Thursday, February 28, 2013

February Top 5

February is way to short! But I did have a great reading month. I took a trip to Florida and I spent some time reading on the beach. It was cold, but it wasn't cold enough to keep me from hanging out by the water and there's nothing better than reading in the sand. Anyways, you can check out all the books I read this month in the "Read in 2013" tab, but here are my top five reads in February. 

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
I'm so mad it took me so long to pick up Cinder. Because I just picked it up this month and it totally blew me away. Then I read Scarlet and it's SO FREAKING AWESOME. I'm head over heals, all out, freaking out in love with this series. You can read my review of Cinder here. My full review of Scarlet will be up next week. 

2. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
I love Miranda. I'll read anything she writes. And Things I Can't Forget is another amazing book from a great author. You can learn a lot about acceptance and understanding from Kate Kelly. Check out my review here

3. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone was one of my top reads last year. And Siege and Storm is the perfect addition to this series. It was unexpected. My emotions were surprising, and I was kind of shocked at how my allegiances changed by the end of the book. This is a stellar second novel from Leigh. 

4. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Again, with the sequels. Authors are killing it so far this year with second books. No bridge syndrome here. Through the Ever Night is fabulous. Also, Roar is pretty much my #1 book boy - and he isn't even the MC! That's impressive. You can read my full review here

5. Boundless by Cynthia Hand
AMAZING end to this trilogy. Officially one of my favorite series ever. Team Tucker forever. Read my review here

What were your top reads this month?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Guest Post - Juliana Haygert

I'm so excited to have Juliana Haygert, author of upcoming Destiny Gift, today talking New Adult and responding to ABC Nightline's report on this new category of books. If you want more NA, definitely check out Juliana over at NA Alley!

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NA Isn't Sexed Up YA or Erotica
By Juliana Haygert

Disclaimer: I like my books, the ones I write and the ones I read, with at least a little romance in them, but my personal reading preferences don't include erotica. 

If you know what New Adult is, you've heard of ABC Nightline's piece about the subject. You haven't? Shame on you! I'll give you a chance to go read it or see it. Go. I'll wait. [taps foot and hums the new Belinda single]

Are you back? Are you as mad about the article as I am?

First, let's start by explaining New Adult is a category, not a genre. Category is related to age: middle grad, young adult, new adult, adult. Genre is the "flavor" of those categories: contemporary, paranormal, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.

Second, those reporters really don't know what they are talking about. New Adult isn't about sex and I can prove that with one simple statement: Slammed by Colleen Hoover, the book they talk so much about in that article has NO ssex scenes. NONE! So why do they state New Adult is Young Adult with Erotica, when there's no erotic element in the book they take as example? (note: I know the reporter said that Slammed has more sexual tension than sex, but, hey, if you're gonna accuse NA of being erotica, Slammed isn't the right book to drive your point home!)

And if you're thinking about Fifty Shades of Grey, that's another story. I know people, including some of my NA sisters, who consider the NA Erotica (NA = category, Erotica = genre). But I don't. To me, Erotica is Erotica. Otherwise you would have YA Erotica, MG Erotica, Adult Erotica...Anyway, I have a guess as to why people associate sex with New Adult, and the answer is in the same vein of whey people think New Adult is only contemporary. Being about college-aged characters, New Adult deals with sexuality a lot, and, since it's a new category, it deals with "real-life" issues (contemporary fiction), which includes sexual exploration.

My friend and author, Magan Vernon, wrote a blog post in response to ABC's article and I loved this sentence: New Adult is "about a period of life that yeah is going to be more sexually charged than a fifteen year old's"...So true! You can't run from it - much. But that doesn't mean that sex is the focus of the story. If you're in the writing business as we are, you heard a statement like this "sex shouldn't happen for the sake of sex. It has to be a natural part of the story, a step on the life of the character. It has to have a purpose, it has to change the characters"...And this is true for New Adult too. If you're reading NA books that are more smexy than others, it's because the topic it deals with is more smexy and sex is going to be part of a big change in the character's life.

As New Adult grows old, more genres will appear and soon we'll see an explosion of paranormal, urban fantasy, sci-fi and any other genre, dealing with those same issues, including sex. My NA Sister, Victoria H. Smith wrote a sci-fi, The Crimson Hunt, and though there's kissing, there's no sex. Carrie Butler, also my NA Sister, wrote a NA paranormal romance titled Strength that also only has kissing. Another one of my NA Sisters, Summer Lane, wrote a NA dystopia titled State of Emergency and there's no sex in it. My own paranormal romance, Destiny Gift, which comes out in April, has some kissing, but no sex.

What I'm trying to say is: sex is part of a college-aged person's life and is going to be part of our characters' lives, some way or another. But that doesn't mean it's crucial, it doesn't mean NA needs to have any sex. I've read a couple of NA urban fantasy and sci-fi that have no sex scenes and no kissing and even no sexual tension. It was all for the adventure - and these books are good! New Adult is about the character's reaction to the situation he lives in. A college-aged character will have to react to situations where he is confronted by sex - either because he wants/has it or because his roommate is horny.

The bottom line is: NA isn't YA with more sex. If you think it is, then I'm sorry, but you don't get it. NA is a phase in life where the character is on the path of self-discovery. He is growing up, trying to become an adult, but not feeling like one. And it's the way he reacts to the growing up part that make s in NA or not.

If you're still curious about NA, you can read more on its definition and a list of books separated by genre on NA Alley.

Thanks, Hannah, for having me and putting up with my rant!

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About Juliana: While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting - but equally gratifying - life of a wife, mother and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy. 
Find her online: NA Alley :: Twitter :: Facebook


Make sure you watch out for her upcoming novel Destiny Gift out on April 9, 2013! 

About Destiny GiftThirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness. 
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis: "Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under. (From Goodreads)

Eleanor and Park are so stinkin' adorable, they just make me want to snuggle. Or at least put on the music that reminds me of being in high school and start reading comic books. All the elements of this work just pull together to highlight a beautiful love story that reads like remembering something that happened to you.

Park and Eleanor are genius characters, because they are unique and quirky, but at the same time they could be a reflection of yourself. Eleanor boils down to a girl who's uncomfortable in her own skin and doesn't feel like she has a safe place in the world. Park is a boy who is struggling against expectations and trying to pinpoint his identity. The most beautiful part of this story is how they enhance each other. They don't fix each other, they don't change for each other, but they just grow.

I think my favorite part, and what drew me to the book in the first place, is the fact that it takes place in 1986. First, how random is that? Second, I love the 80's. I'm loving that books are popping up that take place in the not-so-distant past. It's cool to read something kind of historical, but something still within your lifetime (ok '86 is a little out of my lifetime, but still in my generation). So it's fun to read about the styles and the music. Park's dad is a Korean veteran who married a Korean woman and brought her back to the States. Within this timeframe, that was an interesting dimension to the story. Park's mom may have been my favorite, because she was a Korean mother who Rainbow managed to write without being stereotypical.

Eleanor and Park's families provided the largest obstacles and plot progressions for this story. Eleanor's mother is weak and her stepdad is controlling and abusive. There isn't a lot of money and there are a handful of kids living in one room. Eleanor has to hid her relationship from them. Park's mom doesn't like Eleanor at first, but eventually his house becomes a haven for her and his mom warms up to her. I think there are a lot of different ways these families can be interpreted within the context of this story, but I think they serve to highlight the fact that you can make your own family and find home in unexpected places.

There are also some interesting things being done with gender roles here. Eleanor dresses like a boy and Park is constantly called "pretty" and "beautiful." Apparently, he has very feminine features. I'd have to mull over the meaning of this more, but I just wanted to point out that this is a cool thing going on here. For me, it's not about how you look to the world. The labels don't matter. It's all about how the other person sees you - because I think the when you see yourself through someone else's eyes, and you love that person, you start to see yourself that way as well. And if that person you love thinks your beautiful, then you begin to see yourself as beautiful.

I love this gorgeous story, which feels so simple and so huge at the same time. The writing is wonderful and there are great layers that make you feel you are reading your own memories.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Mila 2.0 - Debra Driza

Synopsis: Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.
Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life. (From Goodreads)

I'm beginning to open my mind to androids and this book was a great step in convincing me to pick up more science fiction. I was expecting to feel distant from Mila, but surprisingly she's incredibly relatable and almost more human than the humans in this book. Mila is a unique heroine why faces a myriad of enemies that range from a scorned high school girl to the head of a secret government operation. In each challenging situation she handles herself with dignity and grace, despite the immense pressure to shed her humanity and her instincts to coldly fight her enemies.

Some government stories seem to overwhelm themselves with details about the operations or their purpose and the characters get a little lost. This book perfectly balances the character and the government. It's an exciting, fast paced novel, but it never goes too fast and I never felt too lost. It helped, too, that some of the government agents had back stories that surfaced throughout their time together that made them more complex than faceless enemies.

I'm impressed with the reach of this novel - it starts out in small town Midwest and stretches to an urban setting, the characters cover high school it girls, MIT students, and machines that look like humans. Mila adapts to all of these people and situations so well - I mean, I know she's engineered to be super-human, but it's still pretty incredible. I was pretty stoked that the story opens in Clearwater, Minnesota. I grew up two hours from there. So awesome. I love it when that happens. Even when I wanted to punch them, I kind of adored the "friends" she has there. I mean, technically they are horrible, but I can't help but feel a MN kinship with them. When you read it, give them a little bit of a break - because really - exciting things (read: new boys) rarely happen and when they do, it does suck when it doesn't happen to you.

That said, Hunter is some kind of super-boy. Not in the way Mila is, but he's über sweet and supportive and...well, he might actually be too perfect. I can't think of a flaw in him. But I think we'll get to know more about him soon. This book was very Mila focused.

I can see how this can be translated into a TV show. It's written like it's meant to be seen. The book is very action driven and it's so easy to play out that action in your head. It's also not as internal as some YA novels, even though it's in first person. I'm kind of (weirdly) picturing the adaptation as a cross between Kyle XY and The Secret World of Alex Mack (don't ask me why, I have no explanation). Mila 2.0 was an entertaining read an I look forward to the story continuing.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Things I Can't Forget - Miranda Kenneally

Synopsis: Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…
This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy… (From Goodreads)

I just love Miranda Kenneally. She made me cry in book about a girl who plays football and she made me totally fall for a dude named Corndog. She's magical. So naturally she's on my automatic-read list and I was so excited when I got my hands on a copy of Things I Can't Forget. I was looking forward to seeing Parker, Will, Jordan, and Sam again and I couldn't wait to see how Miranda would bewitch me this time.

In the acknowledgements, Miranda writes, "With this story, I want to show you (teenagers) that your beliefs matter - no matter who you are or where you come from. Your opinions matter. You matter." This is one of the truest statements, no matter which way you look at it and it's exactly what this book accomplishes. It's what Kate learns and it's what I absorbed by the end of her story.

Kate is struggling with her Christian beliefs in the wake of helping her best friend get an abortion and falling in love for the first time. I'm a little ashamed to admit that Kate drove me crazy at first. She's terribly close minded and some of the things out of her mouth made me a little ragey. But then she begins to separate her beliefs from the way that she loves her family and her friends. She loosens up a bit and she manages to hold on to her convictions while still allowing the people she loves to have their own. It's great. Which makes me sad that I was so hard on her to start out with.

This book doesn't shy away from issues of religion, abortion, and sex - yet it's never overwhelming. The story comes first. I had some traumatic camp experiences. I was always the kid who just wanted to go home. But it was fun to see the councilors, still kind of kids themselves, in this kind of setting. With all the things that went down at this camp, I kind of wonder now what my councilors got up to when we fell asleep. Even with all the crazy stuff that goes down, some awesome relationships form. It was great to see Will (Corndog) being so great to Kate, and to watch Parker forgive Kate for turning her back on Parker with the rest of the church so they could become really good friends.

And Matt. I don't know where Miranda dreams up these boys, but goodness gracious they're wonderful.  Matt does romance right - he tells Kate he likes her, he shows her that he likes her and they are able to build a relationship like normal people do. Nobody is lying, nobody is pretending, and they're actually able to build a healthy relationship. Still, Matt is like a normal boy who freaks out when Kate expresses her issues with sex, and then calms down so they can talk through it. It feels real and it's amazing. I love them together. I don't know if they'll make appearances in any of her future novels like her last two couples have, but I'd love it if they do. I'm curious how their relationship will progress from here.

I can't say enough amazing things about Miranda Kenneally and her books. I'm so happy to say I've loved everything of hers that I've read. Things I Can't Forget left me all happy and smiley. There's importance and value in this story. Kate has something to teach everybody. Everybody. Because I consider myself an open minded person, but I still couldn't help but judge Kate. But her beliefs matter, too. So I'm taking a page from her book and respecting what other people believe. I can stand in my convictions and I can let other people have theirs as well. Read this book. Read any and all of Miranda's books. They could change the way you see other people and she just straight up knows how to tell great stories.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Boundless - Cynthia Hand

Synopsis: The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.
Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.
In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all. (From Goodreads) 

This is officially one of my favorite series ever. I love Clara. I love Tucker. Most of the time I even love Christian. Every single book in this series stands strong - it has a great start, a wonderful and totally devastating middle and it ended so perfectly. With the field flooded with paranormal books and angels, it makes me so happy to see a series done right.

Since book one, I've just thought that Clara would be the best friend to have. Well, in this book she goes through hell for her friends. So, yeah, Clara is pretty amazing. She's human too, she makes mistakes, she gets a bit self centered - but in the end she always steps up. She's the kind of heroine who you can really get behind.

My Team Tucker heart noticed a lack of Tucker time in this book, but the time he got was pretty amazing so, really I'm okay with it. Christian is okay and in any other circumstances, he'd be down right dreamy, but he's just not Tucker. Even so, he didn't bother me as much in this book as I'd expected, especially with the amount of one-on-one time he and Clara have while off at school in Stanford.

I really liked this book's departure from typical YA series. We get to follow Clara to college and through her first year. That was really interesting, especially to see how she manages to juggle her paranormal life with her school life. I also really loved the way Angela rose in this book. She gets a really important part of the story.

There were subtle twists. A lot of things happen that I didn't expect and I'd kinda have to step back and just marvel at the fact that I was still surprised. This book was sweet and inspiring. I finished it so happy I just wanted to curl up and start it all over again. If you haven't picked up Unearthly yet, I strongly suggest you do so. These books are amazing. I'm really going to miss Clara and Tucker. I'm definitely going to be re-reading these books to revisit them.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Synopsis: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (From Goodreads)


Under the Never Sky was one of my top ten reads last year. It swept me away and completely transported me into another world. Aria and Perry totally captured my heart and even a year later these characters are still with me. I was so happy to fall back into their story. I was a little worried that a year away would cause me to forget important things, but picking up Through the Ever Night was like meeting with friends you've been parted from, yet every time you meet it's as if no time has passed.

Through the Ever Night was like a bridge book in the trilogy, but not in the way that most books that act as such are. It is a purposeful bridge. Some things needed to happen to move from the decision for action and the actual action. Perry is getting settled in his role as the Blood Lord of the Tides and really it's Aria who is trying to find a path to follow, which kind of leaves this book without an anchor to settle it in a story in it's own right. So in this book, the over-arching story doesn't necessarily progress, but some of the smaller (or not so small, depending on how you look at them) things need to happen. Like Aria and Perry's relationship needs to be established, Perry needs to gain control, Roar needs to find Liv, the Aether needs to be understood, and they just flat out need to figure out where the Ever Blue is.

Aria and Perry still make me swoon. Even more so in this book than in the first. Their relationship is definitely tested, but I admire the way they handle everything so much. Nothing about them feels exaggerated or dramatic - they work really hard at their relationship and they're so much stronger for it.

But really, in this book, Roar took the front and center spot in my heart. I think if I actually existed in this world, he'd be the one that I would be head over heels crazy about. I felt for him this book so much. I just want to hug him...a lot. He and Aria get really close in their journey together, and Veronica Rossi could have so easily made him a point in a love triangle, but thankfully she didn't. And their relationship is so much more beautiful because of it. They're as close as any girl and boy can be without being romantic and it's incredible and powerful. I adore their moments together and the way they cheer each other up and are so fiercely protective of each other.

It was interesting to see the Aether storms when more people and things are at stake than just Perry and Aria who can duck into a shelter quick. Cinder also pops up a few times and he's just a really puzzling character. You kind of get the feeling that maybe Cinder will wind up being the hero of the whole story and Aria and Perry are just a part of that. Then again, maybe he'll just play a part.

I would follow Aria, Perry and Roar to the end of the world. If I could crawl in the pages and help them out, I would. Even though I probably wouldn't last very long. I'm so anxious, not only to see where they go next, but just to be granted access to their story one more time.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Out of the Easy - Ruta Sepetys

Synopis: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny. (From Goodreads)

I picked up this book because - hello - 1950's New Orleans. It wasn't quite what I was expecting though. I think I was imagining something along the lines of The Diviners for some reason. I was at least hoping for a little voodoo, and I was definitely picturing something much more lively. Even though it wasn't anything like I expected, it was still wonderful. Out of the Easy is heartbreaking, shocking, inspiring and sweet all at once. Josie is the kind of character you want to help and be friends with.

I was kind of shocked by the candid and raw portrayal of a brothel in a YA novel. I mean, I was shocked in a good way. I loved the honesty. I loved the way Ruta Sepetys took the seedy side of New Orleans and still told a beautiful story. There's so much love and support that ooze from the characters, even though their situations aren't ideal.

This is a character driven novel - and all of the characters are so fascinating. There's the madam with a heart of gold - or actually there's an entire house of prostitutes with hearts of gold (or mostly of gold...). Even though Josie's mother is pretty much a terrible human being who forces Josie to grow up way too fast, she has an incredible support system. And the madam is a great substitute mother to her. She works at a bookstore for an ailing author and his son. They are also a sort of family to her. It's so beautiful to see the way we form families outside of our own - or in Josie's case how she doesn't have a family bonded by blood, but she has this huge extended family that she belongs to because of circumstance. Also, Jesse, the boy who I kept picturing as Shia LeBeouf in Indiana Jones, was pretty dreamy. A greaser with a heart of gold. Every single character in this book has an edge and a lot of secrets, most even have something to be ashamed of - but deep down they're complex and beautiful people.

Really, it's about making the best of your circumstances. Josie isn't given the easiest hand, but she manages to make something out of her situation. I relate to her need to get out of town, to go do something, to be someone. And she really struggles to get to a point where she can claim her own life - which ironically only comes when she lets other people help her.

I really enjoyed spending time with these characters. And can more people write about New Orleans? And the 50's? Please? I want more from this time period. I feel like it's a decade that gets overlooked and there's a lot of fascinating stuff happening around this time. But one of the really great things about this book is that even though it's tethered to a time and a place, it still feels timeless.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (From Goodreads)

One of my guest reviewers, Caralyn, actually already reviewed Cinder for ItBW. But I recently picked it up and I just wanted to share a few thoughts. If you want to read Caralyn's review that goes a bit more in depth you can find it HERE.

Total honesty time: I had no desire to read this book. Cinderella is an overdone, overrated fairy tale. And I'm not particularly a fan of cyborgs. So I spent a year actively not reading this book. Even though I have not heard anything less than raving about Cinder, I was pretty convinced it wasn't for me. So why did I actually pick it up? Hard to say. Mostly out of curiosity. I also got pretty excited when I realized Scarlet was a Red Riding Hood retelling and that next up was Cress - Rapunzel and then a Snow White retelling. Even better - all these characters come together. So I finally read it.

Or devoured it, is probably more accurate. This book is spectacular. Like, whoa. I'm so impressed at the way Marissa Meyer pulled this off. Because when you step back and look, what she did was take on a massive project. This is futuristic politics, colonies on the moon, cyborgs, and all these things had to twist into the familiarity of the Cinderella story. I was skeptical, and I regret that a bit. If you're only looking at the surface, this is just straight up a compelling and well-written story. It's easy to lose track of time with this book.

I'm just really glad I gave Cinder a chance. There's a reason people rave about it.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway ::Week 10::


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

Guys - this is the last week! This is the last letter from Oberon - you might want to heed his advice and show your support for the Summer Court one last time. We need your help. So leave your comments and enter for awesome prizes!
Also, you should definitely pick up a copy of The Immortal Circus as soon as you can. 


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Guest Post:

Allies,
Can you feel the tides shifting? The war is at hand. I have sent my dearest son, Oberos, Prince of the Summer Court, to investigate Mab's treason and bring her to justice. My army is dispatched, and at any moment Mab will be forced to pay for her treason. 

The daemon Kassia can not be suffered to live. Not after what she has done. Not after the blood she has shed - both fey and human. The Blood Autumn Treaty must be upheld. The very fates of our worlds hang in the balance. 

I have nothing else to say this week. This is your last chance to cast your vote. This is your last chance to uphold justice. Support the Summer Court.
Or perish. 

The choice is yours. 
-Oberon
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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

------------------------------------------------------------

About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com


------------------------------------------------------------
Week Ten Tour Schedule:


Monday, Feb. 11: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Feb. 13: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Feb. 14: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4

------------------------------------------------------------
Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A Touch Menacing Book Blast


It’s nearly time to say good bye to Eden and her friends with the conclusion of the A Touch Trilogy from author Leah Clifford.
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Whether you’ve been there from the beginning when Eden first met Az in A TOUCH MORTAL. Spent countless hours contemplating with other A Touch Trilogy fans over the fate of the kitten, from A TOUCH MORBID. Or are just joining us now, the conclusion to Leah Clifford’s A Touch Trilogy promises to be heart stopping and well worth the wait!
Pick up whichever novel you need to catch up before MENACING’S March 5th release date. You don’t want to be the only one not talking about this book!

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A TOUCH MENACING
A Touch Trilogy #3 Author: Leah Clifford
Release Date: March 5th
Eden is dying. For real, this time.
She is crumbling to ash, and an unnatural plague is ravaging mortals and immortals alike. With both Heaven and Hell out to destroy her, Eden can no longer tell the difference between good and evil.

Friends become enemies. And enemies are everywhere.
But don't underestimate Eden. She'll fight for her life, for the lives of those she loves, and for every life she has ever touched.
She'll fight for revenge. For redemption. For—just maybe—the chance to be mortal again.
Everything began with forbidden love.
What will be sacrificed at the bitter end?
The dramatic conclusion to Leah Clifford's dark, alluring trilogy of life, death, and epic love.
PRE-ORDER A TOUCH MENACING NOW FOR ONLY $11.98
Pick Up The Whole Series!
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A TOUCH MORTAL (A Touch Trilogy #1) AMAZON | B&N
A TOUCH MORBID (A Touch Trilogy #2) AMAZON | B&N

GIVEAWAY
Help us spread the word about the final installment of the A Touch Trilogy, and you could win one of these amazing prizes!
Grand Prize 
30 Minute Skype Chat with Leah Clifford. Talk about writing, talk about THE KITTEN, talk about her books! Talk about almost anything!
2nd Place 
Get’s to name a character in Leah’s next published book
2 Lucky Bonus Winners Will get 1 Paperback of A TOUCH MORTAL and 1 Hardcover of A TOUCH MORBID signed to the winner!
THE RULES
- Open Internationally for the Skype Chat and Character Name
- Books Will Only be mailed in the US.
- Pre Order for A Touch Menacing can be from any date
- Order for Mortal or Morbid MUST be dated between 2/1 and 2/22
*we reserve the right to deny any receipt for entry if it appears to be altered or manipulated in anyway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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Leah Clifford currently lives in Ohio, but frequently dreams of finding an abandoned mansion in the south that she can restore. In her spare time she loves to travel and has been known to drive over two hours to get kickass quesadillas. So far for jobs she's sold corn at a roadside stand, been a pizza delivery girl, a camp counselor, an extreme cave tour guide, a flight attendant, a waitress (x3), a grocery store clerk and a writer. Out of all of them, writing has been the most fun. She's pretty sure she's gonna stick with it.
STALK LEAH CLIFFORD
TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TUMBLR | WEBSITE | BLOG
Love Leah’s A TOUCH TRILOGY? Check out the CafePress store dedicated to the series.
THE MORTAL PORTAL 

Just click to visit The Mortal Porta!
A Touch Menacing items coming soon!
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Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Favorite Romances

1. Lola and Cricket
“I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.” 

2. Anna and Etienne
“I bought you love poetry! 'I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.'" I blink at him. "Neruda. I starred the passage. God," he moans. "Why didn't you open it?”

3. Megan and John After
“And the rest is happily ever After.” 

4. Clara and Tucker
“Hey, Carrots," he says.” 

5. Aria and Perry
“It didn't matter if Aria was hundreds of miles away, or whether she'd hurt him, or said goodbye, or anything else. Nothing would change the way he felt. The moment Aria had taken his hand on the roof at Marron's, she'd changed everything. No matter what happened, she'd always be the one.”

6. Samantha and Jase
"And the way he does look at me makes me feel absolutely beautiful.” 

7. Katsa and Po
“I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm afraid to tell you what I wish for, for fear you'll... oh, 
I don't know, throw me into the fire."

8. Echo and Noah
“We’d read about sirens in English this fall; Greek mythology bullshit about women so beautiful, their voices so enchanting, that men did anything for them. Turned out that mythology crap was real because every time I saw her, I lost my mind.” 

9. Helen and Lucas
“Helen, beloved of the goddess of love, went downstairs to crawl into her empty bed as Lucas, the son of the sun, leaned back on his elbows and watched his father-god brighten the bare wooden planks of her widow's walk.”

10. Calla and Ren
“Tell me you’ll come back for the pack. For me.” His eyes were bright with tears. “I don’t 
want to lose you.”

Honorable Mentions (can't help myself, I love so many): 
Mara and Noah  
Ashton and Beau
Natalie and Ash 
Violet and Lincoln 
Will and Tessa

Monday, February 11, 2013

Tempest - Julie Cross

Synopsis: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. (From Goodreads)

I'm confused by my emotions about this book. Part of me thinks I didn't really care for it, but then there's that moment where I had to exercise serious control to not cry in public because a moment came from out of nowhere and hit me. Or the fact that I did actually have a hard time putting it down. So there's something that's not quite clicking for me. I can't point at why I didn't like it, I can't find anything concrete to say - this is why this book didn't do it for me. I can give you moments I loved, which would point to I love this book. But still, I'm kind of indifferent.

Are you confused? Because I still am.

Maybe it's just the fact that time travel confuses me. I'm waiting for the book that explains perfectly the rules of time travel. This one did it better than most, but I think I spent most of the book thinking - can you do that? Are you sure you didn't just accidentally alter the entire course of history?

But still, Jackson is a great character. I think my favorite part about this book was his relationship with his twin sister - a relationship he can only keep going in the past because she died of cancer. The moments with his sister, or about his sister are some of the most beautiful, emotional and reallyly make this book worth reading. His relationship with his father was fascinating as well. It was a nice change to have a super busy, emotionally damaged, typical work-a-holic father turn it around and actually be there for his son. Even though I still don't completely trust him, the way his character progresses was great.

The ending. I just have to say that I LOVED the ending. It was perfect. It was unexpected and beautiful and brave. Because, even if I waver from I liked this book to indifference, I will remember and cherish that ending. I know the story continues, but to be honest I don't want to know what happens, because I have a feeling it won't go the way I want it to. I want to believe that it ends there.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Arcadia Burns - Kai Meyer (Guest Post)

Synopsis: Following the brutal deaths of her sister and aunt, Rosa Alcantara has become what she never thought possible: the very rich and very powerful head of the Alcantara clan. Saddled with this immense responsibility, Rosa must now conduct all business matters--legitimate and not--while negotiating among the greedy, bloodthirsty members of her own family. Not to mention convincing everyone that her blossoming relationship with enemy Alessandro Carnevare won't put the family business in danger.
But loving Alessandro comes at a price. As Rosa continues to fall for him, she discovers the dark secrets of his family's dealings and how they intersect with her own painful past. She wants to believe she can trust Alessandro, but they're so different: Alcantara and Carnevare, snake and panther. How can she love someone whose family wants her dead?When Rosa and Alessandro uncover an ancient conspiracy intent on destroying both clans, they will do anything to stop it. Racing to put the pieces together, evading their relatives' murderous feud, and learning what it means to control the most influential families in all of Sicily--the two teens must risk everything to love each other and survive. (From Goodreads)

The sequel to Arcadia Awakens was NOT a disappointment. So many revelations and action-packed scenes. I was pretty much on the edge of my seat every time I started reading. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so let me just say that Rosa really comes into her own in this book.

The last book took place in Italy, in case you haven't read it yet (DO IT!). This book takes place in Italy  AND New York City. Having recently moved to the Big Apple, I found this very exciting. It adds a whole new American familiarity where Rosa finally knows best. I will hint at one of my favorite scenes: Central Park craziness. Prepare to gasp in shock and horror.

There are some make or break moments for Alessandro and Rosa, but they never stop fighting. It's so incredible. Vicious attacks, fires, attempted murder, century-old mysteries, and clans more at odds than ever all affect Rosa and Alessandro while they try to piece together what's right for them, their families, and their friends. I know I couldn't stay sane after learning the things Rosa does about her past. I wish I could say more, but you'll just have to read it to know how amazing this book is.

I'll give you this: Sarcasmo is back, ladies and gentlemen. Rest assured.

Arcadia Burns has so many cliff hangers. I'm pretty bummed it will be so long before I can get my hands on the 3rd book. I cannot wait to see how everything gets wrapped up and what twists are still up Kai Meyer's sleeve.

This book was reviewed by Jackie

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Give Me Something Cover Reveal


I'm SO excited to be participating in the cover reveal for Elizabeth Lee's new book Give Me Something.  I fell in love with her work when I read Shattered and I can't wait to see what she's written now. Give Me Something will be released on March 7, 2013! This amazing cover was designed by Regina at Mae I Design.

--------------------------------
About the book:

Here's the deal... I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought. Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker – one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that. If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you.

Bookmark on GOODREADS

--------------------------------

About Elizabeth:
Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it! My first YA/New Adult novel is out now!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny one-year old, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Connect with Elizabeth: Facebook :: Blog :: Goodreads ::Twitter

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Review, Teaser & Giveaway:: Week 9


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

There are TWO weeks left of the tour. Craziness.  You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. We really need your help now - we're getting down to the wire, so leave your comments and spread the word!

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support! 

Before I jump into this week's goodies, which include my review of the 1st Episode and a teaser, here's more about The Immortal Circus and about the author!

------------------------------------------------------------
My Review of Episode Five:
I freaked out through the whole last episode. Okay, I freaked out longer than that. I got way excited when I got the notification that I had the last episode available and I pretty much read it as soon as possible. My head is still spinning a bit from what went down in the end. I kept thinking I'd figured out where it was going and then a page later I'd find out I was way off. I definitely felt like I was chasing the end, just trying to get answers.

This episode was defnitely the most intesnse. There's a pretty slow to steady build through the the whole book, but it's a little hard to breathe with the velocity at the end. But who needs to breathe?

With all these secrets and suspects, kidnappings, fires, magical battles, and chaos in general, it was such a satisfying end. You get your feet planted in the reality of the situation, and then in the last line the whole plane you're standing on just tilts.

Now that I've survived all the waiting periods and the head rushes from reading too fast (seriously once you start, I dare you to stop) I can say that this is a wonderfully written debut from A.R. Kahler full of surprises and dark pleasure. If you haven't picked it up yet, you should probably get on that. And lucky you - you can read the whole thing at once. It was pretty genius to release this book serially, though. It gave me something to look forward to for a few weeks and I was really able to savor this amazing story.

------------------------------------------------------------
Teaser:
“The Summer Court. They took Melody. They must have. I can’t tell you why, but I know they did. And you’re one of the few who understands the danger.” 
“I do?” 
“Don’t be stupid,” he says. “You saw it. You saw Lilith on the field, you saw her kill Senchan and the other Summer Fey. One of them must have escaped and told their king. They know about Lilith. They know what she is. The Blood Autumn Treaty is broken. Now, we’re at war.”
------------------------------------------------------------


About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

------------------------------------------------------------

About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

------------------------------------------------------------
Week Nine Tour Schedule:


Monday, Feb. 4: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Feb. 5: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Feb. 6: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Feb. 7: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4
------------------------------------------------------------
Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

February Top 5

February is way to short! But I did have a great reading month. I took a trip to Florida and I spent some time reading on the beach. It was cold, but it wasn't cold enough to keep me from hanging out by the water and there's nothing better than reading in the sand. Anyways, you can check out all the books I read this month in the "Read in 2013" tab, but here are my top five reads in February. 

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
I'm so mad it took me so long to pick up Cinder. Because I just picked it up this month and it totally blew me away. Then I read Scarlet and it's SO FREAKING AWESOME. I'm head over heals, all out, freaking out in love with this series. You can read my review of Cinder here. My full review of Scarlet will be up next week. 

2. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
I love Miranda. I'll read anything she writes. And Things I Can't Forget is another amazing book from a great author. You can learn a lot about acceptance and understanding from Kate Kelly. Check out my review here

3. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone was one of my top reads last year. And Siege and Storm is the perfect addition to this series. It was unexpected. My emotions were surprising, and I was kind of shocked at how my allegiances changed by the end of the book. This is a stellar second novel from Leigh. 

4. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Again, with the sequels. Authors are killing it so far this year with second books. No bridge syndrome here. Through the Ever Night is fabulous. Also, Roar is pretty much my #1 book boy - and he isn't even the MC! That's impressive. You can read my full review here

5. Boundless by Cynthia Hand
AMAZING end to this trilogy. Officially one of my favorite series ever. Team Tucker forever. Read my review here

What were your top reads this month?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Guest Post - Juliana Haygert

I'm so excited to have Juliana Haygert, author of upcoming Destiny Gift, today talking New Adult and responding to ABC Nightline's report on this new category of books. If you want more NA, definitely check out Juliana over at NA Alley!

----------------------------

NA Isn't Sexed Up YA or Erotica
By Juliana Haygert

Disclaimer: I like my books, the ones I write and the ones I read, with at least a little romance in them, but my personal reading preferences don't include erotica. 

If you know what New Adult is, you've heard of ABC Nightline's piece about the subject. You haven't? Shame on you! I'll give you a chance to go read it or see it. Go. I'll wait. [taps foot and hums the new Belinda single]

Are you back? Are you as mad about the article as I am?

First, let's start by explaining New Adult is a category, not a genre. Category is related to age: middle grad, young adult, new adult, adult. Genre is the "flavor" of those categories: contemporary, paranormal, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.

Second, those reporters really don't know what they are talking about. New Adult isn't about sex and I can prove that with one simple statement: Slammed by Colleen Hoover, the book they talk so much about in that article has NO ssex scenes. NONE! So why do they state New Adult is Young Adult with Erotica, when there's no erotic element in the book they take as example? (note: I know the reporter said that Slammed has more sexual tension than sex, but, hey, if you're gonna accuse NA of being erotica, Slammed isn't the right book to drive your point home!)

And if you're thinking about Fifty Shades of Grey, that's another story. I know people, including some of my NA sisters, who consider the NA Erotica (NA = category, Erotica = genre). But I don't. To me, Erotica is Erotica. Otherwise you would have YA Erotica, MG Erotica, Adult Erotica...Anyway, I have a guess as to why people associate sex with New Adult, and the answer is in the same vein of whey people think New Adult is only contemporary. Being about college-aged characters, New Adult deals with sexuality a lot, and, since it's a new category, it deals with "real-life" issues (contemporary fiction), which includes sexual exploration.

My friend and author, Magan Vernon, wrote a blog post in response to ABC's article and I loved this sentence: New Adult is "about a period of life that yeah is going to be more sexually charged than a fifteen year old's"...So true! You can't run from it - much. But that doesn't mean that sex is the focus of the story. If you're in the writing business as we are, you heard a statement like this "sex shouldn't happen for the sake of sex. It has to be a natural part of the story, a step on the life of the character. It has to have a purpose, it has to change the characters"...And this is true for New Adult too. If you're reading NA books that are more smexy than others, it's because the topic it deals with is more smexy and sex is going to be part of a big change in the character's life.

As New Adult grows old, more genres will appear and soon we'll see an explosion of paranormal, urban fantasy, sci-fi and any other genre, dealing with those same issues, including sex. My NA Sister, Victoria H. Smith wrote a sci-fi, The Crimson Hunt, and though there's kissing, there's no sex. Carrie Butler, also my NA Sister, wrote a NA paranormal romance titled Strength that also only has kissing. Another one of my NA Sisters, Summer Lane, wrote a NA dystopia titled State of Emergency and there's no sex in it. My own paranormal romance, Destiny Gift, which comes out in April, has some kissing, but no sex.

What I'm trying to say is: sex is part of a college-aged person's life and is going to be part of our characters' lives, some way or another. But that doesn't mean it's crucial, it doesn't mean NA needs to have any sex. I've read a couple of NA urban fantasy and sci-fi that have no sex scenes and no kissing and even no sexual tension. It was all for the adventure - and these books are good! New Adult is about the character's reaction to the situation he lives in. A college-aged character will have to react to situations where he is confronted by sex - either because he wants/has it or because his roommate is horny.

The bottom line is: NA isn't YA with more sex. If you think it is, then I'm sorry, but you don't get it. NA is a phase in life where the character is on the path of self-discovery. He is growing up, trying to become an adult, but not feeling like one. And it's the way he reacts to the growing up part that make s in NA or not.

If you're still curious about NA, you can read more on its definition and a list of books separated by genre on NA Alley.

Thanks, Hannah, for having me and putting up with my rant!

----------------------------

About Juliana: While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting - but equally gratifying - life of a wife, mother and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy. 
Find her online: NA Alley :: Twitter :: Facebook


Make sure you watch out for her upcoming novel Destiny Gift out on April 9, 2013! 

About Destiny GiftThirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness. 
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis: "Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under. (From Goodreads)

Eleanor and Park are so stinkin' adorable, they just make me want to snuggle. Or at least put on the music that reminds me of being in high school and start reading comic books. All the elements of this work just pull together to highlight a beautiful love story that reads like remembering something that happened to you.

Park and Eleanor are genius characters, because they are unique and quirky, but at the same time they could be a reflection of yourself. Eleanor boils down to a girl who's uncomfortable in her own skin and doesn't feel like she has a safe place in the world. Park is a boy who is struggling against expectations and trying to pinpoint his identity. The most beautiful part of this story is how they enhance each other. They don't fix each other, they don't change for each other, but they just grow.

I think my favorite part, and what drew me to the book in the first place, is the fact that it takes place in 1986. First, how random is that? Second, I love the 80's. I'm loving that books are popping up that take place in the not-so-distant past. It's cool to read something kind of historical, but something still within your lifetime (ok '86 is a little out of my lifetime, but still in my generation). So it's fun to read about the styles and the music. Park's dad is a Korean veteran who married a Korean woman and brought her back to the States. Within this timeframe, that was an interesting dimension to the story. Park's mom may have been my favorite, because she was a Korean mother who Rainbow managed to write without being stereotypical.

Eleanor and Park's families provided the largest obstacles and plot progressions for this story. Eleanor's mother is weak and her stepdad is controlling and abusive. There isn't a lot of money and there are a handful of kids living in one room. Eleanor has to hid her relationship from them. Park's mom doesn't like Eleanor at first, but eventually his house becomes a haven for her and his mom warms up to her. I think there are a lot of different ways these families can be interpreted within the context of this story, but I think they serve to highlight the fact that you can make your own family and find home in unexpected places.

There are also some interesting things being done with gender roles here. Eleanor dresses like a boy and Park is constantly called "pretty" and "beautiful." Apparently, he has very feminine features. I'd have to mull over the meaning of this more, but I just wanted to point out that this is a cool thing going on here. For me, it's not about how you look to the world. The labels don't matter. It's all about how the other person sees you - because I think the when you see yourself through someone else's eyes, and you love that person, you start to see yourself that way as well. And if that person you love thinks your beautiful, then you begin to see yourself as beautiful.

I love this gorgeous story, which feels so simple and so huge at the same time. The writing is wonderful and there are great layers that make you feel you are reading your own memories.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Mila 2.0 - Debra Driza

Synopsis: Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.
Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life. (From Goodreads)

I'm beginning to open my mind to androids and this book was a great step in convincing me to pick up more science fiction. I was expecting to feel distant from Mila, but surprisingly she's incredibly relatable and almost more human than the humans in this book. Mila is a unique heroine why faces a myriad of enemies that range from a scorned high school girl to the head of a secret government operation. In each challenging situation she handles herself with dignity and grace, despite the immense pressure to shed her humanity and her instincts to coldly fight her enemies.

Some government stories seem to overwhelm themselves with details about the operations or their purpose and the characters get a little lost. This book perfectly balances the character and the government. It's an exciting, fast paced novel, but it never goes too fast and I never felt too lost. It helped, too, that some of the government agents had back stories that surfaced throughout their time together that made them more complex than faceless enemies.

I'm impressed with the reach of this novel - it starts out in small town Midwest and stretches to an urban setting, the characters cover high school it girls, MIT students, and machines that look like humans. Mila adapts to all of these people and situations so well - I mean, I know she's engineered to be super-human, but it's still pretty incredible. I was pretty stoked that the story opens in Clearwater, Minnesota. I grew up two hours from there. So awesome. I love it when that happens. Even when I wanted to punch them, I kind of adored the "friends" she has there. I mean, technically they are horrible, but I can't help but feel a MN kinship with them. When you read it, give them a little bit of a break - because really - exciting things (read: new boys) rarely happen and when they do, it does suck when it doesn't happen to you.

That said, Hunter is some kind of super-boy. Not in the way Mila is, but he's über sweet and supportive and...well, he might actually be too perfect. I can't think of a flaw in him. But I think we'll get to know more about him soon. This book was very Mila focused.

I can see how this can be translated into a TV show. It's written like it's meant to be seen. The book is very action driven and it's so easy to play out that action in your head. It's also not as internal as some YA novels, even though it's in first person. I'm kind of (weirdly) picturing the adaptation as a cross between Kyle XY and The Secret World of Alex Mack (don't ask me why, I have no explanation). Mila 2.0 was an entertaining read an I look forward to the story continuing.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Things I Can't Forget - Miranda Kenneally

Synopsis: Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…
This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy… (From Goodreads)

I just love Miranda Kenneally. She made me cry in book about a girl who plays football and she made me totally fall for a dude named Corndog. She's magical. So naturally she's on my automatic-read list and I was so excited when I got my hands on a copy of Things I Can't Forget. I was looking forward to seeing Parker, Will, Jordan, and Sam again and I couldn't wait to see how Miranda would bewitch me this time.

In the acknowledgements, Miranda writes, "With this story, I want to show you (teenagers) that your beliefs matter - no matter who you are or where you come from. Your opinions matter. You matter." This is one of the truest statements, no matter which way you look at it and it's exactly what this book accomplishes. It's what Kate learns and it's what I absorbed by the end of her story.

Kate is struggling with her Christian beliefs in the wake of helping her best friend get an abortion and falling in love for the first time. I'm a little ashamed to admit that Kate drove me crazy at first. She's terribly close minded and some of the things out of her mouth made me a little ragey. But then she begins to separate her beliefs from the way that she loves her family and her friends. She loosens up a bit and she manages to hold on to her convictions while still allowing the people she loves to have their own. It's great. Which makes me sad that I was so hard on her to start out with.

This book doesn't shy away from issues of religion, abortion, and sex - yet it's never overwhelming. The story comes first. I had some traumatic camp experiences. I was always the kid who just wanted to go home. But it was fun to see the councilors, still kind of kids themselves, in this kind of setting. With all the things that went down at this camp, I kind of wonder now what my councilors got up to when we fell asleep. Even with all the crazy stuff that goes down, some awesome relationships form. It was great to see Will (Corndog) being so great to Kate, and to watch Parker forgive Kate for turning her back on Parker with the rest of the church so they could become really good friends.

And Matt. I don't know where Miranda dreams up these boys, but goodness gracious they're wonderful.  Matt does romance right - he tells Kate he likes her, he shows her that he likes her and they are able to build a relationship like normal people do. Nobody is lying, nobody is pretending, and they're actually able to build a healthy relationship. Still, Matt is like a normal boy who freaks out when Kate expresses her issues with sex, and then calms down so they can talk through it. It feels real and it's amazing. I love them together. I don't know if they'll make appearances in any of her future novels like her last two couples have, but I'd love it if they do. I'm curious how their relationship will progress from here.

I can't say enough amazing things about Miranda Kenneally and her books. I'm so happy to say I've loved everything of hers that I've read. Things I Can't Forget left me all happy and smiley. There's importance and value in this story. Kate has something to teach everybody. Everybody. Because I consider myself an open minded person, but I still couldn't help but judge Kate. But her beliefs matter, too. So I'm taking a page from her book and respecting what other people believe. I can stand in my convictions and I can let other people have theirs as well. Read this book. Read any and all of Miranda's books. They could change the way you see other people and she just straight up knows how to tell great stories.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Boundless - Cynthia Hand

Synopsis: The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.
Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.
In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all. (From Goodreads) 

This is officially one of my favorite series ever. I love Clara. I love Tucker. Most of the time I even love Christian. Every single book in this series stands strong - it has a great start, a wonderful and totally devastating middle and it ended so perfectly. With the field flooded with paranormal books and angels, it makes me so happy to see a series done right.

Since book one, I've just thought that Clara would be the best friend to have. Well, in this book she goes through hell for her friends. So, yeah, Clara is pretty amazing. She's human too, she makes mistakes, she gets a bit self centered - but in the end she always steps up. She's the kind of heroine who you can really get behind.

My Team Tucker heart noticed a lack of Tucker time in this book, but the time he got was pretty amazing so, really I'm okay with it. Christian is okay and in any other circumstances, he'd be down right dreamy, but he's just not Tucker. Even so, he didn't bother me as much in this book as I'd expected, especially with the amount of one-on-one time he and Clara have while off at school in Stanford.

I really liked this book's departure from typical YA series. We get to follow Clara to college and through her first year. That was really interesting, especially to see how she manages to juggle her paranormal life with her school life. I also really loved the way Angela rose in this book. She gets a really important part of the story.

There were subtle twists. A lot of things happen that I didn't expect and I'd kinda have to step back and just marvel at the fact that I was still surprised. This book was sweet and inspiring. I finished it so happy I just wanted to curl up and start it all over again. If you haven't picked up Unearthly yet, I strongly suggest you do so. These books are amazing. I'm really going to miss Clara and Tucker. I'm definitely going to be re-reading these books to revisit them.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Synopsis: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (From Goodreads)


Under the Never Sky was one of my top ten reads last year. It swept me away and completely transported me into another world. Aria and Perry totally captured my heart and even a year later these characters are still with me. I was so happy to fall back into their story. I was a little worried that a year away would cause me to forget important things, but picking up Through the Ever Night was like meeting with friends you've been parted from, yet every time you meet it's as if no time has passed.

Through the Ever Night was like a bridge book in the trilogy, but not in the way that most books that act as such are. It is a purposeful bridge. Some things needed to happen to move from the decision for action and the actual action. Perry is getting settled in his role as the Blood Lord of the Tides and really it's Aria who is trying to find a path to follow, which kind of leaves this book without an anchor to settle it in a story in it's own right. So in this book, the over-arching story doesn't necessarily progress, but some of the smaller (or not so small, depending on how you look at them) things need to happen. Like Aria and Perry's relationship needs to be established, Perry needs to gain control, Roar needs to find Liv, the Aether needs to be understood, and they just flat out need to figure out where the Ever Blue is.

Aria and Perry still make me swoon. Even more so in this book than in the first. Their relationship is definitely tested, but I admire the way they handle everything so much. Nothing about them feels exaggerated or dramatic - they work really hard at their relationship and they're so much stronger for it.

But really, in this book, Roar took the front and center spot in my heart. I think if I actually existed in this world, he'd be the one that I would be head over heels crazy about. I felt for him this book so much. I just want to hug him...a lot. He and Aria get really close in their journey together, and Veronica Rossi could have so easily made him a point in a love triangle, but thankfully she didn't. And their relationship is so much more beautiful because of it. They're as close as any girl and boy can be without being romantic and it's incredible and powerful. I adore their moments together and the way they cheer each other up and are so fiercely protective of each other.

It was interesting to see the Aether storms when more people and things are at stake than just Perry and Aria who can duck into a shelter quick. Cinder also pops up a few times and he's just a really puzzling character. You kind of get the feeling that maybe Cinder will wind up being the hero of the whole story and Aria and Perry are just a part of that. Then again, maybe he'll just play a part.

I would follow Aria, Perry and Roar to the end of the world. If I could crawl in the pages and help them out, I would. Even though I probably wouldn't last very long. I'm so anxious, not only to see where they go next, but just to be granted access to their story one more time.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Out of the Easy - Ruta Sepetys

Synopis: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny. (From Goodreads)

I picked up this book because - hello - 1950's New Orleans. It wasn't quite what I was expecting though. I think I was imagining something along the lines of The Diviners for some reason. I was at least hoping for a little voodoo, and I was definitely picturing something much more lively. Even though it wasn't anything like I expected, it was still wonderful. Out of the Easy is heartbreaking, shocking, inspiring and sweet all at once. Josie is the kind of character you want to help and be friends with.

I was kind of shocked by the candid and raw portrayal of a brothel in a YA novel. I mean, I was shocked in a good way. I loved the honesty. I loved the way Ruta Sepetys took the seedy side of New Orleans and still told a beautiful story. There's so much love and support that ooze from the characters, even though their situations aren't ideal.

This is a character driven novel - and all of the characters are so fascinating. There's the madam with a heart of gold - or actually there's an entire house of prostitutes with hearts of gold (or mostly of gold...). Even though Josie's mother is pretty much a terrible human being who forces Josie to grow up way too fast, she has an incredible support system. And the madam is a great substitute mother to her. She works at a bookstore for an ailing author and his son. They are also a sort of family to her. It's so beautiful to see the way we form families outside of our own - or in Josie's case how she doesn't have a family bonded by blood, but she has this huge extended family that she belongs to because of circumstance. Also, Jesse, the boy who I kept picturing as Shia LeBeouf in Indiana Jones, was pretty dreamy. A greaser with a heart of gold. Every single character in this book has an edge and a lot of secrets, most even have something to be ashamed of - but deep down they're complex and beautiful people.

Really, it's about making the best of your circumstances. Josie isn't given the easiest hand, but she manages to make something out of her situation. I relate to her need to get out of town, to go do something, to be someone. And she really struggles to get to a point where she can claim her own life - which ironically only comes when she lets other people help her.

I really enjoyed spending time with these characters. And can more people write about New Orleans? And the 50's? Please? I want more from this time period. I feel like it's a decade that gets overlooked and there's a lot of fascinating stuff happening around this time. But one of the really great things about this book is that even though it's tethered to a time and a place, it still feels timeless.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (From Goodreads)

One of my guest reviewers, Caralyn, actually already reviewed Cinder for ItBW. But I recently picked it up and I just wanted to share a few thoughts. If you want to read Caralyn's review that goes a bit more in depth you can find it HERE.

Total honesty time: I had no desire to read this book. Cinderella is an overdone, overrated fairy tale. And I'm not particularly a fan of cyborgs. So I spent a year actively not reading this book. Even though I have not heard anything less than raving about Cinder, I was pretty convinced it wasn't for me. So why did I actually pick it up? Hard to say. Mostly out of curiosity. I also got pretty excited when I realized Scarlet was a Red Riding Hood retelling and that next up was Cress - Rapunzel and then a Snow White retelling. Even better - all these characters come together. So I finally read it.

Or devoured it, is probably more accurate. This book is spectacular. Like, whoa. I'm so impressed at the way Marissa Meyer pulled this off. Because when you step back and look, what she did was take on a massive project. This is futuristic politics, colonies on the moon, cyborgs, and all these things had to twist into the familiarity of the Cinderella story. I was skeptical, and I regret that a bit. If you're only looking at the surface, this is just straight up a compelling and well-written story. It's easy to lose track of time with this book.

I'm just really glad I gave Cinder a chance. There's a reason people rave about it.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway ::Week 10::


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

Guys - this is the last week! This is the last letter from Oberon - you might want to heed his advice and show your support for the Summer Court one last time. We need your help. So leave your comments and enter for awesome prizes!
Also, you should definitely pick up a copy of The Immortal Circus as soon as you can. 


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Guest Post:

Allies,
Can you feel the tides shifting? The war is at hand. I have sent my dearest son, Oberos, Prince of the Summer Court, to investigate Mab's treason and bring her to justice. My army is dispatched, and at any moment Mab will be forced to pay for her treason. 

The daemon Kassia can not be suffered to live. Not after what she has done. Not after the blood she has shed - both fey and human. The Blood Autumn Treaty must be upheld. The very fates of our worlds hang in the balance. 

I have nothing else to say this week. This is your last chance to cast your vote. This is your last chance to uphold justice. Support the Summer Court.
Or perish. 

The choice is yours. 
-Oberon
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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com


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Week Ten Tour Schedule:


Monday, Feb. 11: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Feb. 13: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Feb. 14: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4

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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A Touch Menacing Book Blast


It’s nearly time to say good bye to Eden and her friends with the conclusion of the A Touch Trilogy from author Leah Clifford.
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Whether you’ve been there from the beginning when Eden first met Az in A TOUCH MORTAL. Spent countless hours contemplating with other A Touch Trilogy fans over the fate of the kitten, from A TOUCH MORBID. Or are just joining us now, the conclusion to Leah Clifford’s A Touch Trilogy promises to be heart stopping and well worth the wait!
Pick up whichever novel you need to catch up before MENACING’S March 5th release date. You don’t want to be the only one not talking about this book!

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A TOUCH MENACING
A Touch Trilogy #3 Author: Leah Clifford
Release Date: March 5th
Eden is dying. For real, this time.
She is crumbling to ash, and an unnatural plague is ravaging mortals and immortals alike. With both Heaven and Hell out to destroy her, Eden can no longer tell the difference between good and evil.

Friends become enemies. And enemies are everywhere.
But don't underestimate Eden. She'll fight for her life, for the lives of those she loves, and for every life she has ever touched.
She'll fight for revenge. For redemption. For—just maybe—the chance to be mortal again.
Everything began with forbidden love.
What will be sacrificed at the bitter end?
The dramatic conclusion to Leah Clifford's dark, alluring trilogy of life, death, and epic love.
PRE-ORDER A TOUCH MENACING NOW FOR ONLY $11.98
Pick Up The Whole Series!
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A TOUCH MORTAL (A Touch Trilogy #1) AMAZON | B&N
A TOUCH MORBID (A Touch Trilogy #2) AMAZON | B&N

GIVEAWAY
Help us spread the word about the final installment of the A Touch Trilogy, and you could win one of these amazing prizes!
Grand Prize 
30 Minute Skype Chat with Leah Clifford. Talk about writing, talk about THE KITTEN, talk about her books! Talk about almost anything!
2nd Place 
Get’s to name a character in Leah’s next published book
2 Lucky Bonus Winners Will get 1 Paperback of A TOUCH MORTAL and 1 Hardcover of A TOUCH MORBID signed to the winner!
THE RULES
- Open Internationally for the Skype Chat and Character Name
- Books Will Only be mailed in the US.
- Pre Order for A Touch Menacing can be from any date
- Order for Mortal or Morbid MUST be dated between 2/1 and 2/22
*we reserve the right to deny any receipt for entry if it appears to be altered or manipulated in anyway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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Leah Clifford currently lives in Ohio, but frequently dreams of finding an abandoned mansion in the south that she can restore. In her spare time she loves to travel and has been known to drive over two hours to get kickass quesadillas. So far for jobs she's sold corn at a roadside stand, been a pizza delivery girl, a camp counselor, an extreme cave tour guide, a flight attendant, a waitress (x3), a grocery store clerk and a writer. Out of all of them, writing has been the most fun. She's pretty sure she's gonna stick with it.
STALK LEAH CLIFFORD
TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TUMBLR | WEBSITE | BLOG
Love Leah’s A TOUCH TRILOGY? Check out the CafePress store dedicated to the series.
THE MORTAL PORTAL 

Just click to visit The Mortal Porta!
A Touch Menacing items coming soon!
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Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Favorite Romances

1. Lola and Cricket
“I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.” 

2. Anna and Etienne
“I bought you love poetry! 'I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.'" I blink at him. "Neruda. I starred the passage. God," he moans. "Why didn't you open it?”

3. Megan and John After
“And the rest is happily ever After.” 

4. Clara and Tucker
“Hey, Carrots," he says.” 

5. Aria and Perry
“It didn't matter if Aria was hundreds of miles away, or whether she'd hurt him, or said goodbye, or anything else. Nothing would change the way he felt. The moment Aria had taken his hand on the roof at Marron's, she'd changed everything. No matter what happened, she'd always be the one.”

6. Samantha and Jase
"And the way he does look at me makes me feel absolutely beautiful.” 

7. Katsa and Po
“I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm afraid to tell you what I wish for, for fear you'll... oh, 
I don't know, throw me into the fire."

8. Echo and Noah
“We’d read about sirens in English this fall; Greek mythology bullshit about women so beautiful, their voices so enchanting, that men did anything for them. Turned out that mythology crap was real because every time I saw her, I lost my mind.” 

9. Helen and Lucas
“Helen, beloved of the goddess of love, went downstairs to crawl into her empty bed as Lucas, the son of the sun, leaned back on his elbows and watched his father-god brighten the bare wooden planks of her widow's walk.”

10. Calla and Ren
“Tell me you’ll come back for the pack. For me.” His eyes were bright with tears. “I don’t 
want to lose you.”

Honorable Mentions (can't help myself, I love so many): 
Mara and Noah  
Ashton and Beau
Natalie and Ash 
Violet and Lincoln 
Will and Tessa

Monday, February 11, 2013

Tempest - Julie Cross

Synopsis: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. (From Goodreads)

I'm confused by my emotions about this book. Part of me thinks I didn't really care for it, but then there's that moment where I had to exercise serious control to not cry in public because a moment came from out of nowhere and hit me. Or the fact that I did actually have a hard time putting it down. So there's something that's not quite clicking for me. I can't point at why I didn't like it, I can't find anything concrete to say - this is why this book didn't do it for me. I can give you moments I loved, which would point to I love this book. But still, I'm kind of indifferent.

Are you confused? Because I still am.

Maybe it's just the fact that time travel confuses me. I'm waiting for the book that explains perfectly the rules of time travel. This one did it better than most, but I think I spent most of the book thinking - can you do that? Are you sure you didn't just accidentally alter the entire course of history?

But still, Jackson is a great character. I think my favorite part about this book was his relationship with his twin sister - a relationship he can only keep going in the past because she died of cancer. The moments with his sister, or about his sister are some of the most beautiful, emotional and reallyly make this book worth reading. His relationship with his father was fascinating as well. It was a nice change to have a super busy, emotionally damaged, typical work-a-holic father turn it around and actually be there for his son. Even though I still don't completely trust him, the way his character progresses was great.

The ending. I just have to say that I LOVED the ending. It was perfect. It was unexpected and beautiful and brave. Because, even if I waver from I liked this book to indifference, I will remember and cherish that ending. I know the story continues, but to be honest I don't want to know what happens, because I have a feeling it won't go the way I want it to. I want to believe that it ends there.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Arcadia Burns - Kai Meyer (Guest Post)

Synopsis: Following the brutal deaths of her sister and aunt, Rosa Alcantara has become what she never thought possible: the very rich and very powerful head of the Alcantara clan. Saddled with this immense responsibility, Rosa must now conduct all business matters--legitimate and not--while negotiating among the greedy, bloodthirsty members of her own family. Not to mention convincing everyone that her blossoming relationship with enemy Alessandro Carnevare won't put the family business in danger.
But loving Alessandro comes at a price. As Rosa continues to fall for him, she discovers the dark secrets of his family's dealings and how they intersect with her own painful past. She wants to believe she can trust Alessandro, but they're so different: Alcantara and Carnevare, snake and panther. How can she love someone whose family wants her dead?When Rosa and Alessandro uncover an ancient conspiracy intent on destroying both clans, they will do anything to stop it. Racing to put the pieces together, evading their relatives' murderous feud, and learning what it means to control the most influential families in all of Sicily--the two teens must risk everything to love each other and survive. (From Goodreads)

The sequel to Arcadia Awakens was NOT a disappointment. So many revelations and action-packed scenes. I was pretty much on the edge of my seat every time I started reading. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so let me just say that Rosa really comes into her own in this book.

The last book took place in Italy, in case you haven't read it yet (DO IT!). This book takes place in Italy  AND New York City. Having recently moved to the Big Apple, I found this very exciting. It adds a whole new American familiarity where Rosa finally knows best. I will hint at one of my favorite scenes: Central Park craziness. Prepare to gasp in shock and horror.

There are some make or break moments for Alessandro and Rosa, but they never stop fighting. It's so incredible. Vicious attacks, fires, attempted murder, century-old mysteries, and clans more at odds than ever all affect Rosa and Alessandro while they try to piece together what's right for them, their families, and their friends. I know I couldn't stay sane after learning the things Rosa does about her past. I wish I could say more, but you'll just have to read it to know how amazing this book is.

I'll give you this: Sarcasmo is back, ladies and gentlemen. Rest assured.

Arcadia Burns has so many cliff hangers. I'm pretty bummed it will be so long before I can get my hands on the 3rd book. I cannot wait to see how everything gets wrapped up and what twists are still up Kai Meyer's sleeve.

This book was reviewed by Jackie

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Give Me Something Cover Reveal


I'm SO excited to be participating in the cover reveal for Elizabeth Lee's new book Give Me Something.  I fell in love with her work when I read Shattered and I can't wait to see what she's written now. Give Me Something will be released on March 7, 2013! This amazing cover was designed by Regina at Mae I Design.

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About the book:

Here's the deal... I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought. Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker – one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that. If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you.

Bookmark on GOODREADS

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About Elizabeth:
Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it! My first YA/New Adult novel is out now!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny one-year old, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Connect with Elizabeth: Facebook :: Blog :: Goodreads ::Twitter

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Immortal Circus Blog Tour: Review, Teaser & Giveaway:: Week 9


I'm so psyched to be representing the Summer Court with Fiktshun as a part of the Immortal Circus Blog Tour! 

There are TWO weeks left of the tour. Craziness.  You can show your support for the Summer Court by entering in the contest here or on Fiktshun's site and leaving us a comment. We really need your help now - we're getting down to the wire, so leave your comments and spread the word!

Also, feel free to grab the Summer Court button from the right sidebar and put it on your blog or wherever else you want to show your support! 

Before I jump into this week's goodies, which include my review of the 1st Episode and a teaser, here's more about The Immortal Circus and about the author!

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My Review of Episode Five:
I freaked out through the whole last episode. Okay, I freaked out longer than that. I got way excited when I got the notification that I had the last episode available and I pretty much read it as soon as possible. My head is still spinning a bit from what went down in the end. I kept thinking I'd figured out where it was going and then a page later I'd find out I was way off. I definitely felt like I was chasing the end, just trying to get answers.

This episode was defnitely the most intesnse. There's a pretty slow to steady build through the the whole book, but it's a little hard to breathe with the velocity at the end. But who needs to breathe?

With all these secrets and suspects, kidnappings, fires, magical battles, and chaos in general, it was such a satisfying end. You get your feet planted in the reality of the situation, and then in the last line the whole plane you're standing on just tilts.

Now that I've survived all the waiting periods and the head rushes from reading too fast (seriously once you start, I dare you to stop) I can say that this is a wonderfully written debut from A.R. Kahler full of surprises and dark pleasure. If you haven't picked it up yet, you should probably get on that. And lucky you - you can read the whole thing at once. It was pretty genius to release this book serially, though. It gave me something to look forward to for a few weeks and I was really able to savor this amazing story.

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Teaser:
“The Summer Court. They took Melody. They must have. I can’t tell you why, but I know they did. And you’re one of the few who understands the danger.” 
“I do?” 
“Don’t be stupid,” he says. “You saw it. You saw Lilith on the field, you saw her kill Senchan and the other Summer Fey. One of them must have escaped and told their king. They know about Lilith. They know what she is. The Blood Autumn Treaty is broken. Now, we’re at war.”
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About the Book
Publisher: 47 North
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Format: Kindle eBook

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded - especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend...and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly courts. 

Aided by her friends Kingston - a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart - and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past - and future - than she bargains for. 

The show's just beginning.

Step right up...
Find the book:

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About A.R. Kahler
Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.
Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.
In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.
THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS is his first New Adult novel, and is being released exclusively through the Amazon Kindle e-Serials program by 47North. It will be available in print and audio when the episodes are complete.
MARTYR the first book in his post-apocalyptic fantasy, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in October 2014.
Find him:
TWITTER :: @ARKahler TWITTER :: @ImmortalCircus WEBSITE :: http://www.arkahler.com

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Week Nine Tour Schedule:


Monday, Feb. 4: Summer – Fiktshun – GUEST POST
Tuesday, Feb. 5: Winter – The Bookish Brunette – GUEST POST
Wednesday, Feb. 6: Summer – In the Best Worlds – REVIEW & TEASER– Episode4
Thursday, Feb. 7: Winter – The Non-Reluctant Reader – REVIEW & TEASER – Episode 4
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Giveaway:

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS Prize Pack Giveaway will be for a signed copy of the book, illustrated trading cards and circus-y goodies.
The giveaway will run for the length of the tour and will end on Friday, February 15th.
the giveaway is US-only
There are FOUR prize packs up for giveaway.
There are extra entries for tweeting daily.