Spotlight Post: Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings

Item: Exile for Dreamers
Rating: 3.5
Author: Meredith

Hey everyone! Today, I’m excited to share with you a spotlight post featuring Jazz Jennings, a teen trans rights advocate and author of BEING JAZZ: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen (June 7, 2016). Jazz has also been named the latest author ambassador for the newly relaunched Read Proud Listen Proud.

Read Proud Listen Proud was introduced in June 2015 as an online resource for kids and teens, as well as their parents, teachers and librarians, to find LGBTQ literature that encourages understanding and acceptance, celebrating everyone for who they are through the power of storytelling. The site now features fresh content, including an interview with Jennings filmed while she was in the recording studio narrating BEING JAZZ and additional title recommendations.

“Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest champions of transgender equality.” —O, The Oprah Magazine

“A role model for teens everywhere.” —Seventeen.com on Jazz Jennings

Teen activist and trailblazer Jazz Jennings—named one of “The 25 Most Influential Teens” of the year by Time—shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths.

Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. At the age of five, Jazz transitioned to life as a girl, with the support of her parents. A year later, her parents allowed her to share her incredible journey in her first Barbara Walters interview, aired at a time when the public was much less knowledgeable or accepting of the transgender community. This groundbreaking interview was followed over the years by other high-profile interviews, a documentary, the launch of her YouTube channel, a picture book, and her own reality TV series—I Am Jazz—making her one of the most recognizable activists for transgender teens, children, and adults.

In her remarkable memoir, Jazz reflects on these very public experiences and how they have helped shape the mainstream attitude toward the transgender community. But it hasn’t all been easy. Jazz has faced many challenges, bullying, discrimination, and rejection, yet she perseveres as she educates others about her life as a transgender teen. Through it all, her family has been beside her on this journey, standing together against those who don’t understand the true meaning of tolerance and unconditional love. Now Jazz must learn to navigate the physical, social, and emotional upheavals of adolescence—particularly high school—complicated by the unique challenges of being a transgender teen. Making the journey from girl to woman is never easy—especially when you began your life in a boy’s body.

Goodreads | Amazon
Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound

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About Jazz Jennings

Jazz Jennings is a trans girl, YouTube celebrity, spokesmodel, activist, and co-author of the picture book I Am Jazz. She has a docu-series about her life also called I Am Jazz on TLC, which started airing in July 2015. She was named to Time’s “Most Influential Teens” list two years in a row, was one of Huffington Post’s “14 Most Fearless Teens,” and was the youngest person ever featured on Out’s “Out100,” as well as on Advocate’s “40 Under 40” list. In 2014, she was named a Human Rights Campaign Youth Ambassador and received LogoTV’s Youth Trailblazer Award. Jazz also hosts a series of videos about her life on YouTube and is one of the faces of Clean & Clear. You can follow her on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter, or subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Blog Tour: Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff (Interview)

Jun13

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Brenna Yovanoff here for an interview as part of the Places No One Knows (May 17, 2016 – Delacorte Press) blog tour! First, here’s more about the book:

For fans of Lauren Oliver and E. Lockhart, here is a dreamy love story set in the dark halls of contemporary high school, from New York Times bestselling author Brenna Yovanoff.

Waverly Camdenmar spends her nights running until she can’t even think. Then the sun comes up, life goes on, and Waverly goes back to her perfectly hateful best friend, her perfectly dull classes, and the tiny, nagging suspicion that there’s more to life than student council and GPAs.

Marshall Holt is a loser. He drinks on school nights and gets stoned in the park. He is at risk of not graduating, he does not care, he is no one. He is not even close to being in Waverly’s world.

But then one night Waverly falls asleep and dreams herself into Marshall’s bedroom—and when the sun comes up, nothing in her life can ever be the same. In Waverly’s dreams, the rules have changed. But in her days, she’ll have to decide if it’s worth losing everything for a boy who barely exists.

Goodreads | Amazon
Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound

And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Describe your book in ten words or less. Go!
Answer: Girl who doesn’t sleep magically winds up in stoner’s bedroom!

Question: Places No One Knows sounds fascinating! How did the idea for the plot come about?
Answer: Okay, so I am a huge insomniac and for a long time I knew that I wanted to write a book about insomnia, even if it wasn’t ABOUT-about insomnia. I also knew I wanted to write the kind of love story I would have wanted to read as a teenager, back when I was cynical and over analytical and very, very picky about my love stories. I’ve always been really fascinated and kind of appalled by the way different emotions are often so heavily gendered. As a culture I think we have a tendency to deny or trivialize anger in girls and sadness in boys, and I wanted to explore the idea that even though people can get pretty good at making their “inappropriate” emotions invisible, or at least making them look like other things, that doesn’t stop people from feeling them. Waverly is a character who is very angry, very alienated, but doesn’t feel like she has any real outlet to express that. And for Marshall, in some ways he has it even harder because he’s very sensitive in ways that are really discouraged for boys, and so he’s spent a lot of middle school and high school trying to not to feel those things, and failing that, to at least not let them show. Mostly? I wanted to just get these two people in a room together and see what they could offer each other.

Question: Why do you think readers are so fascinated with dream worlds – and dreams in general?
Answer: While I can’t speak specifically for other readers, I LOVE thinking about and having and reading about dreams. I’m not only a very vivid dreamer but I actually have this thing where I’ll wake up and still be dreaming, so when I open my eyes, my room will be populated with impossible things—birds and vines and monsters and people who want to talk to me about nonsensical ideas or tell me where I left something I misplaced. This has happened to me for most of my life, so at this point it seems very normal, but also kind of magical. I think dream worlds are fascinating because they’re an example of how well our brains can make the imaginary feel completely REAL.

Question: What scene from Places No One Knows do you most regret having to cut?
Answer: Places No One Knows is a rarity among my books, in that almost every scene I included in the first draft made it into the final version intact. HOWEVER. There is one scene I really, really liked and it was completely static and advanced the plot not at all and was basically fanfiction, but written by me-the-author. And my editor, who is both astute and patient, kept gently reminding me to cut it for … pretty much every single draft. And because she is persistent and always right about these things, I eventually listened to her. Eventually. So all I’m going to say is, if anyone wants to write a fic where Waverly and Marshall snuggle in a baseball dugout and talk about their feelings? You have all my blessings. And also I may have already done it once.

Question: Places No One Knows has been on shelves for a few weeks now! What’s the post-publication process like for you? Do you take time off to regroup or dive right into your next project?
Answer: Post-publication, I tend to sort of melt into the couch, play a lot of video games, and cook all the things I like to eat, and try to remember to clean all the things I wasn’t cleaning before, and just generally be more of a human-shaped person. For awhile. Until writing swoops in and takes over my brain again.

Question: You’ve written several books for young adults. How is this one different?
Answer: So, this is my fifth YA novel, and the very first one that has no monsters! It still has a little bit of magic in it, but only a little, and only in this very amorphous, metaphorical way—so even though the whole plot basically revolves around impossible dream-travel, this is definitely the most contemporary book I’ve ever written.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Okay, I have Googled a lot of terrible things, but no lie, this is probably the worst one: when I was writing The Replacement, I spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out at what stage of decomposition insect eggs laid inside a fresh corpse will hatch into larva. With pictures.

Question: What books would you recommend to a reader who loved Places No One Knows, and wants to read something similar?
Answer: Honestly, I would really love it if everyone in the world went out and read Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart. It’s a strange, magical story about a strange, analytical girl named Gretchen Yee, who is mysteriously transformed into an actual housefly and spends a week buzzing around the boys’ locker room at school. It’s very cool and funny, very smart about body image and gender roles and masculinity, and if everybody reads it, then I’ll have someone to talk about it with!

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write?
Answer: Hot drinks, headphones, and preferably a big cozy chair.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: I’m currently in the middle of another book in the mostly-contemporary/slightly-magical vein of Places No One Knows. It’s about idealism, misanthropy, and the ongoing struggle to become your best self. It has no title yet because I’m terrible with titles, but I’m almost 100% positive it will have one by the time it comes out next year!

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About the author:
Hi, I’m Brenna Yovanoff. I write young adult and speculative fiction. My young adult fantasy novels The Replacement, The Space Between, Paper Valentine, and Fiendish are available from Razorbill/Penguin Group. Here are some things about me (not book-related):

I’m good at soccer, violent video games, and making very flaky pie pastry.

I’m bad at dancing, making decisions, and inspiring confidence as an authority figure. I suspect this is because I am short, and also terrible at sounding as though I have any idea what I’m talking about.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Blog Tour: And I Darken by Kiersten White (Book Two Sneak Peak)

Jun9

Hey everyone! I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the And I Darken (June 28, 2016 – Delacorte Press) blog tour! I’m a HUGE Kiersten White fan and this book looks AMAZING!! So, today I’m sharing a sneak peak of book two with you! First, here’s more about the book:

No one expects a princess to be brutal.

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And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken.

CLAIM THE THRONE.
Visit AndIDarken.com to order now!

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Goodreads | Amazon
The Book Depository | IndieBound

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And now for the Sneak Peak of Book Two! Enjoy!!

A Note from Kiersten:

I’ll admit, it feels a little weird to be giving a sneak peek for book two before And I Darken even comes out. It’s even weirder to be doing promo for the first book while editing the second and plotting the third! It’s a busy place in my brain these days.

I thought I’d give you a sneak peek of the first two passages (subject to change!) for each of our main characters, Radu and Lada. They don’t give away any real spoilers—but they do give an idea of what is in store for our dynamic brother-and-sister duo!

First, Radu:

The tendency to vomit within minutes of setting foot on a ship was deeply inconvenient for someone taking a tour of the Ottoman navy.

Radu leaned over the side of the boat and heaved until his stomach was empty, and then for a little while longer, for good measure. When he wiped his face and turned back around, he caught Mehmed sharing a sneering laugh with the men around him.

Radu felt even emptier than before.

So you can see, things are going great for him! But with dreamy-eyed, beautiful Radu, appearances are always deceiving . . . and in book two, he finds himself playing dangerous games on the biggest and most deadly stage possible, as the Ottomans lay siege to the jewel of Christian cities, Constantinople.

But where is our dear Lada?

It took only three fingers smashed beyond recognition before the would-be assassin screamed the name of Lada’s enemy.

“Well.” Nicolae raised his eyebrows, cut through with a vicious scar that had failed to fade with the passage of time. He turned away as Bogdan slit the young man’s throat. The heat of life leaving body steamed slightly in the frigid winter air. “That is disappointing.”

“That the governor of Brasov is against us, too?” Bogdan asked.

“No, that the quality of the assassins has gone down this low.”

Oh dear, it does look like the siblings Dracul are both in tight spots, doesn’t it? If Radu’s story is about the cost of pretending, Lada’s is about the cost of refusing to pretend. Alliances are formed and betrayed, thrones are won and lost, hearts are mended and broken. Lada and Radu were always meant for big things, and in book two they face the horror of the lengths they’re willing to go to.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at what’s in store, and that you love And I Darken so much that you, too, are left heaving your meals up over the side of a boat in anticipation of book two! Wait. No. I hope you love it so much that you don’t vomit.

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About the Author:

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, The Chaos of Stars, and the psychological thrillers Mind Games and Perfect Lies. She has neither magic nor a pet bird, but wants both.

Kiersten lives with her family in San Diego, California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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AND I DARKEN Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, May 30th through Friday, July 8th (Mondays through Fridays)

Monday, May 30th: Icey Books, Review
Tuesday, May 31st: Bookiemoji, Guest Post (Character Profiles)
Wednesday, June 1st: Seeing Double in Neverland, Review
Thursday, June 2nd: Alexa Loves Books, Playlist Post
Friday, June 3rd: Awesome Book Nut, Review

Monday, June 6th: Jessabella Reads, Review
Tuesday, June 7th: The Eater of Books!, Top Five Roundup
Wednesday, June 8th: Across the Words, Review
Thursday, June 9th: Pandora’s Books, Sneak Peek for Book Two
Friday, June 10th: Tales of the Ravenous Reader, Review

Monday, June 13th: A Midsummer Night’s Read, Review
Tuesday, June 14th: The Irish Banana Review, Top 10 Guest Post
Wednesday, June 15th: Stories & Sweeties, Review
Thursday, June 16th: Jenuine Cupcakes, Author Mystery Guest Post
Friday, June 17th: The Soul Sisters, Review

Monday, June 20th: Winterhaven Books, Review
Tuesday, June 21st: Two Chicks on Books, Q&A (4-6 questions)
Wednesday: June 22nd: The Book Swarm, Review
Thursday, June 23rd: Read. Sleep. Repeat., Top Five Fantasy Books Kiersten Loves to Re-Read
Friday, June 24th: Please Feed The Bookworm, Review

Monday, June 27th: Comfort Books, Review
Tuesday, June 28th: Fitshun, Q&A
Wednesday, June 29th: Addicted Readers, Review
Thursday, June 30th: Lindsay Cummings, Movie Casting Post
Friday, July 1st: Rabid Reads, Review

Monday, July 4th: Reading Teen, Review
Tuesday, July 5th: YA Bibliophile, Guest Post (Trip to Romania)
Wednesday, July 6th: Carina’s Books, Review
Thursday, July 7th: Mundie Moms, Author Mystery Guest Post
Friday, July 8th: Bookishness and Tea, Review
Friday, July 8th: My Friends Are Fiction, Surprise Post!

Review: Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin

Jun8

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: Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin

Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin
Series: Stranje House #2
Published by Tor Teen on May 24, 2016
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-half-stars

It’s 1814. Napoleon has escaped his imprisonment on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And at Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, five young ladies are secretly being trained for a world of spies, diplomacy, and war.

Tess Aubreyson can’t run far enough or fast enough to escape the prophetic dreams that haunt her. Dreams bring nothing but death and grief, and Tess refuses to accept that she may be destined for the same madness that destroyed her mother. Until her disturbing dreams become the only means of saving Lord Ravencross, the man she loves, and her fellow students at Stranje House. Tess’s old friend, the traitorous Lady Daneska, and Ghost, the ruthless leader of the Iron Crown, have returned to England, intent on paving the way for Napoleon’s invasion. Can the young ladies of Stranje House prevail once more? Or is England destined to fall into the hands of the power-mad dictator?

I absolutely loved A School for Unusual Girls! So it saddens me to have to write this review for Exile of Dreamers because, while this series isn’t a trilogy (I believe it’s a 4-6 book series), Exile for Dreamers fell into a trap that many trilogies experience – Second Book Syndrome. For the majority of the novel, it just felt like nothing was happening – like it was all just filler. There were some minor revelations, but nothing major or overly exciting.

Despite the lack of action and intrigue, I will say this book kept my interest for one very big reason: The major ship feels! I ship pretty much every couple in this series and I ship them HARD. So let’s chat about the characters and relationships a bit:

As I said in my review of A School for Unusual Girls, sometimes Tess was bold and brazen; sometimes she was stubborn and rude, just barely toeing the line. But she was fierce and strong, independent and willful. She didn’t let people push her around and she protected herself when she needed to. The same can be said for her character in Exile for Dreamers. Except we also got to see a more vulnerable side of her – the side with her deepest secrets, fears and vulnerabilities. I loved her in book one and I loved her even more in book two.

In A School for Unusual Girls, Lord Ravencross was a frustrating character. I tried to sympathize with him; he had a painful past and the only way he knew to keep people safe was to push them away. But that meant he was down-right rude to Tess. I loved their moments of bickering, but it was hard to look past his behavior otherwise. However, seeing the story through Tess’s eyes, we also learned more about Lord Ravencross and his past, as well as who he truly is as a person. And man, did I fall hard for him. If I had to pick an OTP for this series, it would definitely be Tess and Lord Ravencross. I just adore their love/hate relationship and their bickering and banter. They’re hilarious and perfect for each other.

It was weird seeing Georgiana as a secondary character. Everything I thought I liked about her in A School for Unusual Girls… Well, it’s not that I disliked her in Exile for Dreamers but… I just didn’t like her as much. She was a bit annoying and didn’t seem as capable as she did in the first book. It was almost as if her character digressed, which was disappointing. I didn’t even ship her and Lord Wyatt quiet as much as I did in the first book. I was just.. indifferent to them.

Sera is still one of the most intriguing characters, in my opinion. And I loved that we got to see more of her in this book. She’s the shy character, the one who doesn’t speak up as much and who can be easily overshadowed by the other girls. Yet Mr. Chadwick really brought out a different side of her – feisty and flustered, all at the same time. I loved their banter almost as much as I loved Tess and Lord Ravencross’s banter. But there’s still something about Chadwick that worries me. He’s far too intuitive and asks far too many questions for his own good. I’m very sad, too, that Sera’s story isn’t being told yet. I hope we’ll get her story soon, as I’m still really intrigued by her and her abilities and I can’t wait to see what happens between her and Chadwick.

So far, out of the five girls at Stranje House, we’ve learned the least about Jane and Maya. This worries me since Jane’s story is being told in book three. Sanctuary for Seers. It also worries me because, since we know the least about her, I find her the least interesting. And since Exile for Dreamers was a bit of a let-down, I’m nervous to go into another book with a character I’m not crazy about. I definitely think there’s more to her story than we could possibly know and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Not to mention my ship feels for her and Mr. Sinclair were intense – They’re another couple that excels at banter, with their love/hate relationship. I can’t wait to see what happens next for them!

As for Maya, still the only thing I know about her is that she’s the diplomat of the group, the voice of reason. She’s also the only girl without a potential significant other and I’m interested in seeing how that goes for her, since Kathleen Baldwin is so amazing with her relationships/ship feels/bantering couples.

Despite the Second Book Syndrome and the lack of truly intriguing revelations, there were still moments that had me curious or shocked, moments that had me asking questions and seeking answers. Plus, as I mentioned, my ship feels were off the charts! So despite my issues with this book, I’m still eager to read book three and see what happens next. Even though I wish we were getting Sera’s story next, I’m interested in seeing a different side of Jane than we’ve seen so far.

Kathleen Baldwin did a magnificent job of creating a story that’s intriguing and compelling. Her characters – even those I’m not as fond of – feel like real people in history. I’m completely fascinated with this alternate history and can’t wait for more books – which I hope bring the answers I seek!

Overall, I definitely recommend this book to those who loved A School for Unusual Girls. Though it suffers from some Second Book Syndrome, it sets the scene for book three, which I have a feeling will be epic and intense. The characters carried the story where the plot didn’t, so if you love the characters, I highly recommend pushing through to the very last page. Otherwise, you’ll miss some insane Tess/Lord Ravencross moments ;)

Spotlight Post: Bloodcraft by Amalie Howard (Excerpt)

Jun7

Hey everyone! Today, I’m excited to share with you an excerpt from Amalie Howard’s Bloodcraft, book two in the Cruentus Curse duology. I absolutely adore Amalie! She’s an amazing writer and Bloodcraft was an amazing book! First, here’s more about the book:

*2016 Silver IPPY Winner in YA Fiction!

All magic has its price, and no one knows that better than Victoria Warrick. Gifted with a centuries-old blood curse, Tori has finally learned to master her blood’s demands and has emerged triumphant with Christian Devereux, a vampire overlord, at her side.

But the worst is yet to come …

In the infamous City of Lights, home to both the Witch Clans and the Vampire Council, Tori enrolls at the exclusive Belles Fontaines school in Paris, where she is faced with a devastating choice: choose Christian and be an outcast, or choose the coven and secure her place with the witches.

When the fate of the supernatural world is targeted by a sinister new threat, Christian and Victoria must unite their two warring species to defeat it. Their bond will be tested, twisted, and sorely weakened, and Tori will find herself in uncharted territory—a dangerous place to be when her blood’s magic has its own dark agenda.

But to save them all, she may have no choice but to invoke its deadly power.

*NOTE: Bloodcraft is Upper YA / New Adult (for mature content–violence, sensuality & language)

Amazon | Kobo | B&N

And now here’s the excerpt! Enjoy!

From Chapter Four of Bloodcraft – “The Art of War”

Lucian flinched, wondering why she was bringing up painful, ancient memories. She had chosen Christian over him, even before he had made her a vampire. Lucian often wondered if he had been the one to petition the Council to make her a vampire instead of Christian, whether she’d have accepted him as readily as she had Christian. He forced his jealousy back—she, like everyone else, had fallen for his brother first.
“You chose him,” he said flatly.

Lena sighed. “Yes. I chose him then, but I’m with you now. Regardless, I want you to know if I have to make the same choice between both of you now, I would choose you, Lucian. I stay here with you because I want to be with you. For no other reason. Do you understand that?” Lucian nodded, shaken by the feeling in her voice. He knew that she put up with his violent mood swings and his cruelty—because she did care for him in some way. Lena continued. “I meant what I said earlier. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that the Council doesn’t execute a death order on your head. If I have to beg for Christian’s help, I will. If I have to crawl, I will, no holds barred. And I don’t give a damn what you do to me because of your stupid pride, do you hear me?”

He crossed the room then and kissed Lena’s neck in exactly the same spot he’d mauled so savagely before. “I’m sorry,” he said. “And I understand. Forgive me?”

She nodded, standing in his embrace for a few minutes before pulling away. “We need to talk.”

“I thought we just did,” he said, walking over to pour himself some cognac. “Drink?” She ignored the invitation. “That was personal. This is different. Lucian, the next Council meeting is in a few weeks. You need to speak with Christian before then. He won’t listen unless you do it.”

“He wants me to beg.” It was not a question. Lucian’s voice was tight.

“No, he knows how you feel about saving people who don’t need saving, remember?”
She softened her next words, as if noticing the sudden shift in his mood. “He needs you to ask him, Lucian. That’s all. No more, no less. Don’t make it more than it is.”

Lucian jerked a hand through his cropped blond hair. She stared at him and he sighed. “Fine,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I’ll talk to him.”

As he said the words, he saw the relief cross her face, and for the first time, felt a root of worry take hold. It took a lot to make Lena anxious. If the Council moved faster than either of them anticipated, his house of cards would be quick to come tumbling down. He’d speak to Christian and put the rest of his plan into place.

So far, if he was successful in instigating a coup against the leadership of the Council, he’d have the allegiance of three of the seven vampire Houses. He could call in blood favors with one more, which left only two to deal with, House Arcan and House Vesily, both of which were formidable opponents. To go up against them would be difficult, but not impossible. If he secured Kristos’s witch, that would bring an added advantage and the benefit of surprise. He’d have to move quickly, and if anything, Lena’s sense of urgency demanded it. Lucian smiled grimly.He had a lot to do in not a whole lot of time, but at least he planned to go down swinging.

He’d give them the showdown of their lives.

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Don’t forget to check out Amalie’s other books!

The Cruentus Curse includes Bloodspell (picked as a Seventeen Magazine Beach Read) and Bloodcraft (which she wrote specifically for her wonderful readers!

The Riven Chronicles includes The Almost Girl and The Fallen Prince (newly released in April)

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About the Author:

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Amalie Howard Goodreads

Blog Tour: Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin (Spotlight + Giveaway)

Jun3

Hey everyone! I’m really, really excited to be on the blog tour for Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin, the second book in the Stranje House series. I absolutely LOVED the first book (review here) and the second book has been just as amazing!

Check out more about the below below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

About the Book
Title: EXILE FOR DREAMERS
Author: Kathleen Baldwin
Pub. Date: May 24, 2016
Publisher: Tor Teen
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

A School for Unusual Girls is the first captivating installment in the Stranje House series for young adults by award-winning author Kathleen Baldwin. #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot calls this romantic Regency adventure “completely original and totally engrossing.”

Tess can’t run far enough or fast enough to escape the prophetic dreams that haunt her. Dreams bring nothing but death and grief, and Tess refuses to accept that she may be destined for the same madness that destroyed her mother. Until her disturbing dreams become the only means of saving Lord Ravencross, the man she loves, and her friends at Stranje House from Lady Daneska and her lover, the Ghost-agent of Napoleon, who has escaped from Elba. Can the young ladies of Stranje House prevail once more? Or is England destined to fall into the hands of the power-mad dictator?

“Enticing from the first sentence.” -New York Times Book Review

A School for Unusual Girls is a great next read for fans of Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series and Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassin series.

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And now for the giveaway! Three winners will receive a finished copy of EXILE FOR DREAMERS. US/Canada Only.To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author:

“I love adventure in books and in real life. I’ve roamed the Rocky Mountains, wandered the desert, enjoyed way too many classes in college, was stalked by a mountain lion, lost an argument with a rattlesnake, fell in love at least a dozen times, finally met and married my very own hero, and together we’ve raised four free-spirited children.”

Award-winning author – Kensington published four of Kathleen’s Regency romantic comedies, including MISTAKEN KISS, a Holt Medallion finalist. DIARY OF A TEENAGE FAIRY GODMOTHER, was a Golden Quill finalist. Her upcoming Historical YA series with TorTeen, A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and won a Marlene.

Website | Blog | Twitter
Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

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Tour Schedule
Week One:
5/23/2016 – Once Upon A Twilight – Interview
5/24/2016 – Stories & Sweeties – Review
5/25/2016 – Curling Up With A Good Book – Guest Post
5/26/2016 – Lisa Loves Literature – Review
5/27/2016 – The Cover Contessa – Interview

Week Two:
5/30/2016 – The Best Books Ever – Review
5/31/2016 – A Dream Within A Dream – Guest Post
6/1/2016 – Wishful Endings – Review
6/2/2016 – BookHounds YA – Interview
6/3/2016 – Pandora’s Books – Spotlight

Blog Tour: Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten (Interview + Book Birthday Spotlight)

May31

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Beware That Girl (May 31, 2016 – Delacorte Press) blog tour. This book looks AMAZING and I can’t wait to read it! So, of course, I’m beyond excited to be on this blog tour and even more excited to be celebrating Teresa’s Book Birthday with her by way of an awesome interview!

Here’s more about the book:

For fans of We Were Liars, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.

The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.

As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.

When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible

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And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations on the release of Beware That Girl! What are your plans for release day?
Answer: I suppose a day of prayer and quiet contemplation is out of the question?? I’ll actually be writing all day (deadline) and then off to a giddy dinner celebration with friends and family.

Question: Beware That Girl has been described as Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl, and the kind of book that will appeal to fans of We Were Liars and The Girl on the Train. Think about those comparisons for a minute. What are the first three words/reactions that come to mind?
Answer: Oh. My. God!

Question: What inspired the plot for Beware That Girl?
Answer: Friendship. I know . . . but there really is nothing more complex or beautiful, and in this case terrifying than the relationship of two best female friends. I don’t outline or plot any of my books but for years I had in my head that first scene of two blonde girls in the ICU, one gravely injured and one a bit of a wreck sitting beside her. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I sat down to write to find out which girl was in which position and how they got there. I didn’t know how the book was going to end until I wrote the ending!

Question: According to the synopsis, Beware That Girl is “set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City.” Why is this setting significant? Could the story have been told in any other setting?
Answer: I wanted/needed a glittering surreal backdrop of wealth and privilege so that the reader could taste and feel Kate’s intense yearning for it all. That degree of wealth also allows those girls a world of freedom that might not be available to them in another environment. Other cities do of course have strata of tremendous wealth but it’s not as deep and wide as New York City’s. I felt I needed a playground that was that big and that outrageous. Perhaps even more importantly, I lived in New York for a few years. I know the streets, the stores, the restaurants the aromas and the rhythms of the neighborhoods. I felt that “feel” for the city might be critical to the integrity of the story.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a work in progress?
Answer: Ha! I had to Google so, so many weird things for Beware That Girl! Google is a life-saving first step, but it usually has to be followed up by steps two, three and sometimes four. I Googled whether it was possible to kill someone with a Le Crueset frying pan and if there would necessarily be blood (I didn’t want blood). Then I had to confirm that with talking to a doctor friend. And then I had to have my poor husband stand with his back to me while I sort of swung the pan at him at various angles so I could get the trajectory and his fall position right.

Question: What are three must-have items when you sit down to write
Answer: Well, to start, nobody can be in the house but my dog, Cheever. I wander around trying out dialogue and reading bits out loud in full voice to see if the rhythm is right and to catch the biggest clunkers. It’s beyond embarrassing. So, I have to start with an empty house. Then I must have espresso coffees followed quickly by huge mugs of tea. In other words, when I sit down to write I’m a lonely, highly caffeinated author who talks to herself.

Question: What book are you currently reading?
Answer: I just finished a new and terrific YA fantasy called Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan and I’m just going to start an old (1956) novel called Peyton Place because it’s calling to me.

Question: Are you working on anything new?
Answer: Yup, I’m in the middle of that must be alone, over-caffeinated talking to myself agony stage.

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About the Author:

My earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write…

Website | Twitter |Facebook

Blog Tour: The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard (Excerpt + Giveaway)

May31

We hope you’re ready to be transported by Amalie Howard’s THE FALLEN PRINCE, a Young Adult Science Fiction novel and the sequel to THE ALMOST GIRL! Publishers Weekly calls the first in the series “a high-octane thriller.” Grab your copy of this amazing novel today!

Riven has fought for a hard-won peace in her world, and has come to shaky terms with who and what she is—a human with cyborg DNA. Now that the rightful ruler of Neospes has been reinstated, Riven is on the hunt for her father in the Otherworld to bring him to justice for his crimes against her people.

But when she receives an unwelcome visit from two former allies, she knows that trouble is brewing once again in Neospes. The army has been decimated and there are precious few left to fight this mysterious new threat.
To muster a first line of defense, her people need help from the one person Riven loathes most—her father. But what he wants in return is her complete surrender.

And now Riven must choose: save Neospes or save herself.

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Praise for THE FALLEN PRINCE:

“[P]acked with action . . . Imagery is the highlight of this book.” — VOYA

“A parallel-dimension–jumping cyborg soldier must make questionable alliances to save her country from an existential threat in this sequel to The Almost Girl. [O]ffers a solid conclusion.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This sequel to The Almost Girl was everything I wanted: non-stop action, smart science, new and intriguing characters, and a satisfying romance. I couldn’t put it down!” — Page Morgan, author of The Beautiful and the Cursed

“[T]he next step in a dark, clever and thrilling scorched-earth, world-hopping adventure.” — Jet Black Ink

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Goodreads | Amazon | Books-A-Million
Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound

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And now for the excerpt! Enjoy!

Cale and I used to dare each other to go outside the dome as kids, knowing we’d get into trouble if we were ever caught. Leaving the safety zone had been illicit and thrilling. It had been our secret spot, a tunnel in the bedrock carved by a long-dried underground stream when Neospes had fresh running water. I stare at the old access hole, now filled with titanium, as the memories rush back.

It was the first time I’d seen a Reptile. Cale had just turned eleven. Thinking himself braver than ever, he’d dared me to accompany him on an early morning adventure beyond the dome. As much as I hadn’t wanted to go, he was my responsibility.

“Come on, Cale. This is far enough. We need to get back.” We’d turned around only to see a horse standing between our secret exit and us. Only, it wasn’t a horse.

“What is that?” Cale had whispered. 

“Cale, get behind me.” 

“No way.” He’d stamped his foot. “I want to see.” 

Steam had blown from the creature’s distended nostrils, and then it had charged. I remember the rotting smell and the chunks of flesh hanging off its wired frame. It was also the first Reptile I’d ever killed.

Cale became obsessed with Reptiles after that. He would lure and catch smaller ones, keeping them in cages. He studied the creatures, torturing them—ripping them apart and piecing them back together. I’d always thought his morbid fascination was odd, but, in hindsight, it was understandable. After all, he was a clone with a failing body, searching for a way to reconstruct himself.

But Cale is dead. He’d died months ago in the Outers.

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And don’t miss the first book in The Riven Chronicles Series!

Seventeen-year-old Riven comes from a world parallel to Earth, a world that has been ravaged by a devastating android war. As a Legion General, she is the right hand of Prince Cale, the young Prince of Neospes. In her world, she’s had everything: rank, responsibility, and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to rescue his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Armed with the mindset of a soldier and racing against time to bring Caden home, Riven must learn how to blend in as a girl in a realm that is the opposite of all she’s ever known. Will she be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

Goodreads | SKYHORSE PUBLISHING Website

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About the Author:

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Amalie Howard Goodreads | THE FALLEN PRINCE Goodreads

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And now for the giveaway! To enter, fill out the Rafflectoper below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Amalie Howard’s THE FALLEN PRINCE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

May 30^th

Movies, Shows & Books – Excerpt

My YA NA Book Obsession – Review & Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

The LitBuzz – Review

Deluged with Books Cafe – Excerpt

WTF Are You Reading? – Review & Excerpt

Rambling Reads – Excerpt

AC Book Blog – Excerpt

Cynthia Bloggs – Excerpt

May 31^st

Dazzled by Books – Excerpt

Comic Book Love – Review

Pandora’s Books – Excerpt

Have Words Will Scribble – Review & Excerpt

Vagabonda Reads – Excerpt

Hannah’s Words – Review & Excerpt

The Romance Reviews – Excerpt

Maari Loves Her Indies – Excerpt

June 1^st

Socially Awkward Book Nerd – Excerpt

Escape Inside the Pages – Review & Excerpt

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

Penny For My Thoughts – Review

Blissfully bookerized – Excerpt

Amy’s Review Obsession – Review

Bookish Things & More – Excerpt

Readers Live A Thousand Lives – Excerpt

June 2^nd

Book it – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Books Need TLC – Review & Excerpt

BookCrushin – Excerpt

Roxy’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Romance Book Nerd – Excerpt

Mes Livres – Review & Excerpt

TMBA Corbett Tries to Write – Excerpt

The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Review & Excerpt

June 3^rd

The book slayer – Review & Excerpt

Fishing for Books – Excerpt

The Recipe Fairy – Review & Excerpt

YA Book Divas – Excerpt

2 girls who love books – Excerpt

Book Lovers Life – Excerpt

Only One More Page – Excerpt

Teen Readers’ Diary – Excerpt

June 4^th

Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps – Review & Excerpt

Hart’s Romance Pulse – Excerpt

The Cover Contessa – Review & Excerpt

Evermore Books – Excerpt

The A P Book Club – Review & Excerpt

The Travelogue of a book addict – The Book Drealms – Excerpt

City of Books – Review & Excerpt

RhiReading – Excerpt

Danielle’s Domain – Excerpt

Cover Reveal: Heroes of Arcania Trilogy by Liz Long

May26

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to be helping out with the cover reveal for the Heroes of Arcania trilogy! Today, we’re revealing the covers for SuperNova (HoA #1), Fortune’s Favor (HoA #2) and Unbreakable (HoA #3)! So, without further adieu, here they are!

The streets of Arcania are overrun with crime, deteriorating as a madman named Fortune makes himself at home. He shows no mercy, striking down anyone in his path – including Nova Benson’s little sister. Devastated, Nova vows to seek justice for her family, but aside from her freak strength and impenetrable skin, how is she supposed to stop a monster like Fortune?

Cole Warner wants to help people. Entrusted to keep his family’s secret, he’s also frustrated at having to hide his gift. He knows he could do more to help in the fight against Fortune. If he could convince his sister Penelope to join him, they might even have a chance at beating him. When Cole meets Nova, he realizes his whole world is about to change. And he’s going to welcome it with open arms.

Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan.

Then again, neither was becoming a superhero.

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Pre-order on Amazon!

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Nova will learn it takes more than sheer strength to be a superhero. Her world implodes when Fortune strikes back for all the trouble she’s caused. His dangerous games put everyone around her at risk, especially when he decides to turn Arcania against its precious Heroes. Nova wants to protect Arcania, but how does she save a city that doesn’t want her help?

Cole has no idea how to deal with his sister Penelope, especially now that she’s learned the truth about their family secret. Thanks to Fortune, she’s headed down a dark path, one with no return. Torn between helping Nova and protecting his sister, Cole will be forced to make a choice. Tensions rise as Cole and Nova discover war will come to Arcania if they don’t get Fortune off the streets…or preferably six feet under.

Nova and Cole might have each other, but will they lose everything else in their mission to save Arcania?

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Pre-order on Amazon!

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Nova started the fight against Fortune for simple revenge, but now it’s turned into something much bigger. Arcania’s criminals are at each other’s throats, putting the city right in the middle of a warzone. She’ll have to work with a few unlikely allies to end Fortune’s games once and for all. Nova thought she understood what it meant to be a superhero, but will she have to lose herself to truly defeat Fortune?

Fortune has given Cole a choice, one with unbearable consequences. When Cole takes matters into his own hands to save his sister Penelope, he realizes too late he’s another pawn in Fortune’s games. Fortune will use Cole’s gift against his enemies…including Nova. Cole will have to become the hero he always wanted to be if he’s going to protect the love of his life.

Nova and Cole could finally save Arcania from Fortune’s deadly games, but are they willing to sacrifice each other?

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Pre-order on Amazon!

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About the Author:

Liz Long is a proud graduate of Longwood University. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her day job includes writing for a magazine publisher in Roanoke, VA.

The Donovan Circus series has best been described as “X-Men meets the circus.” Adult horror story Witch Hearts tells the tale of a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. New Adult PNR A Reaper Made is about a teen Reaper who gets caught between falling in love or saving her sister’s soul. All titles are available for paperback or ebook on Amazon.

To learn more about Liz (including more information on her books, plus writing, marketing, and social media tips), visit her website.

Review: The Season of You and Me by Robin Constantine (Giveaway)

May20

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

The Season of You and Me by Robin Constantine
Published by Balzer + Bray on May 10, 2016
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Cassidy Emmerich is determined to make this summer—the last before her boyfriend heads off to college—unforgettable. What she doesn’t count on is her boyfriend breaking up with her. Now, instead of being poolside with him, Cass is over a hundred miles away, spending the summer with her estranged father and his family at their bed-and-breakfast at the Jersey Shore and working as the newest counselor at Camp Manatee.

Bryan Lakewood is sick of nevers. You’ll never walk. You’ll never surf. You’ll never slow dance with your date at prom. One miscalculated step and Bryan’s life changed forever—now he’s paralyzed and needs to use a wheelchair. This is the first summer he’s back at his former position at Camp Manatee and ready to reclaim some of his independence, in spite of those who question if he’s up for the job.

Cass is expecting two months dealing with heartbreak.
Bryan is expecting a summer of tough adjustments.
Neither of them is expecting to fall in love.

Robin Constantine was one of the first authors I worked with back when I was a newbie blogger. Her book, The Promise of Amazing, was one of the first books that made me fall in love with YA contemporary (I was more of a sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural/dystopian fan before that). I’ve been a huge fan of Robin and her books ever since. But I must say… The Season of You and Me was by far my favorite of her books! And that’s saying A LOT, considering how much I adored her other two!! Everything about The Season of You and Me – from the epic plot to the amazing/lovable characters – had me hooked!

Cassidy (Cass) and Bryan were amazing. I loved their chemistry right off the bat! I loved how strong they both were, despite the adversities in their lives – especially Bryan, who never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him or treat him differently. And Cass never did. Of all Robin Constantine’s characters and relationships (from all her books), they’re definitely my OTP!

I loved the cast of secondary characters in this book, as well. Everyone had a part to play and everyone felt realistic and important. I especially liked the friendships – something Constantine has always been great at writing.

One of my favorite things about this book? The functional step-family dynamic. This is something we rarely – if ever – see in Young Adult fiction and it was just SO refreshing. Usually the main character hates her stepmom/dad or vice versa or the step-siblings despise each other and make things difficult for each other. That was NOT the case in this book and I really, really loved that. We rarely even see “normal” families (“normal” being subjective, of course) that are functional in YA, but we NEVER see families with step-parents/siblings that are functional. It was just.. Perfection.

I also loved the setting and plot of this book. Sometimes, books set during summer vacations or summer camp settings are very cliche, over-emphasizing the idea of fresh starts and getting away from whatever is plaguing the main character (so, basically, “sun, fun and freedom!”). While some of that did happen with Cass in the beginning, it quickly became more than that and it just felt.. Right. I know that’s vague, but… I can’t explain it. So I recommend you go and read it so you can see just what I mean!

Overall, I (obviously) highly recommend this book! If you’ve read Robin Constantine’s previous books, you’ll love it! And if you haven’t, I definitely recommend you read all three! You don’t have to read her other two books to read this one, but I guarantee if you read this one, you’ll want to read the other two! She’s that awesome! I’m so excited to see what she does next – though I can’t help but cross my fingers for another Cass & Bryan book!

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And now for an epic giveaway! Thanks to Robin, I have a signed ARC of The Season of You and Me (US Only) for one lucky follower! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

-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.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway