Category Archives: Young Adult

Happy Release + Review: Darken The Stars by Amy A. Bartol – The Kricket Series – Book 3

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Darken The Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 3

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

Buy: Amazon / B & N 

4.5 Star

Robin’s Review

***Many thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of Darken the Stars by Amy A. Bartol. This is my honest review. This review may contain spoilers***

The final installment of The Kricket Series by Amy A. Bartol is now upon us. Darken the Stars has been highly anticipated since readers were left hanging from a veritable cliff in the climatic ending to Sea of Stars. After finishing the final novel of this trilogy, I realize writing a spoiler-free review for Darken the Stars isn’t going to be easy to accomplish, so I am giving readers a spoiler warning. Before I begin, it’s important to mention The Kricket Series should be read in order. Darken the Stars is not meant to be read as a standalone novel.

Readers who have followed this science fiction/fantasy series will remember that our heroine, Kricket Hollowell, is a priestess who has the power to see the future. She’s also a soothsayer who can discern if someone is speaking the truth. Kricket is believed to be the priestess of the prophecy – the priestess born of two worlds and two Houses (Rafe and Alameeda) who will become the Empress of Ethar.

Darken the Stars continues where Sea of Stars ended. Just like the first two novels of The Kricket Series, Darken the Stars is full of non-stop action. The five Houses of Ethar are on the precipice of war. Kricket discovers she is a pawn, caught between two ruthless leaders who are vying for supreme rule over Ethar. She is also being held by Kyon Ensin, a member of the Alameeda Brotherhood who plans to make her his consort, on his tropical island estate. Kricket continues to have visions of the future, where she learns the machinations planned for her and the future of Ethar. With each new vision that occurs, Kricket counters to change future events. It’s a game of chess between warring factions, and Kricket is the pawn, being used by others for their own gain.

Bartol has an extremely creative imagination. But what I find equally important is her ability to express her imagination on paper. She’s an excellent author. When I look back at the content of this trilogy, it’s truly impressive. Amy Bartol created a whole new world with its own vocabulary. She even includes a glossary in the back of her novels to assist readers!

Halfway through the story, I knew Darken the Stars was going to be my favorite novel in this trilogy. Bartol slowly reveals the true nature of each player in The Kricket Series. Kricket learns who has her best interests at heart. People Kricket thought she could trust are not so trustworthy. For me, just learning these characters are not all black and white – sometimes they are gray – gives The Kricket Series more depth.

All Kricket has ever wanted is to be able to make her own choices, to live a life of her own choosing. I’m going to be honest. For me, the conclusion of The Kricket Series is bittersweet. I have a feeling Darken the Stars is going to be very controversial. Everything about this book screams 5 stars! If I knew Amy Bartol planned to write more story about these characters, I would definitely give Darken the Stars a 5-star rating. But I was left wanting more, and the series is finished. So much is left unresolved that it leaves me with no choice but to give Darken the Stars a rating of 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed reading The Kricket Series. There’s no doubt in my mind that Darken the Stars is my favorite book of The Kricket Series, and I’m adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!

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The Kricket Series

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Under Different Stars

The Kricket Series- Book 1

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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Sea of Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 2

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.

A target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as immovable as the stars.

The highly anticipated sequel to Under Different Stars, winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

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amy bartolAuthor of Inescapable: The Premonition Series (Volume 1), Intuition: The Premonition Series (Volume 2), Indebted: The Premonition Series (Volume 3) , and Incendiary: The Premonition Series (Volume 4). Currently working on a fifth novel in the Premonition Series entitled Iniquity.

Under Different Stars (Kricket Series Book 1)
Sea of Stars (The Kricket Series Book 2) – (Release date 3/31/15)

The Divided – A Science Fiction Romance short story, which is included in the Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology.

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.weebly.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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2015 Favorite + 6 Star Review: Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Ryals

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Hawthorne & Heathcliff

By R.K. Ryals

Genre: Mature YA / New Adult / Coming of Age

Synopsis

Two names that didn’t belong to us. Two shoes that did.

Intense and introspective, seventeen-year-old Hawthorne Macy knows all about being abandoned. She’s felt the stark pain of being left behind by the people who are supposed to love her the most; her parents. Raised by her caring uncle on an old plantation, Hawthorne lives her life on the fringes of her small Southern town.

Until she meets his shoe.

Senior year, last period English class, and a pair of silent tennis shoes resting next to hers in the back of the room throws Hawthorne into a world she’d learned to stay outside of.

His name is Max Vincent, but in her mind, he’s Heathcliff. The handsome eighteen-year-old boy behind the shoes will pull Hawthorne into a passionate and unforgettable adventure of self-discovery during a time when love seems impossible.

Shoes can tell a lot about a person. The journey they take you on can tell a lot about how they’ll hold up.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Michel’s Review

Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Royals was recommended to me when it first released. I read the synopsis and thought this book sounded good.  I purposely stayed away from Goodreads and Amazon reviews because I did not want to open this book with expectations or pre-formed opinions.  I wanted to experience this book for myself.

I opened this book with an open mind and clear head.  The very first page drew me in and I could not put the book down until the very last word was read.  I read the book almost two weeks ago and could not think of how to write a review for this book.  There are no words that can describe the beauty of this book.  On the surface it is a coming of age romance that is beautiful within itself.  But between the lines is where this book shines and makes an impact that will not be forgotten long after the last page has been read. It touches the very core of the human spirit. It shows how resilient the human spirit can be once we open our hearts & minds and allow life to happen. Life is messy.  Life is chaotic. Life is unpredictable.  It can also be beautiful and exalting.  It’s how we process it all and allow it into our souls.  We need to open our hearts and let life in with all it’s messy glory.  To accept it and make it our own.  Allow it to shape us to become a stronger and better person.  To become the person we were meant to be rather than being the person we thought we should be.

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This book was an emotional journey.  I laughed, cried, ached,and rejoiced.  My heart was engaged with every single word.

The writing in this book was brilliant.  R.K. Ryals based part of the book on the poem Mirror by Sylvia Plath. It made the leading characters reflect about how they saw themselves and their lives.  But that is only the beginning, she used shoes as a prop on how they saw other people and how those people fit into their lives.  She also used classic literature by Jane Austin to showcase the leading characters.  She added all of these elements to bring Max and Claire to life without letting them overshadow their own unique personalities.  The subtle messages and examples the secondary characters delivered in this book is astounding.  Their characters became just as important as the leading characters in a very different way.  All of these elements make the characters and their romance shine.  It is one of the most beautiful romances that I have read because it was honest and realistic.

Hawthorne & Heathcliff is a book for all ages.  Whether you are a teenager experiencing first love or a senior citizen experiencing your last days, this book will touch your soul.  It’s a celebration of the human spirit in all it’s glory.

Read Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Royals.

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Author Bio:

r.k. ryalsR.K. Ryals is the author of emotional and gripping young adult and new adult paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and fantasy. With a strong passion for charity and literacy, she works as a full time writer encouraging people to “share the love of reading one book at a time.” An avid animal lover and self-proclaimed coffee-holic, R.K. Ryals was born in Jackson, Mississippi and makes her home in the Southern U.S. with her husband, her three daughters, a rescue dog named Oscar the Grouch, A Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, an OCD cat, and a coffee pot she honestly couldn’t live without. Should she ever become the owner of a fire-breathing dragon (tame of course), her life would be complete.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Cover Reveal: The Affiliate by K.A. Line- Ascension Series – Book 1 – YA Fantasy

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Today we’re revealing the cover of Kyla Linde’s The Affiliate! I am so excited about this fantastic YA fantasy!!

 

Title: The Affiliate (Ascension, 1)

Author: K. A. Linde

Release Day: September 15th

Genre: YA Fantasy
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About The Affiliate:

On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm’s lifelong plans come to fruition when she’s chosen as an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene’s position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have…

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom. Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new Ascension series.

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Exclusive Excerpt:

“Do you enjoy the view?” King Edric asked.

“The rains have made the gardens bloom, and it warms my heart to see it so.”

“It is good to know that the gardener approves of the work.”

Cyrene laughed lightly. “I have not gardened in a month’s time. I fear I can no longer call myself a gardener.”

She remembered when she had told the king of her interest in gardening at the last feast day almost a week ago. After that dance, Queen Kaliana added a list of plants to her assignment, forcing her to reread every page she had already dredged through for information. It had wasted two entire days.

“Perhaps I could change that,” he offered.

He directed her down the staircase and into the courtyard below lit solely by the setting sun in the distance.

Her stomach churned at the thought of him offering assistance to any of her needs. It was like what she had read in her children’s books of the tales of Leifs, and how one request would be necessitated by a much larger sacrifice. Her biggest sacrifice at the present moment was time. She wanted nothing more than to finish her work on agriculture and prove that she could get moved somewhere that involved traveling…and adventure.

“On the contrary, My King, I am fully enthralled in my Affiliate duties, and believe that gardening would only distract me from my work.”

“You cannot spare one afternoon to spend in my gardens?” His blue-gray eyes searched her face. “If you have half the green thumb you suggest, then it would be delightful to have you on the grounds.”

She swallowed. “I really have much work to accomplish before we go on Processional.”

“I could speak to the Queen and request it be lessened,” he whispered into the evening air.

“No!” It was the first time he had ever admitted to discussing her with the Queen. Hearing him admit it aloud made her voice come out strangled.

Cyrene missed her footing on the pebble path and stumbled forward a pace. Edric steadied her. He turned his body to face her in the middle of the garden, and her breath caught at the sight of him in the setting sun.

“You do not wish me to speak to the Queen?”

“I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”

“I cannot forgive that which I do not understand. Did the Queen somehow offend you?”

Cyrene shook her head. “I fear that the Queen does not…like me.”

Edric laughed softly, taking one of her hands in his own. “Oh Cyrene, I believe that the Queen likes no one but herself.”

Cyrene found that she, too, could laugh at his comment.

“Now, tell me what the Queen has done to make you believe that she dislikes you.”

“It’s nothing, my King.” She turned her face away from his. She couldn’t possibly tell him the real reason.

“Enough to infuriate you, which is enough for me.”

When she looked back up into his blue-gray eyes she felt that same magnetic pull between them. Somehow she had not realized how close they were standing. His hand felt warm against her bare skin. His body only a few inches away from her. His breath hot on her face. Her heart contracted in her chest, and she forced herself to respond.

“She speaks of…of your interference, as if…as if you…”

Time stretched between them, and she thought for a split second he might move even closer to her. She was rooted in place, captivated by his gaze.

“Yes?” His other hand drifted to her waist, and she was suddenly on fire.

Their breath mingled together as she murmured, “As if you favor me.”

“And do you think that?”

“I…”

“Yes?” he asked, stepping closer.

“I think you have your queen,” she breathed.

 

About K. A. Linde:

kalinde copyUSA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde is the author of The Affiliate, the first book in the Ascension Series. As a military brat, she traveled the world with her family, imaginary friends, and ever-increasing supply of books. She has spent much of her life dreaming up new worlds and characters and forcing them into uncomfortable, usually life-threatening scenarios. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a masters degree in political science, she began spending every waking hour putting those characters onto paper.

When not writing, she spends her time dancing, collecting paperbacks in the hopes of filling a Beauty and the Beast style library one day, traveling to visit her friends who live all over the country, and still reading anything she can get her hands on. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two puppies, Lucy and Riker, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

 

Enter KA’s fantastic giveaway!!

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ARC Review: Scarred by Elizabeth Montgomery

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Scarred 

Teen / Mature YA

By Elizabeth Montgomery

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Synopsis

For those of us who come into the world different, we see it for what it really is.
Harsh.
Avery Chamberlin is special, unique. Beautiful words to gloss over the fact that she is different. She has never felt like she fit in. Why should she?
She was reminded on a daily basis that she was not like her peers.
Flawed. Damaged. A freak.
Avery will have to come out of her shell to prove that even the bullies have their own insecurities.
LIFE ISN’T ABOUT LABELS.

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Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
The cover seems to depict the standard-fact teen drama and the synopsis supports this theory, but with a bit more depth.
Looking Deeper:
The Teen/YA category is not one I normally choose to read, but due to recent events in my own home regarding our fifteen year old daughter, I’d thought this might be an enlightening tale to read. It *is* one I’d love for her to read later on, for sure. Avery is born with a minor physical imperfection, but we all know how cruel and mean kids can be. Her best friend is Dylan, who is gay and often subject to his own ridicule and torture. Together, they forge a tight bond over the years that is unshakable and unbreakable.
Blake and Devon are step or half brothers, living apart. They also happen to be the interests of Avery and Dylan. Blake’s made many sacrifices to try to keep Harper – the queen of mean – away from Avery, unbeknownst to Avery. Suffice it to say, Avery is such a strong and well-adjusted young lady. Her and Dylan both would make wonderful role models, advocates, or spokespersons for anti-bullying campaigns at their school and in their community. The relationship between Avery and Blake was interesting and pretty sweet. The secondary characters filled a wide-range of types and purposes, creating a fuller feeling plot in this short story. Dialogue and interaction was very age-appropriate, and even a little typical of what can be seen and heard at the high school today. I’m not certain how long this story was, but I’m pretty sure it’s under 100 pages, maybe closer to 65-70 pages. That said, it did feel like a complete story that flowed smoothly from a beginning highlighting key points of Avery’s childhood to the nicely-wrapped, solid conclusion. There was only the most minor of predictability, but there were also a couple of small surprises.
Overall, it was a quick, sweet read with a lesson to be learned in kindness and compassion.

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Author Bio:

emAuthor Elizabeth Montgomery was born in Williamsburg, Virginia and raised a hop, skip, and a jump away in Yorktown, Virginia. Paranormal inspiration was easily obtained during her childhood in these colorful towns. This helped to spur her love of Paranormal romance stories, but she also enjoys reading YA and NA.
She is currently raising four children and a husband while elbow-deep in the depths of the writing cave. You can often find her searching on Google for an appropriate, or sometimes inappropriate, photo to insert in any random conversation. If not on Google, or Facebook chat, she can be found drinking coffee (like any normal writer), eating Gummy Bears, baking fanciful cakes, reading (of course), or writing (duh).
“I always wondered what authors meant when they said that their characters tell them what to write – I get it now!”

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Giveaway: The Ruins by T. H. Hernandez

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The Ruins (The Union Series _2) by T.H. Hernandez
The Ruins Synopsis:

Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.

Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.

When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched. Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.

THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.

Buy Links:

Goodreads | Amazon
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Exclusive Excerpt:

The scents of honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass float on a late summer night breeze. I stare up at clouds from the chaise lounge on the balcony. A thick marine layer inched its way in from the coast hours ago, blanketing the sky and obscuring the stars I was hoping to see. With the moon hidden and the Union lights off for the night, darkness envelopes me.

Grief, guilt, heartbreak, fear, loss, and abandonment swirl in my head, creating a vortex of pain and confusion keeping me awake. Three days ago I was planning a future with the boy I love. Cyrus was going to come back with me. We were going to figure out a way to warn the Union or stop an attack on it. Together. Now his brother is dead, and Cyrus stayed behind, unable to ignore his sense of duty, unwilling to abandon those who needed him most.

Over the soft murmuring of desalinated ocean water burbling through the aqueduct on its way to homes throughout the Province, I hear the door slide open behind me. I sit up as my bio-dad, Eddie, walks out and sits next to me. “Can’t sleep?”

I shift to my right, giving him more room. “No. You?”

He shakes his head, his wavy, cinnamon-colored hair sweeping his shoulders. “My grandmother used to say if you can’t sleep, it means you’re awake in someone else’s dreams.”

That’s a comforting sentiment. Is Cyrus dreaming about me now? Or is he like me, too afraid of the nightmares to close his eyes?

Eddie presses his lips together and studies me for several long seconds. “Are you ready to tell me where you really were all summer?”

His question catches me off guard. I thought he bought my story, the one I told him when I came back. The one Lisa fed him while I was in the Ruins. Posing as me, she texted my mom and Eddie from my tablet with regular updates on our fake adventures sailing off the southeastern coast. When I first showed up here yesterday afternoon, he didn’t seem to care where I’d been or what I’d been up to, only that I was here at all. I’m definitely not ready to have this conversation with him.

“I don’t know, are you ready to tell me where you were for the first twelve years of my life?”

He shifts his weight on the chaise next to me and sighs. “I’m not sure how many times I can apologize.”

“You think another ‘I’m sorry’ is going to fix everything?”

“Look, I know I was a lousy father to you, but—”

“You weren’t a lousy father, you weren’t any kind of father at all. You were non-existent.”

He rubs his palms on his thighs and stands. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like, but you might want to ratchet the anger down a few notches.” He moves toward the door before turning back. “You’re going to have to forgive me some day.”

I raise my head and turn toward his dark silhouette. “Why? You think sending me a ticket and letting me hang out with your new kids makes up for everything?”

“No,” he says quietly, “because hanging on to all that resentment isn’t healthy.” He walks back into the house, sliding the door closed behind him.

With a heavy sigh, I fall on my back and stare back up into the blackness. Seriously? After being nothing to me for three-quarters of my life, where does he get off being all parental right now?

 

T.H. Hernandez Bio:

Author T.H. HernandezWhen not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they’re still figuring out life. When I’m not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I’m obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

Links:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Enter T.H. Hernandez’s fantastic giveaway!
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Happy Release: Under The Spotlight by Angie Stanton- The Jamieson Brothers Series- Book 3

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We’re having a release day launch for Angie Stanton’s Under the Spotlight! I am so excited about this young adult romance!! Angie is sharing an excerpt and fantastic giveaway with us, so be sure to check out all the festivities!

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Exclusive Excerpt:

Garrett’s head pounded, and not from the hangover that would greet him with the sunrise, but from being slammed against the wall. Or maybe it was from the few punches that came later when he crashed to the floor of Ye Ole Boston Brew Pub and knocked his head on the beer-stained tile.

He rubbed his unshaven face, and dried blood flaked into his hand. Great. He needed a shower and an aspirin, but the Boston city jail offered neither. Where the hell was Peter? It had been over an hour.

The sharp edge of the narrow bench he lay on cut into his back, making his already battered body even more sore. He only hoped the other guy felt worse. The jerk had the audacity to call him washed up. For Christ’s sake, he was only twenty-two. He’d accomplished more in the last five years than that asshole would in a lifetime.

Reaching for his phone, he remembered the cops had taken it, along with his wallet and keys. Damn it.

“Garrett Jamieson,” a bored cop with thinning hair announced, unlocking the cell. “You’re free to go.”

“About damn time,” Garrett huffed, rising slowly. He tugged his shirt into place, smoothed back his hair, and followed the officer down a long corridor past several cells with other perps. He couldn’t wait to get away from this hellhole. The officer opened a solid metal security door, and Garrett walked through, relieved to be free.

In the far corner of the waiting room, studying the Most Wanted posters, his brother waited, wearing faded jeans and a gray T-shirt.

“Hey Peter,” he called. “See anyone you know?”

Peter turned with a smirk on his face and his hair still ruffled from bed. “Just checking to make sure your ugly mug isn’t up here.”

Garrett sneered. “It wasn’t my fault.”

“Never is.” Peter sighed. “You realize this is becoming an annoying habit. You’re lucky your Jag is still in the shop from your crash last week, otherwise you might have added drunk driving to your record.”

“Stop acting like an old woman.”

“You have more to worry about than me. Dad isn’t going to be happy about this.”

“No reason Dad needs to hear about it.”

“You’re kidding yourself if you think you can keep this under wraps. A couple of photographers are outside. You’re busted. Again.”

Garrett stepped to the counter and signed his discharge papers.

“At least I know how to live a little. You’re tied down to a ball and chain.”

His brother grinned with a smile that melted millions of young girls’ hearts. “Well, I happen to have the hottest ball and chain on the planet.”

Under the Spotlight Synopsis:

Under the Spotlight 001After an embarrassing stint on a reality-TV music competition years ago, Riley vowed never to sing again. Now she’s behind the scenes, working at the prestigious Sound Sync recording studio, and life is looking up. But then Garrett Jamieson, the oldest brother in the famous Jamieson brothers band, crashes into her world.

Garrett has hit rock bottom, and he is desperate to reinvent himself. After calling in a few favors, he ends up working at Sound Sync to learn the ropes of record producing from the industry’s best. And he can’t believe his luck when he discovers that Riley has been keeping a secret—she is an amazing singer. By producing her album, he’s sure to top the record charts again. But Garrett is forced to use every trick in his arsenal to persuade the sassy girl to record.

Riley refuses to sing—or even entertain the thought of it—and sparks fly as Garrett finally meets his match. But in the heat of the moment, one stolen kiss changes everything. Will Riley be the first person to finally rein Garrett in, or will Garrett succeed in getting Riley back under the spotlight?

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Under the Spotlight Goodreads

3 Star

Michel’s Review

Under The Spotlight by Angie Stanton is the third book in the very popular YA series The Jamieson Brothers.  Although this is YA/ New Adult I found the book leaning more towards the YA genre.  It is a sweet romance with very little angst, very little romance, very little sexual tension, and no sex at all.  The first kiss does not happen until the reader has reached 70% of the book.  From that point the romance does not progress much until the very end.

I found the characters very charismatic.  The general plot of the book was well executed and very entertaining.  I loved how the author focused on the procedures in the  music industry. It was very enlightening.

Over all Under The Spotlight is a good book.  I would recommend this book and series to mature teenage girls that are between tween and new adult.  It is a clean romance that will capture the younger teen woman’s heart.

Angie Stanton Bio:

Angies-Professional-Head-Shots-003-e1378407382251Angie Stanton never planned on writing books—she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural America with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, she found that dance didn’t quite work out. Instead, she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history. When not writing, she loves watching natural disaster movies, going to Broadway musicals, and dipping French fries in chocolate shakes.

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Cover Reveal: Dissipate by Kristin Mayer

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Today we have the cover reveal for Kristin Mayer Dissipate and I am so excited to share it with you!!! Kristin is sharing an excerpt as well as a really fun giveaway, so make sure you check it all out!! 🙂

 

Title: Dissipate

Author Name: Kristin Mayer

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Release Day: May 21st
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Synopsis:

Kenzie Brooks needs to vanish. All she has ever known is a string of misconceptions, including her name. Upon her mother’s passing, Kenzie is left with no other choice but to disappear without a trace from all she has ever known which is The Society.

She must vanish.

Will Kenzie be able to fool The Society into thinking she’s dead? Or will they put the pieces together and discover she’s learned the truth about where she came from?

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Exclusive Excerpt:

The rain pelted my face, making my tears obsolete on the dreariest day of my life. I watched the wooden coffin being lowered into the ground with long leather straps. My world had changed in a matter of moments.

Part of me wished I could go back to those precious seconds before my mom had revealed the truth about my name. What I thought had been real was actually a lie.

A lie.

The coffin touched down on the soaked earth. Three men, known as Watchers in our private society, were to the right of the burial hole. They pulled the leather straps from underneath the coffin, causing a sound that had me gritting my teeth.

These were the last moments before my mom would be buried for all eternity. Forever is a long time. It has no end and no beginning.

The Watchers, men over eighteen years of age who had taken an oath of commitment to The Light, stepped away from the grave. Most of the time, they were nineteen before they officially took the title due to the extreme training and discipline of the teachings. Essentially, they watched over our way of life, keeping it pure and simple, ensuring all of our laws were followed. The outside world was filled with sin and was doomed. Sometimes, I felt the position was used as a way to keep females uninformed. Questioning thoughts were not appropriate according to the teachings.

The rain continued as the men put their hands behind their backs and looked toward the Keeper, the leader of our community.

We never spoke of the outside world. There were things we needed from it to survive, but we peacefully coexisted. All of my life, I stayed within the walls of our community called The Society. At the back of my mind, I always wondered what life was like beyond the borders.

Stoically, I stood at the head of the burial hole next to the Keeper. An eerie chill ran down my spine being so close to him. Normally, I tried to avoid his presence at all costs.

Lightning struck and I had to fight not to flinch. We patiently waited until the Keeper deemed it time to speak. The Keeper made all the laws and saw to it that visions he received from The Light became realty. I never understood what The Light was, but to question it was blasphemy. Basically, we were to blindly follow. Something never seemed right with that thought process, but that was life.

 

About Kristin Mayer:

1453346_733703703310003_422813181_nKristin Mayer is a wife, a proud mother, and a full-time Analyst and Import Manager. Since an early age, she has always enjoyed reading and writing. While visiting her father one weekend, he suggested that she should take up writing again. With family and a career, she didn’t give it a lot of thought, until a story entered her mind and wouldn’t leave. It just kept forming and developing over a couple of months.

 

At the beginning of 2013, she decided to sit down and write it all down, but she kept it to herself. One sentence developed into two, and before she knew it, she had the makings of a novel.

 

Kristin tries to live life to the fullest during every moment. She loves to travel and meet new people. She holds a degree in International Business and uses it daily in her job. Kristin now adds “author” on her list of jobs, and feels very blessed and thankful.

 

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Cover Reveal: Defend by Kallie Ross – Lost Tribe Series – Book 2

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Defend

Lost Tribe Series- Book 2

Young Adult Fantasy

By Kallie Ross

Release Date: May 21, 2015

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Synopsis

 

After emerging from her Descent into an uncharted underground world, Ollie Miller is sure of three things. First, her feelings for her best friend, Mateo, are far from platonic. She can’t even look at Mateo without blushing at the memory of his lips on hers. Second, an evil man named Zadok is plotting to destroy the civilization above the surface. Third, there is no way to save the earth without returning underground. At least this time, she will have her mother along with Mateo and her friends to help guide her.

On their journey, noor, a mystical blessing guides them, but only if they’re willing to follow. Ollie’s determined to save the tribe from their evil leader, even if it means facing off with her long-lost grandfather. As Zadok comes face to face with his runaway daughter and his granddaughter, his plan starts to unravel, but is it too late to stop the destruction that he put into motion? Can the tribe survive and the surface be saved? Will Ollie learn to trust her own heart before it is too late?

Defend is the conclusion to Ollie’s discovery of a lost tribe in Descent. Don’t miss this adventure, brimming with ancient secrets and a thrilling underworld.

The Lost Tribe Series

Descent – Book 1 

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Descent

Lost Tribe Series- Book 1

Synopsis

Seventeen year old Ollie Miller is ready to leave all of her hurt feelings behind, but moving on seems impossible while living next door to her ex-best friend, Mateo. When curious earthquakes begin to shake and rip open the foundation of her small town, the ground becomes as unsteady as her feelings for him. When they fall, they fall hard…
Ollie’s disastrous attempt to save Mateo’s brother from falling into a curious chasm results in their descent into a cavernous wonderland. Ollie, Mateo, Jesse, and Alexis search for a way back home, and encounter a mysterious tribe of natives. Gabriel, the next in line to lead his people, is granted permission to guide them to the surface. On their treacherous journey, an overzealous elder threatens all of their lives, because he can’t risk them exposing his people, or the power he wields. The group discovers ancient secrets, unexpected truths, and uncharted feelings. Ollie must find a way out or risk being stuck in the caves forever—or worse, dead.

 

KallieRossOver time my love for learning gravitated toward studying conspiracy theories and contradictions in our culture. My conclusions have ignited a passion to write compelling young adult fiction that incorporates legend, conjecture, fantasy, and conviction. I am a wife, mother, friend, writer, and teacher. I began teaching high school English in 2002 and started blogging and podcasting in 2008. I have a brilliant husband, two redheads, and never imagined my life would be this fun!

 

KallieRoss.com

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Maybe by Amber L. Johnson

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Maybe
by 
Amber L. Johnson
 
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Release Date: February 12 , 2015
Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Contemporary / Erotica
ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-371-3
Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH
 
~~SUMMARY~~
 

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Emily Portman loves her job. A writer for Breakout! Magazine, she shadows and showcases up-and-coming bands. When her next assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, she can’t wait to add the city to her map of places she’s visited. Places she’s left without looking back. Her plan is to keep moving on, and the last thing she needs is a man holding her back. She’s not going down that road again.

Tyler Macy is stuck in a rut. Despite his exceptional talent as a musician, he has chosen to take a backseat with his music and let others grab the limelight. Wounded and mistrustful, he doesn’t appreciate his friends’ efforts to bring him back to center stage. Emily comes onto the scene and sees his full potential, but he fights to stay in the shadows, shutting her out before she can add to the scars another woman gave him.

For Tyler to find his music again, he needs to accept the help that Emily and their friends offer. When he discovers that his muse lies underneath Emily’s skin, it is still not enough to keep her from walking away. Neither will admit what they really want until it is too late.

Emily is once again thrown in Tyler’s path when she is assigned to join them on tour. Despite the pain in his past, Tyler sees that she is worth it, even if she’s stolen both his heart and peace of mind. In order for them to be together, they both must discover whether the music and their passion are enough to overcome the obstacles that separate them.

Maybe finding love is worth the risk.

 

 
 
~~EXCERPT~~

Maybe-3D-Book-Stack-1Walking toward him is like trudging through the deepest mud, but I hold my head high, my hands in my pockets and strides long. When I’m less than a foot away, his head turns toward me without lifting his chin, and he looks up from under his brows. The white smoke from his cigarette causes his eyes to nearly close before he pulls it from his lips and exhales upward into the air.

I’m struck by how incredibly handsome he is in black wool and new jeans. I want to know if his skin feels hot under his clothes and if his back feels the same when I scratch fingernails across his spine. My fists clench in my coat pockets at the thought. This is going to be so much harder than I’d been prepared for.

3 Star

Robin’s Review

In July of last year, I received a recommendation from a trusted friend to read Puddle Jumping. I had never heard of author Amber L. Johnson, but I decided to read Colton and Lilly’s story after reading the synopsis. I found their story so refreshing! I loved it so much that I ordered a paperback copy as soon as I finished reading it – something I only do with my very favorite novels. Puddle Jumping also made my list of ten favorite novels of 2014, and I read 125 novels last year! I was very excited to be chosen to review a copy of Maybe, the newest contemporary romance from Johnson.

Emily Portman dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina, but her dream came to an end when she blew out her knee at the age of nineteen. It was a time of great loss for Emily. She had to reconsider her career choice. Emily now travels across the United States, shadowing and writing about up and coming bands for Breakout! Magazine.

Tyler Macy is an incredible musician, a gifted song writer and, until recently, the lead singer for his band. He could sing beautifully in front of a crowd until his muse broke his heart. Now he prefers to hide behind a drum set and struggles to write new songs for the band. He’s lost his inspiration.

Emily’s newest assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, a city well-known for producing talent for the music industry. Her company places her in a temporary apartment where a mysterious drummer in her building keeps her awake at night. That drummer is Tyler Macy, and he’s her next assignment.

Tyler and Emily have both been deeply scarred by past relationships. They are both scared of commitment. Afraid of being hurt again. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but Emily and Tyler are undoubtedly attracted to each other. And with Emily, Tyler discovers music again. He starts writing beautiful songs. Singing. Gaining confidence. Emily has become his new muse.

Amber L. Johnson is a gifted writer. She uses her creative ability to write unusual and interesting stories. Puddle Jumping was no coincidence. I have also read two other novels written by Johnson, Beatless and Eight Days a Week, and I enjoyed them both. But it saddens me to say I was disappointed with Maybe. I found this story to be less polished than other novels I had previously read by this author. Maybe held my attention, but there were many occasions where I felt the writing did not translate what the author was intending to communicate. I had a difficult time identifying which characters were speaking, especially in conversations involving more than two individuals. Sometimes I struggled because the text was not descriptive enough. This made it hard to picture what the author was attempting to convey. I found myself rereading scenes in an attempt to understand what I had already read.

It is my understanding Maybe may have been written earlier in Johnson’s writing career and is now being published several years after it was written. If this is the case, it may explain the difference in writing quality that I have grown accustomed to from Johnson. Generally speaking, writing usually improves with experience. I really do think Maybe is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance. With further editing to clarify the text, I believe Maybe could be a 4-star novel. But as the story is now, the best rating I can give Maybe is 3 stars. This definitely won’t hold me back from more from Amber L. Johnson! I’m already looking forward to her next novel, For Authentication Purposes, which will be released soon!


 
~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~
AuthPhotA true child of music, Amber’s parents surrounded her with the loudest beats they could find, molding her into a girl who found inspiration and meaning in lyrics and chords. Raised on John Hughes movies, Luck Dragons, and pirate ships, she dreamed of love and adventure. When Amber began to create her own world, she envisioned a place where Happy Ever Afters do exist. Since then, she has authored several romance novels, all of which focus on songs and the way they can touch people’s lives. Music may not be able to fix a broken heart, but it can provide one hell of a soundtrack for healing.A full-time wife and mother with a full-time job, Amber finds her muse in everyday life and the people who bring her inspiration. 

 

 
 
Be sure to look for her other book!
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~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

 

Praise for Maybe
“The characters are fun, likable, and well done. It’s such a feel good story with a wonderful romance. Honestly, if you want a good, easy read with a cast of characters that will make you laugh and cry, and a romance that will sweep you off your feet then give this book a read. You won’t regret it. ” – Jennifer
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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway : Where The Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

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Where The Road Takes Me

By Jay McLean

Release Date: February 10, 2015

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Synopsis

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.
Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

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Excerpt

Chloe lifted her gaze and locked it with mine. She shook her head again and groaned, “Fine.” Then she took off her shirt.

My jaw dropped.

My hands had touched her bare skin, the curve of her hips, and her tiny waist, but I’d seen her body only once, when she was in a bikini, and that had been for only a minute. But that was nothing compared to seeing her like this. Up close. So close her sports bra–covered breasts were just under my nose.

“Blake?” she whispered.

I struggled to take my eyes off her chest, but I finally made it to her face. She had her hair tied up in a messy knot on top of her head, like she often did. But a few strands were stuck on her neck and on her face . . . and a little sheen of sweat covered her arms and her stomach, her chest, her breasts . . .

“Blake,” she repeated, and I trailed my eyes back to hers again.

She pouted before she said, “Give me the ball?”

I shook my head and hid the ball behind my back.

She pouted again. “Please?” she whispered. Then a hint of a smile broke through.

“Are you trying to seduce me into giving you my ball?”

3 Star

Michel’s Review

Where The Road Takes Me  is the first book I have read by Jay McLean.  I have heard wonderful things about Jay McLean and have seen her huge fan base on Facebook. I was thrilled to get an ARC copy for review.

I have to be honest with my review.  I cannot say I liked the book but I also cannot say I say I disliked the book.  I had a hard time deciphering whether this book was in the YA Genre and New Adult Genre.  It had more of a YA feel to it.

The overall plot and story idea were good.  I liked the concept of the direction this story was taking.  The problem was the execution of the plot.  The passages did not flow smoothly and tended to be too lengthy in some areas and too short in others.  There was also a problem with the characters connections and dialogues.  I felt that as a reader I had to assume what was going in their heads, assume their attraction, and assume their miscommunications.

That leads me to the characters.  I really liked Blake’s character but had a hard time understanding some of his actions.  He seemed decisive, attentive, compassionate, loyal, and steadfast.  It was clear he had some issues that revolved around his home life and future.  What I struggled with was his indecisiveness where his girlfriend Hannah was concerned.  I couldn’t understand how he could be consumed with Chloe but still keeping Hannah around.  It was clear he could of cared less about her.  His character portrayed him as an honest  honorable person and this action contradicted it.

I had a hard time understanding Chloe.  I could understand why she was chasing the road as her future.  I could understand her need to be under the radar.  I could even understand her fears.  What I had a hard time understanding was her pushing so many people away.  She had a remarkable network of support.  These people loved her and she loved them. There was no reason for her to be so adamant on living the rest of her life on her own.

The last part of the book picked up pace and was much more gripping.  I felt like I could finally get on board with Blake and Chloe’s relationship.  The final chapters had me crying and rejoicing for them.

Overall the story was good.  I think a younger audience that is just starting to delve into more mature reading material is going to love this book.  It has the right amount of heat and the right amount of romance.  It portrays the high school world with perfection. It portrays two young people on the cusp of the rest of their lives.

I am looking forward to reading more from Jay McLean.

Author Bio:

4724550Jay McLean is the author of the More Series, including More Than This, More Than Her, More Than Him and More Than Forever. She also has two standalones coming soon titled Where The Road Takes Me, and Combative.
Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her smile, make her hurt, and make her feel.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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