Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered

By: A.G. Howard

Pub. Date: January 1, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Pages: 384

Source: Netgalley

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Oh. My. God. Splintered is amazing, original, entertaining, fun, and I never knew what to expect. There is mystery and romance, great writing, and awesome characters. I don't think I could have enjoyed a story anymore then I did this one.

Alyssa gets made fun of in school. Why? Because her great-great grandmother was Alice, the little girl who went to Wonderland. Not only is that in her family, but the females all go crazy. It starts by hearing bugs and flowers talk, and eventually leads to suicide. Alyssa doesn't want to turn out like her mother, who is currently in a mental institution. To stop the hospital from giving her mother electric shock therapy, and using the help of a big moth, Alyssa goes on an adventure to Wonderland to right the wrongs of Alice and freeing her family from the curse. Along for the ride is Jeb, Alyssa's best friend. They reach Wonderland and basically goes on the same journey that Alice went on while cleaning up Wonderland of her mistakes.   

What made this story so amazing was how A.G. Howard took a story that everyone knows and created this whole new world. Adding some new characters, but also keeping all the ones we already knew and creating this original and modern story.

I really enjoyed the character of Morpheus, the hookah smoking caterpillar we know from the original story. At some points he was sweet and considerate, other times he was selfish and untruthful. I loved trying to figure him out!

I also loved Jeb. He was so protective of Alyssa and willing to give up his life to protect her. I was rooting for the two of them the entire time!

I fully enjoyed Splintered  and I highly recommend it! I can not wait until I have a finished copy of this book in my hands. 

Review & Giveaway: ReAwakened by Ada Adams

ReAwakened

(Angel Creek # 2)

By: Ada Adams

Pub. Date: November 27, 2012

Pages: 520

Source: Review copy from author

Becoming a vampire guardian was Dawn Fairchild’s ticket out of the Scarlet House. Fresh off a successful mission, life in Angel Creek should have been great. But when her sort-of-maybe-boyfriend, Sebastian, disappears on a quest to help a beautiful vampire from his past, Dawn finds herself amidst a web of danger, lies, and deceit. 
Joining forces with Razor, an enigmatic rebel lacking both a verbal and a physical filter, and her band of Misfits—Brooke, Sophie, Hunter, and Seth—Dawn is thrust into a race against the clock to solve the mystery surrounding brutal Born kidnappings and come to terms with the sudden discovery of her own unique powers. With time ticking away and Born vampires’ lives in jeopardy, it quickly becomes evident that someone—or something—desperately wants Dawn and is willing to shed any amount of blood to get her.
 
Dawn has only one chance to face her demons and overcome all obstacles standing in her way as she embarks on the biggest mission of her life—one that threatens a deadly outcome for all involved.

This review should be easy, right? All I want to say is "THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, YOU SHOULD READ IT" but, the books you love the most, are always the hardest reviews to write. I really just want to write a bunch of OMGs, and swoons, and loves.....but here goes trying to write an intelligent review that makes sense!

I was so excited to be able to dive back into the Angel Creek series. I absolutely loved ReVamped. Everything about it was wonderful and it was easily one of my favorite books of the year. Now, only a few months later, ReAwakened is also on the top of that list. Ada Adams is truly a fantastic author! This story has one of the most original vampire plots out there, the characters can seriously be my best friends, and the writing is fast paced and kept me interested the entire time.

The book starts out a little while after the events that went down in ReVamped. Dawn is still dealing with everything that had happened, and boy, did a lot to happen. What I love about Dawn is how strong she is. She doesn't let her emotions hold her back. Even while dealing with her own crap, she was always there for her friends, no matter what their problem was.

My absolute favorite part of ReAwakened was learning about the backgrounds of the characters, especially Hunter. All we ever knew about him was that he was a druggie guitarist whose band was about to become nation wide famous before turning into a vampire. He was a loner, who usually stayed quiet when around everyone, but in ReAwakened  he finally opened up about his past and it explained so much about his character. I am whole-heartedly a Hunter girl now!

We are also introduced to some new vampires, including Razor, who happens to have a very interesting connection to Sebastian. I loved Razor. He's gorgeous, sweet, and a doctor!! Can't get much better then that! And I love how much he made fun of Sebastian for being emo and moody.

This entire story was about character development, especially comparing these characters to how they were in the first book. I love the direction that every single character is going, well except Sebastian's character.....but I won't give anything away, and if you read the book you know EXACTLY what I am talking about.

As much as I loved all of the characters, I really missed Ethan, like a lot. But I have been assured that he will be playing a big part in the third book!

There is a lot happening in ReAwakened, but it never became to much to handle. Adams has a talent for incorporating many story lines effortlessly and seamlessly. Everything worked perfectly together and I seriously loved every single minute of this story.

I HIGHLY recommend this series. I recommend this story to YA lovers, New Adult lovers, vampire lovers, adults, old people, teenagers, basically everyone!  Go and get yourself a copy NOW, you won't regret it! 

Giveaway:

- 3 winners (One grand prize winner +2 small prize winners)

- One main entry per person

- Must be 13 years or older to enter

- Open Internationally

- Winners will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen

Grand Prize Winner will win the following-

PRINT COPY OF RV

PRINT COPY OF RA

RV POSTER

RA POSTER

2 RV/RA POSTCARDS

3 RV BOOKMARKS

3 RA BOOKMARKS

I <3 SEBASTIAN KEYCHAIN

I <3 HUNTER GUITAR PICK

I <3 RAZOR DOGTAG
DAWN'S NECKLACE

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About the Author: 

“Many people sing in the shower. I write scenes in my head and act them out.”

At the age of five, Ada read her first chapter book—Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for stories and characters found within the pages of literature.
In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master’s of Science in Education.
Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years, and is an editor of a global fashion/literary magazine called VEUX. ReVamped is her debut novel.

She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

Connect with Ada Adams:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Books in the Series:

Promo Blitz: Fang Girl by Helen Keeble (Guest Post and Giveaway)

Fang Girl by Helen Keeble - September 11th 2012 / HarperTeen

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)
5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.
And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined....

Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.

Links to purchase Fang Girl: 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository

Fandom, Family, and FANG GIRL

Guest Post by Helen Keeble

FANG GIRL is about two things: fandom and family.

…Okay, so it's also about a lot of other things, like undead goldfish, vampiric retail empires, and hot boys in tight leather trousers, but mostly it's about fandom and family. Let me explain.

I started writing FANG GIRL because I was immensely irritated (I suspect irritation is the major cause of novels, actually). It was at the height of Twilight fever, and it seemed like every day there was a new article in the newspapers or blogosphere about it. You couldn't click a link or turn on the radio without finding someone either dismissing all YA paranormal romance fans as utterly stupid for liking "that trash", or alternatively getting into a moral panic that these girls were being fundamentally damaged by reading it.

As I rather enjoy a good paranormal romance myself, this was irritating. Really irritating. So irritating I had to spend a year writing a novel to fully express my irritation.

See, personally I think that teenagers are a lot smarter and more discriminating than adults assume. I certainly read an awful lot of fantasy schlock as a teen, and enjoyed it immensely without ever thinking I was actually going to fall through a portal and meet the perfect knight-protector, so I don't believe that all teenage girls are having their relationship expectations warped for life by Robert Patterson's hair. And in my experience, teen paranormal fans can be hugely clever and creative -- they dissect their favorite books like ruthless surgeons, they write their own fanfic versions, they make amazing music videos with footage from movies or tv shows… it's a far cry from the stereotype of a wide-eyed, ditzy girl uncritically consuming anything packaged with a black-and-red cover.

So I decided to write a paranormal romance about a girl who's a vampire fangirl, and who is also practical, snarky, and intelligent -- so when she wakes up one night and discovers she's now a vampire herself, she's got the knowledge and wits to deal with it.

But of course, vampires are rather ridiculous creatures -- seriously, you're angsty because you're eternally young and beautiful? Seriously? I mean, the first thing I'd do is camp out in New York Public Library and read every book ever -- so I also wanted to poke fun at some paranormal romance cliches. The much older vampire hero who inexplicably falls in love with the heroine, eternal angst-filled passion, the inevitable brooding rival, the terribly glamorous vampire lifestyle… in my book, the vampires are quite aware of all these tropes, and are willing to use them to try to influence my heroine Jane. But the vampires are -- like all those columnists and bloggers -- assuming that teenage vampire fangirls actually believe all this stuff… which turns out to be a big mistake.

The other trend I'd noticed in paranormal romances is that usually the heroine's family are barely present (especially not both parents). She might have endless conversations with vampires and werewolves and bears, oh my, but parents seem to stay mostly off-page. Now, I'm not saying that I never fought with my parents when I was a teen, but mostly we got along, and my family were definitely a big influence in my life. And I think that's true for a lot of teens. So I wanted my protagonist's family to be a major part of the story. And really, if you're a girl who wakes up unexpectedly dead one night, what are you going to do? Run off alone and try to survive on the contents of your pockets (most people don't get buried with credit cards, you know), or go back home where there's bed, broadband, and people who love you even if you do now seem to have fangs? No contest!

So that's FANG GIRL: one part fandom, one part family, blended together with creamy comedy goodness and baked in the oven of righteous irritation. Can I tempt you to a bite?

About the Author: 

Helen Keeble is not, and never has been, a vampire. She has however been a teenager. She grew up partly in America and partly in England, which has left her with an unidentifiable accent and a fondness for peanut butter crackers washed   down with a nice cup of tea. She now lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a variable number of fish. To the best of her knowledge, none of the fish are undead.

Her first novel, a YA vampire comedy called FANG GIRL, is out 11th Sept 2012, from HarperTeen.

She also has another YA paranormal comedy novel (provisionally titled NO ANGEL) scheduled for Sept 2013.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Giveaway:

Open internationally!

Last day to enter is December 25th!

The prize pack includes:

- one signed copy of Fang Girl (can be personalized)
- a voucher for an ARC of Helen's next book NO ANGEL as soon as they are available (likely to be Spring/Summer 2013)
- a cheerful vampire goldfish paperclip
- Fang Girl stickers featuring the cover and quotes from the book

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Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway~ Blissful Lies by Jennifer Brown-Thomas

Blissful Lies

By: Jennifer Brown-Thomas

Publisher Date: January 3, 2013

Publisher: Helm Publishing 

Pages: 234

Things are often not what they seem in the decadent lifestyles of the rich and famous. Life can be messy and at times people do what feels wrong, because in the end it may turn out to be the best decision ever made. A close bond between 5 lifelong friends, now of college age, find the limits of their relationships are tested when multiple secrets and lies begin to surface, which ultimately leave them wondering if it is all too much to move forward as the family they once were. Forbidden love, drug dealing, date rape, betrayal, cheating, and more begin to unravel the strong ties between friends. Can they overcome secrets which warrant a very difficult life altering response?

The process of turning a book into a film can be incredibly tricky. For the writer, you have to think outside your own mind and adjust accordingly to the different mediums of storytelling. Generally speaking, a novel is adapted into a screenplay. I did things a little differently. I decided I wanted to make the film first… the book was an afterthought. So with Blissful Lies I wrote and directed the film first and then adapted it into a novel. When you’re reading a screenplay, it’s essentially your outline—a skeleton, if you will, of a story. You allow your actors to bring your words to life in a believable and enjoyable manner. But when writing a novel, you only have your words to speak to the imagination of your audience. I found it much easier to take the screenplay and grow it into a novel than it was to take a written novel and cut it down to 110 pages for a screenplay.

I tend to be very wordy; I’ve been told on numerous occasions I should write for television. So taking a very lengthy novel and cutting out only the key elements to include in the screenplay, proved to be a very difficult task for me. With my novel, Vindictive Grounds, I wrote the novel first and then adapted the screenplay. It takes a significant amount of dedication and focus to be able to successfully shift between the two mediums, but it’s something I’ve managed to grasp over time.

My conclusion after doing this both ways? I find it easier to transform the screenplay into a novel, instead of the other way around. This way I get to use the original material and simply expand on it, rather than having to cut out parts I feel are important. Both writing styles are incredible in their own ways and I don’t think I enjoy one more than the other, but trying to take something and trim it down to fit the length criteria of a screenplay is exceedingly more difficult for me.

Author Bio:

At just 25 years old, Jennifer Brown-Thomas is a celebrated book author and movie director. Her first novel, Blissful Lies, combines both of her passions.

At the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, she presented Blissful Lies (the movie) starring Emmy award winning actress, Leann Hunley. YTINIFNI Pictures is working to bring the film to DVD and on-demand television this spring.

Jennifer is a married, Texas Christian University graduate and mother of one. Her newest venture, LBT Enterprises, is set to launch a fragrance, a children's clothing line and more.

Watch for more novels from Jennifer - the next on its way is Vindictive Grounds. In February, Jennifer will begin directing the film version of this novel. She says, "It definitely has more of the explicit sexual contact comparable to Fifty Shades of Grey."

Book Trailer: 

Movie Trailer:

Giveaway! 

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Links:

Jennifer Brown-Thomas's Web Site: 

http://www.jenniferbrownthomas.com/

Jennifer Brown-Thomas's Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/JenniferBrownThomas

Jennifer Brown-Thomas's Twitter:

http://twitter.com/jennythomas10

Jennifer Brown-Thomas's Blog:

http://blissfullycouture.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Brown-Thomas's Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6421313.JENNIFER_BROWN_THOMAS

Blissful Lies Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15867068-blissful-lies

Blissful Lies (the movie) web site:

http://blissfullies.com/

Blissful Lies (the movie) Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/TheBlissfulLies

Blissful Lies (the movie) IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1939656/

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Blissful Lies blog tour site:

http://blissful-lies.blogspot.com/

Review: Double Time by Olivia Cunning

Double Time

(Sinners on Tour # 5)

By: Olivia Cunning

Pub. Date: November 6, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Pages: 384

Source: Netgalley

Olivia Cunning delivers the perfect blend of steamy sex, heartwarming romance, and a wicked sense of humor in this ménage story featuring the hottest guy in the Sinners band.

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.

I read Hot Ticket, book number three in the Sinners on Tour series, and I was really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, but why in the hell would they release the books out of order?? Because I read book five, I know what happens in book four, even though it doesn't come out for a very long time, there isn't even a cover or release date for it yet. That aspect definitely ruined this book for me a little. I was also disappointed with Double Time, and didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Hot Ticket, which I absolutely loved!

Double Time  is about Trey, the fun loving bisexual and Sinners guitarist. He has been in love with his best friend, Brian since they were teenagers. But Brian is a recent newlywed with a newborn baby. Because he is hurt, Trey decides to swear off men forever, just it time for him to meet the sexy new female guitarist for his brothers band, Reagan. The two of them begin a sexual relationship, but things get even more heated when Reagan's best friend, and ex boyfriend Ethan comes into the picture. Ethan and Trey are instantly attracted to each other, and this is where the scenes get hot and steamy!

I loved Ethan and Treys attraction and connection to each other. I would have been happy with just the two of them! I didn't really feel any connection towards Reagan, but I did like how she got Trey to open up and be honest with himself. I also like how she was willing to accept Trey exactly how he was, and didn't try to change him. Instead she worked with him and in turn, made all three of them very, very happy!

My favorite scene would have to be when Reagan, Trey and Ethan went to Jace and Aggie for BDSM lessons. The scene was funny, sexy and hot! It also featured Jace, which made it instantly amazing!

Double Time was not my favorite m/m/f story, but it was entertaining and hot! I still plan on reading the rest of the Sinner of Tour series because I absolutely love these guys! 

Release Day Launch, Review and Giveaway: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Published: December 11, 2012

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

This is the first story that I have read from K.A. Tucker, and I seriously can not wait to read her other books! What a fantastic, fast paced read! I am absolutely in love with every single character, and the writing was so well done, that I didn't even realize that I hit the last page until I got to the acknowledgements!

Kacey and her younger sister, Livie packed up whatever they could from their aunt and uncles house to move across the country and start completely fresh. They have no friends, no family, and no money, but they know if they stick together everything will be ok. Ever since their parents died four years ago, Kacey has been on a whirlwind spiral. She's rough around the edges but would do anything for Livie.

Kacey and Livie rent out this crap hole apartment and meet their neighbors, Storm and her four year old daughter and there other neighbor just happens to be the gorgeous and sweet, Trent Emerson. Between Livie, Storm and Trent, Kacey's walls start to crumble. I so wanted her to get the help that she needed. She acts so tough and strong, but she is so damaged. I loved Kacey! Despite all of her issues, she was such a good person and I enjoyed watching her defenses crumble.

The secondary characters also brought so much to the story, including the men who worked at the club. I loved how sweet and protective they were of all of the girls. I especially loved Tanner, who wasn't your stereotypical gentleman club owner. He actually cared and protected the ladies with everything that he had.

I was able to figure out the secret within the story about 50 pages or so before it was actually relieved, but that didn't take away anything from the story. I was still in shock when I found out. The writing was so fantastically done, and I could not get enough of Ten Tiny Breaths.

I really am going to miss these characters. I felt like I was apart of this group when I was reading, and then all of a sudden, their story was over. I can definitely see myself reading this story again in the future, just so I can be apart of this amazing and wonderful story again.

Ten Tiny Breaths comes highly recommend. You will not be disappointed!

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Author Links:

Blog

Website

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Novel Facebook

Twitter

Novel Goodreads

Author Goodreads

Giveaway! 

I have 1 ecopy of Ten Tiny Breaths to give away. Enter here! 

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Review: Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless

(Thoughtless # 1)

By: S.C. Stephens

Pub. Date: November 6, 2012

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pages: 530

Source: ARC from Publisher in exchange for an honest review

For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

I was very excited when I received a surprise package from Gallery Books because I wanted to read Thoughtless so badly. I've heard really good things about it, and I was eager to get started on it. I ended up really enjoying it. The characters, especially bad boy, Kellan Kyle was my absolute favorite!

The story begins with Kiera and her boyfriend Denny moving from Ohio to Washington so Denny can begin his dream internship. I really didn't give Denny a fair chance when I first met him. I thought he was going to be a jerk, but he really wasn't. Sure, he is a little boring, but he didn't deserve what Kiera ended up putting him though. Anyway, the two of them get to their new place, and Kiera meets Denny's friend and her new roommate, Kellan. Wow, Kellan! What an amazing, infuriating, deep, smart guy, who sings in a band! I could not get enough of him and he had my full attention when he was on the page.

As Denny gets deeper and deeper into his new job, Kiera and Kellan get closer and closer to hooking up. When they finally went too far, I couldn't help but feel disgust. Denny did not deserve to get cheated on and lied too from his friend and girlfriend. When Denny gave up his entire life to be with Kiera, and she still continued to cheat on him, my disgust for what was happening kept increasing.

Kiera's saving grace was that even though she made a horrible mistake, she is still human and you could tell that she felt guilt over it. Kellan also felt disgust over what he was doing, but the two of them were falling in love and it was hard for them to stop.

My favorite part of Thoughtless was learning about Kellan's past. Through his story, we can understand his character so much better and it just made me fall for him so much harder.

My only complaint, and what made me give it 3 and 1/2 stars (on goodreads) was the amount of details in the writing. I have never been a fan of details, but this was just ridiculous. There was no reason that this story should have been over 500 pages. I think if you take away the details, the book would probably cap 300 or so. For example, Kiera spent about 1 page wondering if she should just open the bathroom door, or if she should knock. It was the middle of the night. OMG! She went on to explain every single outcome for each choice. It was just way to much.

Other then that, I fell in love with Kiera and Kellan's story and I look forward to reading Effortless, the second book in the trilogy!  

Cover Reveal: Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron

Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron 

Publication date: January 12th, 2013

Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to try and forget the night that ripped her life apart.

Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again.

Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face.

Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible.

The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. She must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache. 

This book sounds amazing! I can not wait to read it and find out more about this Zan guy!

Add Deeper We Fall to your Goodreads To-Read shelf!

About the Author:

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter 

Blog Tour: Review~ Passion Blue by Victoria Strauss

Passion Blue

By: Victoria Strauss

Pub. Date: November 6, 2012

Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing

Pages: 352

Source: Finished copy from author in exchange for an honest review

"Be sure you know your true heart’s desire, or you may find yourself surprised by what you receive."

This is the warning the Astrologer-Sorcerer gives Giulia when she pays him to create a magical talisman for her. The scorned illegitimate daughter of a Milanese nobleman, Giulia is determined to defy the dire fate predicted by her horoscope, and use the talisman to claim what she believes is her heart’s desire: true love and a place where she belongs–not likely prospects for a girl about to be packed off to the cloistered world of a convent.

But the convent of Santa Marta is full of surprises. There are strict rules, long hours of work, and spiteful rivalries…but there’s also friendship, and the biggest surprise of all: a workshop of female artists who produce paintings of astonishing beauty, using a luminous blue mixed from a secret formula: Passion blue. Yet even as Giulia begins to learn the mysteries of the painter’s craft, the magic of the talisman is at work, and a forbidden romance beckons her down a path of uncertainty and danger. She is haunted by the sorcerer’s warning, and by a question: does she really know the true compass of her heart?

Set in Renaissance Italy, this richly imagined novel about a girl’s daring journey towards self-discovery transports readers into a fascinating, exotic world where love, faith, and art inspire passion–of many different hues.

I was very excited to be asked to be apart of the blog tour for Passion Blue. I loved the colors in the cover and the synopsis definitely appealed to my historian side. I love stories set during the Italian Renaissance, so I knew I would enjoy Passion Blue. Passion Blue was everything I expected and more.

The story focuses on Giulia, a young women whose has spent her life as a servant in the home of her father, who happens to be a Count. When he dies, the Counts wife forces her to go live as a nun in the Santa Marta convent. Giulia always wanted a family of her own, but she knows if she actually becomes a nun, she will never have what she always dreamed of. It was hard not to feel connected to Giula. She was a brave girl who just wanted to be loved.

I also enjoyed the fact that Giulia was a painter, during the Renaissance! It was very exciting and brought a lot to the story. She had this wonderful commitment to having a family of her own and being an artist.

I loved the message of sacrifice and finding what truly makes you happy. It is something that everyone struggles with at some point in their life, no matter how old you are, or what century you come from.

I look forward to reading more from the very talented Victoria Strauss!

Review & Giveaway: Whisper's Edge by London Cole

Whisper's Edge

(Whisper's Walker Series # 2)

By: London Cole

Pub. Date: October 28, 2012

Publisher: Self-Pub

Pages: 230

Drake and Kelsie quickly discover life won't be quite the same after getting their new abilities, but they hope everything will settle into a sort of normalcy. It doesn't take long for them to realize it's not the kind of normal they were hoping for.

When Kelsie joins Drake for a routine Hunt, they end up stumbling upon an underground bunker that hasn't been opened in nearly a century. When they meet a far-too-friendly ghost, it should be their first indicator to leave things alone and get out of there. Never ones to resist the opportunity for excitement or mystery, they end up in a situation that could cost them dearly–threatening not only everything they've worked for, but their very lives!

Drake's world is turned upside down. A mysterious new girl seems intent on capturing his heart, but that's not all she's after.

Kelsie faces betrayal by the one she holds most dear, only to meet someone new who could change her entire existence; past, present, and future. If only she can stay alive long enough to find out the truth...

I was a huge fan of London's first book, Whisper's Walker, so I was very excited when I received the second book, Whisper's Edge for review. As with the first one, Edge is an exciting, fast-paced read. There were a lot of plot twists that I was not expecting and a lot of character development!

Whisper's Edge begins with our favorite characters, Drake and Kelsie running for their life, thus starts the action that is Edge. While trying to escape, they come across an old shelter, and meet Megan, a seemingly innocent and lonely girl. Drake immediately feels that he needs to help and vows to return to her.

While I enjoyed both Drake and Kelsie in Whisper Walker, I could not stand Drake in this one. He was just such a stupid boy and I wanted to slap him many times for his constant stupidity. He obviously loves Kelsie, but he decided to flirt with Megan right in front of her. He did other things that pissed me off as well. Ugh, boys. Kelsie on the other hand, I absolutely loved. She really grew as a character and I think she came out a lot stronger. While Drake is busy with Megan, she too meets someone and this man, Trip, opens Kelsie's eyes to a whole new world, and to who, or what, Kelsie really is!  

I think the Whisper Walker series is seriously starting to come along, but my one main complaint was the editing, especially in the beginning. It just didn't flow right to me. It was almost like I was missing something in the writing, and it ended up turning me off a little bit. I am glad I stuck with it though, because the writing and editing did get a lot better. I also would have benefited from some recaps added in throughout the story. I was confused a lot of the time because I didn't remember some parts from the first book. I love when authors include recaps of the earlier books in the series. It saves me a lot of mental questioning! 

If you haven't started this series yet, I definitely think you are missing out. Both books are quick and exciting reads. I am looking forward to see where London Cole takes us next!

Giveaway!

I have a signed copy of Whisper Walker, the first book in the series to giveaway. Enter below & good luck!

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Book Spotlight: Two Pair: A Quadruple or Nothing Story by Jessica, Mackenzie, Meredith, and Stephanie Jackson

Two Pair: A Quadruple or Nothing Story
By: Jessica, Mackenzie, Meredith, and Stephanie Jackson
Pub. Date: September 3, 2012
Pages: 250

Ashburg, California; the city that’s split into rich and not rich, the upper class and the middle class, the snobs and the down-to-earth…that’s how the teenagers perceived it, anyway. And it all stemmed from two schools’ rivalries. The rivalry has grown now that there are a set of twins that go to Ashburg Arts and a set of twins that go to Ashburg Academy that don’t see eye to eye.

Reagan and Ronan Jacoby thought that their only problem was wondering if their cop father, Elijah would make it home from work every day. That is, when he wasn’t trying to keep them out of trouble. They didn’t think their father dating would complicate things even further.

Savannah and Mickayla Powers thought their only problem lied in the intense dislike they had of each other. They should be classified as fraternal twins rather than identical. The only thing they can agree on is that their mother, famous fashion designer Dallas, was acting strange.

The four girls’ lives are turned upside down when they realize that they have something in common, more than just their schools’ rivalry and their own problems. There’s a shocking secret that’s at play…do they have it in the cards to figure it out?

This is their debut novel, it is the first in a four-part series.

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Email address: jsisters4@aol.com