Stir Me Up Book Blitz: Excerpt and Giveaway

Title: Stir Me Up

Author: Sabrina Elkins

Publication Date: 10/01/13

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Cami Broussard has her future all figured out. She'll finish her senior year of high school, then go to work full-time as an apprentice chef in her father's French restaurant, alongside her boyfriend, Luke. But then twenty-year-old ex-Marine Julian Wyatt comes to live with Cami's family while recovering from serious injuries. And suddenly Cami finds herself questioning everything she thought she wanted.
Julian's all attitude, challenges and intense green-brown eyes. But beneath that abrasive exterior is a man who just might be as lost as Cami's starting to feel. And Cami can't stop thinking about him. Talking to him. Wanting to kiss him. He's got her seriously stirred up. Her senior year has just gotten a lot more complicated….

Available from:

  

About the Author

Sabrina Elkins, author of Stir Me Up, has also worked as a journalist, movie copywriter and prep cook. She graduated from USC and currently lives with her husband and three children in the greater Los Angeles area.

Sabrina loves hearing from her readers, and encourages you to visit her at

www.sabrinaelkins.com, on Twitter @sabrina_elkins, Facebook at elkins.sabrina, and Goodreads.

***Author Links***

   

Excerpt from Stir Me Up

“Let’s put the the mud back out in the yard where it belongs.”

“Not this stuff. It’s too expensive.”

“Expensive?” He takes the jar of Fango beauty mud from me, opens it, sniffs it—and I push it onto his nose. “Ach.”

“Oops,” I say with a grin.

“All right, that’s it.” He takes some mud and tries to smear it on me, but I intercept his hand and make a grab for the jar.

“Let go,” I cry, laughing and struggling for it.

“Not a chance.”

I get some anyway. “Hah!”

“No, don’t come near me with that,” he says, and I paste him. “Ach!”

“Ooh, the big fierce warror’s upset.” He comes in for the kill. “Wait!”

“No.”

“Yes!”

“No. No mercy.” He tries to smear me—and I wind up smearing him instead.

“Hah!” I cry. “No mercy for you! Nice nose.”

His muddy hand touches my stomach.

“Hey, faces only.”

“That’s not in the rule book.”

My eyes close as his hands smear mud across my stomach.

“There,” he says. “Now your innie’s a little mud pit.” His hand trails across my middle. I squirm slightly, and his eyes meet mine. They’re darker now, heavier. “Where next?” 

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Waterfell Blog Tour: Book Review

Welcome to my stop on the Waterfell Blog Tour organized by JKSCommunications! Today I have a Review of Waterfell, and make sure to check out the full schedule by clicking the banner above. 

About the Book

Title: Waterfell

Author: Amalie Howard

Series: The Aquarathi #1

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Length: 360 Pages
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN
Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.
Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

About the Author

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive. In between writing novels and indulging her love of reading, Amalie is also a books review editor for TheLoopNY, and blogs at amaliehoward.com. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency. 

Her debut novel, BLOODSPELL, was selected as a Seventeen Magazine Summer Club Read. She is also the author of The AQUARATHI series from Harlequin TEEN (WATERFELL Nov 2013 and OCEANBORN Aug 2014), THE ALMOST GIRL from Strange Chemistry Jan 2014, and ALPHA GODDESS from Skyhorse/Sky Pony Press Mar 2014.

For tour and upcoming events, check out amaliehoward.com for more information.

    

 My Review

More than just the story of a girl and her desires to escape into a human life, Waterfell is also a tale of the power of love, duty, and emotions. The world the Amalie Howard creates has so much originality in it that it makes for a beautiful story. When I picked up Waterfell, I had this idea of what the book would be like and where it would go, and to my wonderful surprise, Waterfell went in a completely different direction. This world building is what really makes the book so appealing, and kept me reading the whole time. 

Nerissa is just a girl who feels like she lost it all, and she just wants to ignore her duty to stay and live her human life.  The problem is that she is the Aquarathi heir and when she comes of age, it is her birthright to take over the throne of her underwater kingdom, Waterfell. As Nerissa learns to fight for what she wants, she grows into the leader and queen that her kingdom needs. This story is not just about Rissa accepting her responsibilities; it is also a story about love and the power of such emotion. As Rissa starts to decide she wants to fight for her crown, she also starts to fall for a boy who has a drawn to keep her on land. 

I wen t into reading Waterfell suspecting this was another mermaid book, but that is so not the case. The discovery of what the Aquarathi are and their history is what made me like this book so much. It is not only unique, but it is very interesting to discover and learn about through Nerissa’s story. I am not going to tell you what it is that surprised me, because I do not want to ruin it for others. I like discovering a book is something different than I thought and opens me up to a completely new story without any assumptions. 

I would say that fans of young adult paranormal romance, or science fiction would enjoy Waterfell. It is an entertaining story. I would gladly read the next book in the Aquarathi series, just to see where Nerissa’s story is going to take her next, and what is happening in her world now. There are a few unanswered questions I would like to discover the answers too. 

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

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Waiting on Wednesday: Pawn

 

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: Pawn

Author: Aimee Carter

Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion #1

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: November 26, 2013

Length: 304 Pages

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Previously titled Masked.

Why am I Waiting?

The premise sounds very interesting, and I want to see what Kitty decides. How horrible to have to become someone else, but I think Pawn will be a surprising and exciting read. 

What are you waiting on?

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Cover Reveal: The Secret Diamond Sisters

Introducing the first book in the new The Secret Diamond Sisters series by Michelle Madow...

Coming February 25, 2014 from Harlequin Teen

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books a Million | Book Depository

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.
The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Join Michelle Madow Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL to celebrate the release of her first traditionally published novel, The Secret Diamond Sisters! Get all the details at the Release Party Facebook event page. 

About the Author

Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in the Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's upcoming YA trilogy, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner will be published by Harlequin TEEN in Spring 2014.

Follow Michelle Madow

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter

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Book Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Title: With All My Soul
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #7
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: March 26, 2013
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...
After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.
But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

 MY REVIEW

With All My Soul is the final book in the extraordinary Soul Screamers series. Every book in the series has raised the stakes, which is a lot if you realize that the stakes were never that low even at the beginning. With All My Soul takes the stakes even higher than I thought possible. I know I have said it before, but for this one it is completely true, With All My Soul is the best one in the series. It is a perfect emotional and complete end to the series.

The group is still recovering from the events of Before I Wake, and trying to figure out a way to take down the immortal hellions for good. Kaylee is fierce in With All My Soul, and I cannot help but want her to succeed. She has had such a hard time in the previous books, and this one is no different.  With everyone in even more danger than before, they must stand together or face being picked off one by one.

In true Rachel Vincent style, the story is going to rip at your heartstrings until you are a bleeding mess on the inside (sorry for the brutal analogy I am thinking I am channeling a hellion), but it is worth is for such a powerful ending to the Soul Screamer series. Not everyone is going to be the same after With All My Soul, especially the readers. It will make you cringe, cry, bite your nails, and laugh out loud.


While I just got into the Soul Screamer books Fall of 2011, I quickly devoured them, and I am truly sad to see my favorite Bean Sidhe series come to an end. Rachel Vincent does not leave fans hanging, and gives a very complete ending to the series that I think fans of the series will appreciate.

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this book**

Have you read the Soul Screamer series?

How sad were you to see it end?

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Book Review: Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Title: Before I Wake
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #6
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
Length: 339 Pages
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

I died on a Thursday—killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it.
The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school…
Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend.
But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life….

MY REVIEW

**This Review may contain SPOILERS for previous installments, especially IF I DIE**

Rachel Vincent does it again with the newest installment to the Soul Screamers series. Before I Wake is the work of emotional warfare, specifically my emotions. I have loved the Soul Screamers series from the very beginning and I have to say that Before I Wake made me love it even more if that is possible. After events in If I Die, I knew that the story would be taking a change, but I was surprised at the amount of change that takes place. I think that is most evident in Kaylee herself. Death has made her strong but less connected to the living world around her which creates some issues. 

**IF I DIE SPOILERS AHEAD**