Title: Remember Yesterday ( Forget Yesterday #1)
Author: Pintip Dunn Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: October 4th, 2016 Genre: YA, Dystopia, Fantasy Format: Ebook My Rating: 5/5 stars Links: GoodReads . Amazon Blurb: The sequel to the sci-fi hit Forget Tomorrow is a twisting, turning roller-coaster ride—the perfect sci-fi futuristic read. Seventeen-year-old Jessa Stone is the most valuable citizen in Eden City. Her psychic abilities could lead to significant scientific discoveries -- if only she'd let TechRA study her. But after they kidnapped and experimented on her as a child, cooperating with the scientists is the last thing Jessa would do. But when she discovers the past isn't what she assumed, Jessa must join forces with budding scientist Tanner Callahan to rectify a fatal mistake made ten years ago. She'll do anything to change her past -- even if it means aligning herself with the enemy she swore to defeat. My Review: I received an e-Arc of Remember Yesterday from the publisher via NETGalley, in exchange with an honest review. A spellbinding sequel that will leave you begging for more with every chapter you consume I liked reading Forget Tomorrow, but I LOVED Remember Yesterday !!!! Once I finished the 1st 20% of the book, each chapter ended with me yelling "What !" & "OMG! " Not only does the plot thickens, but also the way how everything lines up by the end of the book is incredible. Anything that seemed vague by the end of book one played an important role in the events that take place in book 2. The romance in this book was very refreshing. The author switched how the typical girl likes boy,boy likes girl is represented in YA Literature. Every single character in this book has a great role to play, a chance to become more mature, a hard decision to take, and a memory to fulfill or let go off. All of that was shown perfectly . I really enjoyed reading it from Jessa's perspective Here are some of my favorite Quotes: 1) These people have lost their minds to a riot. We have no idea what they'll do, or not do ! 2) These are the casualties of War . 3) Time Passes. You take one breath, and then the next. The moment disappears and the next one arrives,and you're still here. There's an Honor in that. Simply enduring. I honestly can't wait for book 3. I am hungover over this amazing book !!! Pintip Dunn is killing it with this kick ass sequel. I can't wait to see how many awards this book is going to collect. I give it 5/5 stars
About the Author:
When her first-grade teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Pintip replied, “An author.” Although she has pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered. Pintip graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL. Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. She is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist.
0 Comments
Title: The Learn Author: Tony Halker Publisher: Clink Street Publishing Publishing Date: September 29th 2016 Genre: Dystopian, Historical Fiction Links: Goodreads . Amazon Blurb: Blending reality, history and legend, about a time when women were considered as important as men, taking power in an oral society that worships the Goddess. A whole Celtic Druid world is laid out before us, incorporating beliefs, technology and the natural environment. A Celtic boy, a beach scavenger, is pledged to the Learn, a life of endurance, a path to become sworn Druid: scholar and warrior. Young women and men progress, becoming Priests and Druidii. Friendship, affection, passion and care develop as novices mature, confidence emerging. Seasonal battles of winter and summer bring rich festivals when seeds of men are taken by women in pleasure to prove fertility. Small damaged, hurt peoples on the margins of Celtic society blend in and out of vision. At frontiers with Nature, dependent for everything on what the earth gives or takes, an emotional response to the natural environment defines who people are and the values they live by. A lyrical novel resonating with modern readers through portrayal of character, language and history; arising from a landscape of today, yet centred in the Celtic Bronze Age of North Wales. The Journey to Write This Book How many adults over middle age can remember with precision who taught them to read. I am not sure who taught me, yet I am so grateful now. I have come to writing because I have always loved to read and am in awe of those writers who create worlds that draw me in, let me escape into both characters and events. I was brought up in a crowded apartment, I probably never slept in a room alone until I was twenty years old. We had little space, constantly heard our own noise and that from the apartments downstairs and to left and right. I learnt to escape into books, the worlds there became my place, my room, somewhere to take a dream, somewhere to aspire to, yet I would never have considered that I could write or that it was a reasonable or sensible way for me to seek to go through life. My upbringing would have said there were many thousands of priorities much higher than the idea of writing: work at school, pass exams, get a job and help pay the rent were the priorities. That is the cultural reality and imperative for so many people; writing, or painting or music would have been considered frivolities that would not pay the rent or put food on the table; those messages reflect the hard lives of many of my parents generation, we were not an exception. The complexity of the books I read has grown, my taste has changed. I now allow myself not to finish a book, there was a time when the puritan in me, said that books are good, you have started and must finish. Books change lives and fiction probably contains more truths than much of the non-fiction we see published. It is interesting that it is called “non fiction” and not “faction”. I appreciate that the word is already used elsewhere, but perhaps there are few facts in some non fiction! I can still read a wonderful book, identify with the characters and almost feel a sense of bereavement when the books come to an end and I can no longer spend time with the people there, as their life develops and a new story unfolds. Those books I love the most I can read again and again years apart, finding something new each time I recently came across a pile of papers in an old computer case that were the first chapter of a novel I attempted ten years ago. I had forgotten my attempt to write that particular story but many times in life I have written things down, embryo novels, all have been discarded; most were started at a time of life change or stress as an outlet for a message or emotion. I am a lucky man who has now been able to make the time to write when I want to. I wish to be a story teller that draws the reader in, makes them want to be in the book; though the messages the book seeks to debate, consider and present are important to me. I hope The Learn does not dictate views but asks or poses questions. I know now I have always yearned to spend my time writing. I got to my first 48,000 words of The Learn and had many doubts about whether readers would like it. Kind people I could trust to be honest, accomplished readers, gave me confidence both to finish this debut novel and publish it. I will always be grateful to them and particularly to my wife and children, whose brutal honesty where they felt I needed to consider or look again made me think. It took me a year to write, six or more months to edit and six months to publish. I have learnt so much in the process that I hope has honed my craft and capability as a writer. About the Author: Born in London, Tony Halker studied geology at Leeds University after which he worked as a geologist, travelling extensively overseas. Following an MBA at Cranfield School of Management, he became a manager in hi-tec business and later a businessman and entrepreneur. His writing is inspired by powerful natural landscapes and his interest in the people and technologies emerging from those hard places. His two daughters were born in North Wales. He lives with his wife there and in Hertfordshire. Website . Blog
Title: The Jump
Author: Doug Johnstone Publisher: Faber&Faber Publication Date: August 9th, 2016 Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction Format: e-ARC My Rating: 4.5/5 stars Links: Amazon . Goodreads Blurb: Struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her teenage son, Ellie lives in the shadows of the Forth Road Bridge, lingering on its footpaths and swimming in the waters below. One day she talks down another suicidal teenager, Sam, and sees for herself a shot at redemption, the chance to atone for her son's death. But even with the best intentions, she can't foresee the situation she's falling headlong into — a troubled family, with some very dark secrets of their own. The Jump is a hugely moving contemporary thriller, and a stunning portrait of an unlikely heroine. MY Review: I received an eARC of The Jump from Faber&Faber in exchange with an honest review. This book was released last year in th e UK, but this blog tour is for the US rerelease of the book. This is my very first Doug Johnstone book, and honestly I am very impressed with The Jump. This is a book that will give you something to think about with every chapter you finish ! I was hooked right after finishing the first chapter. The writing style is one of those things that matter to me the most, and I enjoyed the one in this book. It wasn't what I usually loved, which is "Pretty & Metaphoric", but rather " Smooth & Fast Flowing" . This suits the storyline perfectly. There is nothing better than an intriguing plot, and fast flowing writing style. Smooth & Fast flowing writing, doesn't mean that the description was plain and boring. This is a story that needed so much emotional description, and it doesn't lack that. I really enjoyed reading The Jump. I give it 4.5/5 stars.
Doug's writing process
Every book comes to life in the same way (at least they have so far, and I’m halfway through a first draft of my ninth novel and I don’t see any sign of the pattern ending). Before I begin a first draft, I spend a couple of months planning, plotting and making notes. I say “making notes,” but the process is a lot more haphazard than that suggests. To begin with, it’s really just scribbling stream of consciousness guff — ideas about themes, characters, settings and so on. Usually all of this is swirling around a central “inciting incident” — a hit and run, a missing person, a suicide. Gradually over the weeks, things begin to coalesce into something more tangible, and at the same time, stuff starts to appear on the walls above my desk. For a start there are pictures. Photographs of locations along with images of people who fit the physical characteristics of my characters. There is always an Ordnance Survey map of the area where the action takes place. So for my latest book, The Jump, I had a huge map of the river Forth, stretching from Fife over to Edinburgh, with all the little islands scattered about, and of course the bridges that span the water, the structures that are such an integral part of the story. Also, at some point, a writing schedule makes its way onto the wall. How many words need to be written by which dates. I rarely stick to it, but it’s motivation enough to keep going. I also have a list of major plot points, and on my desk I have a more detailed scene-by-scene list. Some of these scenes are very fleshed out — typically the beginning and final scenes — but some of them have very little detail, leaving room for whatever pops into my brain at the time of writing. And still more stuff winds up on the wall. There’s usually a ‘Don’t Forget’ list — a compilation of themes, subplots, character relationships and so on that I want to keep in the loop. Writing a novel feels a lot like keeping all these plates spinning in the air, and this list is my reminder to give each particular plate a little spin every now and then. And then finally, just before I launch into the first draft, a single sheet of A4 goes up with motivational crap on it. This has grown over the years, each new book seemingly inspiring a new piece of advice for myself. And seeing as how I’m revealing all my writing method secrets here, I’ll end here with what was on my wall when I wrote The Jump. Whether it will mean anything to anyone else is open to debate, but I leave you with it anyway. Enjoy! BE FEARLESS LESS IS MORE SHOW, DON’T TELL NEVER APOLOGIZE, NEVER EXPLAIN INCREASE THE CONFLICT AS EXTREME AS POSSIBLE EVERY WORD MUST JUSTIFY ITS EXISTENCE
About the Author:
Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. His fourth novel, Hit & Run, is published by Faber and Faber on March 15th 2012. His previous novel, Smokeheads, was published in March 2011, also by Faber. before that he published two novels with Penguin, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), which received praise from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre.Doug is currently writer in residence at the University of Strathclyde. Hes had short stories appear in various publications, and since 1999 he has worked as a freelance arts journalist, primarily covering music and literature.He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children. He loves drinking malt whisky and playing football, not necessarily at the same time. Title: SIGNS OF LIFE (Rough Romance #2) Author: Selene Castrovilla Publisher: Last Syllable Books Publication Date: June 21, 2016 Genre: YA, Contemporary , Romance Format: eARC My Rating: 4.5/5 stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Blurb: The tables are turned with a vengeance in this tour de force love story. Nearly a year has gone by and now it’s Dorothy who is fragmented and lost, while Joey keeps the promise he had made her to better himself—even though she’s gone. Joey talks about what is happening in the present while Dorothy describes what happened before— in the moments and hours after the Glock dropped. This time the stakes are even higher, as Joey forces himself to move forward while Dorothy is frozen in place. But when he learns of a devastating decision, Joey races to find her before it is too late. Truth, consequence, repercussion and modern medicine collide as pieces converge in this psychological, thrilling story, which begs the question: Can love really conquer all? My Review: I received an eARC of Signs of Life from Jen Halligan PR in exchange with my honest review. I was highly anticipating the Rough Romance's sequel because I really fell in love with the 1st book, Melt. I loved it so much , that I wrote a poem that was inspired my the story. You can read it here . I loved how Selene wrote this story. We get to slowly see the past, which is a continuation of Melt's ending, and its effect on the present. Not only that, but also we get to see how many characters viewed these events. At first, it was mostly Joey and Dorothy , but then we get to see how other characters think. I won't say which characters because flipping the page , and discovering that one of these characters get to share his/her POV of the story ,is an experience in it self ! Once you reach 20% of the book, you keep on flipping the pages because you will be so anticipated to know the continuation of what a specific character, in a specific tense, has to share. I can't even say how many quotes I had to copy from this novel; was it way too much,or not even enough ? For the first time, this book opened my eyes to something I have never realized while reading a book. It all started when Joey was thinking in a certain way, and I started yelling No ! No! No ! I kept on saying how it is wrong to think like that; I was so disappointed. Then, I realized something that I have already believe in, but never had to consider in a book. As humans, we all see things differently and have different opinions. My opinions build up and create facts, but these facts are only my facts. To others, it is just another opinion. So why was I so pissed when one of my favorite characters thoughts and believes opposed mine. Because for the 1st time, a character I liked had thoughts that I absolutely disagree with. Because this is what books should do, represent other thoughts and believes than yours. I have no idea why this only became clear tome now, but I would like to thank Selene for that; for making me see that flawed characters are the best type of characters. Because we are all flawed, but we don't always see some of our flaws. The only thing that I didn't like in this book was how long Joey's self-punishment routine was expressed. I wished that it wasn't that expressed at the beginning because it made wonder if I was going to enjoy this book. Nevertheless, I ended up loving the sequel. Just like Melt, Signs of Life left me screaming because the ending is simply the perfect, most tortoures way to keep me anticipated for the 3rd and final book. I give it 4.5 / 5 stars
Checkout My Review For Melt!
Based on true events, MELT is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. MELT will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul. MELT is a brutal love story set against the metaphorical backdrop of The Wizard of Oz (not a retelling). When sixteen year old Dorothy moves to the small town of Highland Park, she meets, and falls for 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? 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: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble Clickhere to read my review
Rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
About Selene Castrovilla Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com. Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest
Title: Greta and the Lost Army (Book #3)
Author: Chloe Jacobs Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: February 1st, 2016 Genre: YA, Fantasy Blurb: After spending the last four years trapped in a place of monsters, demons, and magick, the last thing the fierce teenage bounty hunter Greta expected was to ever be back on Earth. But a rare opportunity gives her and the Goblin King Isaac the opportunity to do just that. Now she’s home. With a boy in tow. And her parents have lots of questions. Although Greta finally has her heart’s deepest wish—to see her family again—every step she takes to reconnect with them drives her further away from Isaac. Greta and Isaac planned for her to return to Mylena and become his queen, but she’s not sure if she can go back to that harsh world, though staying on Earth means giving up the boy she loves. But a powerful enemy refuses to let Greta escape. A demon who will stop at nothing to destroy her and everything she loves. Even if it means following her to Earth and forcing her to face a fate as unavoidable as love itself. Excerpt: The streetlamps cast soft cones of light on the sidewalks all the way through the neighborhood. Greta pointed things out as she remembered them. “That’s where my friend Danielle used to live. I guess she probably still lives there.” “Are you looking forward to seeing her again?” She nodded. “And if I remember correctly, she’s more hyper than a Mylean berserker—only less ripping and tearing, and more frenzied hugging and constant talking.” The rumble of his amused chuckle made her grin. He squeezed her hand. She looked up at him, and it hit her. “You know, this is kind of like a date,” she said, tingles of awareness dancing up her spine. His smile was crooked, and his eyes warm as he laid his arm across her shoulders, making her feel like he would rather be here with her right now than anywhere else. It probably wasn’t true. They were both too worried about Mylena for it to ever leave their minds completely, but maybe one day it would be true. “What would be the purpose of a date?” There was such a thing as courtship in Mylena, but she and Isaac had pretty much bypassed anything resembling normal…in both worlds. What if she was wrong and the portal didn’t open again? What if they stayed here? There could be more nights just like this, and eventually maybe they would get a place of their own and… “You know, so a couple can get to know one another and decide if they like each other.” “But we already know we like each other.” When they were alone like this and his voice softened because he trusted her enough to let down his guard, it did crazy things to her. Like popping candy hitting her bloodstream. “Even more important, we know that we fit together. In battle together, or planning for Mylena’s future, even while arguing…and definitely when I kiss you…nobody fits me like you do.” Enter the Giveaway:
About the Author:
Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she’d at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers. Author Website .. Author Twitter: @Jacobs_Chloe .. Author Facebook .. Author Goodreads .. Newsletter
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
Title: Awakening (Awakening #1)
Author: Shannon Duffy Publisher: Entangled teen Publication Date: April 7th Genre: Dystopia,YA,Sci-Fi My Rating:4/5 stars (B+) Purchase Links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books Blurb: A thrilling, futuristic sci-fi novel set in a unique and thought-provoking world, from author Shannon Duffy. Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darian, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it. Then Darian shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darian be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late? My Review: I received an eARC of Awakening in exchange with my honest review during the Awakening Blog Tour hosted by YA Blog tours. Shannon Duffy mixes several popular aspects from the YA culture, and adds her own touch of individuality when she speculates the concepts of sleep,dreams,and nightmares to come with such an entertaining novel to read. In a world where the protectorate use Fate to decide everything for you, from how many years you live to who you marry ,the so called Utopian world becomes Dystopian ! I absolutely enjoyed reading Awakening. It was a fast read with many elements such as sci-fi technology and romance in it. The beginning of the book is dedicated to describe the world and a briefing on why has it evolved to become this way. We also follow Desiree, who believes that the system is right no matter what. Things become more interesting when Darian is added to the picture . What I really like about the romance that it wasn't rushed or overdone . It was just perfect. My favorite line is " I love it when you owe me" ! Tell me if you agree ! I really enjoyed visualizing the Terrorscape ; it was one of my favorite chapters to read. It displayed the author's creativity in the best way possible. There are some gaps in the story that may or may not be answered in the next book.I also thought that the character building and the ending was a bit rushed. A bit more elaboration would have served the story more justice, but it does not change how this story is a must read. The world building and the story Awakening has to tell is so thrilling that it might keep you up too late to finish it. Unfortunately, it ends with a cliffhanger. A very good cliffhanger that I hope will elaborate on the points that were not thoroughly discussed in Awakened! I really enjoyed Awakened ,and I can't wait to read the next book. I give it 4/5 stars and a B+ according to my own rating scale.
About the Author
Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.
Title: Incite
Author: Erica Crouch Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: February 17, 2015 Genre: Paranormal, YA Format: e ARC My Rating: 5/5 ( A) Blurb: Earth is in ruins, and the war of Heaven and Hell has spilled over into the mortal world. In the frozen wasteland of the apocalypse, Azael and his band of cohorts search for Pen and Michael with orders to kill. Little does he know that his sister has incited a rebel army of her own. Angels and demons alike stand side by side, ready and willing to fight for a future they didn’t realize they could have. Change doesn't come easy, though. Pen is wary of joining New Genesis's revolution, but when Azael shows his hand and Pen learns all that he holds over them, she chooses to fight back, no matter the risk. She only has to survive, one hour at a time. My Review: I received an e Arc copy of Incite from Netgalley via Patchwork Press in exchange with an honest review. I am also reviewing it as a part of the Incite Blog Tour. Incite begins with a prologue from Azael's POV that opens a portal to his mind where I witnessed some emotions I thought he had already buried. This book was written from both POV of Pen and Azaeal, which is really interesting. The reader gets to learn more about both characters. More about what they are becoming, and not what they were. The imagery was very impressive; I shuddered every time the author described a torture scene . It was like I was standing there, next to the victim. New characters are added to the story; each of them add a little of something unique to the story.I definitely want Kala to be my Guardian Angel . I love the way she is always bubbly even if the world is crumbling down. I am also interested in knowing more about Eli because I am sure that he has a great history/back story. Like the first book, Ignite, Incite is filled with amazing quotes from plays and poetry .These include the works of Shakespeare and Robert Frost. We also get more action and fighting scenes. The element of darkness is explored in ways that will leave you terrified, breathless,and amazed all at once. i found myself writing down many quotes from Incite because not only is the story thrilling, but also the writing is absolutely beautiful. This is one of the books that tortures you because it is really good, but now you have to wait longer than anyone to read the next book. You know, since this is an ARC and the book is not released yet. I don't know what is driving me mad more, the cliffhanger or the epilogue !!!! I really enjoyed reading Incite , and I can't wait to read the final book in this epic series. I give it 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale. Read an Excerpt! From Chapter 4 | Azael I enjoy destruction. I like the sound of glass shattering, of paper tearing apart and fabric ripping at its seams. I savor the groan of bending metal and the snap of splintered wood. The smell of ashes and smoke and blood and sweat soothes me, so when I get back to my extravagant room, I destroy everything. The thick, four-poster bed sitting in the middle of the room clothed in heavy, gold-and-red drapery is the first to go. I claw at the sheets and scatter them across the floor in ribbons, pull apart the intricate headboard with my fingernails until the wood is soaked black with my blood. The gold spindles that extend to the ceiling are pliable under my angry hands, and I twist them into a knot so sharp that I cut my forearm. Then I toss the mattress across the room and kick up the chairs that bookend a small side table. My blood spills across the room as I continue my path of destruction. I barely feel the piercing burn of the shrapnel from the wooden wardrobe in my abdomen through my rage, hardly notice the small shards of glass that stick into my leg from the cart of drinks I requested be delivered earlier this morning. I crave mayhem and terror and devastation, but I can’t gather enough composure to inflict it on anyone but myself. A tall mirror sits wide and proud on the floor next to the washroom. I throw my fist into the glossy reflection with a snarl and watch as the fissures spiral out from my bleeding hand. I’m shattered in the reflection, both one being and dozens of smaller, angry images. There’s a large gash across my forehead that dribbles black blood over half of my face, wetting my hair down to stick to my scraped cheeks. My eyes are furious and feral, deep purple and black swallowing up the whites of my eyes. I pull my hand back from the mirror and flex my fingers, lavishing in the agony of my broken knuckles before they begin to heal. The loud thud of my bedroom door closing grabs my attention, and when I look up, Lilith is reflected in miniature all around me. She stays standing by the door, wearing a grin and a short, white dress in silk so smooth that it looks like liquid. “What a mess you’ve made,” she says, curling her lips around every word. “Leave me alone, Lilith.” Don't miss out on this awesome giveaway !
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 author-powered publisher of middle grade, young adult, and new adult titles. She is the head of editorial services and design, with nearly fifty projects to her name. Find a complete list of Erica’s books at ericacrouch.com. |
Archives
January 2017
Categories
All
|