March Review Recap

Frost Fire by Olivia Rivers
    ~ 3.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ Paranormal Reading Challenge (Witches/Wizards)

I Am Alive (Books 1-3) by Cameron Jace
    ~ 3.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ Dystopia Reading Challenge (book 4 of 24)

Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, & Larkin Reed
    ~ 4.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ 2013 TBR Challenge (book 2 of 21)

Lore of Fei by Kathleen S. Allen
    ~ 3.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ Paranormal Reading Challenge (Fey)

War of Fei by Kathleen S. Allen
    ~ 3.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ 2013 Sequel Challenge (book 3 of 15)

Drowning Rapunzel by Annette Gisby
    ~ 4 Star Review (Link)
    ~ Does not meet any challenge

Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton
    ~ 4 Star Review (Link)
    ~ 2013 TBR Challenge (book 3 of 21)

Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter) by Nikki Jefford
    ~ 4 Star Review (Link)
    ~ Paranormal Reading Challenge (Vampires)

Altered Souls by Karice Bolton
    ~ 3.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ 2013 Sequel Challenge (book 4 of 15)

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
    ~ 2.5 Star Review (Link)
    ~ 2013 TBR Challenge (book 4 of 21)

Review ~ The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

The Friday Society
by Adrienne Kress
Young Adult Steampunk Mystery
Published: December 6th 2012
Goodreads link

Blurb: 

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns-and the heroines who use them all. 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder-and the crimes they believe may be connected to it-without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike-well, relatively ladylike-heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

My Review:

**2.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: I was disappointed with this book. I was expecting a steampunk Charlies' Angels, but got three girls running around each trying to solve a mystery then coming together to solve it.

PROS: OMG! I want Lord White's library! It was so beautifully described and I would just spend hours upon hours in there. I do like how Cora and Nellie came from nothing to where they are. It gave them more of a reason as to why they are looking into the murders.

CONS: The writing seemed very childish. On the first page there were words like explosion-y, pouting, and kablooey. It does get better throughout the book, but it still seemed like a middle-grade book trying to be a young adult. It also didn't feel like any of the girls were that well written. Just when you thought you knew one, they would do something so out of character.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I really wish I like it. I had high hopes for it. I think it is a good gateway book from middle-grade to young adult. So, if you are looking to transition over, this is a good book for you.

The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour ~ Review & Giveaway

On tour with AToMR Tours.

Altered Souls (The Witch Avenue #2)
by Karice Bolton
New Adult Paranormal Romance
Published October 28th 2012
Goodreads link.

Blurb:

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss's ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Get Your Copy:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
**Please note that Lonely Souls is being offered FREE on Amazon for a short time**
Lonely Souls on Amazon

My Review: 

**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour. 

MY OVERVIEW: I didn't enjoy Altered Souls as much as I did Lonely Souls. (See my Lonely Souls review.) I actually got really nervous in the beginning that the author was going to bring in a love triangle thing after everything Triss has gone through with Logan.

PROS: So, I had an issue with the white vs. dark magic in the last book and thought it was done a whole lot better in this one. There was more explanation into it and I like the "gray magic". Oh, I also really liked the fairies. I thought they were a fantastic addition to the team.

CONS: The timeline didn't seem to flow as well through this book. It seemed like we were skipping ahead at points. I also didn't enjoy the Trevor/Triss connection thing. I feel like there were other ways to have gone about getting certain information without the "connection".

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I found the ending somewhat anti-climatic. It just seemed to be over too soon. I know there is going to be more, and I can't wait to read it, I just wish the ending had stretched out a little more.

About the Author: 

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the sweetest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything in print.

For more on Karice and The Witch Avenue Series: 

Website
Twitter
Facebook

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Follow the Tour~

Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter Blog Tour ~ Review & Giveaway

On Tour with Xpresso Book Tours.

Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #1)
by Nikki Jefford
YA Paranormal (Note: sexual content)
Published: December 9th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it's to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn't hurt either.

Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora's life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she's a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job... by hand.

Now Aurora's only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he's a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?

Get your copy:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour. 

MY OVERVIEW: Ok, I will admit that I was a little hesitant about reading this book at first, as I am a big Buffy fan. However, the way both the hunters and the vampires are done in this book is so different that I really enjoyed it. They aren't your typical vampires.

PROS: I felt so bad for Aurora. I wanted to yell at the agents in the book. I would hate to go through what she went through and would probably have the same reaction she did. You can tell that the author spent a lot of time on writing Aurora's character. She is definitely the most well written character in the book. Noel comes in a close second. (Love her!)

CONS: As much as I liked Fane over Dante, he was very cliche. If anyone was shocked at finding out about him, then you need to go out and read more. It was very obvious where the author was taking him. Overall, I think the supporting characters (with the exception of Noel) weren't written as well as they could have been. They needed a little more development.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Finally! A book where the character isn't all "loosing my virginity was the best thing ever!" "It was so romantic." It isn't. It is painful and awkward the first time, and the author correctly portrayed it in this book. Transfusion left you hanging and I can't wait to read the next one!

About the Author: 

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. She is the author of the Spellbound Trilogy and upcoming Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series. Nikki married Sebastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Washington.

For more on Nikki and the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series: 

Website
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Follow the tour~

Review ~ Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton

Lonely Souls (The Witch Avenue #1)
by Karice Bolton
YA Paranormal Romance
Published June 29th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.

When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.

With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Lonely Souls was filled with mystery, action, adventure, and of course... romance. The book started out with a tragedy in Triss' life. I love when books jump right in like that.

PROS: I think Triss was written beautifully. You really felt the struggle she went through with trying to decide what she needed to focus on; finding her mom or Logan. I'm glad that she finally came to terms with her feelings on everything in her life. She tried so hard to be emotionless, and I think that is very realistic in the wake of a tragic event.

CONS: The coven and what they did wasn't really explained. Also, it seems like witches aren't hiding who they are, but that isn't clear either. Most books have the witches hiding who they are, but I have no idea if this is the case or not. Also, I didn't like the lack of distinction between white magic and black magic. A lot of the spells seemed like they could go either way depending on your frame of mind.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I have loved all of the books I have read by Karice Bolton and look forward to more.

**Check back soon for my review on Altered Souls as part of an upcoming blog tour.

Silver Hollow Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

Silver Hollow
By Jennifer Silverwood
Paranormal Romance
Published November 9th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Amie Wentworth writes paranormal romances, not because she is looking for a degree in ectoplasm, but because she's got bills to pay. Ever since her parents' car crash, she has been led a reclusive life and trusted books more than people. Not even a letter from her long-lost uncle, begging her to visit, gives Amie incentive for anything other than ire - until she is stabbed in an alley and brought back to life by a mysterious stranger.

After crossing the Atlantic to her father's homeland, Amie is dragged into the very sort of tale she is used to selling. Silver Hollow is a place of ancient traditions and supernatural dangers, where everything is the opposite of what it seems and few escape sane.

To make matters worse, the man who saved her life keeps turning up and her would-be-murderer is still at large.

But when she comes face to face with the ugly truth, will she too be sucked into her father's madness? Or will she discover that madness is just another name for honesty?

Excerpt: 

     The hour before dawn found Amie pulling her car round the back alley. Through the gloom and decades-buried waste behind Pat's Delights was a narrow strip leading to the back staircase leading up to her flat.
     The stranger's face came unbidden to her as she gathered her things and moved her weary legs. Black eyes set deeply in a shadow-drenched face haunted her, eyes which seemed to accuse and praise, sift and wonder. Now that she knew, she realized she must have seen him before today, maybe even in the past she had tried to forget.
     The faded yellowing parchment marked with heavy black ink, with words too absurd to be true, flashed in her mind. Clutching the key hidden in her jeans pockets while digging through her purse for her keys, she remembered Uncle Henry's letter. Mulling over the words, she once again recalled how angry she had been ten years ago after reading his first note. So what the cops were uncertain how the accident had happened. So what her father had known some powerful people. Amie had been primped and pushed into the upper-class social sphere through her teens and knew how to handle that sort. She could take care of herself just like she always had. She would tear up the letters and the tickets tonight. The twins and James were her family now.
     As she placed her shoe upon the first rickety metal stop, two thick and powerful hands grabbed her in the same moment.
     It happened so quickly she forgot to scream. Dropping her purse she struggled, kicked and bucked against the crazy person lifting her and pulling her deeper into the shadows of the alley. And the harder she struggled the tighter his choking embrace became against her chest.
     She thought at last to cry out, only to feel her face being smashed against a brick wall. She gasped as the figure suddenly pushed her aside, out of his embrace. Amie stumbled back and nearly tripping over a metal pipe. She righted herself only to come face-to-face with the black-masked figure. His brilliant blue eyes blazed into hers, now filled with unmistakable purpose. Too late she realized his intentions as a sickeningly cool object was plunged into her chest and pulled quickly out again.
     Her vision swam, then blurred as she slumped against the trash-littered concrete. Her mind began to fade into an ever-deepening sleep though her eyes watched on. The black-garbed man was fighting someone else. Unmasked, this guy was taller, broader in the shoulders than her murderer and wrought by fury.
     Pain... she had not known the meaning of the word before now and even this too was fading into the deep sleep. The further she fell the less sense the scene before her made. Her mind didn't believe that the tall man had really tossed her attacker five feet into the air over his shoulder and into the brick, or a strange light and energy crackled in the suddenly luminous alley.
     She was too afraid to hope when a pair of warm hands cradled her in a firm embrace. He pulled her from the muck and fixed his dark eyes on her. Obsidian-cut eyes, familiar eyes, pierced through her gaze and reached deeper. His face, once so indiscernible it could be called plain, was now twisted as though in agony. Even though she was slipping, falling into a calm quiet darkness, he refused to let her go. His hand moved from her neck to her cheek with faintest touch. He pushed past and clasped hold of something tearing deep inside of her then. The black of his irises gave way to a strange mix of blue and green flecks gleaming in their depths. She saw...
     Fields of brilliant emerald grass and a sun filled with more colors than she knew to name. 
     Darkness and a dirty cell, where heavy fists punctuated his pain. 
     Time beyond counting became a lifetime lost. 
     A green-eyed dark-haired beauty bathed in sunlight stretched out her hand to him. 
     Someone was screaming. Amie frowned as the woman's cries grew louder. Pain spiked up in her chest as her lungs constricted and her heart was ripped apart then reformed. The woman's screams died when she took a breath and realized the voice was hers.
     She blinked.
     And then she was lying within the narrow strip between two brick buildings, alone.

About the Author: 

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it's the Carpthian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town.

After attending three different universities without managing to square a degree, she decided to the next logical thing; become a writer. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas.

She is the author of the Heaven's Edge sereis and Silver Hollow.

For more on Silver Hollow and Jennifer Silverwood: 

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter ~ @JennSilverwood
Tumblr
Goodreads
Amazon
Smashwords

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Drowning Rapunzel Tour ~ Review & Giveaway

On tour with Bewitching Book Tours.

Drowning Rapunzel
by Annette Gisby
Romantic Suspense
Published February 28th 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Recently released from a mental institution, Beth Gregory accepts a job as a live-in secretary/PA to the reclusive painter Josh Warrington. Beth's long red hair fascinates him from the first moment he sees her and Josh wants her to be his Rapunzel for a series of fairy tale paintings he's working on.

Beth has two major fears: that she will be sent back to the mental hospital and the visions which landed her there in the first place will return. They do; this time giving her glimpses of murders before they happen. Beth becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation and then she has the most disturbing vision of all: she will become the next victim...

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour. 

MY OVERVIEW: I really enjoyed the mystery of this book. I like how the author threw a little supernatural in there.

PROS: I wish I could see the paintings. The author described them really well and I know I would love to have one in my home. Beth was great. I loved reading about, really, her coming of age story. She went through a fantastic journey and I enjoyed being there with her through it.

CONS: I did not like Andrew. There was something that just seemed off about him. He was also really old fashioned when it came to Beth. She shouldn't wear certain clothes, or act a certain way. He was waaay too over-protective of her, and not at all in a good way.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this book and hope that the author writes more stories about Beth and Josh. I know there is a short novella about Beth and I look forward to reading it.

Excerpt: 

     He wished he'd thought of the water sooner. It was easier that way, not so much mess. It was peaceful too, watching her hair fan out behind her like a veil of gold. She didn't struggle after his hands were around her neck, and he was grateful. It showed him that she accepted her fate dutifully, like she should. She should never have made him wait so long.
     Now he was waiting again, but he didn't mind. He was used to waiting now. Waiting could almost have been his middle name. Actually, it was Alphonse, but anyone who knew that was already dead, and so it didn't matter anymore.
     It was a while since he had hunted like this, anticipated the inevitable. Usually he preferred the quick kill, where they didn't know he was coming until they started screaming. He liked to hear them scream. Made it all seem that bit much more worthwhile.
     But there was something different about this one; something that made him want to wait, to delay the final moment, to make it last. He wanted to frighten her long before the end, when she would beg him to kill her. He couldn't quite tell what it was; there was just an air of something other about her. She wasn't like the other girls, and he grinned broadly. Of course she wasn't. She was special. But then, they were all special. They were his.
     Maybe it was the hair which attracted him. It was long, tumbling in red-gold waves down her back, almost to her waist. It reminded him of golden syrup. He loved golden syrup, loved to eat it straight out of the tin with his fingers. No mother to nag him about that. Not anymore. Fingers were fine, but sometimes he preferred bread, white bread, none of that wholemeal nonsense. He could almost taste it on his tongue, could almost taste her and he had to stifle a gasp at the image. No point in attracting undue attention to himself.
     He glanced at the folder on the passenger seat, her name stark black against the buff-coloured folder. It had almost been too easy to get hold of her file, but no one knew what he wanted it for and he wasn't about to tell them, either. He lifted it up and traced her name with a gloved finger, feeling almost as if he was caressing her already. This one would be so easy to break; she'd already been in a mental hospital once. He had to be careful; if she was sent back he couldn't get to her, not there with their high walls and staff on alert all the time. No, he just wanted to scare her for a while, but not inflict madness on her once more. He gasped as he saw her walking towards his parked car, her head down, her loose hair being buffeted by the spring wind.
     Maybe it wasn't the hair; maybe it was the grey-green eyes which seemed to see right down to his soul. Would she recoil in terror at what she saw there, or would she welcome it like the others before her? They had all welcomed him in the end. Or maybe it was the way she dressed, so unlike her contemporaries in their short skirts and skimpy tops. Any time he'd seen her, she was always covered up in long dresses and baggy sweaters, as if she didn't want to show off any of her womanly curves. She had curves, the clothes could not disguise them, and he had long imagined his hands roving over her delicate skin.
     He also knew that underneath all those layers, there was a wanton harlot waiting for him to let her out, just like all the others. How they loved to tease and torment him. This time he would be the tormentor. But not yet. He would wait. He was getting good at waiting.

About the Author: 

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, moving to London when she was seventeen. She writes in multiple genres and styles, anything from romance to thriller or erotica to horror, even both at the same time. When not writing, she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre and travelling the world despite getting travel sick on most forms of transport, even a bicycle. Sometimes you might find her playing Dragon Quest or The Sims computer games and watching Japanese Anime. She lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls, cuddly toys and enough books to fill a library. It's diminishing gradually since the advent of ebooks, but still has a long way to go.

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

War of Fei Book Tour ~ Review

On Tour with Bewitching Book Tours.

Lore of Fei (Lore of Fei #1)
by Kathleen S. Allen
Young Adult Fantasy
Published April 27th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Ariela is a mutant faerie, born without wings. No wings, means no magic. The Veil of Enclosure that separates the faerie land of Fei from the human land of Hege begins to dissolve. The humans go through the Veil in order to steal the faerie children and enslave them. They clip their wings to the faerie children lose their magic and die soon afterwards. The Faerie Council asks Ariela to go to Hege as a spy to ascertain the human's plans for Fei. She has to stop the warmongering humans before the faerie children are lost forever and repair the Veil. But, only a silver-winged faerie can repair it and no silver-winged faerie has been born. It is up to Ariela. But, Ariela has no magic, or does she?

My Review: 

**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour.

MY OVERVIEW: Ariela is a faery without wings. Cool! Humans are trying to take over Fei (land where faeries live), ok, not too original, but still cool. You will need to reference the glossary at the end of the book a few times. The author has created different words for different things (ie. snow is now snwain).

PROS: *Down on my knees begging* ... Can I please have Tashie appear outside??? I will love her and take care of her... oh, and love her! : ) Tashie was fantastic and I love the connection she and Ariela had.

CONS: I felt like there were parts where Ariela was dreaming, and had to go back and re-read to see that she wasn't. She would get captured or in trouble, and "poof", suddenly escaped. It was just too convenient. Also, for creatures with magic, the faeries seemed very weak. They couldn't really stand up for themselves at all.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I look forward to reading the next book to find out what happens to Ariela and Rion.

~~~~~~~~~~

War of Fei (Lore of Fei #2)
by Kathleen S. Allen
Young Adult Fantasy
Published February 6th 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

The faeries are ready to declare war on the humans who threaten to take away Fei, the land of the faeries. They enlist the help of the elves who do not trust either the faeries or the humans. The cost of war almost proves too much for the faeries as more and more of them are lost in battle. Will it be enough to win their hard-earned freedom, or will the battle be lost forever?

My Review: 

**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour. 

MY OVERVIEW: The second installment in the Lore of Fei trilogy is just as exciting as the first. It is, for the most part, non-stop. There is a lot that happens in this book, both good and bad.

PROS: Oh Tashie. You know I love you, so I won't continue on. Loved Mire in this book. She was good in the last one, but just became so much more in this one. I loved all the landscapes the author described. You felt like you were right in them.

CONS: Ok, so I almost put the book down at the end of chapter 3. In the last book Ariela was always quickly getting out of trouble, but this book seemed to be the complete opposite. Don't get me wrong, some discomfort for the characters is good, but it felt too overdone. Almost like the author was compensating for the last book. I also could not stand Rion in this book. For someone who said he was really in love, he sure did give up on Ariela quickly.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I just don't understand the timeline. It seemed to move very fast, then all of a sudden it seemed like it was only a couple days instead of the months it seemed like previously. I can't believe the book ended where it did. But it does make you ready for the next one.

About the Author: 

Kathleen has been writing since she was eight years old in one fashion or the other. She has had poems, short stories, and novels published. She writes in different genres but YA is her favorite.

For more on the Lore of Fei series & Kathleen: 

Website
Blog
Facebook

Review ~ Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, & Larkin Reed

Amber House (The Amber House Trilogy #1)
by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, & Larkin Reed
Young Adult Paranormal
Published October 1st 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died..."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

My Review: 

**4.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: I always get nervous when I see books written by multiple people. Generally the book doesn't have a continuous flow to it. However, Amber House did! I really liked the story and can't wait for more.

PROS: Hmm... favorite character... can I pick three? :) Sarah, Jackson, and Sam were all awesome. Sam is sooo cute! I love how the authors gave him so much sweet innocence. Sarah was written beautifully. I loved how the authors made her struggle with her powers. Does she accept them? Does she try to ignore them?

CONS: I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. I almost wish it hadn't gone the way it did, but I understand why and how it is part of Amber House's "magic". Ugh. Sarah's mom is awful, but I guess that should kind of go under a pro, since she was written to where you aren't supposed to like her.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I have to wait until December for the next book?!?!?!?! Darn. This is what I get for reading a great book right away. Now I have to wait, patiently I guess, for Neverwas to come out. Please hurry!

Transcend Time Book Blitz ~ Sneak Peek & Giveaway

On Tour with Xpresso Book Tours.

Remembrance (Transcend Time Saga #1)
By Michelle Madow
Young Adult Time Travel
Published July 27th 2011
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.

Get Your Copy: 

*For a short time, Remembrance is only $0.99!*

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
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Vengeance (Transcend Time Saga #2)

By Michelle Madow

Young Adult Time Travel

Published December 8th 2011

Goodreads Link

Blurb:

How far would you go to get revenge?

When Chelsea Givens discovered that her ex-boyfriend Drew dumped her to be with her former best friend Lizzie, she'd never felt so betrayed in her life. Then her new friend Shannon tells her she can help set things right. Chelsea's willing to listen, but what Shannon wants her to believe -- that she shared a past life with Drew -- is impossible. And what she wants her to do to get him back ... well, it's downright crazy.

Could Shannon be telling the truth? And if she is, what lengths will Chelsea go if it means making Lizzie pay?

Find out in Vengeance, the second part of the Transcend Time Saga.

*Vengeance is the short story that bridges the events in Remembrance and the final novel in the Saga.

Get Your Copy: 

Amazon
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Kobo Books
iTunes Bookstore

Timeless (Transcend Time Saga #3)
By Michelle Madow
Young Adult Time Travel
Published November 14th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together.

In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path.

Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make matters worse, even if she can figured out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.

Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began ... and Lizzie discovers that the final events in her past life were more sinister than she ever imagined.

Get Your Copy: 

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Remembrance Sneak Peek:

Preface

It was at the Halloween dance that I got the first glimpse of my past life.
     The gym was packed, and due to the masks and the dim lights, it was impossible to tell who anyone was. I looked through the crowd, trying to see who Chelsea was dancing with, but even her red dress blended into the darkness.
     Then I felt a movement from behind.
     "Your boyfriend won't mind if you dance with someone else?" a familiar voice whispered in my ear, barely audible over the loud, trancelike music. I turned around, disappointed to find that the black bandanna wrapped around his hair and the matching cloth mask covering the top half of his face made it impossible to see his features in the low lighting. But I knew it was Drew.
     He pulled me closer before I could respond to the question. His arms wrapped around my waist, and I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes and inhaling the sweet scent of pine coming off his skin. Jeremy would mind, but pulling away from Drew would be like trying to yank two magnets apart. It was dark, and we were in the back of the room, far enough from the main crowd in the center for anyone to notice. One dance couldn't hurt.
     He must have figured that I wasn't going to try pulling away again, because he raised his hand to my shoulder and trailed his thumb down to my elbow, reaching my wrist and intertwining his fingers with mine. The palms of our hands connected, and I decided to enjoy the time we could be together, knowing that everything would return to the way it had been come Monday morning. The world spun to the beat of the music, and I let myself sink into it, clearing my mind of everything around me.
     That was when the first flash came.


This sneak peek is part of Transcendence, a Transcend Time Saga Bonus Pack. You can get your own free copy on smashwords.

About the Author: 

In the fall of 2008, Michelle saw Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video for the first time. She thought up a story to go along with the video, and wrote the first chapter as a homework assignment for class. Her classmates and teacher loved it so much that they wanted to know what happened next, so Michelle continued writing, and that story eventually became Remembrance, the first novel in the Transcend Time Saga. She's so happy to be able to share this series with you, and hopes you enjoy reading it as much as she loved writing it!

Check out her website, www.michellemadow.com, to add her on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and her many other social networking sites.

Michelle lives in Florida, and is hard at work writing more novels for young adults.

Giveaway: 

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Cover Reveal ~ A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

Ok, so I have this awesome cover reveal for you all today. But before we get to that... how about an excerpt? :)

A Tale of Two Centuries Excerpt:

     Austin pushes the red and black Jet Ski into the water, past the first few crashing waves, then throws a leg over the side. He turns to me, extending an upturned palm, but as I watch the water pound against his legs, I slowly shake my head and inch away. Forget the confusion of the past few minutes or my concern if riding wrapped around Austin is appropriate...are jet skis even safe? So far, my experience with modern machines has taught me that they travel at terrifying speeds. What if I were to accidentally let go and fly off? I don't know how to swim!
     Austin's face gentles and he curls his fingers, coaxing me closer to the watery death trap. "I've got you, Alessandra," he says. "I promise nothing's gonna hurt you. You can trust me."
     The sardonic guise he hides behind drops for just a moment, but it is enough.
     I say a quick prayer and place my hand in his.
     With my legs straddling the seat, my arms wrapped tightly around Austin's firm stomach, and my chest and face pressed against his back, I do not need the extra layer my wetsuit provides. I am quite warm without it. Under me, the engine rumbles. Austin grabs my clasped hands, ensuring my death grip. And then we are flying.
     Fear is left behind me on the beach. My laughter is swallowed by the wind. And I hold onto Austin. The rest of the world falls away as he powers the machine forward. Whistling sound envelops us yet there's also silence in the midst of the roar. Out here, there's no room for worrisome thoughts about the future or about the past. No time for concerns over when I will return or how much I miss my family. In this bubble of Austin, wind, and water, all I can do is live and breathe and smile.
     Austin spins us in circles and then we fly straight ahead, free as the winged creatures overhead. He bounces us over a swell and a spray of water splashes my face, tickling the skin left exposed from my wetsuit. I squeal, and under my clasped hands, I feel his taut stomach muscles shake with laughter. Then he takes off again in another sharp turn, racing in the opposite direction of which we came. Excitement has me screaming, asking him to go faster. I close my eyes against the sting of the salty air and the lash of my hair and tilt my head back, feeling more uninhibited than I ever have before.
     More free, more alive... just more.


Exciting isn't it???? Ok, so now the moment you have been waiting for....

Blurb: 

Alessandra D'Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat's Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen...until she meets the infuriating-and infuriatingly handsome-surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in...and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she's come to love?

About the Author: 

As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents' walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels. As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.

When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath...next to a pile of chocolate. A Tale of Two Centuries is her second novel.

Giveaway: 

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I Am Alive Tour ~ Review & Giveaway

On tour with Xpresso Book Tours.

I Am Alive (I Am Alive #1-3)
By Cameron Jace
Young Adult Dystopian
Published May 23rd 2012 *Author's Note: starting 12/1/2012 this is a newly professionally edited version*
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

Every girl dies - not every girl really lives.

Sixteen-year-old Decca Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets gorgeous and reckless Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful, and shoots almost every one he meets.

The usual boring girl meets badboy story... hmm... with a twist...

They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.

To prove that you're still alive you have to scream I Am Alive every six hours. Lower your voice, and you're dead.

Decca doesn't need Leo's company. She has a secret of her own. While they both can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank.

Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

Get Your Copy:

Amazon

My Review: 

**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of this blog tour. Also, please be aware that his review is for the set including books 1-3. 

MY OVERVIEW: Please, please read the author's notes at the beginning and end of the book. It will make the reading experience much better. I completely agree that the concept of kids/teenagers fighting is an old one. It was not created for The Hunger Games trilogy, it was just made popular by it. I like how Cameron Jace put his spin on the fighting.

PROS: I think it is really interesting how the author has created this dystopian society based around an "ark", or really a time capsule. The leaders took what they wanted out of the ark and used it to control their society. I just wonder how they got to the point where civilization was beginning to form again. I also really liked Bellona. Her character was written beautifully.

CONS: I did find the fascination with the letter "z" a little annoying. However, the author's note at the end of the book did make it a little better. I think Decca's character needed to be developed just a little more. Her whole reason for entering was to find Woo, yet she never searched for him. Also, there were a few editing mistakes with spelling and sentence structure, but not enough to ruin the book.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I don't think that this book should have been split into four parts. It seemed like each part was a little too short to stand on its own. I think it would have been good as a two book series. I do look forward to reading part four. I can't wait to find out what happens to Decca and Leo.

About the Author: 

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, and totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters. I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

For more on the I Am Alive series and Cameron Jace: 

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Giveaway: 

Giveaway is for one (1) eBook copy of I Am Alive. This giveaway is open internationally.

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The Ferryman & The Flame Tour ~ Giveaway

 

On Tour with Xpresso Book Tours.

Surrender (The Ferryman and the Flame #1)
by Rhiannon Paille
Young Adult Fantasy
Published October 2nd 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Get Your Copy:  Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~

Lantern & Poison (The Ferryman and the Flame #1.5)

by Rhiannon Paille

Young Adult Fantasy

Published December 11th 2012

Goodreads Link

Blurb:

This is SURRENDER from the villain's POV.

Hadwen is no more. The Daed have no choice but to travel to Avrigost to awaken Crestaos. They're thrown into a whirlwind quest for the Flames, not knowing how ruthless and sadistic Crestaos can be.

Meet Isadora The Iolite Flame, Lotesse The Emerald Flame, Cossisea The Ruby Flame, Shezeel The Quartz Flame, and Tiki The Carnelian Flame in this novella that dives deeper into Kaliel and Krishani's nightmare.

Get Your Copy: Amazon

~~~~~~~~~

Justice (The Ferryman and the Flame #2)
by Rhiannon Paille
Young Adult Fantasy
Published January 22nd 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

How far would you go to destroy yourself?

Krishani always knew he would have to go to the Lands of Men, but he never thought it would be like this. Enemies everywhere, an ancestor he can't respect, elders he can't trust, a curse he can't stop and friends he can't help but hate. Desperate to end the pain, he sets out on a quest to find the other Flames and face the enemy that took everything from him.

Get Your Copy: Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~

Blood & Gold (The Ferryman and the Flame #2.5)

by Rhiannon Paille

Young Adult Fantasy

Expected Publication June 2013

Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

This is JUSTICE from the villain's POV.

The Daed are pawns to one of the most powerful members of the Valtanyana. Crestaos is insane, his hunger for the Flames insatiable. The closer the Daed get to achieving his goal, the more expendable they become.

~~~~~~~~~~

About the Author: 

Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She's married to a chef/comic book shop owner and has a fondness for architecture. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.yafantasyauthor.com



For more on The Ferryman and the Flame series and Rhiannon Paille: 

Website
Goodreads
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Twitter

Giveaway: 

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