Title: Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up Author: Sara Hantz Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date : May 6th 2014 Genres: Contemporary , YA, Romance My Rating : 3/5 stars Summary: Abi Saunders might be a kickboxing champion, but when it comes to being the center of attention, she’d rather take a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus any day. So when her trainer convinces her to audition to be the stunt double for hot teen starlet Tilly Watson, Abi is shocked—and a little freaked out—when she gets the job. Being a stunt double is overwhelming, but once the wig and makeup are on, Abi feels like a different person. Tilly Watson, to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend, Jon, mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi's completely smitten. In fact, she’s so in love with her new life, it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old one. But when the cameras are turned off, will she discover running with the Hollywood A-list isn’t quite the glamorous existence she thought it was? My Review : I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange with an honest review. First of all I loved the cover, that being said, let me jump into the review ! I loved how Sara showed the effect of being a star on Abi gradually. This is a story of self development that starts from being shy and good, to kind of nasty, then eventually to a stronger better self. The story itself is not that original. I kind of knew where the plot was going and nothing came to me to be shocking. However,I found the Kickboxing thing brilliant, adding a little bit of freshness to the plot. This was a great,fast, and refreshing read with all of the drama and romance going on. I give it 3/5 stars.
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Title: The Shadow Aspect Author: Melanie Karsak Publisher: Clock PunkPress Publication Date: Summer/Fall 2014 Genres: Dark, Fantasy, YA, Zombies Summary : When Layla took the final step through the labyrinth, she knew she was saving the ones she loved.She couldn’t have been more wrong.The unwitting victims of a grudge seething for eons, Layla and the other survivors now find themselves in a war for our world. With vampires lurking and shapeshifters plotting vengeance, Layla must learn who to trust if humanity has any hope of survival: the carnie girl? The quiet doctor? The tarot reader? The stranger with alluring gold eyes? Or the man she loves? And then there are the voices. What does it forewarn if the dead can speak?When the world burns, mankind’s shadow side rises. Do we deserve to survive? About the Author: Melanie Karsak grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvaniaand earned a Master's degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College. Author links: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieKarsak?ref=stream http://melaniekarsak.blogspot.ca/ Title: The feral Child Author: Che Golden Publisher: Quercus Books (US) Release Date: Jun 13, 2014 Genre : Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, Fairies, Dark Summary: Maddy, an orphan, is sick of her Irish town, and sick of her cousin Danny, one of the nastiest people you could meet. Mad as hell one evening, she crawls inside the grounds of the castle, the one place she has always been forbidden to go. Once inside, she is chased by a strange feral boy, who she suspects is one of the faerie: cruel, fantastical people who live among humans and exchange local children for their own. When the boy returns to steal her neighbor Stephen into his world, Maddy and her cousins set off on a terrifying journey into a magical wilderness, determined to bring him back home. To do so, they must face an evil as old as the earth itself. Review: Maddy's journey will take you another part of this world ; a place fantasy, fairies, evil, reality are all blended to give you this fascinating book. Although this supposed to be a Middle grade book, I was trapped in this world of fantasy and dangers. However, i think this might not be a bedtime story for children; it sometimes get kind of spooky, but not like horror movie. It is perfect for children, but not before sleep. One of the things i enjoys is the character development of the Book's main characters . The loner, the bully, the friend, they all grow up on this journey and become closer than ever. They become what they are supposed to be, a family. I just wished that the book had a few pictures. There were some beautiful descriptions that made feel like I should pause reading and go draw this fascination description of the Fairies and the Scenery. The Feral child is actually a Trilogy and this is the first book in the series. I am looking forward to see what Che Golden's writing will hold in next book. I am going to give this book 5 /5 stars. Title: Nightmare at Camp Forrestwood Author: Kelli Sue Landon Release Date : May 1st, 2011 Publisher : Outskirts Press Summary : It's time for the Madison High senior class camping trip! New student, Holly Jenson, is looking forward to a weekend out with friends, especially Matt Ifft, her secret crush. Little does she know there is a killer among the group. When people start getting bumped off, Holly, Matt, and the rest of the teens must escape the camp while dodging the killer's wrath. Review: Holly Jenson has just moved to another town and started in another school after her father's death . Her mother is trying to start a new life and convinces her daughter to go on a school camping trip, during which people keep on disappearing and we later know that there is a murder in this camping site! The thing about mystery novels is that with too much names and brief information and tons of suspicion , I often get lost a stop reading. However, this was not the case. Kelli has this unique style of writing that made me recall who is which character along the novel my spending a lot of time at first on giving insights about each character, their interests and even sometimes their past. And when the mystery starts, one just can not figure out who did it; I mean everyone seems to have a pretty strong motive ( in terms of hate) . The writing itself however need a couple of more editing , there seems to be a lot of what i came to realize :( auto correct) So the spelling is fine, but it simply does not fit in the contest. However, you should definitely check it out; it is a thrilling,fast read and I can't wait to read more of Kellie's work. I give it 3.5 stars out of five. Check it on amazon Happy Book Birthday to Cassie Shine's HARP'S VOICE (Harp's Song #2)! I'm so excited (and a little sad) to take part in the release day launch for the conclusion to the HARP'S SONG duology. Check out the book and excerpt below, and then be sure to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter. Harp's Voice (Harp's Song #2) by Cassie Shine | Release Date: June 24, 2014 Single-minded to the point of near seclusion, Harp Evans’ only goal was to move away from her abusive mother, and start a new life at college. Now a freshman at a prestigious university, Harp continues to struggle letting people in, including her ex-boyfriend—Connor Williams—who has always stood by her, especially after her mother exposed a devastating secret about Harp’s origin. While Harp figures out how to navigate her relationships, especially with her mom, Anne, she will have to exorcize her own demons and face challenges with uncompromising courage, including reuniting her broken family—the family that was shattered by the acts of one man. After almost twenty years, is it possible for people to change their minds and open their hearts? More importantly, is Harp strong enough to pull them all back together?Prologue - HARP'S VOICE(Anne Evans - Past) Today Harp received her high school diploma. Happiness, sadness, guilt and hope were ping ponging through me as her name was called and she walked across the stage. It was hard not to let the sadness and guilt override the happiness and hope, but that has been a constant struggle since I confronted her. The day I arrived at her District solo performance, there was a big chance she wouldn’t listen to me. It was risky, a big step; one my therapist urged me to take. I knew she was right—it was time to make amends. I had finally purged all the details of my sexual assault—after seventeen years—and admitted that Harp was the product of that offense. Even though I had suffered with the burden of that secret, and the memories of that night—that man—Harp had suffered far worse. She was innocent; a beautiful, fresh, clean soul who didn’t get the love-the mother-she deserved, because I was blinded by hate … and for that, I will always feel guilty. The human spirit is an inexplicable thing. There are people, like me, people that get knocked down and can’t get up. People that wallow in the pain that put them there, they let it fester and pull them further and further into oblivion. Then there are those who get pummeled, yet rise and repeat the process over and over again. That’s my daughter. Even as a child, she never let me ruin her. Years of neglect, verbal and physical abuse would push her to the floor, but the next day she would rise, as if she were surrounded by angels—their love cocooning her and making her stronger. Since the day I told her that the man who raped me was her father, and now, also my brother-in-law, I watched her struggle. It was as if we were in the third round of a boxing match, with only twenty seconds left and that was the last blow … but it wasn’t. It was, however, the one that left her on her knees and vulnerable with her arms tangled in the ropes. She wasn’t knocked out, but she couldn’t get back up, instead she was in limbo. Ditching her friends, her support system, and leaning on people who used her. Dropping the news of my breast cancer was the last blow though. It was the one that sent her to the mat … she was done and shrouded herself in misery and doubt. When she ended up in the hospital after being struck in a bar fight, I sat by her bed and prayed with more conviction than I’d ever had before. Then, I shamelessly and selfishly begged. I begged those angels—who I was convinced had taken a sabbatical—to come back and protect my daughter-to guide her, to enlighten her. As I watched her accept her diploma of freedom, I knew those angels had heard me because she was glowing. She was happy from the inside out. We’ve confessed our wrongs to each other (mainly mine) and we will continue to purge our feelings. It will be a bumpy road, but it’s the only way we can begin to forgive, and ultimately heal. About Cassie ShineWebsite | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | Goodreads Cassie Shine released her debut young adult novel, Harp's Song in November 2013, finally finishing the short story she started in her college creative writing class … many, many moons ago. She has always been an avid reader and lover of music (yes, she was in the high school marching band). While she has a weak spot for all things teeny bopper, especially boy bands, she also loves classical, country, rock and well, pretty much everything. After living in St. Louis for more than ten years, she and her husband packed up a U-Haul and headed west. They currently live in Orange County, CA with their furry kids Finnegan and Molly. HARP’S VOICE Release Facebook Party!Let's Celebrate! You’re invited to Cassie Shine’s HARP’S VOICE Release Facebook Party on Saturday, June 28th at 5PM PDT (8PM EDT). Join Cassie for a fun-filled celebration with a lot of giveaways and special guests! RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/773630852657150Giveaway***Any contestant that uses dummy or contest only accounts to enter will be disqualified.*** a Rafflecopter giveaway I am so excited to take part in the cover reveal for MELT by Selene Castrovilla! Check out the cover below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Then be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed ARC of MELT, and a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card! MELT by Selene Castrovilla | Last Syllable Books | August 2014 Melt is a brutal love story, set against the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz. Sixteen year old “good girl” Dorothy just blew into the small town of Highland Park – where the social headquarters is Munchkinland (Dunkin’ Donuts.) There, she meets Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? And then there’s his family's secret – about to be unleashed.Told in dual first person, Joey's words are scattered on the page - reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason - until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away? Melt is based on true events. It is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. It will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul.What do you think of the cover?About Selene CastrovillaWebsite | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning teen and children’s author who believes that through all trends, humanity remains at the core of literature. She is the author of Saved By the Music and The Girl Next Door, teen novels originally published by WestSide Books and now available digitally through ASD Publishing. Her third children’s book with Calkins Creek Books, Revolutionary Friends, was released in April. She is also a contributing author to UncommonYA. Selene holds an MFA in creative writing from New School University and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons. Visit her website www.SeleneCastrovilla.com for book excerpts and more information! GIVEAWAYEnter to win a signed ARC of MELT along with $25 Amazon or B&N gift card! (US/CA only) ***Any contestant that uses dummy or contest only accounts to enter will be disqualified.*** a Rafflecopter giveawayTitle : Til Death ( Fractured Souls #1) Author: Kate Evangelista Release Date : March 4, 2014 Publisher : Entangled Teen Summary: Sixteen-year old Selena Fallon is a dreamer. Not a day-dreamer, but an I-see-the-future kind of dreamer. Normally this is not a problem as she has gotten pretty good at keeping her weird card hidden from everyone in her small town. Except from her best friend Kyle and her grandparents, of course. But when Selena dreams of her own rather bloody death, things get a little too freaky even for her. Enter Dillan Sloan. Selena has seen the new guy in a different dream, and he is even more droolworthy in person. Beyond the piercing blue eyes and tousled dark hair, there is something else that draws her to him. Something…electric. Unfortunately, Dillan makes it more than clear that he does not feel the same. They just met, so why would he act like he hates her? When Dillan and Selena are forced together one weekend to work on a school project, Selena prepares to be ignored as usual. But when she stumbles across a few undead in the backyard, Dillan comes to her rescue and reveals a whole lot more. Not only is he part of a society that hunts otherworldly creatures…she is too. And she is being targeted by a force bigger and darker than anything she ever imagined. Despite her death dream, Selena is not going to give up easy, especially when she discovers that Dillan might not actually hate her after all . Review:The book opens with Dillan finishing a mission in which we do not understand till later in the book. And he gets enrolled in a school where his Uncle teaches, he meets Selena. Selena is not your typical teenager, hence she often dreams of her death. Selena and Dillian get these electric shocks whenever they touch, which is still not clear why,but that is not the only thing that is Electric between those two. Their arguments are just so funny,and if you are like Dillan, you will enjoy them very much. The Plot thickens when more information is revealed about the people who surround Selena, and when Dillan keeps on asking" What are you?" Selena's life becomes a real danger as Dillan's Nightmares keeps on haunting him about his previous mistakes. There is always something worth flipping the page for. This is one of those books where there is no "a boring chapter" in it. I would have finished in a shorter time, but then came my midterms. I honestly can't wait for the sequel to come out and I guess I have just added a new favorite author to my list. I give this book 5/5 stars Book Title: Donna of the Dead Author: Alison Kemper Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC Release Date: March 4th , 2014 Format: eARC via NetGalley Summary:Donna Pierce might hear voices, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. Probably. The voices do serve their purpose, though—whenever Donna hears them, she knows she’s in danger. So when they start yelling at the top of their proverbial lungs, it’s no surprise she and her best friend, Deke, end up narrowly escaping a zombie horde. Alone without their families, they take refuge at their high school with the super-helpful nerds, the bossy class president, and—best of all?—Liam, hottie extraordinaire and Donna’s long-time crush. When Liam is around, it’s easy to forget about the moaning zombies, her dad’s plight to reach them, and how weird Deke is suddenly acting toward her. But as the teens’ numbers dwindle and their escape plans fall apart, Donna has to listen to the secrets those voices in her head have been hiding. It seems not all the zombies are shuffling idiots, and the half-undead aren’t really down with kids like Donna. Review: The first time I came across the title on Netgalley and knew that it is a Zombie Novel, i was like UGH no and I was about to press back , but I heard voices*REQUEST,REQUEST,REQUEST* :D And honestly I can not say how much I loved the book! It is definitely not what you expect from typical Zombie books, so yes , the plot is not Cheesy! Honestly, I want to reread it again very soon. Imagine if a Flu has the ability to destroy your Cerebral Function , and oh, did I mention that it spreads around by biting ! At first, I did not like Donna. She acts like a total jerk and kind of drives you nuts with her crush with Liam. Deke is one of the characters that you instantly fall in love with, not mention how funny he is. So,what happens when almost everyone has this Zombie disease? Apparently , a wide variety of people have to work together to resist being transformed .AS you read, you clearly see how people change, and I am not taking about some sappy changes! You get to see characters grow more mature and less self preservative along this journey of survival.Another thing I have to point out is that the fact that the author used Medicinal and Scientific information to show us how drastic the disease is and how we must use whatever we have to fight back is definitely impressive ! I honestly can't wait to read the next book,*There are two companion books to Donna of the Dead* and honestly the author , Alison Kemper , has made me look at Zombie Novels through a different lens,better ones. I give this book 5 stars/5 Book Title : Sin Author: Sharron Riddle Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Release date: Jan 13 , 2014 Format: eARC Summary: My name is Sin. I killed a man in self-defense when I was sixteen. Not something a girl wants to brag about. My dad wanted to lock me up in the nut house, but Mom sent me packing to my great aunts in St. Charles, IL. They’re ancient druid priestesses, and they make me look like a pacifist. I’d barely unpacked before the aunts sent me to find the stolen hellhounds. Without the hounds to herd them to the underworld, the souls of the dead are flocking to the cities in murders of crows. If they’re still hanging around after three days, they’ll turn into flesh eating, brain feasting zombies. Van, an annoying but uber-hot Fey Prince, joins us in the hunt to find the hounds before the zombies overrun St. Charles and turn the cities into cemeteries. Review: Sin is not your average teenager, killing a man for self defence is just the beginning of her journey of unleashing her true identity . Instead of being send to therapy like her dad wanted, her mother sends her to her aunt who is a DRUID PRIESTESSES , interesting right? Put yourself in Sin's shoes, what would you do that you are only half human and that the dead's souls is trapped in our living world and would return if they stayed for more than three days, including all the evil ones! As if knowing all about this is not enough, she always seems to be distracted by Llaw ,the dark bad boy, and Van, an annoying Fey Prince. With the help of everyone, Sin seeks to find the Hounds to send the dead back to where they belong and along she unleashes a lot of secrets about her true identity and the world she lives in and her mother. The description is beyond amazing, there are some characters, like the elves, that I have a feeling that I have to draw and send them to Sharron Riddles ! Yes, it is that creative! The plot may sound like some other YA books, but the way the book is written and with all of what is going on, it stands out from the other plots. Then, you have the Love Triangle; it is one of those in which you don't know who you want Sin to be with cause you will be curious to know more about both of the Guys. The ending was kind of rushed. I felt like for such great problems, more losses should have been made and that the solution was a bit more elaborated. I Also, I was kind of not comfortable with how the Priestesses talked, I mean I know that being immortal and ancient , they must speak in Old English, still I found their conversations annoying. However, if you are a YA fan, then this book is for you, it will take you to places you have never seen and you will not be able to put this book down. I am not sure if there is going to be a sequel, but I think there should because I am kind of curious how things are going to go and whether Sin is going to regret her choices or not . I give this book 4 stars/5. Check it here, on Amazon! |
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