Gravity by Melissa West ~ Blog Tour + Review

As a part of the Gravity by Melissa West Blog Tour run by YA Bound Book Tours I reviewed Gravity, a YA sci-fi novel.

To check out the rest of this blog tour go here for the official schedule.

I was provided with a review copy of the book via YA Bound Book Tours - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. To find out more, please visit my disclaimer page.

Book Details 

Title: Gravity (The Taking #1) 
Author: Melissa West  
Release Date: 12/18/12 
Publisher: Entangled Teen 
Pages: 284 

Book Synopsis

  
In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. 

Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war. 

Ever Darkening by Janeal Falor ~ Book Blitz

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Ever Darkening by Janeal Falor Book Blitz hosted by YA Bound Book Tours!

About the book

Title: Ever Darkening

Author: Janeal Falor 

Release Date: 01/28/15

Synopsis: Perfection. Goodness. Elimination of evil. 

It's what seventeen-year-old Kaylyn has trained her entire life to achieve. But no one is prepared for the consequences of her actually defeating all evil people on the planet. 

Finally successful in her mission, Kaylyn faces an unfamiliar world, full of good people doing good things, in which she no longer has purpose.

When the skies grow dark, and a stranger from another village pleads for her help, her instincts roar to life. It turns out their perfect world isn't exactly what it seems. Kaylyn's new quest, harder than any she's been on before, will rip apart her friendships, her life, and her soul more than any evil man ever managed to.

Check out an excerpt from the book!

 

Buy your copy today from:
Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | CreateSpace

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry ~ Cover Reveal

West Side Story meets Sons of Anarchy?? Yes, please!

Katie McGarry's newest novel, Nowhere But Here, has a cover and I am thrilled to get to help reveal it to you today. 

The first novel in her upcoming The Thunder Road Series, Nowhere But Here is a young adult contemporary romance that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. I have no doubt that when you get done, you're going to wish you were on a motorcycle and had your own cut of leather across your back! 

Be sure to follow along today as pieces of the cover are revealed, and then stop by the HarlequinTeen Page to see the full cover at 7pm EST!

And that's not all, of course! I have a few Behind-The-Scenes pictures from the photo shoot itself for you to enjoy as well! Check out the Behind-The-Scenes pictures and then scroll down for our puzzle piece!

And now...without further ado...here's the sixth piece to the cover for you!

 

Don't miss all of the puzzle piece reveals throughout the day!

The Queen’s Gift by T.R. Allardice ~ Book Blitz + Interview

I'm super excited to be a part of the The Queen’s Gift by T.R. Allardice Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Book Tours!

 

Book Details

Title: The Queen’s Gift

Author: T.R. Allardice
Publication date: December 15th 2014

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis

'Fifteen-year-old, late-bloomer Jean Elliott dreams of becoming a Genie like her mom. 

When her family relocates to Tokyo, Jean is forced to use sleight-of-hand tricks to fool everyone at school into believing that she’s a normal Preternatural or risk expulsion. When her power finally appears, it comes in the form of the Queen’s Gift - an unspeakable magic that strips power from all Preternaturals and heralds the arrival of the new queen. 

After an absence of two hundred years, not everyone wants the monarchy to return and they’re willing to go to great lengths to keep the status quo. 

When buried secrets rip Jean’s family apart, she has a choice to make: Walk away and hope for the best or embrace the power that’s known to lead to madness in order to save her family. 

Jean’s greatest dream has turned into her biggest nightmare and no matter how hard she tries, there’ll be no wishing the Queen’s Gift away..' 

Purchase from Amazon or B&Ntoday!

 

Eternal by Rachel Van Dyken ~ Release Day Launch

I am excited to be a part of the Eternal by Rachel Van Dyken Release Day Launch!

Eternal is a crossover novella featuring characters from both the Seaside and Ruin series.

Book Summary

'Lead singer of AD2 Demetri Daniels only wants one thing...

To marry the love of his life and make the day perfect for her.

But perfect isn't exactly happening, not with his sister-in-law going into labor, or with rabid fans discovering their wedding location, or birds suddenly attacking the rehearsal dinner.

It doesn't help matters that his bride to be is starstruck as singer Ashton Hyde makes a drop in appearance to start recording his new album.

Nothing is going right. And it's about to get worse.'

Grab your copy today!

AMAZON │ iBooks │ Barnes & Noble│KOBO

Blood, Milk, and Chocolate by Cameron Jace ~ Book Blitz

I'm super excited to be a part of the Blood, Milk, and Chocolate by Cameron Jace Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Book Tours!

Book Details

Title: Blood, Milk, and Chocolate by Cameron Jace  (The Grimm Diaries #3)  

Author: Cameron Jace 
Publication date: January 19th 2015

Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis

'I have been accused of being malicious and evil. I, the Snow White Queen, have a story to tell. 

The true story and what has really happened. How it all happened. Why the Brothers Grimm altered the truth, letting you think it was a fairy tale. When and how the tale took place. 

And above all, why I did what I did. 

Why you haven’t been told the truth for centuries. The truth about me and the truth about the not-so-innocent Snow White. 

Here is my side of the story. 

You will never look at Snow White the same way again..' 

Purchase from Amazon today!

 

Where Dead Bodies Lie by Kat Cazanav ~ Blog Tour + Review

As a part of the Where Dead Bodies Lie by Kat Cazanav Blog Tour run by YA Bound Book Tours I reviewed Where Dead Bodies Lie, a YA paranormal novel.

To check out the rest of this blog tour go here for the official schedule.

I was provided with a review copy of the book via YA Bound Book Tours - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own (to find out more, please visit my disclaimer page).

Book Details

Title: Where Dead Bodies Lie (The Body Dowser Series, #1)

Author: Kat Cazanav

Publication date: December 16th 2014 

Purchase today from:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

My Review

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

'I turned around, expecting to see someone but instead I lost my balance and stumbled forward, arms extended to catch my fall. I landed on my knees, my hands scraped by broken twigs and rocks. 

(...) Barely visible through heavy fog, the dilapidated buildings had a rippling effect. I tilted my head to correct the vision but the image continued to undulate and nausea crept into my throat. A tingling sensation hit my fingertips and with it came a cold black mist snaking in and out of my fingers. 

There was no clear explanation for it, but looking back on that moment later, I realised the nausea, dizziness, little black dots floating across my eyes, even the black crows passing overhead, were all precursors to what was about to happen.

The ground rumbled and opened up, like a woman spreading her arms wide to take me in. There was only one frightening explanation for this and as absurd as it seemed, it made sense. Unpredictable, uncontrollable, and the only kind of ability that psychics feared.

Body dowsing. Someone was waiting for me in the limitless black hole beneath my feet.'

Synopsis: For as long as I can remember, I have been told to follow three important rules;

Always guard my ability

Never share my secret
And pretend to be normal.

However, those three little rules don’t make my life easier. I still find dead people and deal with strange visions. Not to mention, an attraction to a boy who doesn’t exist. Whenever we cross path’s he mists away like smoke on a mirror. He drives me crazy, that Kaff Cooper.

As a flock of dead crows fall from the blackened sky, Kaff becomes the only one who can see the truth straight to the dark underbelly of who I actually am.

My hands feel the pull to extract the forsaken, the lost, the forgotten. It comes as naturally as breathing and there is no stopping it. (x)

My thoughts on the book: 

To me, the key element of any paranormal novel (or any novel at all) is its descriptions. 

When an author is creating a brand new world from scratch - a world containing elements and features that are foreign to the reader and/or of a mystical nature - they need to create descriptions that produce vivid images in the reader's mind. The reader needs to feel as if they are a part of the author's world and the story that the author is weaving across the book's pages.

Kat Cazanav has a real gift with words.

Kat Cazanav's Where Dead Bodies Lie has such well-worded descriptions that you're immediately drawn to the story - you hang on every word. The concepts aren't thrust at you, or hastily explained. They're unveiled methodically, in ways that fit the tone of the book.

Here are few of my favourite descriptions:

• The ground rumbled and opened up, like a woman spreading her arms wide to take me in. 

• Fog swirled and clumped like cotton candy over bushes and trees. 

• A familiar cold ribbon of black mist visited my hands and I swatted the air, repulsed.  

• (...) In the middle of a wasteland staring at three fingers on a moonless night.   

• The terror killed reality. 

Character voice is another winning feature of this book.

The character's voice comes across really clearly - a clever mix of weariness (a sense of experience beyond the protagonist's years), fear (constantly on edge, waiting), knowledge (a sense of power), and (often dark) humour. It's apparent in the following excerpts: 

• Franny was an opportunist taking credit for un-deading me. 

• Given my filthy appearance and past reputation for being crazy, there was no doubt in my mind I'd give everyone a real show.  

• Falling in love with him might be like jumping off a cliff without a parachute. 

Where Dead Bodies Lie is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat...& checking periodically over your shoulder!

A Stone in the Sea by A.L. Jackson ~ Cover Reveal

We are excited to share the cover of this brand new series by A.L. Jackson!

A Stone in the Sea will release on Feb 23

Book Summary

He wanted nothing at all…

Until he found she had everything to give…

Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust settles in L.A.

Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.

When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but she's helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes tangle with hers.

They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and passion that won’t let them up for air.

Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only one who’s hiding them.

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s past that costs them everything?

Can't wait for this book?

Check out the exclusive iBooks pre-order

Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux ~ Blog Tour Review

As a part of the Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux Audiobook Blog Tour run by YA Bound Book Tours I listened to and reviewed the audiobook version of Crossing the Ice, a NA contemporary romance story.

To check out the rest of this blog tour go here for the official schedule.

I was provided with a review copy of the audiobook via Jennifer Comeaux - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own (to find out more, please visit my disclaimer page).

Book Details

Title: Crossing The Ice (Ice #1)

Author: Jennifer Comeaux

Narrated by: Emily Stokes

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins 

Publication date: August 3rd 2014 

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sports

Purchase today from:

Audible│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│iBooks

My Review

My rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

'I skated to the ice door and snapped on my guards.

It was going to be a long two months of rehearsals if I had to pretend I didn't love skating with Josh. I didn't know if I could even pull that off. 

It was a knock against Mark because I'd always enjoyed having him as my partner. When we skated together, I loved the athletic excitement of it.

But when I'd partnered with Josh, I'd felt something new, something I couldn't quite grasp yet.

Al I knew was I wanted more.'

Synopsis: Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross? (x)

My thoughts on the audiobook: 

If you are not a fan of audiobooks, you will be one after listening to Crossing The Ice.

I, personally, was not a huge fan of audiobooks before Crossing The Ice. I'd listened to both the Divergent and Pride and Prejudice audiobooks before (to name a few), and found that I couldn't quite connect with the storytelling. 

This, however, was not a problem with Crossing The Ice. Jennifer Comeaux's genius melds flawlessly with Emily Stokes' talented voice, giving readers an unforgettable audiobook experience. I could have listened to it for hours! 

Emily Stokes has a gift for taking on the characters and their different voices, whether male or female. And this is rare in audiobook narrators, let me tell you. I've always found that male narrators never get the female character voices right, and that female narrators often try too hard to sound 'macho' whilst voicing the male characters.

But Emily's voice is spot-on. My favourite character-voicing was Sergei, one of Courtney's coaches. Emily put on an light, fluid accent that in no way sounded stilted or forced. The other characters were also voiced with emotion - the essence of each character shone through, whether it was Courtney's vulnerability, Josh's quiet nature, Stephanie's witchiness, or the cutesy loveable characters of Sergei and Em's twins. Every character was represented perfectly.

The storyline itself was everything a contemporary romance should be.

It didn't throw the romance element in my face. It didn't make Courtney a sappy female who falls for the one guy she can't have. 

Instead, it focused on showing the characters' many facets - making them real to the reader/listener. I was also thrilled to see that Courtney and Josh worked on their friendship way before they considered being together romantically. It's nice to see a logical progression, a steady climb to the romance, rather than a 'girl-sees-guy-instant-love' plotline that is far too commonly used in NA fiction nowadays.

The plot itself was also a surprise. You kind of expect any fictional sport-centred book to make its main protagonist the main champion in every aspect of their sport. Sort of like all your typical Disney movies and Hollywood storylines - you know the type! A girl/guy does a sport, fails once, has a training montage over several months, believes in themselves, and succeeds at the final hurdle.

No spoilers, but I will say that Crossing The Ice stays true to its authentic feel. It's doesn't give readers Hollywood-cheesiness, rather it gives them a sense of realness that is refreshing to experience. It deals with real-life issues that many stories gloss over: funding/finances, family struggles, long-distance relationships, parental expectations, personal expectations, and the highs and lows of a life in the spotlight. 

It was also really funny!

I love a book - and an author - with a sense of humour. And Crossing The Ice is sprinkled with witty remarks that are sure to bring a smile to your face. 

And if you're a fan of 'kissy time', you'll also be pleased to know that there are some very swoon-worthy kiss scenes in Crossing The Ice ;)

Enjoy your own immersive literary experience and be sure to grab your copy of Crossing The Ice on audiobook today! 

Take a sneak peek at the audiobook by listening to the clip below:

Tainted Energy by Lynn Vroma ~ Blog Tour Review

As a part of the Tainted Energy by Lynn Vroma Blog Tour run by YA Bound Book Tours I reviewed Tainted Energy, a YA paranormal romance novel.

To check out the rest of this blog tour go here for the official schedule.

I was provided with a review copy of the book via YA Bound Book Tours - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own (to find out more, please visit my disclaimer page). 

Book Details

Title: Tainted Energy

Author: Lynn Vroman 

Release date: 2014 

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Purchase today from:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble

My Review

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

'I struggled to flick on the lamp, only to see the bed act as though it were a breathing, living thing. From under the blankets, what felt like fingers began to stab at my back and calves. Fear paralysed me for a few seconds before I pushed off the bed, landing in a heap of threadbare blankets.

The mattress continued waving while I sat with my back against the wall. I shut my eyes.

It's not real!
It's not real!
It's not real!'

Synopsis: For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town’s throwaways isn’t exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can't keep his fists to himself doesn’t help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her.

When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.

Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime.

However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him. (x)

My thoughts on the book: 

Tainted Energy manages to give readers a realistic heroine.

It's nice to find a story where the 'reborn' character doesn't act like finding out about their past and their backstory is all a piece of cake. Where the main protagonist doesn't act like everything is owed to them - love, sacrifice, aid. 

Instead Lena, our protagonist, questions everything and acts like a normal person would upon finding out that they were banished to Earth for a life of suffering. 

I also found the humour added a lot to the story, too. Especially the bit where the stereotypical 'young love' storyline is subtly mocked:

"Huh, so you've met the boy." 

"Not exactly." 

"It's young love, nothing to get all bent out of shape over."

But the element of Tainted Energy that stood out the most, was the narrating/character voices, Lena's in particular. It wasn't faint, or inserted here and there - every chapter from Lena's POV was filled with a deep sense of Lena's character. 

'Pounding on the front door made me jump, my book falling to the scratched floorboards. Pacing for an hour didn't help calm my nerves, but reading Shakespeare did. Call me crazy. 

Wait, no, don't call me crazy.'

Overall, Tainted Energy is an enjoyable YA read that is sure to appeal to paranormal readers and lovers of a good romance!