Out of Play Cover Reveal

Woohoo, thanks to Entangled Teen, I'm helping out with the cover reveal for OUT OF PLAY by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn. If you guys haven't checked this book out yet, you need to. It's being pitched as a combination of WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman and CATCHING JORDAN by Miranda Kenneally.

So, are you ready for it?

1...




2...




3!

"Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—deserve to party, right? Wrong. After taking a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absent-minded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered with the new tenants next door.

Penny’s too hung up on another guy to deal with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy
sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time."

BOOSH! What do you guys think?

*Goodreads
*Amazon
*Barnes and Noble

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. I've got a couple picks for today so without further ado, my "AHHH, I NEED THESE BOOKS" picks!

"Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own."

Why I Can't Wait: Dude, is it just me or does this girl sound like a total badass? I love the cover and how half of it is in black and white and the other in color. I can just feel the darkness (with a hint of hope) jumping off of it! BOOSH, can't wait!

Expected publication: September 10th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
Add it to your Goodreads.

"It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds."

Why I Can't Wait: Okay, seriously...the cover? Gorgeous much? The summary kind of reminds me of a prequel to THE HOST to me but hey, not exactly a bad thing. In fact, it's a fantastic thing!

Expected publication: December 10th 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Add it to your Goodreads.

Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is the Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors. Woot, let's do this thang!

1. Veronica Roth. The woman can do no wrong.

2. Jennifer Echols. She writes some of the best contemporary books I've ever read. I preordered STAR CROSSED and am waiting for it to be delivered. I'm also impatiently waiting for LEVITATING LAS VEGAS and DIRTY LITTLE SECRET to release.

3. Gayle Forman. Because she makes me swoon and cry at the same time.

4. Stephanie Perkins. Do you really have to ask me why?

5. Melina Marchetta. *Sigh* I just love her, that's all.

6. Miranda Kenneally. What can I say? Southern gals love other southern gals!

7. Laini Taylor. I own the hardback of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE and bought the paperback because it has a preview of the sequel in the back. Bought it right when it came out. See? Proof!

8. Lauren Oliver. She's such a rockstar! She also named one of her leading ladies' Lena soooo, ya know. Soft spot. ;-)

9. Lisa Schroeder. She never disappoints me.

10. Sarah Dessen. I look forward to her books every single summer. Please, don't ever stop writing.


Those are my picks! Who are some of your auto-buy authors?

Review: Losing It

Title: Losing It (Losing It #1)
Author: Cora Carmack
Expected paperback publication: February 26th 2013 by William Morrow
Published ebook: December 5th 2012 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Bought ebook
Genre: New Adult (Intended for a more mature audience, i.e. 17 & up)
Goodreads/Amazon

"The Runaway New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible—a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half a brain would ever believe.

And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor.

She'd left him naked in her bed about eight hours earlier. . . ."

First line: "I took a deep breath."

Thoughts: I really should buy more books where I have no expectations going in. Why? Because they always catch me off-guard and blow me away. LOSING IT was the fun, lighthearted and awkward book I needed to lift my spirits. Yes, it's a bit on the cheesy side, but I don't care. It didn't stop me from staying up till the wee hours to finish it. To say I adored it is an understatement.

The book jumps off with the night Bliss, our leading lady, believes she's going to lose her virginity. After telling her friend Kelsey that she's a virgin, Kelsey pushes her to go to a bar and get it over with. After all, who wants to graduate college a virgin (Their thoughts, not mine)? After downing several shots, Bliss begins to believe that maybe mission get-it-out-of-the-way is a bust. Maybe she's over-thinking it? She's about to give up hope when she runs into Garrick. They hit it off right away, and let's just say things start heating up a bit...until it gets awkward.

One of the things I loved about this book is the dialogue. I actually found myself laughing out loud at some of the painfully awkward moments and words falling out of Bliss' mouth. She reminds me so much of myself, and I couldn't help but immediately fall in love with her. She's that friend that makes you laugh without trying and from what I can tell, is there for you when you need her. I'm not going to lie, there were moments where I wanted to shake her and ask her what the heck she's doing but overall, I adored her and her adorable ways.

I was also immediately smittened with Garrick. How can I not fancy the hot British guy? It would be wrong of me not to, right? Right. Some of the scenes between him and Bliss literally had me panting, sweating, and screaming for more. They ended far too soon, and I was stuck waiting and waiting until they had another steamy encounter. I loved that he was a little possessive over Bliss but there were times where I did wished he'd butt out, especially when it came to her friendship with Cade. To be fair, I really liked him throughout the book, but I didn't love him till the epilogue. It's told through his point of view and oh my gosh, made me wishing more of the book was told through his eyes. Sa-wooooooooooon! Needless to say, the author really should consider writing some shorts through Garrick's eyes, especially one where him and Bliss first meet.

The only real issue I had with this book is how some of the characters viewed sex as something to just get out of the way. Obviously, there's a theme of love in this book (which I, get this, loved) and yes, I know very many people believe this, but I'm also an advocate for waiting until you find someone you love and loves you back. I do believe the main character redeems herself and stays true to who she is, but if I'm being honest, it did annoy me that she even thought about getting drunk and getting it out of the way.

Also, some of the characters sometimes got on my nerves. I didn't really like how pushy Kelsey was, but can see why she is the way she is. I do believe she thinks she's helping and is being a good friend but sometimes, she just needed to back off a bit. There's a part in the book where I just wanted to tell every single character to get their sh*t together. No wonder they're theatre students! So much drama for something so trivial but hey, it definitely made for an interesting read. You know you're passionate about the book when the characters get your temper boiling!

All in all, I really enjoyed LOSING IT and recommend it to all fans of New Adult and older YA fans. It's funny, it's quirky, it's simply awesome. To prove to you how much I enjoyed LOSING IT, I keep rereading all of my favorite scenes and haven't been able to start anything new. Really, I liked it that much. I cannot wait to read Cade's story and am counting down the days till FAKING IT's release. Bliss and Garrick better be in it. Do you hear me, Cora? They better be in it!

Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“Sex.
I was going to have sex.
With a boy.
A hot boy.
A hot BRITISH boy.
Or maybe I was going to throw up.
What if I threw up on the hot British boy?
What if I threw up on the hot British boy DURING SEX?”

“'SERIOUSLY? Is it because of Jesus? Are you, like, saving yourself for him?' Sex seemed simpler for Kelsey. She had the body of a Barbie and the sexually-charged brain of a teenage boy.
'No, Kelsey,' I said. 'It would be a little difficult to save myself for someone who died over two thousand years ago.'"

“'What's your name, love?'
Love? LOVE! Still dying, here.
'Bliss.'
'Is that a line?'
I blushed crimson. 'No, it's my name.'
'Lovely name for a lovely girl.'"

Stacking The Shelves + Weekly Round-Up

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Last weekend in February. We better make it a good one!


For Review:
*Golden by Jessi Kirby (goodreads)
*Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2) by Wendy Higgins (goodreads)
*The End Games by T. Michael Martin (goodreads)

Gifted:
*17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma (Signed! Yay!) (goodreads)
*White Lines by Jennifer Banash (goodreads)
*Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols (goodreads)

Also For Review:

*This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith (goodreads)

Bought:


*Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik (goodreads)


*Losing It by Cora Carmack (goodreads). I literally saw this on April (From Good Books and Good Wine)'s instagram, looked it up on Goodreads and said eh, sounds good to me. Also helps that Karen (From For What It's Worth) gave it four stars. Four stars from Karen is basically ten stars from me.


Weekly Round-Up:

*Where I fangirl over THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay.
*Pitch Dark Days Blog Tour- Review + Giveaway of MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza. You could win a signed finished copy! SA-WEET!




And that's all, folks! Hope you guys are having a fantabulous weekend! XOXO

Review + Giveaway: Mila 2.0

Title: Mila 2.0 (goodreads/Amazon)
Author: Debra Driza
Expected publication: March 12th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review

"Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel."

First line: "Beyond the eastern border of Greenwood Rach, orange poured across the sky, edging the clouds like flames."

Thoughts: MILA 2.0 is an adrenaline pumping suspense that will have your heart racing from the beginning till the very end. With more twists and turns than a roller-coaster, this book will have you guessing (and possibly holding your breath) over and over again. Are you right or are you wrong? That surely is the question of the hour!

From the very start, the book has you wondering what kind of world (and "person") Mila is. You, as the reader, want to pretend she's human but from the summary and cover, you know better. On the other hand, poor Mila (bless her heart) does not. She thinks she's just your stereotypical teenage girl, worrying about school, crushing on boys and living the ho-hum life in suburbia. Well, as you know, the ball has to eventually drop. In this case, though, the ball is about the size of an asteroid because now her and her mother are on the run. This is when she finds out that she's not a human but an android and the woman she calls mom is not really her mother. Imagine finding out that you're not like everyone else. Heck, imagine finding out that you're not even a human being! Those memories, that life she thought she had, are all lies, programmed inside of her to create this image of her so called life. What she thought she knew is far from what she truly is. Freakish, right?

The book is broken down into four parts. I really enjoyed this because I felt like I was reading a mini series rather than a drawn out book. Each part, however, ends in cliffhanger after cliffhanger, so really, you can't help but to keep going. Sadly, I did have an issue with the pacing. At times, it just fell a bit flat. This didn't last long (Thank goodness) because right when I was ready to put the book down, something crazy would happen and we'd be back to the good stuff.

Mila. What can I really say about Mila herself? To be honest, in the first half of the book, I didn't really like her. I was expecting this strong, badass heroine that would punch douche-bags in the face. Instead, she came off as a bit weak. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because hey, maybe she was programmed to be like that. Heck, her life is in shambles so you can't really blame the girl for whining, right? Maybe it was all a setup because in the second half of the book, she begins to redeem herself. That strong, independent girl I was expecting to see begins to rise from the ashes, so to speak, and that's when I begin to admire her.

Let's talk about the romance for a bit or rather lack thereof. In the beginning, I thought things had the possibility of becoming swoony. You're introduced to Hunter, Mila's crush and possibly more, and things seem to be moving along nicely. I kept waiting for something more to happen but then, after part 2, he just disappears. I thought he'd might randomly show up because hey, weird things happen sometimes, but the only presence he has is in Mila's memories. You do meet a character named Lucas and even though nothing really happens between them, the possibility is there. Basically, the romance can be summed up in one word: Possibilities. Only the second book will tell, and I (for one) am looking forward to it.

Overall, I really enjoyed MILA 2.0 and recommend it to all sci-fi and contemporary fans out there. It's not too sci-fi to ward contemporary fans off and not too contemporary to ward off sci-fi fans. Basically, it's the perfect blend of both. I do recommend checking out Debra's Goodreads Page for a soundtrack to the book. It's kind of perfect and will definitely gives the story that extra kick.


Rating:

Giveaway!!!


As part of the Pitch Dark Days blog tour (and thanks to Harper Teen), I am giving away one SIGNED finished copy of MILA 2.0. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is only open to US participants and ends March 11. The winner will be announced the next day (Release day!).

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour, and don't forget about the Twitter chat on February 26th at 8:30 EST. All of your favorite Pitch Dark Days authors will be there. These fabulous authors are also on tour so be sure to catch them at one of their stops!

Blog Tour:
Feb 8 Fragments @ Emily's Reading Room
Feb 12 Requiem @ YA Sisterhood
Feb 14 Spellcaster @ Two Chicks on Books
Feb 19 Mind Games @ IB Book Blogging

Guest Posts/Interviews Blog Tour:
Feb 26 Fragments @ Emily's Reading Room
Feb 28 Requiem @ YA Sisterhood
Mar 5 Spellcaster @ Two Chicks on Books
Mar 6 Mila 2.0 @ Addicted 2 Novels
Mar 7 Mind Games @ IB Book Blogging

Tour Stops:
Mar 6 Provo Library, Provo, UT
Mar 7 University Books, Seattle, WA
Mar 8 Barnes & Noble, Clackamas, OR
Mar 9 Tualatin Library, Tualatin, OR
Mar 9 Eugene Library, Eugene, OR

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Sea of Tranquility

Title: The Sea of Tranquility (goodreads/Amazon)
Author: Katja Millay
Published on Kindle: November 13th 2012 by Atria Books
Expected paperback publication: June 4th 2013 by Atria Books
Source: Copy sent by the publisher for an honest review

"I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Please Note: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language."

First line: "I hate my left hand."

Thoughts: I cannot even begin to tell you how much THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY tore me apart, ripped me open only to mend me and tear me up again. How can I even begin to describe a book with so much intensity and soul? Honestly, I still don't know if I can. Heck, I've been working on this review for over a month and still don't know where to start. To start, I just want to warn you that this book will make you cry and make your heart ache, but you are going to love every single minute of it!

The story is told from both Nastya and Josh's point of view. As a fan of alternating view points, I was excited to read about both characters and how they interact with one another. What I wasn't expecting was their agonizing backgrounds. You immediately find out why Josh is the way he is and instantly want to jump into the book and hold him (even though he'd most likely punch you in the face). Nastya's story, on the other hand, is more like an onion. As the story progresses, you slowly peel back one layer at a time till you finally realize what happened to her. Even then, you don't get the full story until close to the very end. None of it is pretty. It's excruciating yet lovely. Even after everything, these two teenagers are creating something beautiful in the midst of it all. The emotions can becoming overwhelming, but they are so worth it.

Honestly, I cannot sum up Nastya and Josh's relationship other than to say that it's one of the best romances I have ever read. I love how neither of them want to breakdown this wall they've built and yet, with each other, they do. Their obvious attraction and bond is the reason I stayed up till all sorts of wee hours to read this book. It's not always easy. In fact, it's hardly ever easy but it's exquisite nonetheless.

One of my favorite characters in this book is Drew. Everyone in the world needs a Drew in their life. There's so much to be felt and somehow, Drew seems to lighten things up. He brings the humor, loyalty, and friendship. To be frank, I thought I was going to hate him. I thought he was your stereotypical cocky boywhore and was just bad news bears. As he appeared more and more throughout the story, I realized that much like the two main characters, he's just misunderstood. There's a good guy packed in there somewhere, and I'm glad I got to see the real Drew.

Overall, I highly (HIGHLY) recommend to everyone that you pick up a copy of THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY as soon as you can. To show you how much I truly cherish this book, I recommended it to one of my best friends. I never recommend books to this girl because as far as picky readers go, she takes the cake. This skeptical girl (whom I adore) loved every single minute of it. We both actually teared up while discussing THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY with one another and promptly wanted to reread it. If that doesn't prove to you how awe-inspiring and breathtaking THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY is, I don't know what will.



Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“He's kissing me. And when he does, part of me is lost. But it's the part that's twisted and mangled and wrong, and for just that moment, with his hands in my hair and his lips on my mouth, I can pretend that it never existed.”

“Just so you know,” I inform him, “one day, I’m going to get tired of sharing your affection with that coffee table and I’m going to make you choose.” “Just so you know,” he mimics me, “I would chop that table up and use it for firewood before I would ever choose anything over you.”

“What? Sunshine fits you. It's bright and warm and happy. Just. Like. You.”

Stacking The Shelves + Weekly Round-Up

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. I haven't posted one of these in a couple weeks so let's go ahead and get this party started! Giggidy!


For Review:
*Fragments (Partials Sequence #2) by Dan Wells (goodreads)
*The Ward by Jordana Frankel (goodreads)
*Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike (goodreads)
*Shards and Ashes Edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong (goodreads) (Already read Veronica Roth's story and it was AWESOME.)
*The Trouble With Flirting by Claire LaZebnik (goodreads)
*Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike (goodreads)


For Review:
*Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) by Kristen Simmons (goodreads)

Gifted:
*Rise (Nightshade Prequel #2) by Andrea Cremer (goodreads) (THANK YOU, ALEXA from Alexa Loves Books!!! Love you, twinie!)
*Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) by Lauren DeStefano (goodreads) (THANK YOU, BEKKY from Stories & Sweeties!!! You ROCK! *HUGS*)

Bought:

*Breathe by Sarah Crossan (goodreads)

*The Girl of Fire and Thorn by Rae Carson (goodreads)

*The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (goodreads)

*The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski (goodreads)


Weekly Round-Up:
*Interview and giveaway with Ally Carter.
*My picks for the Top Ten Romances In Books.
*Waiting on Wednesday featuring books by Holly Black and C.J. Redwine
*Valentine's Day giveaway for those who love love. Win any book with at least a hint of romance.



That's all, folks! I hope you guys are having a fabulous week. Feel free to leave links to your mailbox posts below, and I'll drop by sometime today. Love y'all!!!

Valentine's Day Giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day!!! No one loves love more than me (and maybe you) and to celebrate, I'm giving away any book of your choice. The catch is it has to have some romance in it. Just think of all the books out there with even a hint of romance. You can pick STAR CROSSED by Jennifer Echols or REQUIEM (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver or even THINGS I CAN'T FORGET by Miranda Kenneally. The possibilities are endless.

To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to international participants (provided The Book Depository delivers to you) and will end on March 14th. I do ask that the winner keep the book under $20. I'm not rich, folks!

Good luck, and may the love be ever in your favor.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. I've got a couple picks this week, so let's get this party started!

"COLDTOWN WAS DANGEROUS, TANA KNEW. A GLAMOROUS CAGE, A PRISON FOR THE DAMNED AND ANYONE WHO WANTED TO PARTY WITH THEM.

Tana lived in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself."

Why I Can't Wait: It's written by Holly Black. Enough said.

Expected publication: September 17th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Add it to your Goodreads.


***This is the sequel to DEFIANCE. The summary may contain spoilers.***

"Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight."

Why I Can't Wait: Can I just say how much I adore the cover? I loved, loved, loved DEFIANCE and have been dying for the sequel to come out. I need more Logan and Rachel time!

Expected publication: August 27th 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Add it to your Goodreads.



What books are you guys excited about?

Top Ten Romances In Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is the top ten romances in books. Y'all, I LOVE this topic! Let's do this!

I will forever be a fan of Lola and Cricket.

Lovers reunited, heartache, angst, and all from Adam's point of view. Isn't he the swooniest?

OMG, the romance in this book is amazeballs. Ahh, I get chills just thinking about it.

Love Anna and Bennett! <3

*sigh* This book is obviously more than just a romance book, but it's still so flippin' good.

Rachel + Logan = <3

Is there anything more romantic than star-crossed lovers? Didn't think so!

(Best picture I could find!) I don't think I've been this affected by a book since...I don't know when. The Sea of Tranquility is about so much more than just romance, but that doesn't change the fact that the romance factor is incredible.

Lawdy, I love this book. This book is a prime example that you don't need sex and booty to build a fabulous romance.

A beautiful romance mixed into a lovely story? Win!







There you have it, folks! What are some of your favorite romances in books?

Interview + Giveaway With Ally Carter

Ally and me at ATBF last year.
Before Ally's signing at Murder By The Book last Wednesday, I had the privileged of sitting down with her (and Kate from Ex Libris) and chatting with her about heists, movies, books, and more. Y'all, she is just as fun as her books are. Ch-ch-check it out!


1. How do you come up with the concepts for the heists? Do movies and books inspire you?

Yes. I've always loved books and movies about heists, especially The Sting. The Sting is a classic. I'm also a fan of Ocean's Eleven. One of the fun things about creating and imagining the heists is I create the security systems, so it's easy for me to figure out how they'll break in because I created the cameras. If you ever want to be a thief, start developing security systems! Not only do I have to con the characters in the books, I also have to con the readers.

2. How do you know so much about art?

Google. Research. I would love to take an art history class one day. Whenever I was writing about the paintings during the Holocaust, I had to do a lot of research. I didn't want to accidently write about a painting that came out in the 1960s. I'm also realizing that I'm reusing a lot of the same artists and should start researching others.

3. Are you ever going to tell us what the W.W. stands for?

Yes...eventually. I'm having too much fun with the mystery. I know what the W.W. stands for but I'm not telling anyone any time soon. Whenever I was writing about Hale's family, I couldn't have them call him Hale in front of Kat. They wouldn't call him that. I had to think of a nick name (Scooter).

4. Is there some place you'd like to write about? A place you'd like the characters to pull a heist?

I'd like to write more about South America. Also, I have a big readership in Australia and New Zealand so possibly there, ya know, as my way of tipping my hat to them. Maybe Eastern Europe. Poland. One of the things about writing these places is I always write about them first and then think oh, I should have traveled there beforehand. Spending time on a yacht in Monaco? I could have written that off as a tax exemption!

5. Will you ever write any of the books from another character's point of view, like Gabrielle's or Hale's?

Possibly. One of the questions people asked me on the last tour is if the Gallagher girls would ever meet the heist society crew. I said I didn't know and now look...there's DOUBLE CROSSED. I had so much fun writing that novella and wouldn't mind continuing it so who knows.

6. How many more books will there be in the Heist Society? Gallagher Girls?

Well, with the Gallagher Girls, it'll be hard to write more considering all the characters die in book 6.

*silence*

I'M KIDDING! As long as people read them, I'm happy to write them. One of the things going into writing HEIST SOCIETY is I wanted to write a series where it didn't matter if you picked up the third book or the second book. Is this book seven? It doesn't matter because each book has a beginning and has an end. It's something you don't see often in YA because everyone wants the big trilogy. I wanted to write something like Nancy Drew. It's better to read them in order because the relationships develop, but it's not necessary.



Ally, thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. Special thanks to Disney Hyperion for putting all of this together and for the fabulous people at Murder By The Book for being so awesome. It's giveaway time. Want a signed copy of HEIST SOCIETY? All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end March 1 and is only open to US participants.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.


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Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #15

Last clue. Are you guys ready?

Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #14

Second to last clue, guys. Are y'all ready for this jelly?

Review: Just One Day

Title: Just One Day (goodreads/Amazon)
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: January 8th 2013 by Dutton Juvenile
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review
Goodreads/Amazon

"A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!"

First line: "What if Shakespeare had it wrong?"

Thoughts: You had me at Paris, boys and love. I may be a little bias because going into this book, I knew I'd love it. After all, Gayle is one of my favorite authors. With that said, I immediately I had high expectations. Will this book top WHERE SHE WENT? I think it's safe to say that JUST ONE DAY exceeded all my expectations and more. JUST ONE DAY is an exquisite novel about breaking all the rules, finding who you really are, and first love. Did you really expect less from Gayle Forman? I didn't think so.

The novel is broken down into two parts. With the title, I originally thought it would take place in the course of a day. While it does (Part One), it also spans out into what happens after. I'm so glad the author decided to do this because with the way the first half of the book ended, I don't think I could stand waiting another year to find out the rest! Can you imagine that sort of aching? ICK!

The entire story is told through Allyson aka Lulu's point of view. It all begins with a train ride and a girl's quest for adventure. Enter Williem. She wasn't expecting to fall in love. Heck, she thought the trip was practically over and was ready to go home and start college. The thing is, when Williem offers her a train ticket to Paris, how can she refuse? Cute Dutch boy with his crazy sprinkles bread offering her a chance of a lifetime? Ever so cautious, Allyson takes a leap and goes for it.

One of the many things I love about this book is the author's attention to detail. It's obvious she's traveled to these places and with the way it's written, it makes me want to travel there, too. Hello, macarons? I want some! I'm still weary about hagelslag but if Williem says it's good, it must be. Thank you, Gayle, for reminding us that half the fun in traveling is the food. My only grievance is on the subject of Nutella. How can someone hate Nutella? It's delicious!

Let's talk about the characters for a bit. I cannot tell you how much I adore Allyson. She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. Reserved yet craving adventure. I love that she never tells Williem her real name. She just let's him call her Lulu and owns it. She's willing to take a leap of faith, to just live in the moment and be someone else, and I really admire her for it. With Allyson comes...no, not Willeim. Dee. I cannot write this review without mentioning Dee. While Allyson drifts from her childhood friend Melanie and parents (because let's be honest, it often happens as we get older), Dee fills that void with something she needs more. Her friends are still her friends, the way her parents will always be her parents, but Dee gives her this support that no one else can and helps her figure out who she really is. Maybe she's not just Allyson or Lulu. Maybe she's more than all of it.

Finally, Williem. To be honest with you, I don't know how I feel about Williem. I love him but I also hate him. Upon finishing JUST ONE DAY, I was left with all these unanswered questions dwelling inside me, and most of them revolve around Williem. I'm fairly certain all will be revealed in JUST ONE YEAR (after all, it's written in his point of view), but for now, I shall remain neutral when it comes to him.

Overall, for romance lovers and travelers everywhere, I highly recommend reading JUST ONE DAY. Your only regret will be that you can't immediately start JUST ONE YEAR and will feel a bit tortured (yes, tortured) waiting for the sequel. Honestly, my review doesn't do this book justice. Experience it. Live it. Love it.


Rating:

“Part of me knows one more day won't do anything except postpone the heartbreak. But another part of me believes differently. We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.”

“I think everything is happening all the time, but if you don't put yourself in the path of it, you miss it."

“He looks at one of the pictures for a long time. Then he looks at me. 'I'll keep you up here.' He taps his temple. 'Where you can't get lost.'”

Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #13

And we're back with lucky #13. I wonder what it could be...

Stay tuned tomorrow for clue #14!

Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #12

Ahh, time for 12! Isn't it crazy how time flies? Let's do this, shall we?

WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA!!! Be sure to check in for #13!


*Bloodlines Website
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*Bloodlines trailer
*Bloodlines excerpt

Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #11

I can't believe we're already at clue #11. Only four more clues left after this! Are you ready???

Why is he looking for Syndney?! AHHH!!!

*Bloodlines Website
*Bloodlines Facebook page
*Bloodlines trailer
*Bloodlines excerpt

Who Is Marcus Finch? Clue #10

It's time for #10. Does it involve men? Hen? Possibly a den? We shall see!

HOLY COW!!! Who is Marcus Finch, indeed!

*Bloodlines Website
*Bloodlines Facebook page
*Bloodlines trailer
*Bloodlines excerpt

Cinders & Sapphires Character Interview : Rose

Rose Cliffe was born sixteen years in the village neighboring Somerton Court. She moved to Somerton at age seven, when her mother, Mrs. Cliffe, took up the post of housekeeper. Though she knows the great house doesn’t truly belong to her, Rose can’t help but think of Somerton as home. Now that the young ladies of the Averley family have returned to Somerton, Rose looks after them. Her swift promotion to ladies’ maid has raised many eyebrows among the staff, and Rose must face not only their malicious gossip, but spiteful treatment from Lord Averley’s new lady and her daughter, Charlotte. Rose knows it isn’t right for a girl of her station to have ambitions beyond service, but she has never been able to abandon her dream of becoming a proper musician. Rose taught herself to read music as a child and, despite the dangers involved, cannot stop herself from playing the piano when she finds the music room unattended.

What's it like living at Somerton?

I love living at Somerton. Miss Ward says it’s boring compared to London, but I think it’s the most beautiful place in the world. Yes, there’s a lot of work, but now Lord Averley is back it’s so much easier. His lordship is much nicer than Sir William – don’t tell my mother I said that though. She’d say I had no call to be criticizing the gentry.

Are there any cute boys or, excuse me, chaps?

There’s one young man, Oliver. Mr Templeton’s valet. I think he’s rather nice. He’s got lovely eyes. But he doesn’t seem very interested in us girls.

What's the rest of the staff like? Any juicy gossip you'd like to share?

Well, my mother is the housekeeper. She’s tough but fair. Everyone respects her. Although she has been acting a little strange since Lord Averley came home… My best friend is Annie, although to be honest I don’t always feel very close to the rest of the housemaids. I’m interested in things they think are silly and boring, like music and art. We’re a well-run household and there hasn’t been any gossip so far, unless you count Ben the hall boy being sacked for opening the door drunk to the Marquess of Sunderland. But now that Miss Ward is here I think that might change…

When you're feeling blue, what's your favorite comfort food?

I love Cook’s Yorkshire puddings! They’re like pancakes, tasty and golden and light as air. I could eat hundreds of them – well, I could try. You never get enough to eat when you’re on your feet all day. At least it keeps you slim!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I’d love to go somewhere really exotic, somewhere where they have tigers and lions and that. I’d like to see a real live parrot one day, not in a cage, but in the jungle where it’s meant to be. Somerton is beautiful – but I do want more.

***Special thanks to Disney Hyperion, Leigh Rasheed and of course, Rose.***


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*Leigh Rasheed's Website
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*Unrequired Reading