Title: Perchance to Dream Authors: Lyssa Chiavari (Editor), T. Damon, Allan Davis, Heather Dixon, Jon Garett, Alex Irwin, Alicia Michaels , Selenia Paz , Megan Reynolds, Patricia Scott, Jane Watson, Richard Walsh Publisher: Self-Published Publication Date: June 3oth, 2015 Genre: YA, Shakespeare, Anthology Purchase Links: Amazon Blurb : Romeo and Juliet. Hamlet. Macbeth. Everyone has heard their names. Everyone knows their stories. But you've never seen them like this. In this collection, some of the hottest names in YA today reimagine ten of Shakespeare's best-known plays and sonnets for a new audience. From sci-fi adventures on distant moons to modern magic found in everyday places, these updated myths pay homage to the Bard's timeless storytelling while spinning fresh and original tales that will captivate readers all over again. Blogger's Note: I just started reading this Anthology yesterday, and I am loving it so far! It is also no 1 in Amazon's New Release ( YA & Anthologies ) !
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Title: Seriously Wicked ( The Seriously #1) Author: Tina Connolly Publisher: Tor Teen Publication Date: May 5th, 2015 Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal Format: e ARC My Rating: 4/5 stars Blurb: The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one. Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch. Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school. Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance. To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she’s wicked too? My Review: I received a review copy of Seriously Wicked from Teen Tor via Net Galley, in exchange with an honest review . You will be taken on a journey filled with magic and wicked Witches ; you will absolutely enjoy it . Tina's creativity is endless ! From her weird spell components , to the description of demons, this author will leave you amazed ! This is a story where the girl saves the day, and her crush ! #Finally My only problem was that the story seemed to be aimed for a more juvenile readers. In other words, it felt more like a MG , rather than a YA, with characters in their mid Teens . This is not such a negative thing at all ! I just was prepared fora more YAish feel. I did not realize that this is a part of the series until the end, which made me excited to read more of this series.I can't wait to see what Tina has to show us with her outstanding imagination. I give Seriously Wicked 4/5 stars.
Title: One Chance Night ( Make a Change #1)
Author: Eliza Boyd Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: May 15h , 2015 Genre: Contemporary , New Adult Format: eARC My Rating: 4/5 stars Blurb: On the surface, Chelsea Greer has it all: A loving husband. A nice house. A good job. In reality, she works hard to maintain the illusion that is her life. She's also missing the most important thing: Love. One night could change her life. One night could give her the strength to rediscover what's important. In one night, she could find love when she most needs it and least expects it. All Chelsea has to do is follow her heart after One Chance Night. My Review : I received an eARC of One Chance night from Patchwork Press via NetGalley, in exchange with my honest review . This is not just about romance; it is about getting a second chance and learning how to make the best out of it. The character building was on point! I was able to feel Chelsea's distress, Brett's charming charisma, and Wesley's jerkiness . I can rant all day on why I love Brett, and hate Wesley. Did I mention that is under 200 pages ?? Imagine how ( not so long )it took me to feel all of this ; well because Eliza is a brilliant writer. The way story was told kind of reminded me of Poison Study by Maria.V. Snyder. Not because of the plot, but because of the storytelling . You have a lot things happening to the main character, but you have no idea why her marriage sucks. You get bits of information along the way, until Boom ! The dramatic reason finally is revealed. The revelation happens much earlier than in Poison Study, but you get what I mean. The story was really interesting at the beginning, then it kind of dropped a bit , but then it returned to its "really interesting" level by the end . I did not know that this was a part of a series until I finished the book. I know, it is written on the cover .:D But the ending is not a cliffhanger for Chelsea's story. However, it is an interesting cliffhanger for the series as a whole. I already want to read the second book : Two Pink Lines! I give One Chance Night 4/5 stars. Eliza's Pinterest is filled with quotes that are related to her book, country music lyrics that were mentioned in the novel, and Character casting suggestions !
About the Author:
Eliza Boyd is a contemporary women’s fiction and romance author. Also an avid reader, she writes novels, short stories, poetry, and whatever else strikes her fancy. Born and raised in Northern Illinois, she now lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and her plethora of animals. When she’s not reading, writing, or working, she can be found walking around her neighborhood (for exercise, not for stalking), taking photos of her pets, or catching up on her favorite shows. Catching up really means binge-watching
Title: Infinite ( Ignite #3 )
Author: Erica Crouch Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date : June 16th, 2015 Genre: Paranormal, YA, Angels and Demons My Rating: 4.5/5 stars Blurb : There are infinite ways to die, and the fates are calling for blood. After evading Azael since her betrayal, it’s finally time for Pen to stop running and face her desperate brother. But she won’t have to challenge him alone: the rebel army of New Genesis is ready to stand strong and fight to secure the future they believe in. As Azael spirals deeper and deeper into darkness, and Pen grapples with her new leadership role, a familiar name rises to power whose decisions have the potential to rewrite everyone’s future. Dangerous secrets, silent traitors, and unraveling fates means that time is running out. There’s no telling who will survive the final battle. In this thrilling conclusion to the Ignite series, Pen and Azael return to finish what they started over a millennia ago.
My Review :
I received an eARC of Infinite from Patchwork Press via Net Galley in exchange with my honest review. My love for this book is INFINITE ! I can't stop myself from being mind blow by this book. I mean, 3 POV ( Lilith, Azael, and Pen) of the most interesting characters are shared in Infinite, and I can't even decided whom's I like the best ! From dark minds, thirst for power, to seeking out hope to be just alive and cherish happy moments, the final book in the series will turn your world upside down. I learned more about many of the characters' pasts, which is one of the things that interested me the most ! specially Lilith's past. I am thrilled that Erica add her voice to the story. Lilith is a Pleochroism, her thoughts and strength can be compared to the black diamond. The conversation between Azael and Pen reminded of the song Hurricane by 30STM ! Jared Leto world be the perfect actor to play Azael ! The description is phenomenal. When I read the details, I was able to form vivid images in my mind that made love, pity,and loath the characters at the same time ! I also found myself disliking a character that I liked ; well done Erica . Sometimes, I felt like some descriptions were a bit repetitive, so I had to skim a little bit. Honestly, I still have about 20% of the book still unread, thanks to my reading slump! This means that I will be updating my review, once I get to the Epic ending of this amazing series. I give Infinite 4.5/5 stars. Ana is a hypocrite with good intentions.
Here is Erica's Playlist for Infinite :
1. Fuel to Fire, by Agnes Obel 2. Biting Down, by Lorde 3. Take Me to Church, by Hozier 4. Alibi, by Banks 5. Torn Apart, by Bastille and GRADES 6. Medicine, by Daughter 7. Infinity, by The xx 8. Hope In The Air, by Laura Marling 9. BTSK, by MS MR 10. In the Embers, by Sleeping At Last
Haven't Heard About the Series :O ?? Start with Ignite and Incite !
About the Author :
Erica Crouch is a young adult and new adult author from Baltimore, Maryland. She has a strange blended aesthetic of cute and spooky, and her books reflect her ever-changing mood. (You may find romance, you may find gore—sometimes both in the same book, but probably not at the same time. Probably.) Erica is the cofounder of Patchwork Press — an indie publishing collective that produces middle grade, young adult, and new adult titles in all genres — and Weapenry — a resource for writers. She is the head of editorial services and design, with over fifty projects to her name. Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads Blog Tour : Book Review + Giveaway of Never Be Younger ( A Shakespeare YA Retelling Anthology )6/22/2015
Title: Never Be Younger ( A Shakespeare, YA Anthology)
Authors: Rachel Bateman, Jessica L. Pierce(, S.M. Johnston, Adrianne James , E.L. Wicker , Olivia Hinebaugh, Cortney Pearson,Christina June (Goodreads , and Nicole Zoltack Publisher: Metamorphosis Books Publication Date: June 9th, 2015 Genre: YA, Retellings Format: e- ARC My rating : 3/5 stars Blurb: Classic story meets the modern world...and out of this world. From the halls of a high school to hip night clubs to the depths of space, Never Be Younger gives Shakespeare's classic plays and sonnets a fresh spin for a new audience. Nine authors pay tribute to the Bard by taking his timeless tales to new heights, entrancing readers all over again. A Shakespeare story by any other name still reads as sweet. All proceeds from the sales of Never Be Younger go to United Through Reading, a charity dedicated to uniting military families through reading. My Review: I received an e ARC of Never Be younger from one of the authors, in exchange with an honest review. Star Cross Lovers : I liked the modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. There is a better reason for the feud between both families, and the highlights of the play are present in this short story. The Scarf: I loved the 1st few pages of this story; they were adorable and funny ( I loved how the scarf had a twitter account ). Although the plot was kind of predictable, yet it was enjoyable. There were parts that were a bit unrealistic for me, but it was still one of my favorite stories. A Day of Errors: This story had a plot hole that kind of made me change my thoughts of the story. It was an okay read, until the last few pages. Any Way the Wind Blows: One of the best stories in this anthology. From the plot to the characters, everything was well written . I was really intrigued by the mystery in this story. To Undreamed Shores: This story was really good. The plot flowed extremely well, and the story was very entertaining. A Witches life: This was the most creative story in the entire Anthology . The author was able to build a paranormal world, and create characters in which I loved, in a story that is only 20 something pages long. I wasn't impressed with the ending, a lot was left unsolved. Mark the Music: The retelling of the Merchant of Vince was interesting. Although I had some trouble liking the characters at first, I ended up liking how the author was able to retell one of my favorite plays. A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare: The main plot in this story was interesting, but in some parts, I would get totally lost in what was happening This Anthology had a lot of mistakes. I understand that this was an ARC, but it still had many mistakes. There were plots that I really loved, and others that were uninteresting. I haven't read all of the plays that this anthology retell-ed, but I don't think this was why I disliked some stories . I liked some Retelling of plays that i haven't even heard about. If you like Shakespeare, give this book a go. There are some great stories in this anthology that deserve to be read. I give this Anthology 3/5 stars. About the Authors Rachel Bateman: Editor Rachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, but dreams of the South. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering formatting and interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets. You can find Rachel on Twitter, and her website. S.M. Johnston: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare S.M. Johnston is a writer of weird fiction and soulful contemporaries from sunny Queensland, Australia. Her family includes a husband, two sons and a number of fur babies of the feline and cavy variety. You can find Sharon on Twitter, and her website. Jessica L Pierce: A Day of Errors Jessica is a somewhat crazy – yet loving – blond. She lives in Green Bay, WI, hates the cold, and loves her completely awesome camo coat. She is passionate about football, baseball, photography and writing, and won’t go near cooked peas. (Raw peapods are fine.) She is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and will graduate in December 2015 with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Journalism. She is a sports photographer and her work can be found at: www.studio52photos.com You can also find Jessica on Twitter.Cortney Pearson: The Undreamed Shores Cortney Pearson is the author of Phobic and Such a Secret Place, a mother, musician, and a lover of pink and sparkles. You can find Cortney on Twitter, and her website. E.L. Wicker: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare E.L. Wicker lives in Hampshire, England with her husband and two children. Fueled by the bossy voices in her head, she writes New Adult fiction with a side of romance. You can find E.L. on Twitter, and her website.Nicole Zoltack: Any Way the Wind Blows Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranromal, or regency. When she's not writing about knights, superheroes or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys, with another little one on the way. She enjoyes horse riding (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. You can find Nicole on Twitter, and her website. Olivia Hinebaugh: Mark The Music Olivia Hinebaugh spends her free time writing. Obviously. The rest of her time is spent playing and reading with her two young children. She also loves: watching Sia's music videos, quoting Mean Girls, and folding laundry. She actually really does. You can find Olivia on Twitter, and her website.Adrianne James: A Witch's Life Growing up Adrianne James couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up the majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world. During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked up in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family. As a New Adult Paranormal (and sometimes contemporary) author, Adrianne James writes strong women, powerful magic, and love that lasts a lifetime. You can find Adrianne on Twitter, and her website. Christina June: The Scarf Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, eats too many cupcakes, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. You can find Christina on Twitter, and her website. To celebrate the release we have a wonderful giveaway. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Written by nine authors, Never Be Younger is a Young Adult collection of Shakespeare retellings. From Othello to Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet to The Winter's Tale, each story has been crafted with a new spin. From the halls of a high school to hip night clubs to the depths of space, Never Be Younger gives Shakespeare's classic plays and sonnets a fresh spin for a new audience. Nine authors pay tribute to the Bard by taking his timeless tales to new heights, entrancing readers all over again. A Shakespeare story by any other name still reads as sweet. All proceeds from the sales of Never Be Younger go to United Through Reading, a charity dedicated to uniting military families through reading.
About the Authors
Rachel Bateman: Editor
Rachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, but dreams of the South. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering formatting and interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets. You can find Rachel on Twitter, and her website.
S.M. Johnston: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare
S.M. Johnston is a writer of weird fiction and soulful contemporaries from sunny Queensland, Australia. Her family includes a husband, two sons and a number of fur babies of the feline and cavy variety. You can find Sharon on Twitter, and her website.
Jessica L Pierce: A Day of Errors
Jessica is a somewhat crazy – yet loving – blond. She lives in Green Bay, WI, hates the cold, and loves her completely awesome camo coat. She is passionate about football, baseball, photography and writing, and won’t go near cooked peas. (Raw peapods are fine.) She is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and will graduate in December 2015 with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Journalism. She is a sports photographer and her work can be found at: www.studio52photos.com You can also find Jessica on Twitter.Cortney Pearson: The Undreamed Shores Cortney Pearson is the author of Phobic and Such a Secret Place, a mother, musician, and a lover of pink and sparkles. You can find Cortney on Twitter, and her website. E.L. Wicker: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare E.L. Wicker lives in Hampshire, England with her husband and two children. Fueled by the bossy voices in her head, she writes New Adult fiction with a side of romance. You can find E.L. on Twitter, and her website. Nicole Zoltack: Any Way the Wind Blows Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranromal, or regency. When she's not writing about knights, superheroes or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys, with another little one on the way. She enjoyes horse riding (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. You can find Nicole on Twitter, and her website. Olivia Hinebaugh: Mark The Music Olivia Hinebaugh spends her free time writing. Obviously. The rest of her time is spent playing and reading with her two young children. She also loves: watching Sia's music videos, quoting Mean Girls, and folding laundry. She actually really does. You can find Olivia on Twitter, and her website. Adrianne James: A Witch's Life Growing up Adrianne James couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up the majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world. During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked up in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family. As a New Adult Paranormal (and sometimes contemporary) author, Adrianne James writes strong women, powerful magic, and love that lasts a lifetime. You can find Adrianne on Twitter, and her website. Christina June: The Scarf Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, eats too many cupcakes, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. You can find Christina on Twitter, and her website. Title: Modern Monsters Author: Kelly York Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date : June 2nd, 2015 Genre: YA, Contemporary Format: e ARC My Rating : 3.75 stars Blurb: Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went… And wished he hadn’t. Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon. But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life. My Review: I received an e ARC of Modern Monsters from Entangled Teen via Net Galley , in exchange with my honest review . An applause for Kelly York because this my favorite contemporary book that I have read so far ! Thanks for reviving my faith in this genre; now I can go and read more contemporaries ! I liked how there is diversity in this book. In case you are wondering what is diverse in this book, it was a character with (I think) an Arabic Origin . He might be a Muslim, but I am not sure about that. Anyway, it was great to have a character with a different background who wasn't just added to make the book "Diverse", but because it actually serves a purpose to the story; no matter how small that purpose was ! I also appreciate the fact that such a serious scenario was discussed in a story. Not many people make rape the main plot of their story, and focus the lens on how everyone's life gets turned upside down. My only problem with this book was the writing style. It was way too simple to what I usually read. I also kind of knew knew who did it from the start,so it wasn't a shocking revealing at the end of the story. However, the romance development between Vic and Autumn is extremly adorable, and the events that happen through out the book will made me read the book in less than three days. Did anyone notice how if you try to ship Vic and Autumn , you get a word that sounds like Victim ???? :) Also, the ending nevertheless was still shocking . I enjoyed reading Modern Monsters, and I give it 3.75 stars out of 5. |
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