Archive by Author | Meredith

Release Day Blitz: Beckon Me by Cindy Thomas

Hey everyone! I’m so, so, SO excited to help celebrate the Book Birthday of Beckon Me by Cindy Thomas! Cindy is an amazing, amazing person and a wonderful friend. I’m so excited for her and for this book, which looks AMAZING!

Everything nineteen-year-old Karina Mitchell knows about death changes the instant that she and her best friend, Rainey, are shot. For one, souls don’t die. They cross over. Only, Rainey’s soul hasn’t, and her ghost is hell bent on haunting Karina.

When Karina begins her sophomore year of college and moves into the apartment that she was supposed to share with Rainey, she learns a few shocking truths from her mysterious and gorgeous blue-eyed neighbor, Eli.

One: Karina has been chosen to become a Beckoner—an immortal conduit of the dead who helps safely guide souls to the other side.

Two: She’s the reason that Rainey’s soul can’t cross over—Rainey followed her back from death and missed her window to be at peace.

Three: Eli is hot. As in swoon-worthy, to-die-for, will-make-you-forget-yourself hot. And it turns out, Eli is a Beckoner, too.

Despite her attraction to Eli, the decision to become a Beckoner isn’t an easy one—it would mean giving up her own mortality … her own soul. But if she doesn’t, her best friend will be left to suffer an eternity at the hands of the evil Ceptors, dark creatures that feed on the souls left behind. After all, it’s her fault Rainey is haunting her.

Time is running out, and Karina needs to decide: Are love and loyalty worth sacrificing her soul?

Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

~*~*~*~*~

About the Author:

Cindy has dreamed of being an author since third grade when she won a writing contest for a story she wrote about her deceased great aunt. She hasn’t been able to ignore that dream since and chooses to spend most of her free time listening to the voices in her head and writing their stories.

Outside of her writing and working for Spencer Hill Press, Cindy is happily married and has three young boys. She lives in PA, but was born and raised in NC. Even though she’s lived in the northern half of the US for ten years, she still very much misses grits for breakfast and every now and then goes on a country music binge.

Website / Newsletter / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

M9B Friday Reveal: Cover for Ashes In The Sky by Jennifer M. Eaton (Giveaway)

Apr10

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover of

Ashes In The Sky (Fire in The Woods #2) by Jennifer M. Eaton

presented by Month9Books!

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

Ashes In The Sky

After inadvertently saving the world, eighteen-year-old Jessica Martinez is ready to put adventure behind her and settle back into the familiar routine of high school.

Though when she’s offered an opportunity to photograph the inside of an alien space ship, Jess jumps at the chance. After all, she’d be crazy to turn something like that down, right?

Spending time with David on the ship has definite advantages and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. But when Jess discovers a plot to sabotage David’s efforts to establish a new home for his people on another planet, neither David’s advanced tech nor Jess’s smarts will be able to save them.

ASHES IN THE SKY is an action-packed, romantic Sci Fi adventure that will leave readers screaming for more.

Title: Ashes In The Sky (Fire in The Woods #2)
Publication date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Author: Jennifer M. Eaton

Available for Pre-order:

About-the-Author

Jennifer M. Eaton

Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.

Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.

Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.

Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

FireInTheWoods.v6-Book1-Final

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
Title will be sent upon its release.

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Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Apr9

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: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 7, 2015
Pages: 320
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is the epitome of epic and adorable. Right from the opening line, I was hooked. Save for a handful of moments in the first half of the book when I felt a bit of a disconnect with the characters and the story, there was nothing about this book that I didn’t love. With real, relatable characters, an adorable coming-of-age/coming out story and Becky Albertalli’s gorgeous writing, this is a must-read for everyone!

Also, just so we’re clear, there’s no way this review can possibly do this book justice. It’s just one of those books that you have to read and see for yourself! But I’ll do my best to put the awesome into words :)

I loved Simon! He was adorably awkward and his internal monologues/one-liners were hilarious. Some of my favorite quotes in the book come from him. Albertalli did an incredible job capturing Simon’s voice and personality. I felt like I was right there with Simon, living and experiencing everything he did. He would bring up middle school and I’d instantly be back in middle school, remembering all the awkwardness. His fears and insecurities were spot on.

Martin was … Well, I don’t really know how to describe Martin because I’m still trying to figure him out myself. He had no problem with Simon, he just saw an opportunity and went for it. I hated him for the things he did to Simon and the way he treated him. But as the story went on, I also started to feel for him a little bit. Not as much as I did for Simon. But Martin showed he had an okay side at times and I like what he did in the end.

I loved Simon’s group of friends: Nick, Abby and Leah – Nick and Abby especially, though. Even though Abby was a new friend in his life, she was an incredible friend and I loved their dynamic. My heart broke for them near the end, but all ended up being well, thank goodness. Nick was just really cool and I loved the way he stood by Simon. As for Leah… I loved her in the beginning and I understand why she was so hurt in the middle/end, but… I hated her attitude and I felt so bad for Simon. It really changed my opinion about Leah. I get it, I do.. But she just annoyed me.

I loved that Simon had an awesome, supportive family. I loved that Simon’s parents were THERE. Unlike so may YA books where you never see the parents and wonder if the main character even has any, Simon’s parents were there for him and they set boundaries and rules and punished him when he did something wrong. But they were also fair. Simon got along with Nora and Alice, his sisters, for the most part. They didn’t always get along 100% and they sometimes had small fights, but nothing crazy or explosive. I’m so tired of YA novels where the siblings despise each other and are mean to each other and where the parents are practically invisible. It’s just not realistic and it was so refreshing to see something more realistic and relatable.

Also, another notable “character” that deserves a shout-out is Bieber the Dog! As a dog lover, I really just wanted to cuddle with Bieber! And I never thought I’d say “cuddle” and “Bieber” in the same sentence, but there ya go! I also liked how Bieber was always involved. Like, some authors mention the family has a pet and then the pet is never around. When you own an animal and it bonds with you or someone in your family, it’s ALWAYS around and ALWAYS wants attention. So I loved that Albertalli never forgot Bieber and he was interactive in the scenes at Simon’s house.

Simon and Blue’s emails were the actual best thing ever. They were my favorite part of the book and so adorable and sweet and real. Honestly, the whole book could have been made up of their emails and I wouldn’t have minded. I wish we’d had MORE emails. I grinned like an idiot for most of the email chapters. And a few times, they made my heart break. But they were the absolute best part of everything and I adored them. I especially liked the autocorrect fail Simon experienced near the beginning! Bahahaha!!!

When it came to Blue’s identity, I had three main suspects in my mind. One would have ticked me off, one wasn’t completely practical and one seemed really possible, if not a bit far-fetched. Roughly half-way through the book, I formed a very solid theory. Once in awhile, something would happen and my theory would shift among the main three suspects, but I mostly stuck to the belief that my original theory was correct. And, you know what? It was! And when we finally discovered who Blue was? I grinned like an idiot and pumped my fist and swooned! Because it was absolutely perfect and epic and I loved it and I could keep going on and on, so I’ll stop now… ^_^

My only (half-joking) complaint is that I would have LOVED more Simon & Blue (post-identity reveal) together time! They were adorable together and I wanted more of them!!! So.. Hey, Becky? Sequel, please?!?!? Or.. belated epilogue? Or deleted scenes? SOMETHING?!?!? *Puppy eyes*

So yeah… If you couldn’t tell from my gushy, fangirly, nonsensical review, I adored pretty much everything about this amazing, adorable, epic book. We need more diverse books and we need more books like this one. You just really need to read it cause my review didn’t do it justice. I recommend it to everyone. I will shove it into people’s hands if I have to. It’s a MUST read!!! I seriously can’t wait to read Albertalli’s next book! And every book she ever rights, period.

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh and Lifer by Beck Nicholas (Giveaway)

Apr9

Hello and 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:

Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh
and
Lifer by Beck Nicholas

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

Cover-v2

When she least expects it, sixteen-year old Holly Burton’s unremarkable life is shaken to the core. A vision of the mother Holly never knew leaves her questioning everything she believes.

Eager for answers, Holly enrolls at a boarding school for highly gifted students in Wolfebane, New Hampshire. But things will get worse before they get better, as Holly accidentally transports to a parallel existence where she’s confronted by a dark and ancient evil.

With the help of Joss, a sexy alpha warrior sworn to protect her, and her new BFF, the equally swoon-worthy Quinn, Holly faces her fears and an unlikely adversary in a showdown that is worse than anything she could’ve possibly imagined …

Available for Purchase:

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“Charmed and drawn in by Holly’s spunk and snark, Scion of the Sun will leave you spinning and falling for Joss right along with Holly. Marsh’s unique story is packed with action, mystery, romance and suspense. This is not to be missed!” – Jennifer L. Armentrout, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

” It’s a unique novel in YA literature, and I hope it won’t be under-appreciated! An excellent start to a new mythology-based series, this is!” – Alyssa – Eater of Books

“This was a unique tale about a heroine who is not perfect by any means, but does her best despite her failings.” –Grace – Grace Books of Love

about-the-author

Nicola Marsh

Nicola currently writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Romance and Riva/Presents series, Entangled Publishing, Month9Books, Harlequin Teen and Crimson Romance, has published 39 books and sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. She’s a Bookscan, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Waldenbooks bestseller, has finalled in several awards including the prestigious HOLT (Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent), Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards. Nicola loves the hip, vibrant, cosmopolitan vibe of her home city, Melbourne, where she’s set the bulk of her novels, highlighting fabulous cultural and food havens like Acland Street (St. Kilda), Brunswick Street (Fitzroy) and Lygon Street (Carlton). When she’s not writing she’s busy raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, cheering on her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Lifer-Cover

Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents’ crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing. But sometimes the past is better left buried.

As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to. Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

Available for Purchase:

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“There are some books that are just smooth, you know? Books where the characters are consistent but still capable of surprising you, the world building is solid and doesn’t raise questions, the plot never drags, the writing flows seamlessly. Books that you don’t want to reach the end of, because it feels so right to read them. Lifer is one of those books.” – Angela – Angela`s Library

“Lifer was a very interesting book that managed to keep me turning the pages and left me with questions that I needed to know the answer to throughout this book.” – Bri – Books and Ashes

“I have to say I was immediately captured by the author’s writing style. She has a beautiful way with words and they flowed so wonderfully well. Descriptions were clear but not cluttered. Characters were well flushed out, plots were crazy twisted and cleverly done. Settings…well I thought I was there in the thick of it all.” – J. Keller Ford – Author

about-the-author

Beck-Nicholas-head-shot-248x300

I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

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Cover Reveal: Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Apr8

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for EVERY LAST BREATH, the hotly anticipated conclusion to the Dark Elements trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout!! EVERY LAST BREATH is a Young Adult Paranormal being published by Harlequin Teen and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements Series. It is being released on July 28^th, 2015. Pre-order EVERY LAST BREATH and then be sure to read the first books in this amazing series before its release!

So, are you ready to see the cover??

Are you sure?

It’s gorgeous!

Okay, ready?

…
…
..
…
…

Here we go!

Isn’t it amazing?!?!? And now here’s more information about Every Last Breath!

EVERY LAST BREATH Synopsis:

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | BAM

~*~*~*~*~

“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!”

—New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.”

–#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

And we have a surprise for you! The first books in the series have been given a new look too!!

Don’t miss the previous titles in The Dark Elements Series-now with new covers! Readers interested in downloading the new cover jackets for their previously purchased Dark Elements Series titles, can download them HERE!

For best results when downloading the new cover jackets:

Print on 8.5×14″ (Legal paper)

Use landscape or horizontal setting = 8.5″ tall x 14″ wide

Print at 100% scale or “actual size”

Print with the image centered on page

Fold and trim to fit

WHITE HOT KISS synopsis:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BAM | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Walmart

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | BAM

~*~*~*~*~

“Constantly entertaining…the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance.”

—Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss

And the Prequel Novella, BITTER SWEET LOVE…

BITTER SWEET LOVE Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | BAM | Kobo

~*~*~*~*~

“With her signature flare for combining humor, romance and action, Armentrout weaves a fast-paced read that will have readers’ hearts racing in more ways than one. Like Armentrout’s previous heroines, Jasmine is fun and full of attitude, while Dez is as snarky as he is sexy. This is a must read for new and old fans alike!” –RT Book Reviews

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | EVERY LAST BREATH Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads | WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads | BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads

Author Spotlight: Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash (Interview + Giveaway)

Apr8

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to have Jennifer Banash, author of Silent Alarm (Putnam Juvenile, March 10, 2015) here for an interview today! First, here’s more information about Silent Alarm:

Alys’s whole world was comprised of the history project that was due, her upcoming violin audition, being held tightly in the arms of her boyfriend, Ben, and laughing with her best friend, Delilah. At least it was—until she found herself on the wrong end of a shotgun in the school library. Her suburban high school had become one of those places you hear about on the news—a place where some disaffected youth decided to end it all and take as many of his teachers and classmates with him as he could. Except, in this story, that youth was Alys’s own brother, Luke. He killed fifteen others and himself, but spared her—though she’ll never know why.

Alys’s downward spiral begins instantly, and there seems to be no bottom. A heartbreaking and beautifully told story.

Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Book Depository | IndieBound

And now here’s the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations on the release of Silent Alarm! How does it feel, having it out in the world?
Answer: Unbelievable. The reception so far has been amazing. I’ve heard from more readers with this book so far than with any other novel I’ve written, so it seems to be striking a chord. And that’s a great feeling. You work on a novel in a vacuum for sometimes years at a time, so you lose all perspective. I’m so thrilled to know that it’s affecting people so deeply.

Question: Describe your book in your own words. As a challenge, see if you can describe it in ten words or less!
Answer: Intense, heartbreaking, gritty, powerful, and ultimately hopeful.

Question: What made you write a book about a school shooting? What do you hope your readers will take away from it?
Answer: I first got inspired to write Silent Alarm after reading an article about the 2012 shooting in Chardon, Ohio. The article mentioned that the shooter had a sister who was only a year younger than him. They didn’t actually go to the same school, but the wheels began to turn in my brain, and I wondered, what if?

Question: With school shootings happening so often in the country today, why do you think teens need books like Silent Alarm?
Answer: Well, precisely for that reason! If school shootings didn’t occur with such stunning regularity, there might be no need for my book at all. But the fact is that not only do school shootings happen, they are becoming increasingly more frequent.

Question: In Silent Alarm, the story is told by Alys, the sister of the shooter. Why was it important to you that the story be told in this narrative? How would the book be different if the main character wasn’t related to the shooter?
Answer: I think it’s important that Alys narrate the book because it offers the reader a perspective they might not have access to otherwise. Everyone wants to write about the shooter or the physical victims of the event, which is all well and good. But what about the family unit itself/ What about the people who are left behind to clean up the mess, the emotional victims of the shooting? And so often people are quick to blame the families of the gunmen when they are often themselves trying to figure out what went wrong. These incidents do not always happen in households where parents are abusive or neglectful. Far from it.

Question: What scene was the hardest to write? The easiest? What scene do you most regret having to cut? What was your favorite scene that got added?
Answer: The hardest scene to write was the shooting itself, which is the opening scene of the book, and it was hard for obvious reasons—writing a scene like that is intense! I’m also a high school teacher, so I could viscerally imagine the scene itself, which felt harrowing. And I neither cut nor added scenes—just expanded on material that was already there.

Question: Did you do a lot of research while writing Silent Alarm?
Answer: I did. I read countless books on school violence and teen violence in general, on the Columbine massacre as well as books and articles that primarily explored the psyche of shooters, psychopaths, and sociopaths. It was exhausting. But after a certain point, I just had to internalize everything, put it all away and just write.

Question: If you could create an “alternate ending” for your book, what – if anything – would you do differently? Why?
Answer: I don’t think an alternate ending would be realistic. I didn’t want an ending that was tied up in some neat little bow. That felt disrespectful to the families who live through these events, and to the victims of them. So I don’t think I’d do anything differently. I WISH there could be a different ending. Like Alys, I wish Luke had never picked up that gun in the first place. I wish he’d talked to someone. Anyone.

Question: Readers and reviewers called Silent Alarm, “…very dark, very gritty, and very powerful.” They said it was “tough to say this was a fantastic book because of the horrific events that take place. However it is a fantastic book and once again, Penguin … and this author have brought yet another memorable and wonderful book to my … Reading year!” How does it feel, knowing Silent Alarm has touched so many people already?
Answer: It’s more than I ever hoped for. It’s everything. It’s the reason I write in the first place.

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved yours, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: Well, my other contemporary, White Lines, would be a good place to start ☺ But also books like E. Lockheart’s We Were Liars and Peggy Kern’s novel Little Peach, both of which blew me away when I red them recently.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: Yes!!! But shhhhhhh . . . it’s a secret ☹ I will say this: it takes place in Malibu, California, and it’s about a online relationship that gets taken into the real world. It’s also tangentially about bullying, catfishing, and not fitting in. And above all, it’s a romance. It’s about when you lose your heart to someone for the very first time.

And now for an awesome giveaway! Thanks to Jennifer, we have two signed ARCS and one signed hardcover for three lucky winners! US only.

So, the rules:

-Giveaway is US Only!

-Winner has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be selected.

-You must be 13 or older to enter OR have your parents’ permission.

-Neither I nor the author are responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway

*The above giveaway rules were borrowed and modified from Jessica @ Just a Book Lover.

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Jennifer Banash is the author of the critically acclaimed Young Adult novel, White Lines, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons, and the fothcoming novel Silent Alarm, which will be released in March, 2015. Banash is also the author of The Elite series of books from Berkeley Jam which includes The Elite, In Too Deep, and Simply Irresistible. Banash lives, work, and writes in Los Angeles, California, with her daughter, Story, partner Willy, and two slightly food-obsessed beagles.

Website
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Author Spotlight: The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine (Excerpt)

Apr7

Hey everyone! I’m so, so excited to share with you an excerpt from Robin Constantine’s upcoming release, The Secrets of Attraction (April 28th 2015 by Balzer + Bray). First, here’s more information about the book:

Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, this smart, surprising, and romantic follow-up to Robin Constantine’s debut novel follows two New Jersey teens as they become friends and fall in love. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Madison Pryce thinks she’s got everything figured out—she’s working on a portfolio for a summer art program and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie’s life upside down.

Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.

Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse’s band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.

Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Book Depository | IndieBound

And now here’s the excerpt! Enjoy!

The only light in the room came from the dimly lit hallway. I pushed myself up to standing and brushed myself off before shutting the window. Desks were arranged in a semi-circle – and on the chalkboard – they still had chalkboards here? – was the quote “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Ha. Well played, universe.

When I opened my messages to IM Tanner, I already had two from him.

I’m in.

Side door to caf open.

For fucking real? I laughed. I felt stupid. Reckless. Alive.

I opened the door. The sound of the band – Kenny Ashe’s muffled voice screaming out a song I couldn’t decipher – echoed through the empty corridor. Farther down the hall, people milled around in front of two open doors. Cafeteria, maybe? I hugged the wall as I moved toward the action. As I got closer, I noticed a leggy silhouette turn the corner at the end of the hallway. The girl from the door. My heart shot into my throat. No fucking way was I getting kicked out after this. I ducked into the cafeteria, crouching a bit to get lost in a throng of kids who stood near the door.

I worked my way over to a vending machine and studied it as if my life depended on finding a healthy snack. In the reflection of the glass I could see that I was unnoticed, at least for the moment. I peered over my shoulder, scanning the room for Tanner. My eyes landed on a familiar looking girl in a black dress standing behind a long table covered in water bottles and several trays of cupcakes. Where did I know her from?

“Jesse?”

Someone tugged my jacket. I flinched and turned toward the voice.

Don’t forget to check out the next excerpt tour stop over at Bookish Things & More!

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About Robin:

Robin Constantine is a born-and-raised Jersey girl who moved south so she could wear flip-flops year-round. She spends her days dreaming up stories where love conquers all, eventually, but not without a lot of peril, angst, and the occasional kissing scene.

Website | Twitter

Review: Awakening by Shannon Duffy

Apr7

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.

Awakening by Shannon Duffy
Published by Entangled Teen on April 7, 2015
Pages: 352
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

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?

Awakening really took me by surprise. It started out like every other YA Dystopian. But then I realized, at this point, it’s almost impossible to come up with an original Dystopian plot line, so I let it go and just tried to enjoy the book. Boy, was I wrong! While some parts were definitely cliche, the overall plot of Awakening was epic. It took awhile for the story and characters to grow on me, but once they did, I was hooked!

There wasn’t really anything special about Desiree, especially in the beginning. Like all Dystopian heroines, she believes the government is good and all-knowing. She believes their methods and rules are all meant to keep them safe and protect them and she has no desire to step out of line. But slowly, her world starts to unravel and she realizes that the Protectorate has been manipulating and brain-washing everyone the whole time. And, like all good Dystopian heroines, she decides she doesn’t want to do as she’s told and she refuses to go down without a fight. She didn’t have a ton of character growth throughout the novel, but she definitely had some. I liked the way she refused to sit on the side-lines whenever she was told to. Instead, she always pulls her weight when she needs to and she doesn’t complain – much – even when things look grim.

I didn’t like nor dislike Darian. Again, he was pretty much a typical Dystopian hero: He didn’t believe for a second that the Protectorate was trying to help the people and the things he told Desiree were the first step to her realizing that not all was as it seemed. I liked how fierce and protective of Desiree he was. I had trouble shipping them in the beginning, but by the end, they were really starting to grow on me.

I was pretty indifferent to Asher in the beginning, as well. It was really hard to like him after the way he treated Desiree when they were kids. And I expected more to come out of him and Mallory, though maybe something still will if there’s a book two. But the way he stepped it up and did the things he did? That was incredibly brave of him and he definitely earned my respect.

Laken on the other hand.. Ugh. I know she was trying to be a good friend, but I really can’t stand her for the things she did, even if they were unintentional. In the end, she really wasn’t a good friend. I actually hope we see more of her in book two (fingers crossed!!) and that she redeems herself in a major way.

I think, if we’d gotten to know them a bit better, I would have really liked Harper and Sage. They seemed like decent, caring people and like they could have been really great friends for Desiree to have around. I also liked Mr. Williams, and Desiree’s parents, though again, I would have liked to get to know them better.

The idea of the Dreamscape and Terrorscape were absolutely fascinating, if not a bit creepy and shudder-inducing. Of all the things that happened in this book, those definitely made it stand out the most in a sea of YA Dystopian books. The Terrorscape, especially, was incredibly intense and creepy, though one aspect of the Terrorscape totally made me think of The Hunger Games, while the beginning part of the book could best be compared to Matched by Ally Condie. Like, 60% of the book reminded me of Matched. And some parts reminded me of Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

The ending was pretty epic and intense. At first, I thought the book was going to end neatly, like a stand-alone. And it basically did. So if there isn’t a book two, it’s not like it ended on a major cliffhanger. But there was enough of a cliffhanger that I’m really hoping we get a second book so I can see what happens next; it wasn’t until well into the second half of the book that I truly started to like and care for the characters, so now I’m really anxious to see what happens next for them.

Overall, if you’re a fan of YA Dystopians and don’t mind that, at this point, the basic story structure is the same for almost all of them, then I definitely recommend you give Awakening a try. Once you get into the story, it’ll be impossible to put the book down and the few things that make Awakening stand out will REALLY make it stand out! It’s a fun, slightly intense read and, by the end, you’ll appreciate the characters and enjoy the plot.

Sunday Street Team: Second Position by Katherine Locke (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Apr5

Sunday Street Team is hosted by Nori @ ReadWriteLove28

Hey everyone! Today, I have Katherine Locke, author of Second Postion, here with a guest post! First, here’s the cover and synopsis for Second Position:

Four years ago, a car accident ended Zedekiah Harrow’s ballet career and sent Philadelphia Ballet principal dancer Alyona Miller spinning toward the breakdown that suspended her own. What they lost on the side of the road that day can never be replaced, and grief is always harshest under a spotlight…

Now twenty-three, Zed teaches music and theatre at a private school in Washington, D.C. and regularly attends AA meetings to keep the pain at bay. Aly has returned to D.C. to live with her mother while trying to recover from the mental and physical breakdown that forced her to take a leave of absence from the ballet world, and her adoring fans.

When Zed and Aly run into each other in a coffee shop, it’s as if no time has passed at all. But without the buffer and escape of dance—and with so much lust, anger and heartbreak hanging between them—their renewed connection will either allow them to build the together they never had…or destroy the fragile recoveries they’ve only started to make.

Book One of the District Ballet Company

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Ready to step back to the barre with Zed and Aly? Get a cup of tea and follow the links!

Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Don’t forget! You can check out the prequel novella TURNING POINTE at Carina Press right here! See Zed when he danced, how they got together, and what happened years before SECOND POSITION starts!

And now here’s Katherine’s guest post! Enjoy!

SECOND POSITION author Katherine Locke’s Five Favorite New Adult Romances

Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by on this blog tour. My New Adult romance SECOND POSITION comes out 4/13 from Carina Press and I am excited for you to read it! (Links etc at the bottom)

Until then, however, I thought I’d drop a few book recommendations on your lap to keep you happy and well-read! Here are my five favorite New Adult books you should definitely pick up. (As a disclaimer, I should say most of these books have adult language and situations and are 18+ ;))

Faking It by Cora Carmack: This is the second book in Cora Carmack’s first New Adult series (other titles: Losing It and Finding It) and it remains one of my favorites. Cade’s trying to get over his unrequited crush, and Mackenzie (Max) is trying to convince her parents that she has her life together. Since Max’s real boyfriend is…less savory, shall we say and definitely not the guy you bring home to your parents, she convinces Cade to pretend to be her boyfriend. Except…maybe Max is exactly who Cade needs to get over his heartbreak and get him out of his rut, and maybe Cade is exactly who Max needs to start living her life honestly. Except, maybe, they aren’t faking it at all… This is one of the rare books where the heroine is JUST as swoony as the hero is. I love Max. She’s all mine. So is Cade but I can share!

I See London by Chanel Cleeton is the first in the International School series and boy did I enjoy this series. I recommend starting at the beginning with this book. Maggie, an American, decides to go to an international school in London for college where she finds herself surrounded by wealth way beyond her own, and significantly over her head with the guys around her. Especially when it comes to Samir, a French-Lebanese student who likes to be frustrating. Oh, and he also likes to kiss her. And he’s a really good kisser. I love Chanel’s writing and this whole series was beautiful, fun, and oh man is Samir swoony. Swoon for days.

Boomerang by Noelle August is a fun little ride that definitely opens with a bang. So to speak. Mia and Ethan wake up in the same bed after a crazy night out, and when they head out to their respective days…they show up at the same internship. Turns out they’re competing for the same job at the end of the summer. Just imagine the awkward seeping through the pages at this point. Oh, and internship rule: they can’t date. But that’s easier said than done, obviously, and the crazy wild path of a marketing internship & post-college romance is fantastically done. And I love how comfortable Mia is with her body. It’s remarked upon several times and rightfully so because it’s so unusual. Yes for body-positive heroines!

Everly After by Rebecca Paula is dark, moody, and deeply romantic. In full disclosure, Rebecca’s one of my critique partners and I couldn’t have written Second Position without her. Everly After is the story of Everly, an American heiress, who is trying to leave her hard-partying ways behind and hide from the real life in France. But that’s easier said than done. Beckett’s a war journalist on leave after an assignment that went downhill. When they run into each other, they can’t help the attraction, but they also can’t undo their pasts. There’s no such thing as clear sailing in this book. I loved Everly After from the first time I read it. This is a book about messy people who make mistake, after mistake, after mistake, and they fall down more than they get up (even if that’s not physically possible.) The romance sparks right off the page and to your surprise, you’ll find yourself rooting for Beckett and Everly to be okay. The writing is exquisite too.

Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler: Full disclosure, I beta-read this one too! But that doesn’t mean I can’t recommend it because I LOVE LIZZIE. This book’s about Lizzie, a college student who suddenly becomes the guardian to her two younger brothers after their parents are killed in a car accident. She has to pull her grades up and keep her scholarship suddenly, which throws her directly into the path of her TA Connor. He can’t really dress himself but whatever, Lizzie can see past that. This isn’t your typical student/teacher relationship, and Lizzie’s definitely not getting a Substitute Mother of the Year Award. But she’s doing the best she can, and the realness of Connor and Lizzie’s relationship keeps you turning pages. You’ll miss your stop on the train for this one.

Have a favorite NA? Leave it in the comments!

And now here’s the giveaway, courtesy of Katherine! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Katherine Locke lives and writes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she’s ruled by her feline overlords and her addiction to chai lattes. Her dayjobs always vary, but in the past she’s worked in nuclear weapons abolition activism, lead poisoning prevention and education, and food safety programs at a mushroom farm. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, and when she’s not reading, she’s tweeting about reading and writing. She likes her heroes boyish and her heroines with dirty mouths. She secretly believes most books are fairytales in disguise. Her debut novel, SECOND POSITION, arrives in April 2015 from Carina Press.

Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Apr4

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 Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
Published by Bloomsbury on March 31, 2015
Pages: 384
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Following her pitch-perfect debut Open Road Summer, Emery Lord pens another gorgeous story of best friends, new love, & second chances.

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

I absolutely loved Emery Lord’s debut, Open Road Summer. So as soon as I heard she had another book coming out, I added it to my TBR – And I’m so glad I did!!! The Start of Me and You was beautiful and epic and perfect. Like, as much as I loved Open Road Summer, I loved The Start of Me and You even more – and that’s saying a lot, because I don’t think I had even a single negative thing to say about ORS! Same goes for The Start of Me and You. It had an amazing plot, adorable, realistic, lovable characters and an ending that has me begging for a sequel. I also lost count of how many times it made me cry!

I adored Paige. She was so real, raw and honest. She wasn’t without her flaws, but I liked her so much that her flaws were barely a thought in my mind. And her flaws made her feel that much more real. I felt everything she felt – her sadness over Aaron, her guilt over enjoying life, her determination to start fresh and enjoy life, her anger and confusion towards her parents, her relationship with her friends, her feelings toward Ryan and then Max – I could go on and on.

Max Watson is the love of my life. Kidding.. Maybe.. But seriously, I adored him beyond words. He was nerdy and bookish, cute, funny and flawed. I know this seems silly, but… He wore glasses! Like, in most YA novels, everyone basically has 20/20 vision, right? Or everyone can magically wear contact lenses with no problems at all. Or, if nothing else, it’s the nerdy girl who wears glasses. It was so adorably refreshing to see the guy wearing glasses. I know, I know. It’s a stupid thing to be excited about, but I loved it. Plus, I adored and shipped him and Paige like crazy!

Ryan was super sweet and I actually really shipped him and Paige in the beginning. It was very stereotypical YA to have her crushing on the cute jock, but Ryan was also really smart and funny and I loved his relationship with Max. He didn’t abandon him for fear of what his popular friends might think.

I really loved the friendships in this book. And the idea that girls and boys can be friends. It wasn’t all jealousy and love triangles. I loved the strong bond between Paige, Tessa, Morgan and Kayleigh. They were always there for each other and they were never catty or mean. They fought sometimes, but they always made up and, even when fighting, they always put their problems aside when one of them needed the others. I also liked how Max and Ryan hung out with the girls – sometimes even one on one – and it was just because they had common interests, or had classes together so they studied together. And when Tessa, Morgan and/or Kayleigh hung out with Ryan and/or Max without Paige, it wasn’t because they secretly liked the guys and they were sneaking around behind Paige’s back – They were honestly just friends hanging out. I can’t emphasize that enough. I loved it! It was so refreshing!!

I also loved Paige’s relationship with her grandmother. It was so wonderful and sweet. I loved that she could confide in her grandmother. But I also have to admit, those scenes were also the hardest to read and 98% of my crying happened because of things with her grandmother.

Another thing I loved (besides the entire book, period)? The pop culture references! I saw several Gilmore Girls references, some Bewitched references, I’m pretty sure there was a Harry Potter reference… And so many more! There was also an Open Road Summer reference, which was epic.

Overall, The Start of Me and You was epic. Seriously, I don’t have anything negative to say about it. Even parts that should have been cheesy were epically adorable and hilarious. Every time Paige and Max interacted, I either grinned like a fool or cried like a baby. If you loved Open Road Summer, then The Start of Me and You is a MUST read. And if you haven’t read Open Road Summer OR The Start of Me and You… Well, we can’t be friends anymore… *Turns around, stalks off*

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I kid, I kid! But.. No, really. Go read them both. Like, now. Please? I promise, you won’t regret it! Oh, and one last thing and then I promise I’ll stop gushing over this book (Not really, though. I’ll never stop gushing over this book)… I REALLY want a sequel! And I can’t wait to read Emery’s next book. Or her next next book. Or her next next next book. Basically, I want ALL the Emery Lord books NOW. Please :)

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Favorite Quote: “With true friends, no one is keeping score. But it still feels good to repay them – even in the tiniest increments.”