Book Review: The Girl in Between by Laekan Kemp

TITLE: The Girl in Between
AUTHOR: Laekan Zea Kemp
GENRE: Young Adult, Retellings,  Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: 30th September 2014
RATINGS: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Smashwords | Google Play
BOOK BLURB: 
Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn’t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she’s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she’s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.
But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.
REVIEW:

Ack! I totally forgot about posting this review last Saturday! I am so very sorry! I am so busy this month. T.T But here it is!

Surprisingly, this retelling of Sleeping Beauty is such a good one. I mean, I'm one of those people who like medical terms and think they are sexy. Lmao. Even though most of the time, I just don't get it. 😂

Anyway, I really liked the story of The Girl in Between and it really keep me on the edge of my toes while reading this. Been so busy with RL so it took me weeks since I barely read anything. 😫 I hate RL when it doesn't make me read anything. Lol.

One thing to know... When I started reading it, I researched KLS (can't remember the full name. Lol) cause I really thought it's just made up medical term albeit a really good one. 😅 But all the dreams mixed with memories, I wanted to know more. To see what will Kemp show me next. To know what is her Dad's role. I mean, maybe there is something with the dad's side since he's gone and all that shit. Or maybe it's the grandma? I dunno! I didn't get all the answers I wanted but I am so waiting for the next book in the series! Yay!

I want to know him more too! It's worth reading, for me. And such a good read. Thanks for letting me read the book, Laekan! Definitely enjoyed it!

BOOK REVIEW: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

TITLE: The Retribution of Mara Dyer
SERIES: Mara Dyer Trilogy, #3
AUTHOR: Michelle Hodkin
GENRE: Young Adult, Psychological, Paranormal, Thriller, Mystery
RELEASE DATE: 4th November, 2014
RATINGS: 
BUY LINK:  AMAZON
BOOK BLURB:
Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.

There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.

She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.

She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.
REVIEW

I am so confused on whether to bump the stars down or up. I first gave it a five then four and now I am giving it a five again. >_< I really love it but I am so indecisive and I really believe there should be a book four. Lol. FIVE STARS! I will not tamper my rating anymore. That's my final rating!

I have loved Mara Dyer Trilogy since the first book. I am so thankful to my officemate/friend/book addict, Madel, for lending me her copy of the first two books. :) I am in love with Noah Shaw. <3 The books made me question if I'm sane enough to continue reading. It is so wonderfully written by Michelle Hodkin. KUDOS!!! I hope you, one day, have a signing here!!! Please!

This is so... Sooooo... Good! I liked it. I can't even think of words to perfectly describe how I feel about this book. This is definitely one of my favorite trilogy. And will always have a special place in my heart. Especially Noah Shaw. And honestly? All of them. Daniel, Jamie, Stella. I wanted to know Abel Lukumi. His past. Maybe a novella? Hehehe. 

Also, I feel like there's still more to it. The ending is HEA but at the same time, there's still more story there. Like what will happen when they get back to Miami? What will the future bring to them? Of what they chose? 

But anyway, I really loved the whole trilogy. I can't believe it's finally over. T.T you guys should read it. I will reread the trilogy again once I have the HB copy of The Evolution of Mara Dyer. 

P.S. I do believe it's her real name.

****

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

BOOK BLAST: Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid [Giveaway]


TITLE: Catalyst
SERIES: Insignia, #3
AUTHOR: S.J. Kincaid
GENRE: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
RELEASE DATE: 28th October 2014
BUY LINK: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD
BOOK BLURB:

The explosive conclusion to the series reviewers have likened to Ender’s Game and “Hogwarts-in-Space”
This exhilarating, explosive, and heartrending conclusion to the Insignia trilogy brings Tom and his intelligent, passionate, and brave young friends stunning tests and dangerous confrontations and through to an impossible future they could never have predicted.
Tom Raines and his friends are eager to return to the Pentagonal Spire to continue training for the elite Intrasolar Forces, but they soon discover troubling changes: strict new regulations and the revelation that the Spire is under new military control. What begins as an irritating adjustment soon reveals a dangerous shift in reality. Those now in control are aligned with corporate sponsors and their ruthless agendas. And when the military academy begins welcoming new cadets with suspicious neural processors, the first step in a plan with horrifying worldwide ramifications, Tom is desperate to stop it, even if that means keeping secrets from his closest allies.
Then a mysterious figure, the other ghost in the machine, begins fighting against the corporations, but with methods even Tom finds shocking. And when the enemy comes for Tom, how much can Tom endure in the battle to save himself? He must decide if he can still fight when the odds of success seem to be sliding from his grip.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S.J. Kincaid was born in Alabama, grew up in California, and attended high school in New Hampshire, but it was while living beside a haunted graveyard in Scotland, that she realized that she wanted to be a writer. Her debut, Insignia, came out in July of 2012. The second book in the series, Vortex came out in July of 2013. The final book in the INSIGNIA trilogy will come out in Fall of 2014.

GIVEAWAY
*Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter*

BLOG TOUR and GUEST POST: Kelly Oram and Online Relationship! [GIVEAWAY]


BLOG TOUR!!!! I miss doing blog tour honestly. Where I do all the itsy bitsy details of my post - fine - talking I mean. :P I love talking and I miss reading so much it hurts. Well, anyway, I present you.... CINDER & ELLA by none other than, my favorite author of all time, KELLY ORAM!!! 

She's one of my favorite author. And she deserves a reward for doing such a job well done in Cinder & Ella. I have another favorite book, thanks to Kelly! 

COVER REVEAL: Inspire by Cora Carmack

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack's INSPIRE! INSPIRE is a New Adult Paranormal Romance novel and is due to be released on December 15, 2014!

Inspire
The cover was designed by VLC Productions
BOOK BLURB
Kalliope lives with one purpose.
To inspire.
As an immortal muse, she doesn'thave any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.
Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn't want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.
Her presence may inspire genius.
But it breeds madness, too.
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Headshot
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads

BLOG TOUR: Once Upon a Player by Agay Llanera


TITLE: Once Upon a Player
AUTHOR: Agay Llanera
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary,
RELEASE DATE: 9th August 2014
RATING: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N
BOOK BLURB:
Gorgeous college senior Val Fabian is a player in every sense of the word. She's the star spiker of her university's volleyball team, and she never runs out of dates. But it seems that this year, she has finally been bitten by the commitment bug. She sets her sights on an unexpected target--the unassuming yet ultra-cute Jake Clementia. Val is used to getting what she wants, and is sure she'll snag him before graduation. But in the process of winning his heart, she is sideswiped by a surprise move that sends her tumbling from her pedestal.
REVIEW

When I saw that Diane of Oops I Read A Book Again had this book on tour, I decided to sign up. I don't know the reasons why I did. I just did. So I read it in just a couple of hours, and I think it is a good book.

BOOK REVIEW: The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

TITLE: The Hook Up
SERIES: Game On, #1
AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan
GENRE: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports
RELEASE DATE: 8th September 2014
RATING: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords
BOOK BLURB:
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love
Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely.
That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on
REVIEW

Okay. I got the ARC from the publicist. I actually ignored it (I know! I'm sorry but there're too many things going on in my life) but then one day, I was scrolling through my email. I saw this, and saw the cover, and yes, I am definitely sold to the idea of reading it. LOL. The cover is hot and a good motivation to add the book in Goodreads and read it eventually.

Eventually came too soon, I decided last Thursday to start it. From that first pages, from the 'Hi, Big Red' of Drew. I'm hooked. I know. It's insta-lust. Just like my insta-lust with the cover. :P but I can definitely say that even if it was, Callihan takes it slow. She proved to me that the story will get better and better.

It was such a good story that it had me laughing, smirking, annoyed, teary and hoping. One fucking rollercoaster ride that I want to experience again. Never mind that I don't like the said rollercoaster ride (the literal ride-of-doom).

I love all the characters. From the main ones to the supporting ones. Even the guys! Those guys were such supportive human beings that I just want to see them more in the story (hoping they get shown too in the next one).

Drew Baylor... Hmmm! Yum!!! He's not just a dumb jock, there's more to him than meets the eye. It's like, all the gorgeousness and the hotness are just added bonus. :)

I even like Anna Jones. She's stubborn, will give you a piece of her mind, witty and sarcastic. She knows what she wants. But I just don't like the pity party she felt from somewhere there in the story. I mean, I experience being chubby in highschool. Well, grade school. I know it's not a nice experience when people were bullying you being so large than a normal student. When guys bully me, I fight back though. Lol. I'm big, so I can fight back. :P

In any case, Drew and Anna's story are quite long, and my friends know that I don't like long stories. I'm more of a 300 pages or less kind of girl. :D but after reading all of 415 pages, I can say that I want more of them. >_<

I love men who cries. It breaks my heart so damn much. That's all I'm ever going to say about it. :p It's a really good book and you won't be disappointed with the smuts scenes too. Yes. SCENES. There are lots of it. :D

I recommend it to you all (New Adult lovers). :) a must try.

COVER REVEAL: Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Holy cow, y'all! We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Jennifer L. Armentrout's WICKED! WICKED is a New Adult Paranormal Romance and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Wicked Trilogy. It is being released on December 8th, 2014. So make sure you pre-order it today!!

 Wicked

Amazon

WICKED Blurb:

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

ABOUT JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

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

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

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

ARC REVIEW: Talon by Julie Kagawa

TITLE: Talon
SERIES: Talon, #1
AUTHOR: Julie Kagawa
GENRE: Young Adult, Mythology, Fantasy, Dragons
RELEASE DATE: 28th October 2014
RATING: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N | TBD | Kobo (Pre-Orders)
BOOK BLURB:
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
REVIEW

Between 2 and 3 stars. Still thinking if I will round down. -_-

Book Spotlight: The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

TITLE: The Hook Up
SERIES: Game On, #1
AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan
GENRE: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports
RELEASE DATE: 8th September 2014
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords
BOOK BLURB:
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love
Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely.
That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on
EXCERPT
My mother once told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love.

Life, she insisted, is how you live it and who you live it with, not what you do to make a living. Given that she told me this when I was sixteen, I basically rolled my eyes and worked on practicing my pass fakes.

But my mother was insistent.

“You’ll see, Drew. One day, love will creep up and smack you upside the head. Then you’ll understand.”

My mom, it turns out, was wrong in one regard. Love, when it came for me, did not creep. No, it walked up to me, bold as you please, you know, just in case I wasn’t paying attention. It did, however, slap me upside my head.

And while I’d be happy to tell my mom that she was right about that, she’s dead. A fact that hurts even more now that I’ve been struck down. More like shot down. Cut off at the knees. Totally fucked. Whatever you want to call this disaster. Because the object of my affection hates me.

I am man enough to acknowledge that the cluster fuck that is my current love life is entirely my fault. I wasn’t prepared for Anna Jones.

I still cringe at the memory of when I first laid eyes on her at the beginning of the semester. Being late for class, I’d rushed to a seat in the back row, and was trying to remain unnoticed. I can’t go anywhere on campus without getting attention. And though it sounds like an awesome thing, it gets tiring. 

When the roll call reached the back row, a soft voice, rich and thick as maple syrup, slid over me.

“Anna Jones.”

Just her name. That was all she’d said. It was like a hot finger stroking down my spine. My head snapped up. And there she was, so fucking pretty that I couldn’t think straight. I might as well have been sacked. 

Breathless, my head ringing, I could only gape. I’m not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I’ll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side.

Thinking maybe I was overtired and simply overreacting to something that wasn’t really there, I stared at Anna Jones and tried to make sense of my extreme reaction.

As if feeling my gaze, she’d turned, and fucking hell… Her eyes were wide, almost cat-like, with the corners tilting up just a bit. At first, those eyes appeared brown, but they were really bottle green. And so clear. And annoyed. She glared at me. I didn’t care. One word was playing a loop in my head: mine.

I don’t remember the rest of the class. I watched Anna Jones like a condemned man getting his last view of the setting sun. While she tried to ignore me. Admirably.

The second class ended I shot up, and so did she. We nearly collided in the middle of the aisle. And then it all fell to shit.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Embrace Special News!!!

Embrace said there was some exciting news to share and we can finally share that The Next Forever by Lisa Burstein is free for one week only! Be sure to pick up your copy and get ready to fall in love with Lisa Burstein's writing.


Pick up your copy:

Once you finish The Next Forever be sure to keep an eye out for Lisa's upcoming release, The Possibility of Us, available July 1 for just $.99.

Book Trailer: Tease by Sophie Jordan


TITLE: Tease
SERIES: The Ivy Chronicles, #2
AUTHOR: Sophie Jordan
GENRE: New Adult, Contemporary
RELEASE DATE: 27th May 2014
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N
BLURB:
What happens when a girl who always calls the shots meets a guy who's too wild for even her?

A born flirt and good-time party girl, Emerson has never had a problem finding a willing guy. She's always chosen her hookups carefully, and she's never broken her three cardinal rules:

Never let them see the real you.
Never fall in love.
Always leave them begging for more.

Then Shaw comes along. A hottie from the wrong side of the tracks, he's immune to her flirtatious banter and come-hither smile. After rescuing her from a disastrous night at a biker bar, he doesn't even try to take her to bed—he calls her a tease and sends her home instead. Unable to resist a challenge, or forget the sexy, dark-eyed, bad-boy biker, she vows to bring him to his knees.

But instead of making Shaw beg, Emerson finds herself craving him. For the first time in her life, she's throwing out her rule book. Suddenly, she's the one panting for a guy she can't control—a guy who won't settle for anything less than the real Emerson and who forces her to do things she's never imagined, including facing a past she thought she'd buried.

A guy who just might leave her wanting more. . . .

Blog Tour: The Prophecy of Arcadia by M.H. Soars [Excerpt]



TITLE: The Prophecy of Arcadia
SERIES: Arcadian Wars, #1
AUTHOR: M.H. Soars
GENRE: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction
RELEASE DATE: 17th January 2014
BUY LINK: Amazon
BOOK BLURB:
Being a teenager is tough, especially when you have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you’re in love with someone you shouldn’t. 115 years ago, a small planet called Arcadia was invaded by a vicious alien race and nearly destroyed. Cut off from their resources, the Arcadians turned to Earth for help. A group of Arcadian explorers discovered a Prophecy that claimed their salvation lay in the hands of two children from Earth. To ensure their safety, the Arcadian Council sent their most gifted youngsters to Earth to act as protectors. Samantha is one of them.
To succeed in her mission she must learn to control her Arcadian powers and keep her true identity from her best friend, and the girl she swore to protect, Alexia. But Samantha will soon realize that nothing is as it seems. Someone is trying to prevent the Prophecy from taking place and the prophecy boy hasn't been found yet. There is also a new drug circulating at school that is turning students into freakishly strong menaces.
To make matters worse, distractions keep getting in her way. Such as her love/hate relationship with her “cousin” Matthew. Or her confused feelings toward popular and mysterious Julian. She wants nothing more than to be free to live her life. But the survival of Arcadia depends on her and her friends. Free will is not an option.

EXCERPT
Initial weirdness aside, the ride to the camp was pleasant enough. And despite the fact that Julian was a freaking legacy at his school, I discovered that he was charming without an ounce of snobbery. He told me stories about LJM Prep that had me laughing out loud, and also made me realize that private schools weren’t so different from public schools after all. Yeah, the majority of the student body was beyond wealthy, and they would never have to do a car wash to collect money for a field trip, but the drama was still the same. We also talked about Ethan and his accident, and I could see that Julian truly cared about him.
“So, Alexia, I feel like we have a special bond now, being partners in crime and all,” he suddenly said. He didn’t look at me, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Is that so?” I squinted my eyes.
“Yep. So let’s play a game.”
“What kind of game?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I’ll tell you something that I’ve never told anyone before, and you’ll do same.”
I laughed at that. Right. Like I was going to tell him my deepest secrets.
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious,” he continued.
“Okay, buddy. You go first then,” I was pretty sure he was going to come up with an unbelievable story and swear it was the truth, Sean style. 
“No, no, ladies first,” he replied.
I was going to open my mouth to protest, but he turned to look at me, his clear blue eyes more intense than usual. I found myself agreeing to it.
“Fine. A secret that nobody knows, hmmm, let me think,” I said jokingly, but then found myself actually contemplating telling Julian something that was true and meaningful. It was like I felt compelled to be honest with him. I could tell him about Thomas, but then again, Sam and Mia knew about it. I also didn’t want him mentioning it to Ethan. Guys gossiped, too. Finally, I confessed something that I hadn’t allowed myself to dwell too much on until that moment.
“Sometimes, I feel like I don’t belong to my family.” 
Julian frowned. “How come?”
I looked out at the window, trying to organize my thoughts. I wanted to explain it in a way that wouldn’t make me sound like an attention seeker. “I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I get sometimes, like I’m a stray they took in, or an alien.” 
At my last comment, Julian started to laugh. “An alien? What made you use that word to describe yourself?”
I smiled wryly at him. “Have you seen the size of my eyes? They’re abnormally large. According to Steven Spielberg, I must be an alien.”
Julian shook his head. “You have beautiful eyes, Alexia. Nothing extra-terrestrial about them.”
I blushed at his comment. 
“I would have said you look more like an anime character come to life.” Julian continued after a brief moment.
“An anime character? Oh that’s great! I look like a cartoon,” I said, exasperated. 
“Yeah, an anime character, all cute with big eyes, that adorable button nose, and curly hair. You’re like, the real live version of Candy Candy.” Julian said trying to suppress a smile.
“Who the hell is Candy Candy? That sounds like a stripper’s name.”
Julian chuckled before he continued. “Google it, you’ll see I’m right.”
I did just that. I didn’t know how Julian had turned my serious confession into an Alexia mock fest. Maybe he hadn’t meant for me to reveal something so depressing and was trying to keep the mood of the trip light. I found the information fast enough and couldn’t help but to gawk at him.
“Julian, Candy Candy is an anime series from the seventies. How in the world do you even know about it?”
“My mother collects anything related to it, not only anime but the mangas too. Candy Candy was my first crush.” 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. H. Soars is what we like to call a United Nations child. She was born in the United States but grew up in several different countries which gave her a broader perspective of life. She has always been passionate about books and stories and at a certain point had a comic book series going.
With a background in fashion design she always thought she was going to follow that path. But the characters in her head kept begging to be set free. So she decided to write their stories. A couple of years and a baby later, the first installment of her Arcadian Wars series is finally done.
M. H. Soars currently resides in New Mexico with her husband and baby daughter. She loves to read novels in the YA, PNR, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Chick Lit genres. When not devouring said novels, you may find her shopping online (she's an expert), blogging about fashion, or trying to teach her daughter to walk (even though she's too young for that).
If you would like to learn more about M. H. Soars and her projects, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or visit her blog.


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ARC Review: The Haven by Carol Lynch Williams

TITLE: The Haven
AUTHOR: Carol Lynch Williams
GENRE: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction
RELEASE DATE: 4th March 2014
RATING: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N | TBD
REVIEW COPY: NetGalley
BOOK BLURB:
For the teens at The Haven, the outside world, just beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises, is a dangerous unknown. It has always been this way, ever since the hospital was established in the year 2020. But The Haven is more than just a hospital; it is their home. It is all they know. Everything is strictly monitored: education, exercise, food, and rest. The rules must be followed to keep the children healthy, to help control the Disease that has cast them as Terminals, the Disease that claims limbs and lungs—and memories. 
But Shiloh is different; she remembers everything. Gideon is different, too. He dreams of a cure, of rebellion against the status quo. What if everything they’ve been told is a lie? What if The Haven is not the safe place it claims to be? And what will happen if Shiloh starts asking dangerous questions?
Thank you for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Book Blitz: My Life From Hell by Tellulah Darling


 The conclusion for The Blooming Goddess Trilogy! It's actually out now. ;) Grab your copies NOW!

TITLE: My Life From Hell
SERIES: The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #3
AUTHOR: Tellulah Darling
GENRE: Young Adult, Paranormal, Greek Mythology
RELEASE DATE: 20th March, 2014
BUY LINK: Amazon | Kobo
BOOK BLURB:
To say that Sophie Bloom is at the top of her game with one only week until spring equinox and the final showdown with Zeus and Hades would be, well, lying. The Goddess of Spring feels more like the Goddess of Bzz Thanks For Playing than the savior of humanity. And could her relationships be any more messed up?
Good times.
Sophie is convinced that things can’t get any worse than crawling back to her mother Demeter and begging for help. But she’s about to find out how very wrong she is.
It’s a race against time for Sophie to implement the big battle strategy in the YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology finale My Life From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book three of this teen fantasy romance series. Save herself; save the world. Humanity may be screwed.

AUTHOR BIO
Tellulah Darling
noun
1) YA romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she's compensating.
2) Alter ego of former screenwriter.
3) Sassy minx.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.
Tellulah Darling is a firm believer that some of the best stories happen when love meets comedy. Which is why she has so much fun writing young adult romantic comedy novels. Her tales span contemporary, teen fantasy romance, and YA Greek mythology, and range from stand alone books to series. For Tellulah, teen romance is the most passionate, intense, and awkward there is - a comedy goldmine. Plus smart, mouthy, teen girls rock.
Sassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?

EXCERPT

I fired again and again, staying rooted to the spot, and forcing extra power from deep within the earth. I wiggled my bare feet into the dirt, digging my toes in deeper.
At least it didn’t stay dark. Between fireballs, lightning strikes, my shockwaves and Kai’s black light, it was quite the dazzling illumination.
My eyes closed. I didn’t need to see the Photokia and Pyrosim to know where they were. I could sense them, millions and millions, swarming me. More than I could count. More than I could process.
It was a plague of minions. The world was so thick with them that I was amazed there was still room for air. Their fireballs burned my skin and sparked my hair. Their lightning arced through my body. 
The air was heat and smoke and burning destruction. Every particle glided over my skin in electric vibrations that shocked the tiny hairs on my arms. Black ash rained down, covering me in a blanket of soot. I took it all in and used it. Turned it around and sent it back with every shockwave I fired.
I felt untouchable. Even with all the hits I was taking, my healing abilities kept up pretty well. I had never been more a goddess, more every-inch powerful, than in this moment. I felt Persephone settle into my skin, connect to me in a way that had never happened before. For this moment, at least, we were in perfect synch. We were the vanquishers and our enemies would go down tasting our wrath.
Until I heard the laughter.

GIVEAWAY

ARC Review: Alpha Goddess [Giveaway]


TITLE: Alpha Goddess
AUTHOR: Amalie Howard
GENRE: Young Adult, Mythology, Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: 4th March 2014
RATING: 
BUY LINK: Amazon | B&N | TBD
REVIEW COPY: NetGalley & JKS Communications (Thanks Sami!)
BOOK BLURB:
In Serjana Caelum’s world, gods exist. So do goddesses. Sera knows this because she is one of them. A secret long concealed by her parents, Sera is Lakshmi reborn, the human avatar of an immortal Indian goddess rumored to control all the planes of existence. Marked by the sigils of both heaven and hell, Sera’s avatar is meant to bring balance to the mortal world, but all she creates is chaos. A chaos that Azrath, the Asura Lord of Death, hopes to use to unleash hell on earth.
Torn between reconciling her past and present, Sera must figure out how to stop Azrath before the Mortal Realm is destroyed. But trust doesn’t come easy in a world fissured by lies and betrayal. Her best friend Kyle is hiding his own dark secrets, and her mysterious new neighbor, Devendra, seems to know a lot more than he’s telling. Struggling between her opposing halves and her attraction to the boys tied to each of them, Sera must become the goddess she was meant to be, or risk failing, which means sacrificing the world she was born to protect.
REVIEW

Thank you for the ARC in exchange of an honest review! 

Hmmm... This is a bit hard to review. Not that it's a bad book or something.

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