enough to deal with without adding regular high school drama to the mix.  Then there is Johnny, the handsome, hunky next door neighbor who Sophie has admired from afar, even though she won't admit it.  With everything thrown into the mix this makes for one unforgettable book.
.
None Of The Regular Rules is a really good teen book.  It describes the high school years perfectly.  How many teenagers have parents who don't understand them?  This is a refreshing YA contemporary and flows smoothly  I recommend it to everyone.

Erin Downing has written more than a dozen books for young adults, tweens, and kids. Her guilty pleasures include an unhealthy obsession with reality TV and cheesy romantic dramas (Revenge! Alias!), an addiction to Us Weekly magazine, and cupcakes.

Before turning to writing full time, Erin worked as a book editor, spent a few months as a cookie inventor, and also worked for Nickelodeon. Erin has lived in England, Sweden, and New York City, and now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband and kids. More information about Erin and her books can be found at: www.erindowning.com.

Author Links:





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, February 25, 2013

~Book Review and Giveaway: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back~

Tour Schedule


The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson 

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.


Purchase


Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”
~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”
~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”
~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”
~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”
~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”
~Ana of The Book Hookup


MY REVIEW:
What a cute, fun book.  A different and unique spin on a classic fairytale.  
We have always heard the story of Cinderella but we have never heard it told from the stepsisters point of view.  How does it feel growing up with the perfect Ella who can do no wrong?  Ella has it all and she really deserves it.  She is nice to everyone, even her stepsister, Mattie.  She has the perfect boyfriend, who Mattie is secretly in love with.  Everything comes easy for Ella according to Mattie.  Mattie just wants to be noticed for once in her life.

Sariah Wilson has written a wonderful book with some wonderful characters.  You will fall in love with this series.  You won't be able to help it.  I look forward to reading more and finding out what happens to these lovely people after the drama called high school.





Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).




Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, February 21, 2013

~Book Reviews: Flight and Focus by Alyssa Rose Ivy~



Welcome to my blog.  Today I am going to review Flight and Focus by Alyssa Rose Ivy.  Thank you to AToMR Tours for hosting this book tour.  Be sure and check out my reviews and follow the rest of the tour HERE.

Flight:  The Crescent Chronicles (Book 1)
Alyssa Rose Ivy
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.
MY REVIEW:
Allie and Jess are going to have the perfect summer before starting college.  Headed down to New Orleans they are going to work for Aliie's dad in the beautiful hotel he has just purchased.  Allie just wants to live it up and have fun.  A perfect plan until she meets Levi.  He has his sights set on Allie and he is not going to give up easily.  Levi is keeping some dark supernatural secrets from her.  When Allie finds out she is excited and intrigued about this secret society.  Allie soon finds out that Levi has no plans on letting her go and will even use deceit in order to keep her close. 
I love the New Orleans backdrop for this book.  What a creepy and beautiful city.  The hidden paranormal world is believable without being over the top.  Allie is funny and flirty and just looking for fun.  Levi has a different approach to their relationship and can be a little arrogant at times.  The chemistry between the two will knock your socks off.  I have read many books by this author and enjoyed this one very much.  This is a wonderful quick read that I recommend to anyone.  I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series. 



Focus:  The Crescent Chronicles (Book 2)
Alyssa Rose Ivy


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.

MY REVIEW:


Allie is starting her freshman year in college.  She has decided to stay in New Orleans and enroll in Tulane  instead of going to Princeton.  Levi is hoping that Aliie will forgive him and they can move on in their relationship.  Allie has not forgotten how badly he deceived her.  As charming as he is, Levi is going to have to wait and earn back her trust and forgiveness.  Allie has to keep up a good facade, though,  Levi's parents and the rest of the Pterons think they are a real couple.  Allie has to be careful now with her new status.  There are plenty of people who will go to extreme measures to keep her and Levi apart.  Will Levi always be there to protect her?

Allie is a strong independent girl and I am so glad we get to see more of this.  She is not a pushover anymore.  I know, I know that Levi worships her and treasures her and is always there for her.  Myself, I can't get over how BADLY he deceived her into mating with him.  That is the only reason why I am not enjoying this series as much as I should.  He should have told her the truth upfront and not relied on deceit.   The chemistry is once again smoking hot.  A wonderful YA Paranormal that flows smoothly.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

  Meet Alyssa Rose Ivy
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New 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.




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

~Book Review: Pieces and The Breakaway~


Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I will be reviewing two books by Michelle Davidson Argyle.  Be sure to read my reviews of these wonderful books.  Follow the rest of the tour for more reviews and some great giveaways.  
PIECES 
Rhemalda Publishing 
February 14th, 2013

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.

Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.


PURCHASE AT:     AMAZON     BARNES & NOBLE

MY REVIEW:
The Breakaway tells Naomi's story about her kidnapping and what she had to endure.  In Pieces we learn about the aftermath.  It has been two years since Naomi sent her kidnappers to jail.  She is trying to move on with her life but one of the kidnappers, the one she fell in love with, is getting ready for parole.  Naomi is anxiously awaiting his release because she naively hopes for a real relationship with him.  Can their love be real?  How will people react when Naomi wants to start a relationship with her kidnapper?

Naomi is trying to settle into normal college life at Harvard.  She is getting along well with her roommate and has made a new friend in Finn, the cute coffeehouse guy.  As long as people don't know about her past, she can relax for a bit.  She agrees to go out with Finn only with the understanding that they are just friends and she quickly lets him know she has a boyfriend.  Only, she doesn't tell him her boyfriend is in jail.  Even from jail, Jesse still has a strong hold on Naomi.  When Jesse is finally paroled, the only way him and Naomi can be together is with deceit and lies.  Can Naomi finally make a break once and for all or is her life with Jesse now?

In all honesty, I did not like this book as well as the first one.  It is still a five star, of course.  I did not agree with the choices Naomi made throughout the book.  With all the therapy she has endured, she still makes so many wrong ones.  Choices that she knew were wrong because she is too scared to stand up for herself.  I would also have liked to have heard more about the other kidnappers.  We only hear about Jesse since he was paroled early.  Follow Naomi's story to the exciting conclusion.  A wonderful New Adult Series that will not disappoint you. 


THE BREAKAWAY
 Rhemalda Publishing
 May 1st, 2012

When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals. But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it.


PURCHASE AT:     AMAZON     BARNES & NOBLE



MY REVIEW:
Naomi Jensen has it made.  Rich parents, a handsome boyfriend and freedom to do pretty much what she wants.  Looks can be deceiving.  Raised by nannies, all Naomi wants is someone to love her and pay attention to her.  When Naomi is kidnapped it takes her parents two days to even notice and then they go back to work the next day.  Naomi is not surprised.  Appearance and money have always been more important to her family.  

Naomi starts to realize that maybe her kidnappers are not bad people after all.  In fact, they are much nicer than her boyfriend and pay more attention to her than her parents.  What does she have to go home to anyway?  When she starts getting close to one of her kidnappers, will she set him up for her escape or will she end up having real feelings for him?

This is a quick paced, nail-bitter that had me on edge until the end.  Naomi has the classic case of Stockholm Syndrome.  If she had a better home life she never would have bonded with her kidnappers as well as she did.  Even when she found out information about the brainwashing, she still dismissed it.  We still have to remember that no matter how much she came to care for her kidnappers they are still criminals and had no plans to ever  let her go.  This book was such an emotional journey for me.  I have feel in love with Michelle Davidson Argyle's books!  I recommend that you read this book.  You will not be disappointed.  Be sure to read the next book in this series, Pieces, to find out what happens to Naomi.

MEET THE AUTHOR:
Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.