Feb 28, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #66

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Author: Jay Coles
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 304
Release Date: March 20, 2018

Synopsis:
"When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean. "

Feb 27, 2018

EVERLIFE by Gena Showalter Out Today! Plus Pre-Order Giveaway

Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Everlife #3
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 304
Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:
"STAND TOGETHER OR FALL ALONE.THE FATE OF THE EVERLIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.At seventeen years old, Tenley “Ten” Lockwood needed to make the ultimate choice—where to live after she died. Loyalty to her selected realm has not wavered…until now. The numbers-obsessed Conduit is out of time. Sacrifices must be made, and a terrible price must be paid. But is she too late?As the Everlife descends into darkness, a single truth becomes clear: Troika and Myriad must unite in the end—or perish. As a way to bring sworn enemies together, Ten must enter forbidden territory…and destroy the powerful Prince of Ravens. But there’s only one way inside—bonding with Killian Flynn, a deadly rival Laborer who sets her blood aflame.When nothing goes as planned and betrayal results in the edge of utter defeat, Ten and Killian must rebuild agree with from the ashes in their hearts. Victory seems not possible; the odds stacked against them. In spite of everything, how far will they be willing to go for the sake of their realms and the Everlife?" 

"Utterly unique and absolutely riveting—I couldn’t put it down! What a marvelously cool world." —Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author, on Firstlife



The identity of our intruders clicks. Two Troikan Generals: Shamus Campbell and Luciana Rossi. Behind them, four La­borers I’ve never met. A total of six invaders.

6: symbolizes beauty and high ideals. The sixth sense: ESP. The sixth astrological sign in the Zodiac: Virgo.

Focus! A soft pitter-patter of footfalls echoes outside the cave. More TLs?

Killian isn’t safe.

Panic claws its way up the ridges of my spine, and my blood f lash-freezes. I strain with all my might, desperate to move, but my body refuses to cooperate. Every attempt to raise my arms threatens to pop my shoulders out of joint. I don’t care. Nothing will halt my efforts.

“Kill, kill.” Between each command—desire?—Killian snarls like a wounded animal. “Kill!”

Shamus, a big, barrel-chested redhead with pale skin and countless freckles, slams a fist against his armor-clad chest to gain my attention. His dark eyes are narrowed, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “What did you do, Miss Lockwood? And do no’ tell me nothin’.” His accent is similar to Killian’s.

Luciana, a slender brunette with lovely brown skin and startling gray irises, backs away from me, horror contorting her expression. “I’ll tell you what she did. She doomed us all.”

Doomed…

Is she right? She can’t be. She just can’t.

I look down at Killian. My new husband is pulling at hanks of his hair.

Hopes, falling from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

“Out,” Shamus snarls at the TLs. “Now.”

All four soldiers rush from the cave without protest.

I stiffen. The General has evened the odds. Two against two. A foolish move for a war-seasoned veteran. Unless he got rid of any witnesses…

Willing to use my body as a shield, I push through the pain—snap. My shoulder does pop out of joint. Or maybe back into joint. Air wheezes from my lungs. Worth it! Finally, I can move. I crawl toward Killian, every inch I gain only adding fuel to an already blazing fire of agony.

Can’t stop. No, won’t stop. Determination drives me. I only wish it gave me wings.

“Kill. Must kill.” Killian is lost in a world of his own.

“You won’t be killing anyone, you son of a Myriad troll.” With a hand curled around the hilt of a sword, Shamus stalks toward him.

“Stop! He doesn’t know what he’s saying right now.” My voice is barely audible, my gaze locked on my love. So close, yet so far away. Desperation slams a spike straight through my heart.

Any other day, I would have used the comm built into the forearm of spirit and Shell. With the press of a few buttons, it could transport me to Killian’s side and, as long as some part of me is touching some part of him, whisk us both somewhere else. Somewhere safe. Like a fool, I disabled the device to hide from fellow Troikans while meeting with Killian.

I should have known they’d find me one way or another.

“Stop,” I repeat, even as I gain another inch. “That’s an order.” As a Conduit, I outrank the Generals. As a newbie to the Everlife, however, my exalted rank doesn’t really mean squat.

“We can’t hurt him,” Luciana grates. She extends her arm, stopping Shamus in his tracks. “You’ve effectively tied our hands, Miss Lockwood.”

Though the shadows are no longer slithering through my mind, I’m not exactly thinking straight. I struggle to make sense of her words, finally throw in the towel. “I don’t understand.”

“You bonded to him, did you not?” She spits the words as if they taste foul in her mouth. “That bond forces us to spare Myriad’s favorite butcher and watch as you, one of only two Conduits, slowly descends into madness.”

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two-time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated into multiple languages.

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


ORDER EVERLIFE AND GET A FIRSTLIFE POSTER!

Order* a digital or print edition of EVERLIFE by Gena Showalter and get a FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format from Gena! Each entry* will also be entered for the chance to win a Grand Prize! Grand Prize consists of a signed copy of FIRSTLIFE and LIFEBLOOD, Betsey Johnson purse, Rebecca Monroe Bear cap, and Sparkling Zebra necklace.

Just CLICK HERE, scroll down, and then enter your name, age, email address, and the order number from your digital or print edition order receipt to receive your FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format! All entrants will receive the FIRSTLIFE poster in .pdf format on March 4, 2018 through email using the email given when the entrant filled out THIS FORM.

iBooks entries should be screenshot and uploaded or the entrant will have to wait until they receive their confirmation email to fill out the form.

**This opportunity will stay available for readers to enter through 11:59pm EST on March 3, 2018 in order to allow everyone a chance to enter. See Official Rules for details.**

*Alternate method of entry available. No purchase necessary to enter to win. See Official Rules for details.

Feb 26, 2018

Review: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Author: Jeannette Walls
Publisher: Scribner
Number of Pages: 288
Goodreads I Amazon

Synopsis:

"A tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave the author the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story."
I read this book because I heard the movie was coming out, and I had heard really good things about it from my friends. Although when I started reading it I was forcing myself to read for about the first 100 pages. I was not interested in her story, although I did feel sympathetic due to the situations and the lifestyle she had to endure. Thus, it took me about two months to get through that because I had no motivation to read it. Then, I participated in a read-a-thon, so I told myself I had to finish it. Then I read the second half of the book in one night.

The book really starts to pick up during the second half, and I don't think that has much to do with the content of the book. The events of the book became more spread out, so more years were covered in fewer pages which kept up my suspense. I became more interested in the ending of the memoir, so I was more motivated to read.


This memoir was very well written, and it deserves all the acclaim it has received throughout the years. This is the type of stories and lives that deserve to be told because they bring attention to the poverty and other issues that exist in America and hopefully influences people to do something about. Just because I was not motivated to read the beginning of this book does not mean that it was not good so I would encourage you guys to read this if you are interested about reading memoirs of children who grew up in troubled families.

Overall, it took awhile, but I ended up really enjoying this memoir! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read more memoirs or biographies or anyone who just wants to try! I know this is a little different since it is not a YA book, but I've been trying to branch out a bit, so this was definitely a success!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
   

Feb 21, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #65

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I chose... Children of Blood and Bone!
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 448
Release Date: March 6, 2018


Synopsis:
"Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy."


I think I first found out about this book on Twitter where a video of the author, Tomi, very emotionally holding her book in her hands for the first time. I thought it was so awesome to see someone so passionate about their work, and the synopsis sounds awesome too! I'm really excited to check this one out.

Feb 20, 2018

Top Ten Books I’ve Decided I’m No Longer Interested In Reading

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I am so glad this top ten Tuesday came about because it was the perfect opportunity to weed out my Goodreads TBR list which has steadily been growing since 2011. I started off at 118 books on my list and ended up with 62 books! It feels really refreshing, and I encourage you all to do the same if you have the time. I obviously removed more than ten, but here are a couple of books I no longer want to read.


1. Hourglass by Myra McEntire



















2. Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter


















3. Unremembered by Jessica Brody



















4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman



















5. These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly















6. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler


















7. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff


















8. Live Through This by Mindi Scott


















9. Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly


















10. Crash by Nicole Williams





Feb 16, 2018

A Relevant Read: Violent Ends

Hello, I just wanted to write a short post recommending Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinson. I have previously written a review of this book which you can check out here. I rated it with 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Authors: Shaun David Hutchinson, Kendare Blake, Steve Brezenoff, Delilah S. Dawson, Trish Doller, Margie Gelbwasser, E.M. Kokie, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Tom Leveen, Hannah Moskowitz, Elisa Nader, Beth Revis, Mindi Scott, Neal Shusterman, Brandon Shusterman, Courtney Summers, Blythe Woolston, Christine Johnson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Number of Pages: 384
GoodreadsAmazon

Synopsis:
"It took only twenty-two minutes for Kirby Matheson to exit his car, march onto school grounds, enter the gymnasium, and open fire, killing six and injuring five others. 
But this isn't a story about the shooting itself. This isn't about recounting that one unforgettable day.
This is about Kirby and how one boy—who had friends, enjoyed reading, played saxophone in the band, and had never been in trouble before—became a monster capable of entering his school with a loaded gun and firing on his classmates.
Each chapter is told from a different victim's viewpoint, giving insight into who Kirby was and who he'd become. Some are sweet, some are dark; some are seemingly unrelated, about fights or first kisses or late-night parties. 
This is a book of perspectives—with one character and one event drawing them all together—from the minds of some of YA's most recognizable names."
This seems to be a relevant read due to recent events with the Parkland shooting. This story also takes place in a high school and focuses on the victims rather than the shooter, so I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested. 

We would just like everyone to know that we stand with those affected by this senseless tragedy, and would like to voice that now is the time for policy and change.

Feb 14, 2018

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Fighting Fate by Shaila Patel

Fighting Fate (Joining of Souls #2)
by Shaila Patel
Release Date: April 2018
East Girl Publishing

Synopsis:
"Empath Liam Whelan is determined to protect Laxshmi "Lucky" Kapadia, the girl he loves, at all costs--even if it means breaking her heart to keep her alive. Stopping the joining cold means Liam's life is in danger from the Soul Seekers and the ruthless Minister Gagliardi who now has designs on Lucky. Liam has no choice but to find the strength to fight his desires, fight the joining, and fight fate.

After the unthinkable happened, Lucky's "hallucinations" have been working double-time. Heartbroken and plagued by doubts, she meets a man who gives her a mind-blowing explanation for her predicament. Her apparent savior provides her with an escape from her hell: run away with him or return to her drab existence and watch Liam move on with her heart in his hands. All Lucky ever craved was to be in control of her own fate, but when her only choices fight against her heart, can she find the strength to battle for what she wants?"


Pre-Order Links: Amazon | Kobo | Indigo


Book One:
(Linked to Amazon) 



Under the cover of her porch, I returned her bag to her. We moved apart. With the connection broken, she let out a shuddering sob. The pain of separating from her hit me square in the chest. I wanted to hold and comfort her, but I was already making a dog’s dinner of this just by being here. This would set her back—set us both back.
She turned away from me. Her hand shot up to her mouth, and her shoulders shook. I instinctively stepped forward, but all I could do was curl my fingers into my palms to keep from touching her.
“I miss you so much, Liam,” she said, the words choked out between hoarse cries. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not supposed to be weak.” She slapped away her tears and turned to face me. A bolt of lightning cracked nearby. I couldn’t stay. The tingling was pulling us together like it was some sort of magnetic current.
“You’re not weak. I miss you too, Lucky.”
Her eyes grew cold in an instant. The fury of the sandstorm I sensed from her made me gasp, and I stumbled back. “Jaysus, Lucky.” We were crossing interpretations again. I was reading her emotions as air metaphors instead.
She barreled toward me, her hands balled up, apparently unaware of the effect her anger had on me. “You have no right to miss me. You left me!” She beat her fists against my chest, and I had to grab her by the wrists to stop her.
“Are you thinkin’ this has been easy for me?”
She wriggled free from my grip. “Whose fault is that?” she yelled above a roll of thunder. I didn’t want her to see the pain on my face, so I turned away, holding myself up on the white, wooden railing. The whirlpool of her anguish surrounded me, making my head ache.
I took a deep breath and lowered my voice. “Lucky, I broke my promises to you. For that, I’m truly sorry. But I had little enough choice. None of that changes my feelings for you.”
“I’m not The One, so it’s time to move on. Is that it? Regardless of how you feel? Of how I feel?” Her voice cracked. “You’re a coward.”
I heard her fumbling for her keys. She’d be inside soon, and I’d rather be fighting with her on the porch than be without her.
“So where next, hmm?” she asked. “North Dakota? Vermont? Ooo, I know. You should go to India. You could play this game for the rest of your life!”
I turned to face her. Her sarcasm was brutal, but I deserved all that and more.
She tried to unlock her door, but the keys slipped from her grip. She stooped to pick them up, but her fingers were shaking so badly, she dropped them again.
“Dammit!” She crouched a second time and sucked back another sob.
I swept down and set my hands over hers to steady them. Taking the keys, I unlocked the door, followed her inside, and bundled her in a blanket from off the sofa. Lucky didn’t protest. We stood there, dripping water on her mum’s carpet, staring into each other’s eyes. Grabbing fistfuls of the covering around her neck, I gently rocked her, tugging her closer, fighting the craving to kiss her. My breaths came out fast and shallow, and only clinging to the material with both hands kept me from sneaking a touch of her soft skin. If I didn’t leave now, I’d stay because I didn’t have an ounce of the strength she had. Maybe I was the coward she’d accused me of being.




As an unabashed lover of all things happily-ever-after, Shaila Patel's younger self would finish reading her copy of Cinderella and chuck it across the room because it didn't mention what happened next. Now she writes from her home in the Carolinas and dreams up all sorts of stories with epilogues. A member of the Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, she's a pharmacist by training, a medical office manager by day, and a writer by night. SOULMATED, her debut novel and the first book in the Joining of Souls Series, was the winner of the 2015 Chanticleer Book Reviews Paranormal Awards for Young Adult. Book 2, FIGHTING FATE releases April 2018. She loves craft beer, tea, and reading in cozy window seats—but she'll read anywhere. You might find her sneaking in a few paragraphs at a red light or gushing about her favorite books online.