Thursday, October 30, 2014

Release Celebration & Giveaway: ATLANTIA by Ally Condie

HAPPY RELEASE WEEK TO ATLANTIA BY ALLY CONDIE!!! Isn't this cover beautiful!?!? If you are a fan of her Matched Trilogy then jump aboard for her newest YA, ATLANTIA! It's releasing this week, so it's on shelves everywhere!

Atlantia by Ally Condie
October 28, 2014
Dutton Children's (Penguin)

Atlantia

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamed of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all Rio’s hopes for the future are shattered when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected choice, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long silenced—she has nothing left to lose.Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the corrupted system constructed to govern the Divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths. 

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GIVEAWAY
Comment on this blogpost with what "trope" or storyline you like best in YA, (Vampires, Witches, Werewolves, Boy Next Door etc) and you will be entered to win one of these Land & Sea Atlantia necklaces! Don't forget to leave your email, so I can contact you. US only please. **Penguin will be mailing the prize, so the winner will be forwarded to them.**



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: STONE COLD TOUCH by Jennifer L. Armentrout



Stone Cold Touch (Dark Elements Book #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Harlequin Teen
Out Now
Reviewed by: AmyG (big sis)
Sister's Say: Decisions are Painful!


Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…


After the ending of white hot kiss left us gutted and bleeding all over our books, Stone Cold Kiss jumps in to kill us a little more only to patch us back up then rip the wound right back open. Layla (not to mention myself) is left with a broken heart after Roth sacrificed himself for her, and Zayne is there to pick up the pieces in Stone Cold Touch. SCT is definitely Zayne's time to shine, and he uses every opportunity he's given. He's sweet, protective and very Aiden-ish.  There is a lot of Layla/Zayne time, so all you Zayne fans out there are going to be thrilled!

However, this book isn't just all lovey dovey Zayne time. Some crazy things start happening, and once again it's all tied to Layla. Things get so bad that loyalties are tested and relationships are stretched to the breaking point. No one comes out unscathed.

The silver lining in all of this is that ROTH comes back! It's a rough homecoming though because time has kept moving and now Zayne has made his intentions clear.  And, my heart broke again. More and more bad things start happening though, so no time to cry.

Roth, Zayne and Layla must all team up together to stop this new evil that is threatening the world. The climax of this book left me with my jaw in the floor. It's crazy, wild, unpredictable and completely knocked me off my feet! I was literally screaming in my living room by myself while reading it.

JLA is a freakin Jedi-mind master! Just when you think you have this whole love triangle thing figured out she throws you a huge curveball and all the cards are laid on the table. I'm not going to lie, I still love Roth and am firmly planted in his camp. But she made that choice hard! There are several times in SCT that I questioned my loyalty, but then Roth would step up in big ways and tank me right back.  I do think we might see a lot of people jumping ship to a different team, both ways! I don't envy Layla her decision.  I think the ending of this book marks a huge crossroads. I remember this quote from North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headly, and I think it fits where this story is going perfectly!

"There must be a few times in life when you stand at a precipice of a decision. When you know there will forever be a Before and an After...I knew there would be no turning back if I designated this moment as my own Prime Meridian from which everything else would be measured." -North of Beautiful

So this next step is it. This is Layla's Prime Merdian, the point that she will look back on and always mark as her Before and After. It gives me chills to even think about it. I can't wait for everyone else to read this book! It's an amazing story that that just proves that Jennifer Armentrout is the real deal!

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GIVEAWAY


As most if you know, JLA is putting the decision in our hands who Layla should choose in EVERY LAST BREATH.  Follow this link to find out more info and to vote: http://thedarkelementsseries.com/

But, to go along with this, I wanted to do something a little fun to go along with this tour stop. You know the whole make a list thing of pros & cons when you are trying to make a tough decision? I was thinking we could do that to help Layla and all those in between decide whose team they should join. In the comments, let's make a pros list for each guy. No need to do the cons because in pretty sure there are none for each guy.:) So tell us, why should Layla pick Roth or Zayne!

Anyone who comments will be entered to win a SIGNED COPY OF STONE COLD TOUCH! I'll leave the giveaway open until voting closes between Roth and Zayne which is November 11. Good luck! US/Canada only giveaway.

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Blog Tour Schedule:

October 22
Vilma’s Book Blog-Video Review
October 23
Kimberlyfaye Reads-Quote Teasers
October 24
Stuck in Books-Character Interview w/ Roth & Zayne
October 25
October 26
The Irish Banana Review-DreamCast & Review
October 27
Mundie Moms-Character Interview w/ Layla
October 28
October 29
Emilie’s Book World-Character Interview w/ Roth, Zayne & Layla
October 30
Vi3tiBabe-Author Interview
October 31
Jenuine Cupcakes-Baking with Roth & Zayne

Reading Teen-Review

BUY LINKS:

And don’t forget the previous books in The Dark Elements Series…


BITTER SWEET LOVE

WHITE HOT KISS


# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Friday, September 12, 2014

Blog Tour: Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

Hello and welcome to THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER blog tour. I'm so thrilled to be on the tour. Check out today's post below and be sure to enter to win!


Published by: Harper Voyager
To Be Released on: September 16th, 2014
Add it to Goodreads
Get it From: Amazon | BandN


Book Blurb:
An extremely fun and very commercial fantasy debut, in the bestselling vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger. THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER is an enchanting fantasy debut about a young healer with incredible powers setting off on her first mission, when a series of strange occurrences (including murder) rock the airship she is traveling on. But the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Dagger assassins, her cabin-mate hides secrets, and the conspiracy may reach the crown itself.

Praise for The Clockwork Dagger
“The Clockwork Dagger was just what I needed: A steampunk adventure with an uncommon heroine, a fascinating magic system, and a young gremlin! I’m hooked and can’t wait for more Octavia and Leaf!”
—New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne

About the Author:


Beth Cato resides in the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ. Her husband Jason, son Nicholas, and crazy cat keep her busy, but she still manages to squeeze in time for writing and other activities that help preserve her sanity. She is originally from Hanford, CA, a lovely city often pungent with cow manure.

Giveaway:


Enter to win a copy of THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, complete with a gorgeous black-and-gold paper parasol, for your very own steampunk adventures and cosplays (seen above)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Guest Post


Young and Tough

by Beth Cato

I want to read about more young heroines whose strength is a defining character trait, much more so than prettiness. The sort of women who are survivors and who enable other people to survive. That's what I had in mind as I created the protagonist of THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, Octavia Leander.

Octavia is twenty-two years old. She's spent much of the past decade working in surgical tents at the frontline of a vicious, never-ending war. She's a medician, what I call my magic-wielding healers, but is also trained to doctor the old-fashioned way. I modeled her on World War I nurses--those brave, often-sleepless women who dealt with amputations and the horrors of gangrene with limited supplies or respect. 

Physical strength plays an important role, too. To be a doctor during a war means hauling around medical gear and unconscious bodies and doing whatever else needs to be done. When Octavia isn't at the front, she's on the working farm that's the academy for medicians in training. She can haul hay bales or suckling foals, or spend long hours planting tulips bulbs in a field.

However, when the book starts out, she's scared. Octavia knows battle--septic bowels, burns, and pneumonia--but she's on her own for the first time. She's in a strange city. Her attuned ears can hear injuries in the form of songs from people all around her. It's overwhelming and maddening, and she's keenly aware that she's young, female, and alone.

Octavia is strong, though. She has faith in the world tree she worships, the Lady, and she has a goal. She's set to journey by airship to a town where she'll establish her own medical practice, her own life. As the cruel author, I can't make things that easy or straightforward for her. The flight is quickly complicated by murder, poison, and increasing evidence that Octavia is the target--and she has no idea why. 

With her medicinal herbs and her wiles, Octavia needs to stay alive and help everyone around her survive, too. She might be young, but she's already been to war. She's a soldier in her own right and she won't go down without a fight.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Published by Macmillan
Available Now
Reviewed by YA Sisterhood's Mom
The Sister's Say:  Wonderful and Exciting

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

Two young men—the Assassin and the Prince. Both are chasing Lia—the prince because she injured his pride by fleeing their arranged marriage and the assassin to make sure she doesn’t return. When Lia meets them in her new life, she is attracted to both. Of course, the exciting part is that she knows who neither is. The excitement is doubled when neither man can follow through with their vengeance against Lia, but instead finds himself falling in love.

What a wonderful search for what love is! I was a little leery of the comments I had read about the love triangle, but I think these readers totally missed the truth of the relationships in this book.  It is so much more than a love triangle, but more about the friendship of those who loved and were tossed aside and those who have never loved at all. The enlightenment is that love isn’t always perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real love.

Pearson describes this journey to discovery with beautiful language, and she has created a blend of the past and future into a fantasy world made up of three powerful nations: Venda, Dalbreck, and Morrighan. Among these nations she draws together a native of each, who share a cultural hatred of each other, yet they are drawn together as friends. The war between attraction and hatred makes for a wonderful page turner.

Amid these colorful characters and fantastic plot, Pearson shares some poignant truths about life: “It can take years to mold a dream.  It takes only a fraction of a second for it to be shattered.”
I am also stealing her beautiful bedtime prayer (altered it just a bit): “May God grant you a still heart, heavy eyes, and angels guarding your door.”

And if you aren’t hooked with all these things, the beautiful ending will blow you away. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but let me just say that I know the most perfect words to melt a woman’s heart are “In the farthest corner…I will find you.” (Swallow, swallow, tear, tear, heart thump)


Now I am sitting here waiting for the next book of their journey, and when it makes its way to the shelves, wherever it is…in the farthest corner…I will find it!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Ensnared by A.G. Howard

There are quite a few books that I am looking forward to, but one of my most anticipated is ENSNARED by A.G. Howard.  I absolutely adore the Splintered series, and I can't wait to find out what happens with Alyssa, Morpheus (YAY!) and Jeb (meh).  I can't wait to see Alyssa grasp her true netherling gifts and fight back to restore Wonderland to its former glory.

Ensnared by A.G. Howard
Published by Amulet Books
Release Date:  January 6, 2015


After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?



What book are you waiting for?




WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.


Monday, September 8, 2014

Mini Review: The One by Kiera Cass

The ONE by Kiera Cass
Published by Harper Teen
Available Now
Reviewed by YA Sisterhood's Mom
The Sister's Say:  An ending worth reading!

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

If you have been disappointed by the third book in most trilogies, then you will be delighted to read THE ONE. America is now determined to win The Selection, a contest to choose the Prince’s bride. In a crazy mix of Cinderella, The Hunger Games, and The Bachelor, Cass has blended the perfect ingredients to keep you turning those pages to see the result of the “season finale”!

When I read the first book, I loved it.  Then the second became my favorite. But now the final book has stepped up to epitomize its title.  I thought America was daring in the first two, but Cass constantly surprised me with each rebellious act America committed. I loved being surprised, and while I was cheering her on, at the same time my mind was screaming, “Oh no, don’t do that!”
But my absolute favorite part was the letters from Maxom to America—his insecurities about love were both humorous and poignant and the perfect romantic touch to an awesome ending. I can’t tell you more for fear of spoilage, but the end was definitely worth the wait.


America and Maxom definitely won my heart! And, Kiera Cass, you definitely won this reader’s following!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: The Return (Titan #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Ever since I finished Sentinel I have been having serious Covenant withdrawals! I miss the characters. I miss the world. I just miss it all!  So that's why this week I'm very impatiently waiting for The Return!


The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Spencer Hill Press
February 17th, 2015
Add to Goodreads.
Pre-order here.

18809475

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody – which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to “puree”. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of an ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.
Seth's Story.

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Buy Links:


Monday, September 1, 2014

Reviews: Crescendo & Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Many of you know that YA-Sisterhood is actually 3 real sisters.  We've all at points run the blog depending on what is going on in the lives of the other 2.  You know that pesky thing called life that seems to always get in the way!:) That's okay though because I wouldn't change it for anything.  HOWEVER, I'm not sure if you know that we all owe our love of books to our mother!  She was our English teacher all throughout high school!  And, she also contributes to our blog! Not sure that YA Motherhood has the same flare though!  Today is a review from our mom.  It's 2 reviews from an older book series, but I know you guys will recognize it!  Plus, Patch is always a huge contender in our Crush Tourneys!  So let's show Patch and our mom a little love!!!

Crescendo (Hush Hush #2) and
Silence (Hush Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Simon and Schuster
Reviewed by: YA Sisterhood's Sweet Mom

7791997Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever (if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feelings that he is hiding something.

If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

If a crescendo is a steady increase in intensity, then BeccaFitzpatrick aptly named her second book in the HUSH, HUSHSeries. Each page seems to be filled with scenes of Nora pushing Patch away or discovering secrets of her past—each a closer step to increased disaster.
The second book begins where the first ends. Patch has given up his chance to be human in exchange for Nora’s life. Now he has been assigned as her Guardian Angel. Perfect! He protects her,which means he has to stay by her side, and we can never have too much Patch! But showing romantic feelings for her is a big no no. In fact, being caught by the Archangels could result in a trip to hell for Patch. So masking those feelings with attentions toward Marcie, Nora’s archenemy, causes the green-eyed monster to roar inside Nora, so much so that she denounces Patch as her Guardian Angel.  Well, Fitzpatrick did call it CRESCENDO, so what do you expect?
But the ultimate intensity is in never knowing who to believe. Is Nora’s father really dead? Who really killed him? Why is Scotty the Hottie back in Nora’s life? What secrets are being hidden by her mom? Ho is trying to kill Nora now? AND the ultimate question: Does Nora lose Patch if she tells him she loves him?Fitzpatrick definitely follows the old adage: And the plot thickens!
But sprinkled in this suspenseful plot is Fitzpatrick’s unique creativity when it comes to teen angst and life in general.  I particularly loved her marble analogy to determining your social status in the town.  A marble would have a difficult time rolling uphill to the high class, yet it steadies at middle class, and downhill, well, there is no problem rolling down to the bottom.
So what complaints did I have? Only one. Yeah, it adds to the crescendo when Nora keeps pushing Patch away, but, DANG IT! Does she have to make us suffer from the loss of his presence, too? I need more Patch! So that’s why I’m quickly moving on to Book Three: SILENCE. Need my Patch fix!

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Silence (Hush, Hush, #3)Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.



Best one yet! How could you forget a guy like Patch?  But that is just what Nora Grey has done. Of course, it’s not her fault that she experienced a harrowing kidnapping by Hank and his minions. That’s how the last book ended, but Nora has no recollection of any of it since her mind has been wiped of the past five months—that memory loss includes not only what happened in book two, but also book one. So Nora is Patch clueless….completely!


If that doesn’t keep you turning pages to rectify that horror, Fitzpatrick has a few more shockers waiting to spring on you. Everyone is covering the memory loss, even her best friend Vee.  You want to scream, “JUST TELL HER!” But Fitzpatrick drags us through the anguish….but I’m not mad….because when Patch really does re-enter Nora’s life, it is AMAZING!
Wow! What an ending, but guess what? IT’S NOT THE END! Now I’m quickly grabbing FINALE off the shelf!

Buy Links: (Just click on the picture)


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole

There is not another YA book on the face of the planet that I want more at this moment than Dead of Winter!!!  I am DYING for this book!  Dead of Winter is book 3 in Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles.  This series rocked my world!  So obviously, my Waiting on Wednesday this week is:

DEAD OF WINTER: THE ARACANA CHRONICLES BOOK #3
by Kresley Cole
Simon and Schuster
January 6th, 2015
Add to Goodreads

Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles, #3)

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions 
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory 
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on The Lovers and the vast army they command. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them once and for all may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned 
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first?

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Teaser Tuesday: SUBLIME by Christina Lauren


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!


To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read


•Open to a random page


•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)


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I am a HUGE fan of Christina Lauren.  They are definitely in my drop everything and read category.  And honestly, Christina and Lauren are just lovely ladies.  I had to opportunity to meet them on the Belles on Wheels tour, and now I want to read everything they write even more!  SUBLIME is their first trip into the YA world.  And, sweet baby banana pants (my 5 year old's favorite saying), the cover is simply gorgeous!

"You mean the part where you asked me to stay away and here I am, finding you in the middle of the night?"  (page 50)

Hee-hee!  I love that line! Don't forget to add Sublime to your TBR!

SUBLIME by Christina Lauren
Simon and Schuster
October 14th, 2014


SublimeTrue love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors ofBeautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author ofShatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read".

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life—and her death—neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…



Monday, July 14, 2014

Review: Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Sophie Winters nearly died. Twice.

The first time, she's fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that'll take years to kick.

The second time, she's seventeen, and it's no accident. Sophie and her best friend Mina are confronted by a masked man in the woods. Sophie survives, but Mina is not so lucky. When the cops deem Mina's murder a drug deal gone wrong, casting partial blame on Sophie, no one will believe the truth: Sophie has been clean for months, and it was Mina who led her into the woods that night for a meeting shrouded in mystery.

After a forced stint in rehab, Sophie returns home to a chilly new reality. Mina's brother won't speak to her, her parents fear she'll relapse, old friends have become enemies, and Sophie has to learn how to live without her other half. To make matters worse, no one is looking in the right places and Sophie must search for Mina's murderer on her own. But with every step, Sophie comes closer to revealing all: about herself, about Mina and about the secret they shared.

I'm not a reader of murder mysteries. Yet something about the dark setup here just drew me in! The tag line on the cover reads: "the truth won't let her go." But that's not the half of it. Sophie's palpable desperation to tell the world what really happened is hard to read. She's trapped under the weight of everyone's disappointment. And she knows she deserves it, up to a point. It's horrifying nonetheless.

Wow!

This book jumps back and forth in time, which demands the the reader pay careful attention to the "tags" at the beginning of each chapter, which help anchor the moment in time. But the story is constructed skillfully enough that the non-linear narrative is never annoying. Reading this, I got whiffs of Gillian Flynn's twisty stories. (Although the characters here are FAR more likeable!)

You will feel for Sophie, cry for Mina and want to hug Trev. And the killer? You won't see him coming!