Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Hotel Ruby

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:

Hotel Ruby
Title: Hotel Ruby
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Stay Tonight. Stay Forever.
When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.
Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn't have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.
The more Audrey learns about the new people she's met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between life in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
Why am I waiting?
A Mysterious Hotel, with invitation only gatherings late at night. I am all about trying to figure out what it going on at the Ruby. I am curious to discover what about this hotel is so enchanting, and what exactly is going on behind closed doors. I also want to see where Audrey's tale takes her and if she discovers how to move on and be happy after her mother's death. 

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

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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Cover Reveal: The Infected

The Infected by Michelle K. Pickett
PODs #2
Expected Publication: October 12, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Horror
From the author of the award winning Unspeakable, and the best selling PODs, comes the highly anticipated sequel to PODs. A world where death stalks the unsuspecting, and this time even the PODs might not save them. 
A virus nearly wiped out humankind...
Months have passed since a human infection has been reported. Survivors of the deadly pandemic have finally started to build a life in a world left devastated by plague. 
Ironically, for nineteen-year-old Eva, life made more sense when she battled the deadly Infected than it does in the serenity of her new home in Rosewood. Separated from fiancĂ© and former POD-mate, David, after an impossible ultimatum, Eva finds her life a little lonely and a lot confusing. 
But as troubled as Eva’s life is, it's about to take a turn for the worse as untold dangers watch and wait for the right moment to attack…
The virus refuses to die quietly.

 About the Author
I can’t write without a hoodie. Yeah, I live it Texas. We all have our quirks.
I majored in accounting in college. I was required to declare a major, but I had no clue what I wanted to do, so I picked accounting because it was the first thing listed in the booklet the counselor gave me. Surprisingly, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Go figure.
Forget coffee. Hand over the Red Bull or Monster Khaos and no one gets hurt. Seriously, just set it down and step away. I will turn into a normal human after I guzzle my can of caffeine.
I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television.
I paint my nails weird colors just to see my husband roll his eyes and make my 9 year-old twin girls giggle. Oh, and mortify my 13 year-old son.
I’m a hopeful romantic and love swoon-worthy endings that keep the butterflies going for days, but I don’t believe a HEA always ends with the boy getting the girl. Sometimes a HEA is an ending we don’t see coming, but is still best for the characters.
I write across genres in the young adult and new adult age groups while eating way too many peanut butter M&Ms (but we’ll keep that second part just between us).
I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, but now live in a suburb of Houston, TX with my very supportive family, a 125lb rescue “puppy” and a 12lb attack cat, also a rescue animal.
And last, (but certainly not least), I love my family with everything in me. Everything I am, is theirs. There are no words in any language known to man to describe my love for them. They are my center.
I’d love to hear from you. So drop me an email! Let’s chat. You tell me what you like in books, what you’d like to see happen in the writing community, what type of books you like to see more of…less of—I want to hear it all! So tell me, please. Because the one thing I wish I could put on my list, but I still haven’t figured out how to do, is mind-reading. But don’t tell my kids. I still have them fooled. :)
   
My Thoughts: 
I absolutely loved PODs and I wanted to get more of Eva and David's story. For the sounds of the synopsis, their story is about to take a turn again. I hope it is as heart pounding as the first one, and judging from the cover it is going to be exciting.

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

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Monday, September 28, 2015

The Assassin Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on The Assassin Blog Tour!  Make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above. 

About the Book
Title: The Assassin
Author: Pamela DuMond
Series: Mortal Beloved #2
Publication Date: July 5, 2015
Genres: Time Travel, Young Adult
Time Traveler. Messenger. Beloved. Spy.
“I was a Messenger: I kept the memory of all our encounters, our lives, like a locket that brushes the skin and bones covering my heart. But Samuel was a Healer: he didn’t time travel. His kind lived, died, re-incarnated, and he didn’t retain memories from his past lives. Every year I landed in required starting our relationship over: from ashes, from scrap… Every place I journeyed had beauty as well as darkness; all my time-travels were bittersweet.” ~ Madeline.
Madeline’s a Messenger: time traveling across lifetimes and delivering messages that could change one life or many. When she discovers that her true love, Samuel, is alive in present day, but doesn’t remember her from their past, she journeys to a deadly royal conflict in medieval Portugal hoping to rekindle his memory. Mortal assassins as well as dark-souled time travelers seek to kill her. Will Madeline and Samuel be together again in life—or only in death?
THE SEEKER (Mortal Beloved, Book Three) publishes Winter 2015/2016
.

About the Author

Pamela DuMond is the author who discovered Erin Brockovich’s life story, thought it would make a
great movie and pitched it to ‘Hollywood’.
She writes romantic comedic mysteries, romantic YA time travel and New Adult romance.
Her book The Story of You and Me was a Quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakout Novel Award (ABNA) 2014 in Romance.
Cupcakes, Pies, and Hot Guys was a Quarterfinalist in ABNA 2013 in Mystery .
She’s addicted to TV shows — The Voice and Reign. The movies Love Actually and The Bourne trilogy (with Matt Damon — not that other actor guy,) make her cry ever time she watches them. (Like — a thousand.)
When she’s not writing Pamela’s also a chiropractor and cat wrangler. She loves reading, the beach, working out, movies, TV, animals, her family and friends. She lives in Venice, California with her fur-babies.
She likes her coffee strong, her cabernet hearty, her chocolate dark, her foods non-GMO and she lives for a good giggle.
   

My Review of The Assassin
The Assassin is the sequel that I have been waiting for, ever since I read The Messenger a few years ago. I am glad that the author was finally able to write the sequel and I enjoyed where she took the story even more than last time. The part I love about the Mortal Beloved series is each addition to the story takes Madeline on a new mission into a historical moment. This time Madeline finds herself in the middle of 14th Century Portugal in the middle of the tragic love story. The author wove Madeline and Samuel’s story around the true history of Inez de Castro and Prince Peter. As someone who loves history, I love that this story can give you a glimpse into real history even while weaving a beautiful story. 

I love that Madeline and Samuel continually find each other throughout history as Madeline travels through time as a Messenger to help change the lives. When the book starts and she finds Samuel in present day, I could not help but want her to find a way for her to make him remember her. As the book went on, and she was sucked back in time, I found myself wanting to watch her past love story unfold. There is a beauty in watching Samuel, who cannot remember Madeline in his past life, still fall in love her time and time again. Madeline may only be 16, but she has this burden of knowing she has an epic love out there, and he never remembers. 

The historical aspect of The Assassin is very well written and even with the fictional story woven around and through it, it still maintains a solid base tied with actual events. Even with all my love for history, I did not know the tragic love story of Inez de Castro and Peter I of Portugal. Now after reading The Assassin, I really want to read more information about their lives. Thank you, Pamela DuMond, for reigniting my love of history. 

I have no clue what is going to happen to Madeline or Samuel in the next book, The Seeker but I know I will have to find out. The Assassin doubles the adventure while creating a believable story woven through the fabric of history. The Assassin is a must read story for fans of The Messenger, historical fiction fans, and science fiction fans alike. There is something for everyone in The Mortal Beloved series. 

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



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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: These Shallow Graves

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:

These Shallow Graves
Title: These Shallow Graves
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Random House Delacorte
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep.
Why am I waiting?
I love historical fiction, it just has this certain air about it. Maybe because I am such a history nerd and love imagining what it would have been like to see and experiance life in historical settings. This one adds a mystery on top, which is also my favorite. I good ole historical mystery set to come out days before Halloween, with that super creepy cover...I am all over this!

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

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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Walk on Earth a Stranger Release Day

I am so excited that WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.


About the Book
Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger
Author: Rae Carson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2015
Genres: Historical, Fantasy, Young Adult, 
The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.
Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.
Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

About the Author
Rae Carson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire
and Thorns trilogy. Her next book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, will be available September 22, 2015. She lives in Arizona with her husband.
   



1 winner will receive a set of the 3 GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US Only.
Ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!

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Monday, September 21, 2015

Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway: Twisted Sisters

Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton 
The Orion Circle #2

Expected Publication: October 27, 2015
 Cover Design by AM Design Studios
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
It’s a child’s toy—what could go wrong?
While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.
But this isn’t any ordinary haunting.  These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.
Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?

 About the Author
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to
writing, she works as an editor for two publishers as well as select indie authors. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA.

    



Excerpt From Twisted Sister
“Huge EMF spike!” Carl shouts, waving the EMF detector in the air.
That’s it. I can’t wait for Raven any longer. Mr. Kincaid’s voice echoes in my ears, calling me stupid for rushing in not knowing what’s in there. I’m in charge of this fiasco… I never should’ve let her run in without more information. Steeling my shoulders, I cross the threshold into the house.
I stop and survey the scene in seconds, taking in the ridiculous amount of damage. The living room is trashed: sofa overturned, lamps broken on the floor, and the front window shattered by the flying armchair. No sign of Raven, but the girls said they were using the board in the kitchen. As I walk down the hall toward the back of the house, a ceramic figurine flies at me. I duck just in time as it grazes the top of my hair. I’m finding it difficult to believe spirits summoned from a spirit board by amateurs could be this powerful.
The family room is in a similar state to the living room. When I spy the sixty-inch TV on the floor in a smashed mess my heart thumps faster. These are powerful spirits or maybe even a rogue gang. That TV had to weigh over one hundred pounds, and it’s a good twelve feet from the entertainment center. No sign of Raven in here either.
A fierce wind blows from the kitchen, slamming me against the wall. So much power. None of this makes any sense!
“Raven.” I try to call out, but my voice comes out a hoarse croak.
My body is freed as the wind dies down, and I race toward the kitchen. Something shoves me from behind, sending me reeling across the tile floor. I manage to rotate myself at the last second so my shoulder impacts the wall instead of my head. The wind stops the moment I hit the wall. As I rub my sore shoulder, a loud scream pierces the silence. My stomach drops at the sheer terror echoing in that scream. Raven.
Leaping to my feet, I search the large kitchen for her. When my eyes land on her, I blink a few too many times. This shouldn’t be possible.
“Hang on, Raven,” I call out to her form suspended in midair near the ceiling.
“Hang on? Really?” Her arms are splayed out to the sides. Though she tries to project confidence with her words, I can tell from her face that she’s terrified.
“Release her at once!” I yell at the invisible spirits. “She has done nothing to you.”
“Don’t you think I already tried that?” Raven bites out in between gasping breaths.
“St. Michael, the archangel, def—” I start the prayer, but something crashes into me, knocking the wind from my lungs as I’m slammed into the floor. It takes a few dazed seconds to realize it’s Raven’s body crushing me. “Can you move?”
“I don’t know.” She rolls off me despite her words, groaning. “Those damned spirits. Madder than cornered rattlesnakes.”
“I can’t feel anything but intense hatred and fury.” I push to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my side. After hauling Raven up by the arm, I drag her toward the back door.
“Wait!” she yells, yanking her arm away. “The board.” Raven disappears beneath the long oak table. A few seconds later, she pops out holding the spirit board.
“Come on,” I shout when I feel the spirits returning for round two. “Crap, too late.” An invisible force plows into me, pushing me back into the unforgiving wall. “Raven, run!”
Something hits me in the ribs, banging my body into the wall once, twice, three times. My head spins from the impact. At least Raven made it out. A white mist fills my vision, and I blink several times. It doesn’t go away, only becomes sharper, more focused. Her form is wispy, ethereal. She would be beautiful were her lips not turned into a vicious sneer. I lay on the ground, waiting for her to make her move while she floats around me.

My Thoughts: 
I love the cover, it goes very well with the first book in the series, Tortured Souls. I loved Tortured Souls and it came out just in time to put me in the Halloween mood and I am so glad the sequel is coming out around the same time. This series is the perfect ghostly Halloween read, or for anytime you want to curl up with a spooky read.


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



Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Cover Reveal: Demons in Disguise

Demons in Disguise by A&E Kirk
Divinicus Nex Chronicles #3
Expected Publication: November 2015
 Cover Design by Elena Dudina
Genres: Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult
Survival. Time to make it their problem.
With dead bodies piling up on this side of the Waiting World and the Mandatum closing in, Aurora is so over being prey. So the hunted becomes the hunter. Targeting the dangerous traitor who wants her dead catapults Aurora out of Gossamer Falls and way past her comfort zone.
But the master of deception won’t go down easy, armed with a diabolical plan and a legion of evil to take down anyone who gets in their way…including the Hex Boys. Aurora and her six Hexy Knights dive into the belly of the Mandatum beast and wade through murky moral waters where trusting the wrong people is the only way to make things right.
What could possibly go wrong?
In Aurora’s case…everything.

 About the Author
We're Alyssa and Eileen, the Best Selling Mother/Daughter writing duo of YA Paranormal Romantic
Thrillers, and authors of the Amazon Best Selling series, THE DIVINICUS NEX CHRONICLES. Book 1, DEMONS AT DEADNIGHT and book 2, DROP DEAD DEMONS have topped the Amazon charts with DROP DEAD DEMONS debuting as a #1 BEST SELLER! Book three is coming late 2015!
We write about dangerous demons, hot Hex Boys, and one clever girl who must survive them all!
We also love to read, watch TV and movies, and eat - not necessarily in that order - and also connect with our fans. Come visit, we'd love to hear from you!
    

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

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

The Foxglove Killings Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the Foxglove Killings Blog Tour!  Make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above. I also have a review of The Foxglove Killings and a giveaway for you to enter. 

About the Book
Title: The Foxglove Killings
Author: Tara Kelly
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, 
Gramps always said that when the crickets were quiet, something bad was coming. And the crickets have been as silent as the dead. It started with the murdered deer in the playground with the unmistakable purple of a foxglove in its mouth. But in the dying boondock town of Emerald Cove, life goes on.

I work at Gramps's diner, and the cakes―the entitled rich kids who vacation here―make our lives hell. My best friend, Alex Pace, is the one person who gets me. Only Alex has changed. He's almost like a stranger now. I can't figure it out...or why I'm having distinctly more-than-friend feelings for him. Ones I shouldn't be having.

Then one of the cakes disappears.
When she turns up murdered, a foxglove in her mouth, a rumor goes around that Alex was the last person seen with her—and everyone but me believes it. Well, everyone except my worst enemy, Jenika Shaw. When Alex goes missing, it's up to us to prove his innocence and uncover the true killer. But the truth will shatter everything I've ever known about myself—and Alex.

About the Author

Tara Kelly adores variety in her life. She’s an author, one-girl-band, graphic designer, editor, and
photographer. She lives in Sin City with her beloved guitars, sound design master husband, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.
   

My Review of The Foxglove Killings
The Foxglove Killings had me on the edge of my seat from the first opening scene to the very last pages. I am so glad I picked up The Foxglove Killings; it is the perfect book to get back into mysteries and get myself in the mood for Halloween next month. While I loved the synopsis, I have had trouble reading anything lately. I was nervous that I was not going to be able to get into the story and mystery plot line and be able to devote my full attention to it. Most enjoyably that was not the case, this book managed to send my book blues away and have me so focus on reading I could not put it down until I finished in one setting. 

Nova is a teen who wants to grow up to work in the police force, but it currently stuck being harassed by the local rich kids also known as cakes while working at her grandfather’s diner. The only thing she can count on besides her family is her best friend Alex. When animals turn up mutilated with a foxglove in their mouth, Nova certain it going to lead to something more. Suddenly a “cake” turns up murdered and Alex is prime suspect due to a few rumors. When things start to go sideways, Nova has to work with the one girl that despises her most. This kind of antagonist relationship leads to a great deal of drama in the book as well as Nova’s new feeling for Alex. I kind of like the added dramatics for the poor townies versus the rich tourist “cakes.” It was like a mild version the Socs and Greasers from The Outsiders aside for the raging serial killer storyline. 

The drama really unfolds as Nova tries to prove Alex’s innocence as everyone around starts to believe he is guilty. As she uncovers more about those around her and the “cakes” the more everyone begins looking like a suspect. For once, I did not know who was behind the killings until the very last chapter as things unfolded. Even when I thought I knew who was guilty, there was a twist after twist that kept me on my toes until the final reveal. Not often do I not see a murder mystery suspect for who they are before there is any reveal, but The Foxglove Killings defiantly had my blinded until the end. 

The action had my heart pounding, the mystery had my brain whirling, and the relationships had my romantic bone tingling. The Foxglove Killings balanced all the elements perfectly and I loved every minute of it. I would say I probably read it much faster than I normally would have because the tension had my heart pumping and my brain wanting answers. I would defiantly read another book from Tara Kelly, and I am overjoyed that I chose to read The Foxglove Killings. 

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



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