Thursday, December 26, 2013

Embrace Blog Tour: Sneaking Candy Guest Post and Giveaway

Welcome to the Entangled Embrace Blog Tour! Today I have a Guest Post from Lisa Burstein the author of Sneaking Candy and a tourwide giveaway. 

About the Book

Title: Sneaking Candy
Author: Lisa Burstein
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Publication Date: December 9, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
All I ever wanted was to make a name for myself as Candice Salinas, creative writing grad student at the University of Miami. Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.
Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps?



About the Author
 Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the
Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University. She is the author of Pretty Amy, The Next Forever, Dear Cassie and Candy, Stripped. As well as a contributor to the upcoming essay collection, Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors On Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.
   
Top Ten Little Known Facts About Lisa Burstein
Wow. Doing this ten little known facts list was a lot harder than I thought it would be. So hard I had to recruit some help from my hubby, and it made me realize something: He knows me better than me!

1. I’m a former competitive speed skater. Tried to go pro…didn’t work out, but it was a blast trying!
2. When I was a kid, I tried to climb a tree in the dead of winter, wearing my snowsuit…I totally fell and broke my collarbone. 
3. I belch so loud I scare my hubby sometimes.
4. I played collegiate tennis.
5. I don’t like pedicures. Just something about someone else touching my feet freaks me out.
6. I like pickles on my pizza.
7. I ran my first marathon this past October.
8. I biked across Iowa in July 2012 (Ragbrai).
9. I made an unassisted triple play in little league when I was a kid.
10. I once left my house and walked across the street while sleepwalking.

Okay. I don’t want to be the only one doing this…I want to know YOU guys more. Do tell!



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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: The Uninvited

 
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.
 I am waiting on:
Uninvited (Uninvited, #1)
Title: The Uninvited
Author: Sophie Jordan
Series: Uninvited #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.
When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.
Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.
The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.
Why am I Waiting?
I like the idea of exploring the idea of DNA verse Free Will. It is an interesting to explore if something says you are a killer, do you actually turn into a killer. I am curious to see where Sophie Jordan goes with this story.

What are you waiting on?
Make sure to let me know what you are waiting on in the comments!

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Adrenaline Rush Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to the Adrenaline Rush Blog Tour stop at Unabridged Bookshelf! Today I not only a review of Adrenaline Rush, but there is also a tour-wide giveaway at the end of this post.

About the Book

Title: Adrenaline Rush
Author: Cindy M. Hogan
Publication date: October 2013
Genres: Suspense, Young Adult
Amazon | Barnes and Noble
A madman with a mission is kidnapping groups of thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him.
To do so, she must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit. Death-defying stunts are only the beginning: two groups fit the profile, and Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.
If she chooses the wrong group, more people will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll get out alive.

About the Author

Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a secondary education teaching degree and enjoys spending time with unpredictable teenagers. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. She loves to bake, garden and be outdoors doing a myriad of activities.
   

My Review of Adrenaline Rush
Adrenaline Rush is just the book I needed to read right now, and remind me why I love a good mystery. I have not read a straight up mystery/suspense book in a very long time. They are usually my go to books. I am so glad I decided to review this one, because it was a fast pace read with a detailed mystery to solve. As someone who grew up devouring every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden with every second they had to spare, Adrenaline Rush really reminded me of those classic mystery tales. I could defiantly see Christy’s spy life turned into an addicting mystery series, and I would gladly read every one. 

Christy is a great choice of character for this type of novel, because she is relatable and highly intelligent. While she is highly intelligent, the story content is not overly convoluted to make reader feel like they have to also be highly intelligent to understand what is going on. It is also not too simplified as to make the reader feel like their intelligence is subpar. Christy is a character who will not give up, even when everything around her makes her feel like giving up. Even as a young agent, her character has a lot of experience and intuition to make the story easy to follow and most of all believable. 

Adrenaline Rush feels like a quick read, because of the pace, and the excitement built during the process of the story. There are also twists and turns that reader will be hit right in the face by without ever seeing it coming. The story really keeps readers on their toes. 

I did not know there were other books about this character from Cindy Hogan, where Christy is younger and how she got her start in the spy agency, The Division. I may have to read those three in my spare time, while secretly hoping that I will get to see more Christy in another novel by Cindy Hogan. Congratulations Cindy M. Hogan you just made yourself a new fan!

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review** 


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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Where You'll Find Me Cover Reveal: Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Today Erin Fletcher and Entangled Teen are revealing the cover for WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME, releasing in early 2014! Check out the gorgeous cover, exclusive excerpt, and enter to win an eARC!


On to the reveal!

Title: Where You'll Find Me
Author: Erin Fletcher
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes

When Hanley Helton discovers a boy living in her garage, she knows she should kick him out. But Nate is too charming to be dangerous. He just needs a place to get away, which Hanley understands. Her own escape methods—vodka, black hair dye, and pretending the past didn't happen—are more traditional, but who is she to judge?
Nate doesn't tell her why he's in her garage, and she doesn't tell him what she's running from. Soon, Hanley¹s trading her late-night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate¹s recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn't sure which is worse: that she's harboring a fugitive, or that she's in love with one.

Exclusive Excerpt

Nate looks me over, from my jacket to my favorite pair of jeans, to the shoes that are bonfire-worthy but still cute. My hair, with the help of a straightener, is so silky that my dark bangs fall into my eyes even more than usual. My eye makeup is amped up. Whether all of this is because of the bonfire or because of who I hoped I’d run into before leaving is open for debate. He reaches up and brushes my bangs away from my face. The split-second touch makes me crave more. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

“Where are you headed?”

Though staying here in the garage might be a better option, I say, “A bonfire.”

Nate studies me again, but this time it feels like he’s looking for something deeper. “Don’t you ever get tired of sneaking out?”

“Not really,” I say with a shrug.

He tugs on the zipper of my fleece, lowering it slightly and pulling me closer. “What are you running from, Hanley?”

It feels like my secrets are written all over my face, but I say, “Nothing.”

When he smiles, it’s almost sad. “I don’t buy it.”

I lean in, putting both hands on the car behind him, one on either side, trapping him. “You tell me why you’re living in my garage and I’ll tell you what I’m running from.”

He gives a sly smile and doesn’t budge. “Secrets it is.”

“Secrets it is,” I echo. And even though the small space between us is electric and threatening to disappear, I push off the car and step away. “I’ll see you later,” I say as I open the door.

“Hanley,” he says before I can get too far. “Be careful out there, okay?”

I don’t make any promises.


About Erin:
Erin Fletcher is a morning person who does most of her writing before sunrise while drinking excessive quantities of coffee, believes flip-flops qualify as year-round footwear, and would spend every day at the beach if she could. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics (which is almost never useful when writing books) and lives in North Carolina.
You can visit Erin on:
 


1 eARC of WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME International

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

North Pole Reform School Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway

Welcome to the North Pole Reform School Blog Tour! I have a review of North Pole Reform School, a hilarious excerpt, and a tourwide giveaway for you to enter at the end of the post. Make sure to check out all the fun going on during this tour, by checking out the full schedule by clicking the banner above. 

About the Book

Title: North Pole Reform School
Author: Jaimie Admans
Date of Publication: November 6, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon
Mistletoe Bell hates Christmas. So would you if you had a name like hers. Her Christmas-mad parents make the festive season last all year, and with another Christmas looming, Mis doesn’t think she can take any more. After her carelessness causes an accident at school, it seems like things can’t get any worse.
Then she wakes up to find The Ghost of Christmases Ruined in her bedroom.
She is taken to the North Pole, to a reform school run by elves determined to make her love Christmas. Stuck in a misfit group of fellow Christmas-haters with a motley crew of the weird and even weirder, watched over by elves day and night, she doesn’t expect to meet cute and funny Luke, who is hiding a vulnerable side beneath his sarcastic exterior. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.
But all is not as it should be at the North Pole. A certain Mr Claus is making the elves’ lives a misery, and pretty soon Mistletoe and Luke are doing more than just learning to like Christmas.
A YA romantic comedy in which Santa is the bad guy, teaching reindeer to fly is on the curriculum, and zombies have a fondness for Christmas music.
Suitable for older teens and upwards due to bad language.
Excerpt from North Pole Reform School 

Cover Reveal of Cutlass with Giveaway

Cover Reveal
Cutlass by Ashley Nixon
Cutlass Series #1
Expected Publication: April 23rd 2014
 Cover Design by Mae I Design
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy’s fiancé seems a perfect plan…until he actually does it.
Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiancé to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard.
But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task—to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too. As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.

 About the Author
Ashley was born and raised in Oklahoma, where the wind really does sweep down the plains, and horses
and carriages aren't used as much as she'd like. When she's not writing, she's hard at work on her Master's degree in Library Science and Information Technology, working out, or pretending she's Sherlock Holmes. Her obsession with writing began after reading the Lord of the Rings in the eighth grade. Since then, she's loved everything Fantasy--resulting in an unhealthy obsession with the 'geek' tab on Pinterest, where all things awesome go.
   
My Thoughts: Pirate fantasy novel, I am in. I have not read a young adult pirate fantasy probably ever. I am defiantly looking forward to this one, because it sounds like something I would really enjoy. I like the idea of going off on a quest of legends and finding out secrets from the past.

I want to hear what do you think!
Let me know in the comments


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Cover Reveal: Waiting on My Reason

Cover Reveal
Waiting on My Reason by Devon Ashley
Expected Publication: January 21, 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romantic Suspense
Things always happen for a reason. I just wish I knew the why behind mine.
Five years ago, graduation wasn’t what it was supposed to be. Publicly humiliated, Melanie was more than happy to kiss off her high school sweetheart. But in doing so, she lost more than just her boyfriend, she lost the only other guy she truly cared for – his best friend, Shane.
Shane loathed the idea of returning to his small hometown. He just wanted to get in, help his best friend manage a legal matter, and get the hell back out again. But he wasn’t expecting to run into the one girl who got away, who always held a piece of his heart despite the animosity that lingered. Melanie could’ve been the one, but after everything that happened, trust was a serious issue.
Melanie just wanted to do right by her son. Shane just wanted to do right by his best friend. And just when they think they can find the strength to forgive the sins of the past, more secrets and lies bubble to the surface, threatening to push them even farther apart.

 About the Author
I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh, and I say seriously way too much. Seriously.
  
My Thoughts: Can I just say, How cute is that kid on the cover! Even with an adorable cover, I have a feeling this is also going to be an emotional read. I am curious to see the back story and how it plays out when they cross paths five years in the future.

I want to hear what do you think!
Let me know in the comments

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Waiting on Wednesday: Avalon

 
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.
 I am waiting on:

Avalon (Avalon, #1)
Title: Avalon
Author: Mindee Arnett
Series: Avalon #1
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publication Date: January 21, 2013
A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.
Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.
Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.
Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.
 Why am I waiting?
One word: Firefly! If you tell me that this is perfect for Firefly fans I am in all the way. The cover is also gorgeous! I am due for a good Sci-Fi book so I will defiantly be reading this one!

What are you waiting on?
Make sure to leave me a link in the comments!

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

That One Summer Book Blitz

BB Book Tours

About the Book

Title: That One Summer
Author: C.J. Duggan
Series: Summer #3
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Loving Chris Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there about him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that’s on a good day … but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day …
He sure could kiss.
As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.
So that can only mean one thing: road trip!
No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.
She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?
After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for a ride. The last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow Boy leaning against his black panel van.
Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank before the party is over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with only the infuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disaster of all.
Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.
Other Books in the Summer Series

Title: The Boys of Summer
Author: C.J. Duggan
Series: Summer #1
Publication Date: December 17, 2012
It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.
Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.
How did she let her friends talk her into working?
After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.
All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. 
It will be a summer she will always remember. 
Warning: sexual references, and occasional coarse language.

Title: An Endless Summer
Author: C.J. Duggan
Series: Summer #2
Publication Date: July 11, 2013
Sean looked out over the lake, squinting against the sunlight. He turned to me, his expression sobering as his eyes flicked over my face in a silent study.
“Come on Amy, I saved you once, I’ll save you again.”
I met his stare unflinchingly. “I don’t need saving.”
A wicked grin formed slowly. “Don’t you?”
After a rebellious summer night that almost claimed her life, Amy Henderson – the Onslow publican’s only daughter – is sent away to suffer a fate far worse than any other punishment:
Boarding School.
Three years on, a now nineteen-year-old Amy returns to Onslow for the summer. What once was a cauldron of activity with live bands, hot meals and cold beers, the Onslow Hotel now lies dark, deserted and depressing. All fond childhood memories of loitering on the hotel stairs and eavesdropping on customers’ colourful conversations are in the distant past.
How had her dad let it come to this?
With the new threat of putting the Onslow up for sale, Amy reluctantly turns to a local tradesman for help: Sean Murphy, the very same Onslow boy who saved her life all those years ago. With his help and that of some old friends, the task is clear: spend the summer building the hotel back up to its former glory or lose it for good.
In an endless summer, Amy soon realises that sometimes in order to save your future, you have to face your past, even if it’s in the form of a smug, gorgeous Onslow boy.
About the Author 
C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Series’, visitwww.cjdugganbooks.com
 
   

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