Return Once More Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

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

About the Book

Title: Return Once More

Author: Trisha Leigh

Series: The Historians #1

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Genres: Sci-Fi, Time Travel, Young Adult, 

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If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?
Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.
If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?
Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.
Or would you have the strength to watch him die?
But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

About the Author

Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales,
and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies,  reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.
Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who numerous, loud, full of love, and the kind of people that make the world better. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories—made up, of course, but true enough in their way.
   

My Review of Return Once More

As someone who loves History and would give up almost anything to be able to observe historical events as they unfold, Return Once More is my dream novel. Many interesting historical events are discussed or even witnessed during the course of this novel. I loved each of them, but the ones set in Ancient Egypt are my favorite as it is my favorite thing to learn about when it comes to human history. Trisha Leigh did outstanding research when it came to presenting these events in historical detail with accurate depiction even in the middle of a fictional story. 

Usually with Science Fiction especially those involving time travel confuse me or they are overly scoped out with rules and depictions that the reader has to understand to fully relate it to the story. Thankfully, while there are consequences for affecting the past, there is still enough wiggle room for the reader to enjoy each of the observations back in time. Trisha Leigh concentrates more on the story of Kaia and her friends then the science behind everything. 

As a character, I loved Kaia. She was full of risk taking just to see her one true companion, even if it mean the possibility of never having a proper future as an official Historian. When she discovered others are tampering with the past instead of observing, she readily jumps into action to preserve the past to preserve the future. This bravery is what I really loved about her, and I cannot wait to read more of Kaia’s story and see how the future plays out. 

Trisha Leigh has started possibly my newest addiction. I love The Historian series, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one even if this one leaves on a bit of dramatic cliffhanger (but not a cliffhanger that had me upset enough to want to throw my kindle.) I hope to see another The Historian’s novel from her very soon. This series is a great read for historical and science fiction fans alike. 

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

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Trailer Reveal for Oblivion

Today is the day! We finally get to watch the amazing trailer for Oblivion!

About the Book

Title: Oblivion

Author: Jennifer Armetrout

Series: Lux #1.5

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it.

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are.

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game.

Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen...

About the Author

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International 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, 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. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.
She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.    

TRAILER FOR OBLIVION!!!

(or view on YOUTUBE)

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Life After The Undead Book Blitz: Excerpt and Giveaways

Welcome to Life After the Undead Book Blitz!  Today I have an excerpt and two YES TWO giveaways for you today!

About the Book

Title: Life After the Undead

Author: Pembroke Sinclair

Publication Date: October 27, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Zombie,

Purchase: Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she’s going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they’re migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.
Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.
Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.

About the Author

Jessica Robinson is an editor by day and a zombie-killer by night (at least in her books). Since the
first time she watched Night of the Living Dead, she has been obsessed with zombies and often thinks of ways to survive the uprising. In addition to her nonfiction book, under the pen name Pembroke Sinclair, she has written YA novels about zombies and the tough teens who survive the apocalyptic world. She has also written nonfiction stories for Serial Killer Magazine and published a book about slasher films called Life Lessons from Slasher Films.
   

Excerpt From 

Life After the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair

PROLOGUE

I will never understand peoples’ fascination with the apocalypse. Why would you waste so much time and energy worrying about something you can’t change? Besides, most of the time, it never comes to fruition, anyway. Remember Y2K? I don’t. I was too young, but I’ve heard stories. What a hullabaloo that was. People were so afraid of computers failing and throwing society back into the Dark Ages, they stockpiled supplies and moved into the wilderness so they could get away from technology. Why would they move to the wilderness? If technology was going to fail, wouldn’t they be just as safe in a city? I guess they were afraid when it did, everyone would go crazy and start killing each other. Either way, it didn’t happen. I wonder how those people felt afterward.

Then there was the whole 2012 scare. This one was supposedly based on an ancient prediction, so you know it was reliable. Are you kidding? Even the Mayans didn’t believe their own ancestors’ “vision.” What happened was there had been a tablet that had the Mayan calendar carved into it. The end was broken and faded, so no one knew what it said. Our culture, being the pessimistic lot we are, automatically assumed it was an end-of-the-world warning, but, again, nothing happened on December 21, 2012. Christmas came and went, and I think everyone everywhere, even the skeptics, had a little something more to be thankful for. Life went on as usual, and all those doomsayers faded into obscurity.

The day the world did end was pretty nondescript. By that I mean there was no nuclear explosion or asteroid or monumental natural disaster. There weren’t even any horsemen or plagues to announce the end was coming. The world ended fairly quietly. I couldn’t even give you a date because it happened at different times depending on where you were. It was never predicted, and I’m sure a scenario no one even considered. Who really thinks the dead are going to rise from the grave and destroy the majority of the population?  No one but Hollywood, and we all know those are just movies, but that’s exactly what happened. Those of us who survived were left wide-eyed, mouth agape, trying to figure out what to do next.

There were a few who were able to pull their heads out and organize those left behind. They made sure the populace had food, shelter, and protection. They were saviors, the United States’ heroes. Life wouldn’t have gone on without them, and it was pretty difficult those first few years after the zompocalypse.

Sometimes it’s difficult for me to remember what life was like before the rise of the undead. I was a teenager, though I hesitate to say normal. I wasn’t deformed or anything, but my classmates thought I was strange. I had a fascination with the dark, the macabre, although I wasn’t a Goth or Emo. I read books and magazines about serial killers. I didn’t idolize them or want to be like them—hell no—I was fascinated with how evil and black a human’s soul could get.

I wanted to be a psychologist and work with the criminally insane, maybe figure out why they did what they did. Apparently, when you’re fifteen, your friends think you’re weird if you have desires to help someone other than yourself. While they were worried about becoming popular and getting the right boyfriend, I tried to figure out how to make society better.

Of course, those dreams will never come true. Society doesn’t exist. Everything I once held dear is gone. I lost my parents to the horde, like a lot of kids. Unlike some of the others, mine weren’t taken by surprise or in some freak accident. They were taken because of their own stupidity. Some days I miss them a lot, but others I believe they got what they deserved. I might sound callous and uncaring, but what about them? Why would they abandon their fifteen-year-old daughter? It used to keep me up at night, trying to find the answer to that question, but I’ve given up asking it. No reason wasting time on things that could’ve or should’ve been.

As I stare out the passenger side window of the semi, I’m reminded how bleak the future has become. The truck rolls down a once heavily traveled highway that has been reduced to a cracked trail. Gas stations and towns dotting the landscape have been abandoned and are crumpling into the weeds that are taking them over. There are a few areas that still resemble pre-zombie destruction, and these are the military outposts set up along the road, used for protection and refueling. I use the term “military” loosely because there is no formal military anymore. It’s a rag-tag group of men and women who were lucky enough to get guns. I chuckle to myself. It’s been two years since I was last out in the world, and a lot has changed since then. I still remember the day the zombies attacked. It’s as clear as if it’d happened yesterday.

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Cover Reveal: The Witching Hour Collection

The Witching Hour Collection by Various

Expected Publication: November 30, 2015

Good witch. Bad witch. White magic. Black magic. Kitchen magic. Pick your potion. Ready for Halloween? The authors of the Blazing Indie Collective, who brought you the Falling in Deep Collection, are brewing up something new. Check out all the novellas in The Witching Hour Collection coming November 2015:

Melanie Karsak: Witch Wood

Claire C. Riley: Raven's Cove

Eli Constant: Sleeping in the Forest of Shadows

Elizabeth Watasin: Charm School: The Wrecking Faerie

Erin Hayes: I'd Rather be a Witch

Carrie Wells: Playing with Magic

Evan Winters: The Witch of Bracken’s Hollow

Minerva Lee: Spun Gold

Blaire Edens: The Witch of Roan Mountain

Poppy Lawless: The Cupcake Witch

The Authors

 Melanie Karsak          Carrie Wells          Claire C. Riley          Elizabeth Watasin

 Eli Constant          Poppy Lawless          Blaire Edens          Erin Hayes

 Evan Winters          Minerva Lee

My Thoughts: 

I love collections like this because it is a great way to discover new authors and read new books/novellas by some of my favorite authors. I also love them because you have a general theme and each story has its own take. I am excited to get this one when it comes out, and hopefully I will have time to read some of the stories right away. 

I want to hear what you think!

Let me know in the comments

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Waiting on Wednesday: Soundless

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:

Title: Soundless

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: November 10, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.
For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.
When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.
But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.
Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

Why am I waiting?

I really have never read any book even close to this synopsis, but if Richelle Mead is writing it, I am defiantly going to give it a try. I like the idea of sound being a weapon, and I am curious to see how Fei's story unfolds. Maybe stepping outside my normal comfort zone, will open me up to a whole new world.

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

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Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Scary Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
There is a new topic each week, and bloggers around the world share their top ten picks.

This Week's Topic is My Top Ten Halloween Scary Reads

My Choices

(*covers will take you to goodreads)

I even included two scary books I use to love to read when I was younger to put me in the Halloween Mood

What are your picks this week?

Leave me a link in the comments so I can come check out your list

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Book Review: Age of Blood

About the Book

Title: Age of Blood

Author: Shauna Granger

Series: Ash and Ruin #3

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

Hope is a dangerous thing, but powerful. Hope keeps you going. Hope can keep you alive.
But hope can shatter your world.
Kat and Dylan have found a home, but the monsters are still out there. The pox and plague still ravage the world. They have hope of finding a vaccine, but their encampment isn't equipped to develop it.
Dylan is still too weak from the pox to leave the encampment, so Kat must decide between staying by his side and protecting her last remaining family member as he leaves to find supplies. Separated for the first time since they came together, Kat and Dylan will have to fight their own battles to save what is left of their bloody world.
Kat will have to hold on to hope that she has anything left to save and someone to come home to. If she can survive.

 About the Author

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she
realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.

   

My Review of Age of Blood

I cannot believe the world of Ash and Ruin is over. I loved the take on post-apocalyptic Shauna Granger, takes in this series. The Pesta spreading disease and death were ever they go. Even within the safety of the compound, Kat and Dylan may not be safe. Kat risks everything to go get supplies and tools that may give the remaining humans a fighting chance against the Pox and Pestas. Everything I loved about this series continued in Age of Blood, and there were defiantly some satisfying conclusions to Kat’s story throughout the novel. 

The Pestas were one of my favorite parts of this entire series, because they are terrifying. I do have to say they take a decreased presence in this novel, but they are still chilling in presence and in the connection they have of the almost decimation of the human species. To make matters worse, Kat and Dylan are separated for much of the story, and it is told from Kat’s point of view. This leaves readers wondering the fate of Dylan until the very end of the book, which adds to its intensity. 

Watching Kat grow and change over this series was a highlight of the story, but in this installment, Kat was on top of her game. She would do anything to protect those that she loves, and that really shines through in Age of Blood. This book in not without it tragedy and loss, but the post-apocalyptic world would not feel realistic without dangers and death. Shauna Granger handles all elements with a finesse and power that had me continually turning page without putting the book down. 

While I am sad to see this trilogy end, I have to say that it is handled perfectly by Shauna Granger. From the beginning to the end, Age of Blood and the Ash and Ruin series is addicting as ever. This series and this novel are a must read for any post-apocalyptic fan or anyone who loves a strong female lead. I know this series will remain a favorite for years to come. 

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

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Book Review: Unmade

About the Book

Title: Unmade

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy #3

Publication Date: September 22, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

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Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?
Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.
Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.
This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

My Review of Unmade

The last book in the Lynburn Legacy series did not disappoint. The stakes have never been higher, and Kami refuses to let Rob Lynburn and his sorcerers take over their town. Kami and her friends have to face insurmountable odds if they want any chance to free their hometown. Even with the dire circumstances, Sarah Rees Brennan manages a good bit of humor, which was always my favorite part of the entire Lynburn Legacy Series.

Kami has remained steadfast in her beliefs and her will to fight even against her own mother. Just the type of character I love to read about, and root for throughout the story. The anticipation I had reading this was intense, I was not sure I could stay goodbye to all these characters. I will say that Sarah Rees Brennan really managed to finish this series and give it a feeling of completion.  

The range of emotion I felt while reading Unmade was vast. There were times I was cheering or laughing aloud, and times I was crying. I have to give props to any book that makes me that emotional. Also Unmade can make you look unhinged if reading in public, I know I got a few looks while reading in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.

The Lynburn Legacy is the first book I have read by Sarah Rees Brennan but I plan to read many more books by her. If you have not read the first book in the Lynburn Legacy, Unspoken, go ahead and jump on the bandwagon now. Trust me it will be worth it.

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

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