Archive by Author | Meredith

Author Spotlight: The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall (Interview)

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Shelley Pearsall, author of The Seventh Most Important Thing (September 8th 2015, Knopf Books for Young Readers), here for an interview. First, here’s more about the book:

It was a bitterly cold day when Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie for the foreseeable future. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service . . . working for him.

Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .

Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton.

Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo

And now here’s the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations! Your novel, The Seventh Most Important Thing, will be out in the world soon! Have the last few months been crazy with last-minute prep, or is this the “calm before the storm” for you?
Answer: It is always a long wait for a new book to be published. To keep from going completely crazy, I usually start on another book project, so I’m about a hundred pages into writing a new novel right now.

Question: The Seventh Most Important Thing deals with the loss of a parent and what it means for those left behind, especially for a young child. It also deals with the idea that good things can come from dark, sad situations. What inspired you to write about these things? What do you hope your readers will take away from it?
Answer: The inspiration for this novel came from several different places—a work of art that I saw back in college, a middle school student I met at a writing workshop who was having a hard time dealing with grief, and some of my own experiences with loss. I hope readers take away the importance of looking beneath the surface—don’t judge someone before you know his or her story, in other words. I also hope they see the power of art to help us understand and express our feelings.

Question: Can you explain the significance of the title and cover (which I love!) without spoilers? Maybe just a hint?
Answer: Arthur Owens, the main character in the story, must collect seven “important things” to fulfill his sentence for committing a crime, so the title was inspired by that idea. The jacket illustrates at least two of those seven things…but that’s all I can tell you!

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a WIP?
Answer: Flip-flops, the word “dude,” TV dinners, baseball schedules for the Washington Senators (a 60’s expansion team in D.C.), candy bar varieties…

Question: Any fun plans for release day? What do you think you’ll do the first time you see your book in stores?
Answer: I always go out for a dinner with my family on the release day to celebrate. A week later, I have a bigger party, called a “launch party,” at a local library to celebrate with readers and friends—there is usually a cake, free giveaways, and a short talk (by me). Mostly, the party is a great way to thank everyone involved in the book journey. Seeing my book in stores is always a little scary—kind of like seeing someone you know, when you aren’t expecting it, and suddenly you can’t think of what to say or do!

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About the Author:

A former teacher and museum historian, SHELLEY PEARSALL is now a full-time writer. Her first novel, Trouble Don’t Last, won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Website
Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Spotlight Post: First In Line with Random House (Giveaway)

Sep5

Hey everyone! Today, I want to introduce you to an epic, fun program called First In Line, created by Random House for Young Adult book lovers!

You were reading The Hunger Games before VOLUNTEERING AS TRIBUTE. You were FEELING THE FEELS from The Fault in Our Stars before it was TFIOS. Okay? Okay. You KNEW YOUR FACTION while other people were being sorted into their houses.

First In Line offers YA readers exclusive advance access to bestselling and debut authors and behind-the-book content!

We invite you to join now at www.firstinlinereaders.com! Don’t forget to share your First In Line moments with hashtag #FIRSTINLINE.

Tell your friends, teens, and colleagues to secure THEIR place in line at www.firstinlinereaders.com.

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And now for the awesome giveaway! Thanks to Random House, we have one First in Line tote bag (US Only) to give away! To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

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Blog Tour: A Whole New World by Liz Braswell (Spotlight + Giveaway)

Sep2

Hey everyone! Today I’ve got a spotlight post for A Whole New World by Liz Braswell to share with you for the blog tour! I enjoyed this book and I’m very excited to share it with you!

What if Aladdin had never found the lamp? This first book in the A Twisted Tale line will explore a dark and daring version of Disney’s Aladdin.

When Jafar steals the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

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And now for the giveaway! 5 winners will receive a finished copy of A WHOLE NEW WORLD. US Only. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

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About the Author:

After the sort of introverted childhood you would expect from a writer, Liz earned a degree in Egyptology at Brown University and then promptly spent the next ten years producing video games. Finally she caved into fate and wrote Snow and Rx under the name Tracy Lynn, followed by The Nine Lives of Chloe King series under her real name, because by then the assassins hunting her were all dead. She lives in Brooklyn with a husband, two children, a cat, a part-time dog, three fish and five coffee trees she insists will start producing beans any day.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:
8/24/2015 – Adventures of a Book Junkie – Interview
8/25/2015 – Book Briefs – Review
8/26/2015 – Fiktshun – Guest Post
8/27/2015 – Addicted Readers – Review
8/28/2015 – Me, My Shelf and I – Interview

Week Two:
8/31/2015 – Bumbles and Fairy-Tales – Review
9/1/2015 – Nerdophiles – Guest Post
9/2/2015 – Pandora’s Books – Spotlight
9/3/2015 – Novel Novice – Interview
9/4/2015 – A Backwards Story – Review

Release Day Blitz: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Sep1

I am so excited that QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Sarah J. Maas, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the first 3 books in the series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Title: QUEEN OF SHADOWS
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pub. Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 656
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas’s New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Read Chapters 1-5 of QUEEN OF SHADOWS HERE!

About the Author:

Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series – Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade – as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.

A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.

Website | Twitter | Facebook
Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram| Goodreads

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive the first 3 books (in paperback) in the THRONE OF GLASS Series. US Only.
Ends on September 11th at Midnight EST!

Rafflecopter Code:

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Paperback Release Day Launch: Beyond Fate by Heather Lyons (Cover Reveal + Excerpt + Giveaway)

Aug27

Hey everyone! I’m so, so excited to be taking part in the paperback release day launch of Heather Lyons’ Beyond Fate, a novella told from Jonah’s POV! I absolutely adore Heather and all of her books, but I’m a HUGE fan of this series especially! You can check out my review for each book below:

A Matter of Fate (Fate #1)
Beyond Fate (Fate #1.5, Novella)
A Matter of Heart (Fate #2)
A Matter of Truth (Fate #3)
A Matter of Forever (Fate #4)

And now, without further adieu, the Release Day Launch, cover reveal and excerpt! Plus, don’t forget to enter the giveaway, at the very end of this post! Enjoy!

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We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for the paperback edition of Heather Lyons’ BEYOND FATE! BEYOND FATE is a Fate Series novella and is written in Jonah’s point of view. It is his side of the story from A MATTER OF FATE. Grab your copy of this amazing novella today!

And that’s not all! BEYOND FATE has gotten a cover makeover! This amazing new cover was created by Carly Stevens!

So, are you ready to see the cover??

Are you sure?

It’s gorgeous!

Okay, ready?

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…

Here it is!

Isn’t it gorgeous?!?!? And now here’s the official synopsis for Beyond Fate!

BEYOND FATE (Fate Series #1.5) Synopsis:

There are always two sides to every story . . .

His whole life, Jonah Whitecomb has strove to meet everyone’s expectations of him: the perfect student, dutiful son, loyal twin, accomplished surfer, and powerful Magical. But behind his carefully composed façade hides the truth of how his family has fallen apart, leaving Jonah more often than not feeling adrift. To complicate matters, he fell in love long ago with a girl in his dreams, one he’s never told anyone about, including his twin brother.

Just when life seems its bleakest, Jonah discovers that Chloe is real. Wanting to finally reach out and grab happiness for himself, he embarks on a journey to track down the girl of his dreams, only to find that happy endings aren’t always guaranteed, the best laid out plans can go horribly awry, and sometimes, you have to simply let yourself go along for the ride.

* Beyond Fate is Jonah’s point-of-view of the events of A Matter of Fate, and is a companion novella for the YA/NA crossover urban fantasy/romance Fate series.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

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Now, we’ve got an epic Release Day Excerpt to share with you! Enjoy!

I remember Joey telling me once that, of all the big waves he’s ever ridden in his life, the one that got his blood pumping most was Mavericks. “It’s sick,” he said as we waxed our boards at one of his favorite breaks near his house in Australia. “Cold as all hell. Gotta be careful of the Boneyard nearby. There’s a reason they call it that, you know. The reef below loves nothing more than to welcome you to stay forever. But,” his easy grin slid out, “when conditions are right, and you can take off in the hollow and traverse the long wall before finishing in white water, your life flashes before your eyes. You’re flying through hell like a slingshot, only to come out in paradise.”

Obviously, it made me want to surf Mavericks so bad I could taste it.

When Kel and I first got to California, we’d wanted to come here together. Ride these waves in Joey’s honor. But that never happened.

He’s with Chloe right now, after yet another attack during which she walled both him and me inside a building and took off toward San Francisco in an effort to lead what we now know as Elders away. I know why she did it. I felt it the moment her resolutions within hardened—she believed she was protecting the people she loved. In a weird way, I was incredibly proud of her for it, even as I tore my hair out, trying to get the hell out of the tomb she sealed us in so I could get out there and protect her myself. Karl and I searched for her for hours . . .

And then she decided to gut me once more by calling my brother to go and get her.

So here I am, in the back of a boat, tugging the hood of my wetsuit over my head in the pursuit of some kind of nirvana high amidst the hell I’ve found myself in lately. Raul Mesaverde’s questioning my sanity for wanting to go out into the monster waves we’re heading toward, but I do my best to ignore my temporarily assigned Guard. We’re accompanied by one of Joey’s Wave colleagues, who’s come along upon Astrid’s insistence. I tried to assure her I knew what I was doing, but considering she pretty much had an anxiety attack after researching Mavericks and learning people have died here, I figured this was the lesser of two evils.

“You’re loco,” Raul yells at me over the boat’s engine.

I laugh. This? Coming from a Cyclone? Especially one who agreed to chauffeur Chloe on her crazy attempt to lure the Elders away?

The Wave we’re with turns away from the wheel and smiles. He’s crazy, too—because he’s got that same look in his eyes that Joey always had. Like the ocean is his temple. “Nah, bra,” he tells Raul. “Maverick’s all about enlightenment.”

Raul white knuckles the side of the boat. I completely tune him out and let myself slide into that place Joey taught me about so long ago.

“When you let yourself go,” he’d told me as we’d sat out beyond the breaks, “when you put yourself out there and really just let yourself go, knowing any second you could be swallowed whole by the ocean, you’ll realize that all of that shit you worry so much about—girls, school, parents, grades, work, responsibilities—they’re meaningless. Because it’s just you and the waves. They don’t give a rat’s ass what kind of day you’re having. They don’t care if you’ve just bagged the hottest girl in the worlds or if your dad thinks you’ve failed him. They’re gonna rise up and fall no matter what. Let yourself go along that ride, J. There’s worry enough for later.”

This is what I’m thinking as I’m waiting for my set to come.

When it does, I paddle hard. Anticipation and fear is just as strong on my tongue as the salt water surrounding me. I let my worries go.
This one’s for you, Joey.

I gladly fling myself into oblivion.

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And don’t miss the first books in the Fate Series

A MATTER OF FATE (Fate Series #1)

BEYOND FATE (Fate Series #1.5)

A MATTER OF HEART (Fate Series #2)

A MATTER OF TRUTH (Fate Series #3)

A MATTER OF FOREVER (Fate Series #4)

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

Website | Author Goodreads
BEYOND FATE Goodreads
Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

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M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: The Pretty Dark Nothing Series by Heather L. Reid (Giveaway)

Aug27

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

The Pretty Dark Nothing series by Heather L. Reid!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Pretty-Dark-Nothing-cover

It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.

What Readers are Saying:

“This is a surprisingly very psychologically draining book and reminded me of the first season American Horror Story and Stephen King’s Carrie.” – Syahira – Requiem for More Books

“The characters, the world building, the plot… I really think the author had great control over her craft.” – Alyssa – Eater of Books

“This is a thrilling story that will keep you up at night!” – Katie – Curse of the Bibliophile

Pretty-Dark-Sacrifice-Cover

It’s been five weeks, two days, and eight hours since the demons forced Quinn to throw herself into the raging river, since Aaron sacrificed himself to save her, since his body disappeared without a trace.

Everyone wants Quinn to move on, but she can’t, not after a spirit appears to her at Aaron’s memorial, convincing her he’s still alive.

When a mysterious box materializes on the very spot Aaron disappeared, Quinn finds she’s at the center of an ancient prophesy of betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that takes her to the depths of the underworld to face Lilith—Adam’s first wife.

If Quinn can stop Lilith from unleashing the demon horde Eve, trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago, she will save the human realm and free Aaron from an eternity in torment.

All it will cost is her blood.

What Readers are Saying:

“A love story that lasts for eternity.” – Sherry, Fundinmental

“This book was engrossing and engaging, and functioned well as a sequel novel.” – Alyssa – Eater of Books

“…I definitely recommend giving this series a try if you’re looking for a refreshing take on demons or like paranormal romance.” – Analee – Book Snacks

about-the-author

Heather

Heather L. Reid is both American and British and has called six different cities in three different countries, home. Her strong sense of wanderlust and craving for a new adventure mean you might find her wandering the moors of her beloved Scotland, exploring haunted castles, or hiking through a magical forest in search of fairies and sprites. When she’s not venturing into the unknown in her real life, she loves getting lost in the worlds of video games or curling up by the fire with good story. For now, this native Texan is back in the Lone Star State, settling down with her Scottish husband and writing new tales of fantasy and horror.

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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Review: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender (Blog Tour + Giveaway)

Aug25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender
Published by Point on August 25, 2015
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Asylum meets Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in this riveting tale of ghosts, secrets, and family, from master of suspense Katie Alender.

Delia's new house isn't just a house. It used to be an insane asylum, a place to lock up "troubled" young women long ago. And a restless, wicked spirit is still at play--and it doesn't want defiant girls like Delia to go anywhere.

So the house kills her.

Now Delia is a ghost, trapped in her creepy home forever. As she meets the other ghost girls who haunt the narrow hallways, as well as the handsome ghost boy on the grounds, she learns shocking truths about the house's history. Delia also realizes that her alive and grieving sister might be the house's next target. Can Delia unlock the mystery of the old asylum, save her sister, and free herself?

Kirkus (starred review): "This superior ghost story keeps the creep factor high… A really scary and original ghost story, well told. Read it with the lights on."

School Library Journal: "Alender has created a chilling tale of forgotten tragedies and family secrets. A great choice for fans of horror or suspense novels."

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender! I’m very excited to be a part of this blog tour! I absolutely loved this book and I hope you enjoy my review!

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As a lover of all things horror, I’m always keeping an eye out for creepy YA novels. Sadly, most of them don’t live up to my expectations. But The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall was full of epicness and creepiness! From the great writing to the awesome characters and the suspenseful plot, this book is definitely up there on my favorites list!

Before I get into the heart of this review, a little side note: This book sucked me in so much, I had trouble keeping detailed notes because I just read and read and read and didn’t want to stop reading long enough to jot down notes. So if some of this is really vague, it’s because I’m avoiding spoilers and also because I don’t have detailed notes to refer to, hehe :)

Delia was an intriguing character. She starts off a bit stubborn and – I want to say self-absorbed, only because I can’t think of a better word, but that’s not quite right. She loved her family, but they didn’t always get along. She was in complete denial when she first became a member of the undead population of Hysteria Hall and her attitude was very self-pitying – but who can blame her, right? Her character growth, as she began to accept her death and embrace her path in (the after)life, was great.

I didn’t like nor dislike Janie in the beginning. She was the stereotypical, annoying kid sister who did whatever she could to get Delia in trouble. But as the book progressed, the changes in her character were unbelievable, fueled mostly by the guilt she felt over Delia’s death. My heart was in my throat at the end of the book, awaiting her fate. I’m not even going to talk about Delia and Janie’s parents because there would be too many spoilers involved and I’d get ragey about sooooo many things!

I really liked Florence in the beginning. She reminded me of Daisy from Dead Like Me, but by the end… Wow. Did NOT see that coming! I never really trusted Eliza or Theo – I was always waiting for something to happen or for them to backstab Delia. I was pleasantly surprised with the way their stories ended, though. As for Maria, I had mixed feelings about her, but I really liked how her story ended, as well – maybe more than anyone else’s. I didn’t like nor dislike Penitence, though I had my suspicions about her from fairly early on. Her story was very intriguing, though!

As someone who loves being scared, this book could have been a touch creepier. However, it absolutely had its moments where I was like, “Okay, I need to put this book down or I’m not going to be sleeping tonight.” It reminded me of a less creepy teen version of House on Haunted Hill (the remake). There was also a lot of foreshadowing, which added to the creepiness. The ending wrapped up a little neater than I expected – almost like a Horror Movie Happily Ever After. I expected more of a creepy, twisty ending. But maybe that’s Alender’s signature move – I haven’t read anything else by her yet to know, but I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books now!

Overall, though I could have done with a little more creep factor, this book was epic. Then again, I’m not one to scare easily, so this book certainly has the potential to scare the crap out of people who DO scare easily. The Creepy Level didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book, though. Alender is an amazing writer with a knack for suspense and horror. If you’re looking for a twisty ghost story, I highly recommend this book!

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And now for the giveaway! 3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE DEAD GIRLS OF HYSTERIA HALL. US Only. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

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About the Author:

Katie Alender is the author of The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall, Famous Last Words, Marie Antoinette: Serial Killer, and the Bad Girls Don’t Die series. She is a graduate of the Florida State University Film School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. When she’s not writing novels, she can usually be found quilting, reading, eating delicious high-calorie foods, and hanging out with her friends (on very special occasions, she manages to do all of those things at once).

Website | Twitter | Facebook
Instagram | Tumblr | Wattpad

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Tour Schedule

Week One:
8/17/2015 – The Cover Contessa – Interview
8/18/2015 – Twisted Book Junkie – Review
8/19/2015 – Fiktshun – Guest Post
8/20/2015 – BITTERSWEET ENCHANTMENT – Review
8/21/2015 – Mundie Moms – Guest Post

Week Two:
8/24/2015 – The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Interview
8/25/2015 – Pandora’s Books – Review
8/26/2015 – bookaholics anonymous – Interview
8/27/2015 – A Dream Within A Dream – Review
8/28/2015 – Such a Novel Idea – Guest Post

Blog Tour: Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson (Interview & Giveaway)

Aug24

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson! I’m very excited to be a part of this blog tour! Today, I have an awesome interview with Elizabeth to share with you! First, here’s more about the book:

About the Book
Title: DEAD UPON A TIME
Author: Elizabeth Paulson
Pub. Date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 224
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

It’s a fairy-tale nightmare . . .

One girl is kept in a room where every day the only food she’s given is a poisoned apple. Another is kept in a room covered in needles — and if she pricks her finger, she’ll die. Then there are the brother and sister kept in a cell that keeps getting hotter and hotter. . .

A sinister kidnapper is on the loose in Kate’s world. She’s not involved until one day she heads to her grandmother’s house in the woods — and finds her grandmother has also been taken. Already an outcast, Kate can’t get any help from the villagers who hate her. Only Jack, another outsider, will listen to what’s happened.

Then a princess is taken, and suddenly the king is paying attention — even though the girl’s stepmother would rather he didn’t. It’s up to Kate and Jack to track down the victims before an ever after arrives that’s far from happy.

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

And now here’s the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations! Dead Upon a Time will be out in the world very soon! How does it feel?
Answer: It’s a wonderful, nervous feeling to anticipate a book’s release. It’s a bit like that last hour before a first date.

Question: Dead Upon a Time sounds AMAZING! What inspired the plot?
Answer: I really wanted to create an adventure story focused on a brave girl surprising herself. The world of fairy tales seemed to provide an ideal backdrop for that. And I hoped to explore the idea of rescuing. I won’t give anything away, but in this book, lots of different people rescue each other. I think that happens in real life too.

Question: Why do you think we’re fascinated with fairy tales? And with dark fairy tale retellings?
Answer: That’s a really interesting question. As I grew up, the first stories I remember captivating me were fairytales and biblical tales. (I was raised a Catholic and my mom taught Sunday school in our home.) Both those worlds contain violence, love, vengeance, and miracles. I think we teach children about morality through both of those traditions. As we learn more about the world and the nuances of morality, we keep going back to those first lessons and reexamining them. It’s a more challenging different exercise to revisit biblical stories; they are the foundation of some people’s faith. But fairy tales allow more room for reimagining.

Question: What’s your favorite fairy tale? Which fairy tale do you hope to one day write a retelling of?
Answer: I love the story of Rapunzel which is, at its heart, a tale about isolation—so much a writer could do with that!

When I was little, my favorite fairy tale was the story of Snow White and Rose Red. Snow White and Rose Red are sisters who are devoted to each other. They befriend a bear and find themselves helping a particularly ungrateful dwarf. In the end, the spell breaks and the bear becomes a prince who marries Snow White. And of course the prince has a brother for Rose Red. The part of me that loves this story is the same one that roots for Pippa Middleton to marry Prince Harry.

Question: The title and cover for this book are epic! Who came up with them? Do you feel they fully represent the story?
Answer: My editor, David Levithan, and I debated a few different titles for the novel, but kept coming back to this one. Justin Metz created the jacket art and Nina Goffi designed the jacket. I love how arresting the images are. The apple references the action in the book, but just as a snapshot and I really appreciate that the cover offers this spooky glimpse into the story.

Question: What scene do you most regret having to cut?
Answer: I cut down the scene at Wilhelm’s castle for the sake of pacing and that was necessary. However, I lost some of the antagonism between Jack and the king. I loved that conflict because it showcased Kate’s gift of diplomacy. Ultimately, though, the scene felt like it was getting in the way of Kate’s story.

Question: On the flip side, what was your favorite scene that got added during edits?
Answer: After writing the book’s conclusion, I added Kate’s visions of the victims’ experiences. Those were so much fun to write and they helped hint at Kate’s emerging powers.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Currently it’s a tie between the court documents related to a famous murder in a nearby town and techniques for removing copper from electronics.

Question: I know Dead Upon a Time hasn’t released yet, but I still have to ask: working on anything new?
Answer: I am! I’m actually moving back and forth between two projects right now—a sort of non-traditional ghost story and another mystery that has more comedic elements. I’m sorry to be so vague—I get superstitious about talking about books before writing them. But I’d love to write a sequel or prequel to Dead Upon a Time. I can be specific about that!

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And now for the giveaway! 3 winners will receive a finished copy of DEAD UPON A TIME. US Only. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Elizabeth Paulson:
Elizabeth Paulson lives on the edge of the woods somewhere in America.

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Tour Schedule:
Week One:
8/17/2015 – Bookhounds ya – Interview
8/18/2015 – a GREAT read – Review
8/19/2015 – Chapter by Chapter – Guest Post
8/20/2015 – Book Briefs – Review
8/21/2015 – Two Chicks on Books – Guest Post

Week Two:
8/24/2015 – Pandora’s Books – Interview
8/25/2015 – Books à la Mode – Review
8/26/2015 – A Backwards Story – Interview
8/27/2015 – The Best Books Ever – Review
8/28/2015 – Fiktshun – Guest Post

Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Aug10

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on April 28th 2015
Pages: 304
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

It took me two weeks to read this book and I’m honestly not sure why – I actually really enjoyed it! There were some frustrating moments, but there were also epic and heartbreaking moments, plus some crazy foreshadowing. The ending was a little predictable, but it hit me right in the feels.

Almost right away (within the first 5-7 pages), I knew I liked Ella more than Maddy and we hadn’t even really met Maddy yet and we barely knew Ella. But Ella talked about her love of B-rated horror movies, her dog and comfy jeans – all of which I can relate to! She went through a horrifying, traumatizing experience and made some major mistakes along the way, but I definitely think she learned her lesson and grew from it.

Again, we didn’t really get to meet Maddy – only through Ella’s eyes and only briefly before Ella “became” Maddy. So it’s hard to really know how I felt about Maddy. But from what we learned, it seemed like she was a good person who made bad mistakes that she regretted. She could have been a better sister and a better friend and she knew that. Given the chance to do it over, I think Maddy would have done the right thing the second time around. Or, at the very least, I think she would have apologized to all those she hurt.

I’m not sure how I feel about Alex. It seems like he did a lot of things out of true loyalty to Maddy, but it also felt like he worked really hard to get things back to normal because he didn’t want to rock the popularity boat. I think he wanted so badly for Maddy to be alive, he ignored some very obvious signs – signs that made it clear it was really Ella, not Maddy. But the more “Maddy” stopped acting like herself, the more he distanced himself from her and the more he drifted closer to Jenna – behavior that lost him most of the brownie points he earned during his “genuine” moments.

Speaking of, I couldn’t stand Jenna! She was mean and snobby and conniving, always looking down on others and actively seeking ways to make others feel bad about themselves. She even resorted to blackmail to get her way!

On the flip side, I adored Josh. I didn’t always like his attitude or the ultimatums he gave Ella – she was dealing with a LOT and, mourning or not, he could have been more supportive – but, overall, I really liked him and shipped him and Ella like crazy. They were just perfect for each other! And, of course, I loved the epilogue because of that!

I didn’t like nor dislike Kim, though she felt like an insubstantial character – like her only role was to make Josh unattainable when it was obvious that Ella and Josh were meant to be. She seemed nice, though, and she was kind to Ella when she was pretending to be Maddy. She also genuinely liked Josh, so I felt bit bad for her because it was clear that she’d never end up with him as long as Ella was around.

Another character I liked was Molly, though I would have liked to get to know her more. We mostly learned about her only in relation to Maddy and Jenna and everything that happened. Finally, I’m baffled by Maddy and Ella’s parents and their behavior – I thought parents of twins were supposed to be able to tell their kids apart? I think, deep down, they had a feeling, but with Ella doing her best to convince them otherwise and because they were in mourning, they just weren’t thinking/seeing things clearly and they just ignored that little voice that told them something wasn’t right.

Like I mentioned earlier, this book was just a bit predictable, for many reasons: There was major foreshadowing in the beginning of the book regarding the accident and how it would happen and why. There were a lot of hints dropped regarding the Molly thing. And the ending was pretty obvious, as well. Nothing ever really surprised or shocked me. But the predictability never took away from my overall enjoyment of the book or the “Aha!” moments when I got to those “reveals.”

Overall, this was a fun, though heavy and heartbreaking, book. I liked the characters and I liked seeing Ella’s growth and the way she learned from her mistakes. There was definitely a major Lying Game vibe to this book, so if you’re a fan of that series (I totally am!!!), you’ll most likely enjoy The Secrets We Keep. I really liked the author’s writing, character building and pacing and I’m definitely interested in reading some of her other books now! (I’ve heard amazing things about Creed and Sweet Madness looks EPIC!!!)

Review: The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

Aug8

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on July 7th 2015
Pages: 470
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

I loved The Kiss of Deception so much – it was one of my favorite books of 2014 – so I was really nervous to start The Heart of Betrayal, worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations or would have Second Book Syndrome. It picks up right where The Kiss of Deception ended, plunging the reader right back into this amazing world. Despite the slow pacing in the middle of the book, this was an overall enjoyable read.

Lia is filled with sass and fire. Despite everything that happened to her, she remained strong and fierce. She’s determined to play the game and deceive the Komizar, ensuring Rafe’s safety and their freedom in the process. She played the game so well, I almost started to ship her and the Komizar! Though she falls apart a few time and she has some unlikable moments, she has a lot of growth in this book. And that evil cliffhanger…!!!! I NEED book three, like, now!

When I reviewed The Kiss of Deception, it was hard to talk about Rafe and Kaden, since their identities were a mystery (as far as which was the prince and which was the assassin). If you read that review, though, you know that this back-and-forth guessing game left me confused and frustrated and actually distracted me from the overall story. Going into The Heart of Betrayal, I had a lot of trouble remembering which guy I liked from book one and why because of the left-over confusion. So, because I couldn’t remember anything about my feelings for them from book one, I had to rely solely on how I felt about Kaden and Rafe based on their behavior in The Heart of Betrayal.

I’m pretty sure I liked Rafe more and shipped him with Lia in The Kiss of Deception, but to be honest, his chapters in The Heart of Betrayal bored me. And at times, I really shipped Lia with Kaden more. But they both had their moments of bad behavior and I almost got to a point where I didn’t ship Lia with EITHER of them. By the end of the book, I think I was back on Team Rafe – and I say “think” because I’m still not sure how I feel about certain things.

I struggled with my feelings for the Komizar, as well. At times, I couldn’t stand him and at times, I really liked him. I kept waiting for him to open up to Lia and soften towards her. I guess, in hindsight, that may have been a bit predictable and I’m almost glad it didn’t happen. He was the villain and that’s how it should be. The ending was INSANE, though. I kind of expected what happened to happen, but it still came as a huge WHOA moment. But since we didn’t get “final confirmation” on what happened, it still feels very open ended and like anything could happen next. I have a LOT of theories…

Some of my favorite characters – as was the case in book one, as well – were Pauline and Gwyneth. They’re hilarious together and I really want to see more of them! I actually really liked Calantha, even when she was being evil and manipulative. There was something about her character that intrigued me. The revelation of who she is was pretty epic. I also really liked Aster and my heart broke for her at the end. Finally, I really liked Griz and Eben, though it took me a while to remember who they were from book one.

And that leads me to the parts that were confusing… I barely remembered anything about the “ancient” characters from book one, so whenever they came up, it slowed me down while I tried very hard to remember. I think a “Who’s Who from Book One” character guide would have been helpful. And maybe a short page or two on the “History of Morrighan, Venda and Dalbreck.” I couldn’t remember who Gaudrel was from “The Last Testaments of Gaudrel” and it took me a long time to remember the history of Morrighan and Venda.

As I’ve mentioned a few times, the ending was an EPIC INSANE CLIFFHANGER OF INSANELY EPIC PROPORTIONS. I can’t even wrap my head around it and I finished reading it like a week ago! The ending almost makes up for the slow pacing and confusion in the middle of the book. I’m very excited for the third book and can’t wait to get my hands on it to see what happens next!!!