Dream Slayer by Jill Cooper Book Blitz

Book & Author Details:

BOOK 1

The Dream Slayer 

Jill Cooper 

(The Dream Slayer #1) 

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for...

Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver.

Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams.

When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.

Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15743917-the-dream-slayer

BOOK 2

Demon Royale

Jill Cooper 

(The Dream Slayer #2) 

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Since becoming employed by a supernatural protection agency, Natalie Johnson's life has been more interesting than ever. While most teens are working on their summer tans, Natalie works on slaughtering the undead lurking just outside her town's borders.

The workload takes more than just a toll on her love life, it dampens her spirit and her health, as the town is plagued by a mysterious murderer intent on stealing the residents' souls. Natalie's investigation is hampered by her declining health and the sicker she gets, the more inadequate she feels.

Guilt over her inability to act, weighs heavily on Natalie's shoulders during a time when her strength is needed more than ever. As some of those closest to her begin to lose faith, she must make the hardest stand yet to save the soul of the one person she can always count on:

The Slayer.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18627976-demon-royale

BOOK 3

Dawning Apocalypse

Jill Cooper 

(The Dream Slayer #3) 

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Protection, murder, deception....

No one can know Natalie works for a supernatural protection agency and is charged with protecting Meadow’s Creek from vampires. But as their numbers swell, their presence doesn't go unnoticed throwing her town under the microscope from the local government and the FBI.

Natalie’s job is pushed even further into the shadows where she must dodge the police, concerned citizens and even her own parents.

Meanwhile a deadly plague grips the town and Natalie suspects it’s more than just a hacking cough. While the stress of working overtime erodes her relationships she will race against time, illness, to face a familiar enemy, save an old friend, and stop an undead seize that wants nothing more than to suck Meadow’s Creek dry.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18517023-dawning-apocolypse

PURCHASE:

http://www.amazon.com/Jill-Cooper/e/B007ZRDTU4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1382722618&sr=8-1

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AUTHOR BIO:

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain.

She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.

Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

Website: http://www.jillacooper.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEvasMommy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillybug

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2997619.Jill_Cooper

Excerpt:

Behind the backdrop of the moonlight she saw a human form moving, shadowing the movement of several officers on the west side of the building.

“Bob’s still here.” Natalie used their keyword for vampires since the media had dubbed the ‘serial killer’ Pinhole Bob thanks to the marks left on the victims’ necks. “He’s on the move.”

Her ear cleared of static. “Be careful,” Charles Buckle, her guide and old mentor said with a stern sharpness to his voice. She didn’t have a cover story if she got caught and the last thing she needed right now was having her parents awoken in the middle of the night by the police.

Natalie managed to skirt closer by ducking car to car. She reached down and gathered some small pebbles, but they were big enough to do what she needed them to do.

Reaching her arm back, Natalie propelled them toward the police cruisers and then ducked down low, her back against the tires and her knees bent to hide her frame. The flashlights from the officers changed direction and their footsteps moved to investigate the noise.

Natalie used that time to move around the side of the car and duck behind the other side of the apartment building. Using a drain pipe, she climbed the side of the house like she was Miss Piggy in the Great Muppet Caper, only with more skill and more comfortable shoes, and launched herself onto the roof.

She sailed through the air, her legs extended and the soles of her boots collided with the chest of a fangy vampire, his eyes glowing yellow like the rodent he was.  His back crunched against the roof and Natalie rolled onto her feet, reaching inside her pocket and retrieving her wooden stake.

She gave it a spin for bravado and took an offensive stance. The vampire launched an attack, swinging his mighty claws, but his eyes flashed recognition.

 He stopped. Recoiling away, he hissed a warning.

“Finish it.” Natalie taunted. “I’m just a girl. Come here and take me on.”

All vampires fought to the death, but not this one. He ran like he was afraid, like he was acting on more than just instinct. “Hey!” Natalie called and lunged; grabbing the hem of his jacket and yanking him backwards.

He growled, his nose against hers. There was no fight in him at all. He was the most non-vampire vampire she had ever fought. When Natalie pushed the wooden stake into his chest, it was too anticlimactic. Like the battle had to be fierce to be won, but he just dissolved.

Into a black puddle, like they always did.

And then there were a dozen small lights shining on her.

Crap, Natalie thought and dove to the ground, rolling against the flat roof. Voices ran out from downstairs. “Someone is on the roof!”

She scampered across the rooftop on all fours, keeping her belly low to the ground. When she reached the other side, footsteps charged the fire escape. Her heart galloped so fast in her chest, she could barely breathe. There was no time to think or plan, Natalie just had to react.

She jumped off the roof, landed in a squat on the dumpster below, and dove onto the grass. She fell into a rolling summersault and before she knew which way was up, Natalie was charging from the street. But she wasn’t alone, there were officers charging her and in the distance, a car engine reved to life. Sirens turned to full volume.

If ever Natalie needed an emergency super spy extraction, it was right then. But there was no one that could help her. Only she could get herself out of this. Heck, Natalie had created a dream dimension out of nothing where everyone she knew had an alter personality. She herself was the all-powerful slayer. What would the slayer do?

She couldn’t get caught. She couldn’t be arrested or let the secret out, not without WOMP being seriously pissed of at her. Natalie didn’t know if she was right or wrong, but she needed to hide.

And hide fast.

Book Review: The Rules by Stacey Kade

Goodreads Summary:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”
But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Publication Date: April 16, 2013

I’ve had a lucky run with YA books lately and The Rules continued this streak. I loved the story and what at first started off as a book about petty high school drama became so much more. Ariane was an amazing character and despite her alien DNA, I found her very relatable.

The Rules had a bit of a slow start for me. It’s told from dual POVS: Ariane and her human love interest Zane. I think my lack of initial enthusiasm stemmed from finding Zane uninteresting and weak. But in the end, I’m glad the author chose to use his POV because he grew so much as a character and definitely won me over.

The initial drama centers on a showdown between Ariane and mean girl Rachel. Rachel plays a cruel prank on Ariane’s best friend and instead of usually fading into the background Ariane becomes the target of her high school’s popular crowd. Zane is sent by Rachel to pretend to date Ariane and the plan backfires as he starts to fall for her.

The second half was much stronger than the first. I felt for Ariane, especially during flashbacks in a scientific lab as a young girl. Her humanity is at constant war with her alien side and she’s constantly trying to do the right thing although the people in her life don’t deserve her kindness.

The love story was very sweet and Zane and Ariane complemented each other well. Zane and Ariane’s father Mark Jacobs were the strongest secondary characters. The villains could’ve been fleshed out more, but not a major issue since this is a series story.

The Rules was very good and it had a few twists thrown in to keep readers guessing. The ending is the perfect setup for the next book and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading it.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!

Review: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Goodreads Summary:

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

Publication Date: March 12, 2013

Mila 2.0 read like two different books and with a very slow beginning, I was glad I hung in there and finished. The second half was much stronger and the annoyances from the first half faded away.

Mila was hard to like at first. She was really mean to her mother and for being an android her instincts were terrible. The beginning also had some annoying drama with a mean girl and a case of weird almost insta-love with a new boy in school named Hunter. However, once the reveal is made and the baddies come after Mila, the storyline picked up tremendously.

I loved the non-stop action of the second half of the novel. I really had no idea what was going to happen to Mila if she was caught. She really grew on me as her protective instincts towards her mother kicked in. The author also made her relatable as Mila struggled to deal with learning about her newfound android abilities.

Being inside of Mila’s head made it easy to see why she felt so human despite her robotic roots. I liked how she used her human instincts to help get her and her mom out of precarious situations.

The romance was my least favorite part of the book. The relationship developed super fast and I felt there was little character development for Hunter before he disappeared from the story. Another potential love interest made a second act appearance, but again the lack of character development made me unsure of how I felt about him either.

This was a fun and exciting read and I’m definitely going to read the sequel. I think the second book will be thrilling as Mila continues to run from those who want to exploit her powers.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review! 

Guest Reviews from Jessica: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon and Ripper by Isabel Allende

Goodreads Summary:

West Hall has always been a town of strange disappearances and legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who was found murdered in the field behind her house in 1908, a few short months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie, drove her mad. People say that Sara's ghost still walks after dark, and some leave offerings on their doorstep to keep her from entering their homes uninvited.

Now, in present day, Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they remain on the fringes, living off the land without internet or outside interference. But one morning Ruthie wakes up to find that Alice has disappeared without a trace. When she searches the house for clues, she is startled to find a secret compartment beneath the floorboards that contains two objects. One, a gun. And two, a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary.

The story the diary tells is one of a mother skating on the edge of sanity, willing to do whatever she can to bring her daughter back even if it means dabbling in dark and dangerous territory. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's death, she discovers that she's not the only one looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.

Publication Date: February 11, 2014

Jessica's Review:

3.5 stars. This was the weirdest book. The writing is good and its easy to follow the POV and date switches, but I didn't care for this book. The story was odd and I pretty much guessed what was going to happen long before it did.

Goodreads Summary:

The Jackson women, Indiana and Amanda, have always had each other. Yet, while their bond is strong, mother and daughter are as different as night and day. Indiana, a beautiful holistic healer, is a free-spirited bohemian. Long divorced from Amanda's father, she's reluctant to settle down with either of the men who want her-Alan, the wealthy scion of one of San Francisco's elite families, and Ryan, an enigmatic, scarred former Navy SEAL.

While her mom looks for the good in people, Amanda is fascinated by the dark side of human nature, like her father, the SFPD's Deputy Chief of Homicide. Brilliant and introverted, the MIT-bound high school senior is a natural-born sleuth addicted to crime novels and Ripper, the online mystery game she plays with her beloved grandfather and friends around the world.

When a string of strange murders occurs across the city, Amanda plunges into her own investigation, discovering, before the police do, that the deaths may be connected. But the case becomes all too personal when Indiana suddenly vanishes. Could her mother's disappearance be linked to the serial killer? Now, with her mother's life on the line, the young detective must solve the most complex mystery she's ever faced before it's too late.

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Jessica's Review:

2.5 stars. The writing is decent and the premise is interesting, but I just could not get in to this book. I love good character development, it gives the reader a chance to connect with those in the book, but this was just a bunch of rambling that eventually became boring. I didn't finish the book and that's rare for me.

Thanks to the publishers for copies of these novels for review!

I appreciate my guest reviewer Jessica stopping by today to share her thoughts on these upcoming releases!

Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway: Curve by Nicola Hudson

Book Info:

Title:  Curve

Published Date / Expected Publishing Date:

 25th October 2013

Genre :

 New Adult Contemporary Romance – with a British sensibility

Appropriate for readers over 15 due to sensitive themes (sexual violence), language and sexual content.

Synopsis:

Cass is seventeen and never been kissed, let alone touched.  On one humiliating night, that changes when two boys become interested in her.  Flynn is the older brother of her best friend, yet Cass has never considered him as anything other than that.  Rob is the school sports star and becomes obsessed with Cass when he loses a bet because of her.  

As the relationship between Cass and Flynn develops, Rob's interest becomes increasingly malevolent.  One terrible night changes Cass's life and threatens to destroy her relationship with Flynn, as well as her future.

Goodreads Link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18299202-curve 

Amazon US Buy Link: http://goo.gl/onDGpi

Amazon UK Buy Link: http://goo.gl/TXr7t4

Author Bio & Details: (I don't have an author photograph) 

Facebook Author Profile Link: https://www.facebook.com/nicolahudsonauthor

Goodreads Profile Link:

 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211253.Nicola_Hudson

Twitter Link:

 https://twitter.com/NicHudsonAuthor

Author Bio:

 I’ve always been an avid reader and occasional writer, but only ever for my own eyes!  Then, last year, I read my first New Adult novel - and I was hooked.  After consuming a vast e-pile of NA, the burning need to write my own was overwhelming.  And so I started…

Fitting in writing around a demanding job and a wonderfully supportive husband has been, umm, interesting at times but the whole process has been a fantastic experience.  I have been blown away by the friendliness and support shown by the readers, writers and bloggers who make up the NA and Indie communities; online with them is one of my favourite places to hang out!

I have already started the follow-up novel to Curve, Heart, which follows Neve as she starts at university.

Excerpt:

Things like this don’t happen to me.

As we swayed slightly awkwardly in time with the warblings of a ballad being sung by one of those manufactured boybands, I tried to enjoy the moment for what it was: me, Cass Jones, dancing with Rob Meadows at the Sixth Form Christmas party. 

Rob Meadows, star of the school rugby team. 

Rob Meadows, blonde god of gorgeousness.

Me.

 The evening was coming to an end and, after the rowdy jump-dancing of earlier, the DJ was playing the compulsory slow numbers that signalled the end of the party for some but just the start of the evening for others.  And there I was, still dancing.

The Sixth Form Christmas party was a highlight of the school social calendar, especially as it usually provided significant fodder for the yearbook.  All of Year 13 had started to think about lives beyond school, our small town, even our friends, as part of the university application process.  Consequently, there was a sense of desperation to our attempts to create some happy memories to take with us.  There we were, on the cusp of legal adulthood, yet not really sure of our place in the world.

Neve and I had debated whether or not to even bother going to the party.  As habitual residents of the social periphery, we didn’t really belong to any of the usual cliques found in most high schools.  And we were OK with that, enjoying the sense of irony in watching those cliques shift and re-shape, occasionally even imploding. 

I’m not trying to suggest that the evening was some sort of Ugly Duckling transformation story. I am definitely not Cinderella.

But it was clear that others, as well as me, were surprised to see me there, doing that.  I was dressed in some black lace concoction that Neve had assured me was ‘a little bit sexy, but definitely not slutty’, opaque tights and a pair of ballet flats.  It had been a nightmare trying to find something to wear that looked dressy enough, covered enough and didn’t look like it should be worn by my mum.  Neve had managed to cajole my hair into a side sweep of loose waves and hide the couple of spots that had appeared, as if on cue, that morning. I knew I didn’t look like most of the other girls, especially those with their fake tans, fake hair and fake nails, but I was OK with that.

Usually I was happy with the office-wear rules that made up the dress code for Sixth Form: black trousers, a plain tee shirt and a cardigan had become my own unofficial uniform.  So maybe people were surprised to see me in a dress.  Or maybe it was because Rob was dancing with me. 

That was more likely the cause.

About half an hour earlier, Rob Meadows had come over to our table, drink in hand, sat down and started chatting like we were long-time friends.  He joked about some of the teachers, and recalled some of the funny moments from when we had lessons together in main school.  As the conversation continued, he had moved his chair closer to mine, as though he was struggling to hear what I was saying.  At one point, when he touched my arm to point out the drunken antics of one of the other rugby team players, I finally got the message.

Rob was flirting with me. 

When he asked me to dance, I looked across at Neve, who was bravely trying not to look like a fifth wheel.  I knew she was as surprised as me at what was happening; this had not even been considered in the endless discussions we had had about the evening before tonight.  She shrugged her shoulders and I got up to follow Rob to the area where a few couples were in varying stages of becoming physically acquainted with each other.  My heart was pounding.  I had never danced with anyone other than Neve, and never like this!  I decided that I just had to follow his lead; clearly this wasn’t going to be his first time.

As we moved together in time with the music, I felt the tautness of Rob’s waist beneath my hands.  I had worried about what to do with my hands but he had gently taken them and placed them on his hips before gathering his own around my neck, pulling me close.  His thumb was softly rubbing my nape, the tiny movement sending shivers up and down my spine.  My breath became shallower with each tingle. 

Was this what all the fuss was about?  If so, I finally got it. 

One sway brought us closer together and I was sure that I could feel him pressing into my hip.  I’d never been that close to a boy before, well, not in that way, and I didn’t have the foggiest about what to do.  I was sure that most of the girls would be able to laugh it off with some innuendo-laden joke, some might even have moved in closer.  But I wasn’t one of those girls and the last thing I wanted was to mess up what could be the best night of my life by handling it wrong.  What if he ended up laughing at me? 

Within seconds though his one hand ran down my spine, leaving a line of warmth that went straight to my very core.  Of course I’d been turned on before but never like this; never from the real-life touch of a real-life boy.  The tingling feeling spread through me, taking my disbelief hostage along the way.  Rob’s hand lingered at the curve of my bum and pulled me closer to him.  There was no way I could pretend not to know what it was pressed against me. 

 “Can I cut in?” What?  I was convinced it must be a joke; Neve’s brother Flynn was trying to ruin my perfect moment? I gave him a withering look and held on tight to Rob.  “Can I have this dance?”  Flynn persisted, like he was a character out of a bloody Jane Austen novel.

“Uh, sure mate.  I’ll go get us another drink, Cass.”  Rob gave me a long look, full of meaning I couldn’t decipher, and walked to the end of the room where his friends were rowdily clustered around the bar.  Meanwhile I was stood like a statue in the middle of the dancing couples.  When Flynn tried to take hold of me, in a bizarre repeat of Rob’s earlier move, I squirmed away.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded, unsure whether I was angry, frustrated or both.  Flynn’s shoulder shrug added to my fury.  “Can’t you see that the last thing I want at this precise moment is what has just happened?”  Flynn smirked and put his arms on my shoulders.  “I mean it, Flynn!” I didn’t want to make even more of a spectacle of myself but I couldn’t remember feeling that angry before.
“Just hold me and pretend that you’re having the best time of your life,” he whispered into my ear, so close I felt him inhale.

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Stacking the Shelves #62

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

For Review:

Me Since You by Laura Wiess

The War Inside by M. Kircher

The Seeker by R.B. Chsterton

The Disappearance of Lizzy Ross by Jessica Schein

Running Back by Allison Parr

Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

Copperhead by Tina Connolly

Panic by J.A. Huss Blog Tour Stop and Review

Panic Book Summary:

Rook is chasing her dream—film school and a chance at a life beyond the one she ran from six months ago. But before she can become the girl she wants to be, she must deal with the girl she left behind.

Ronin is also chasing his dream—a family of his own and a life away from erotic modeling. And he too, has a past he’s trying to forget. A past that makes Rook question everything about their life together.

Lies, secrets, and shocking truths will rock the foundation Rook and Ronin have built. Can they put the past behind them and move forward together? Or is this just another too good to be true relationship that will crash and burn in the end?

Tragic and Manic are now on sale for only 99 cents!

(Book Three) PANIC:

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18242606-panic
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXY449G
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/panic-j-a-huss/1117164969?ean=2940148397939
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/panic-rook-and-ronin-3

(Book Two) MANIC:

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857998-manic

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/MANIC-Ronin-J-A-Huss-ebook/dp/B00E4T0P3U/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/manic-j-a-huss/1116187759?ean=9781936413270
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/manic-rook-and-ronin-2

(Book One) TRAGIC:

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17404203-tragic

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/TRAGIC-Rook-Ronin-1-ebook/dp/B00CTUWEFI/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tragic-j-a-huss/1115333691?ean=9781936413218
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/tragic-rook-and-ronin-1

My Review:
What an emotional ride! Panic was an emotionally charged book that has left me with a book hangover. I loved seeing Rook’s growth and was shocked to find out all she endured at the hands of her ex-husband. An epilogue from Ford’s POV will have fans of the series reeling.

Panic picks up shortly after the events of Manic. In Panic, readers get to learn more about Ford, Spencer and Ronin and their “business.” Some of the revelations about the trio were truly shocking and Rook begins to question her decision to trust these men.

Rook was a great character and readers got to see her grow through the three books. Ronin was sweet and it seemed like he had her best interests at heart, but some of his decisions made me wonder if he was really the right guy for Rook. Especially when Ford was waiting in the sidelines. Oh my, Ford is something else! He’s intriguing, manipulative, hot and freaking amazing! Despite the hot sex scenes with Ronin, Rook and Ford’s scenes together were by far my favorite.

My only complaint was it took a while for the action to start up. However, once it did, the book turned into an amazing thrill-ride. There were also a few issues unresolved, but with the announcement of Ford’s book, I’m guessing some of these plot points will be wrapped up in later books.

This really is a must-read NA series. The characters are far from perfect and the author makes them feel so real. Highly recommend to NA and contemporary romance lovers.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

I received a copy of this novel as part of the Panic book tour.

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PANIC Trailer:

Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Goodreads Summary:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

I really love when you find a book that stands out in the crowd. Reboot was a YA dystopian, but it had a lot of unique elements I found interesting. I was particularly intrigued by the idea of the dead rising and coming back stronger and faster, but their humanity altered.

Wren wasn’t likable at first and she’s not meant to be. Reboots are categorized by how many minutes they were dead before reanimating. Wren was dead for 178 minutes and caused her to be hard and have a clinical detachment to the world around her. However, that changes when she’s assigned to train Callum or 22, a Reboot who has kept most of his humanity.

I liked Wren and Callum together—they complemented each other nicely. Wren became less like a robot because of Callum and Callum toughened up. Callum was very weak throughout the book and I really would like to see him come into his own. I was waiting for him to stop getting his butt kicked all the time.

There was a lot of action in this one. It was very violent and had a few scenes that made me squeamish. I really loved the side characters and was devastated over a particular character’s premature end. There were no lulls in the plot and it made me finish the book quickly.

Reboot was a good series starter and although one major conflict was resolved. It left room open for the continuation of the story in the sequels. I’d like for more revelations about HARC and also about Wren’s family.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

Guest Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Annie from Just One Chapter is stopping by today to share her thoughts on Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender. Here's Annie's links if you'd like to stop by and check out more of her reviews =)

Goodreads Summary:

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Annie's Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, romance, engaging, had a bit of mystery, history and teenage drama.

Colette is apparently an a middle class teenager that is taking her first trip to Paris for a class field trip. She has two best friends Hannah and Pilar that fall on the rich scale. It has been months since Colette shared the same status and was only allowed to continue attending her school with her friends because she was accepted for a scholarship. This also makes things difficult for her when they go shopping together because she can’t just spend what she’d like, in most cases she doesn’t have the funds to waste.

When they get to Paris with their class they learn that there has been a murder in which a teen had been beheaded. This murder advances into a string of serial killings in which the killer has been unable to be identified. The string of murders start to lead Colette and a classmate Audrey as well as their tour guide on a mission to find out exactly what is going to be taking place and why things are taking place.

This book was a very nice read. If you’d like to know what takes place inside it’s pages: I’d suggest reading it. A lot happens in such a short amount of time a lot of things that you wouldn’t ordinarily think would take place.

{reason for reading} - I obtained a copy of this book from a fellow blogger in exchange for a review and I was accepted to review it through netgalley.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Writing Blog: http://www.zapkodemarie.net/

My Book Blog: http://www.justonemorechapter.net

My Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reviewsbyzapkodemarie :}

Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Publication Date: March 5, 2013

This was a fun book! I loved Dusty’s feisty personality and her sarcasm; some of her inner thoughts were pretty hilarious. The premise was also intriguing and I can’t wait to continue Dusty’s journey in the next book.

I was drawn to this book mainly because of the cover. I really love it! After reading the book, I really feel like it’s a great depiction of the plot. I’ve seen the cover of the follow-up and it has me just as excited.

Dusty is a Nightmare, a being that I’ve never heard about until reading this book. While feeding on the dreams of a local boy, she finds out that she shares a unique bond with him and his dreams can predict the future.

Dusty was great, she was a fantastic protagonist and I loved her courage and feistiness. She has a bad reputation but she doesn’t wallow in self-pity over it. I really liked Eli, her dream seer partner and potential love interest, but would’ve preferred a little more character development for him.

The murder mystery was entertaining and although I solved a part of the whodunit early on, one of the aspects had me surprised. There was also an inclusion of popular mythical characters in the second half that I didn’t expect.

Eli and Dusty make a good team and I look forward to reading more about their adventures. No cliffhanger in the book although there was a lot of loose ends that will likely be addressed in future novels. I’d recommend this book to YA enthusiasts who enjoy murder mysteries with a paranormal twist.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

Book Spotlight: Breathing Ghosts by Laekan Zea Kemp

She is a winding cosmos, bleeding and bursting into night. She is a dream. She is dead.

River has just lost the one thing that matters most to him—Nia—and all she's left behind is a pile of scribbled love notes detailing their past and a pin-holed map planning out their future. Hopes and dreams confined to one dimension now that she's gone and River’s too afraid to leave his hometown, crippled by the same anxiety that’s plagued his mother for as long as he can remember.

But after a strange encounter with the only girl he ever loved a week after laying her to rest, River, armed with nothing but her map and his memories, decides to finally leave and never look back. And with the help of a pair of eccentrically named siblings as well as a mutt with three legs, he sets out to do the very thing Nia always knew how to do better than he ever could—live.

From the moonlit beaches off of Florida's east coast, to the forests of Mississippi, to Bourbon Street, Cadillac Ranch, and the Arizona desert, River is faced with not only Nia's ghost but his own and he learns that in life there are no accidents, only miracles.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Ghosts-ebook/dp/B00FJ87WZ4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380596464&sr=8-3&keywords=laekan+zea+kemp

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18588758-breathing-ghosts

My blog: http://laekanzeakemp.wordpress.com

Author Bio: Laekan is a writer and explorer extraordinaire who grew up in the flatlands of West Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech with a BA in Creative Writing and is the author of the multi-cultural New Adult novels The Things They Didn't Bury, Orphans of Paradise, and the upcoming Breathing Ghosts.

Excerpt:

“Don’t move.”

A breeze rushed past, my hair tangled over my face. I reached for it and Nia narrowed her eyes.

“I said be still.”

“You want to draw me like this? With my hair in my face?”

“I want to draw you just as you are.”

“Right now?”

“Right now.”

I could see the shadow of her hand bleeding across the page and the harsh lines of my face. Ovals and dark shadows. The square of my jaw. I tried not to watch her draw, anticipating the worst. Not because Nia wasn’t good. She was. But because I wasn’t. Not for preserving on a sheet of thick drawing paper.

She’d bought them the week before, almost twenty bucks for a pack of ten. And she’d been waiting to use them until that weekend when we could drive down to the beach.

She wanted me against the tide. She wanted the sunset. She wanted everything to be perfect. I couldn’t tell her no. I couldn’t tell her that I was uncomfortable, that I didn’t even like posing for pictures let alone portraits. And I couldn’t tell her that I was afraid—of what she’d draw, of how she saw me.

“Tilt your head up.”

I shifted, the sun burning my eyes.

“Keep them open.” Nia crawled in front of me. “I want to get your eyes right.”

She traced the shape, then erased, tried again, erased some more. She left the iris bare before dotting the freckles around the outer ring and then carving out my lashes.

She stared at them for a long time, her own eyes unflinching against the wind. I glanced down at the drawing and there were things floating there I didn’t even recognize: dimples and flashes of light, my lashes tangled near the corner of my eye, a dark shadow pooling down to the bridge of my nose.

I closed my eyes for a minute, rubbing out the sting.

“Almost.”

I shook my head. “I think you’ve got it.”

She touched the edge of my eyebrow with her thumbnail, pinning me, and then she sketched it low over my lashes. She drew them cinched, the skin between them rippled.

“I look pissed.”

“Aren’t you?”

I tried to smile. “No. Just trying not to go blind.”

“Well if you do, at least you’ll have an extra pair.”

I stared at the eyes and they stared back. They didn’t look like mine—dark and narrow, red lines carving into a blue that would rather be grey. They looked alive.

“Do you like it?” she said.

“All of this was there?”

“All of it.”

“It just doesn’t look like me.”

She bit her lip, looking from the sketch to me. “Yes it does.”

I could feel her watching me, still trying to capture all of the things I didn’t want her to see. I turned away and she reached for me. Her hand slid to my face, thumb still tracing the corner of my eyebrow.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“That bothers you?” she laughed.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

She lowered her voice. “Are you afraid I’ll see something I don’t like?”

I didn’t answer her.

“River?”

I knew she was waiting for me to look at her but I didn’t move.

“I love you.”

And then I couldn’t. I was frozen. Her hand slipped from my face and she slid back down into the sand. Love. Me?

“What?” The words stumbled out.

“Here,” she said, not looking at me. “You can keep it.”

The corner of the page slid between my fingers, those eyes I didn’t recognize staring up at me, waiting.

“Nia.”

She looked at me, shadows peeling the sun from her skin.

“I love you too.”    

Stacking the Shelves #61

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

For Review:

Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey

Moirai by Ruth Silver

One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker

Cheating on Myself by Erin Downing

Everything Between Us by Mila Ferrera

Covert Assignment by Missy Marciassa

The Next Big Thing by Sadie Hayes

The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton

Above by Isla Morley