Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox #23

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. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

Why do I pretend that I will limit the number of books I get this week? With weekly trips to the library with my son, it's hard to resist picking up a few titles from my TBR pile.

Library:

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Pure by Julianna Baggott

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

For Review:

Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta

Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Young Adult Novel Reader Blog Tour: Review of Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Title: Stealing Breath

Author: Joanne Brothwell

Pages: 258

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Description:

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent... creature. Sarah survives, destroying the monster by using mysterious abilities she didn't even know she had. Bloody and bruised, Sarah flees the scene and runs directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But what is Evan doing out in the forest at five in the morning? Turning to a healer, Sarah is shocked to learn her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child-an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others. But her indigo aura also makes her an easy target for those who wish to consume her powerful essence. Soon, Sarah is falling deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart and trust that he is the man he says he is. But she can't ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, leading her on a course that will force her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Purchase

About Joanne Brothwell

Joanne Brothwell lives in the country on the Canadian prairie where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis.

My Review:

This book was so good! It exceeded my expectations and I think it may have led to a new book crush. Evan made me swoon in so many of the scenes. The book kept me guessing and it was left open-ended enough that I’m really hoping there’s a sequel in the works.

The premise for Stealing Breath is what really pulled me in. I’ve never read a book where the focus is on Indigo Children and Skinwalkers. I loved learning about these new supernatural creatures and what types of powers they had. I especially liked learning about Evan’s background and his ties to warlocks that were based out of Italy.

Sarah was a very relatable character. She had a very every-day girl feel to her and I found myself liking her early on. At times, some of her actions were a little reckless, but I think she became blinded by her feelings for Evan. It was interesting to see her develop her powers along with the progression of her relationship with this mysterious guy.

Evan was such a great character! I couldn’t for the life of me get a read on whether he was a good or bad guy. Usually I’m good at figuring out the motivations of a character, but I was stumped until his family history was revealed. His scenes with Sarah were so sexy and romantic! Between the author’s description of his good looks and heart-wrenching background, I was melting.

The pacing was good except for a few scenes on the Reservation that I felt were a little rushed. I liked how the author incorporated Native American rituals like smudging into the plot. I was never bored while reading and I flew through the book in a couple of days.

A must read with a great cast of characters! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a paranormal romance with a unique plot.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Freak of Nature Book Blast and $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Freak of Nature



Donate Body to Science. Check.

When seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn checked the box, she never suspected she’d have her life–and her body–stolen from her. She awakens one day in a secret laboratory to discover that her body is now half-robot and is forced to hide her own secret: that she still has human emotions and a human mind. If the scientists who made her find out, they’ll erase what remains of who she was.



Kaitlyn finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a handsome, brilliant scientist who can’t get over the guilt he feels knowing she was once a vibrant, beautiful young woman. He never expected a science project to affect him the way she does. As he tries to help her rediscover her past, he finds himself falling for the brave girl struggling to find her place and acceptance between the human and computer worlds.

Purchase

Amazon

Author Julia Crane

Julia Crane is the author of the YA paranormal fiction novels: Keegan's Chronicles, Mesmerized, Dark Promise and Eternal Youth. Julia was encouraged by her mother to read and use her imagination, and she's believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Julia has traveled far and wide to all the places her grandmother told her about, gaining inspiration from her journeys to places like Nepal, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Italy, France and many more. And who knows? Maybe the magical creatures she writes about are people she met along the way.



Julia Crane has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Links

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Book Blast Giveaway Details

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/27/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Justice (The Ferryman and the Flame #2) by Rhiannon Paille

Today, Rhiannon Paille is revealing the cover to the second book in her The Ferryman and the Flame series as well as the cover of Blood & Gold (The Ferryman and the Flame #2.5). Enjoy!

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Justice by Rhiannon Paille (The Ferryman and the Flame #2) -- January 22nd 2013

How far would you go to destroy yourself?

Krishani always knew he would have to go to the Lands of Men, but he never thought it would be like this. Enemies everywhere, an ancestor he can't respect, elders he can't trust, a curse he can't stop and friends he can't help but hate. Desperate to end the pain, he sets out on a quest to find the other Flames and face the enemy that took everything from him. 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12155164-justice

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Blood & Gold (The Ferryman and the Flame #2.5) by Rhiannon Paille - June 2013

This is JUSTICE from the villain's POV. 

The Daed are pawns to one of the most powerful members of the Valtanyana. Crestaos is insane, his hunger for the Flames insatiable. The closer the Daed get to achieving his goal, the more expendable they become.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16173779-blood-gold

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AUTHOR BIO

Rhiannon Paille

Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She's married to a chef/comic book shop owner and has a fondness for architecture. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.yafantasyauthor.com

Author Links:

Website: http://www.yafantasyauthor.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4653530.Rhiannon_Paille

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhiannonpaille

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Goodreads Summary:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Publication Date: January 1, 2013

This is the first retelling of Alice in Wonderland I have ever read and I’m definitely impressed with this debut author. I loved the twists on all of the Wonderland staples and the mysteries surrounding Alyssa’s heritage. And that cover? It’s probably my favorite book cover of the year.

Readers are likely to be blown away by the world building in Splintered. Although the author takes her inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, she adds her own dark and disturbing spin on things. The imagery in the book was chilling and a far cry from the beloved children’s book. The bandersnatch especially was one of the freakiest and scariest creatures I’ve ever read about.

The characters were a mixed bag for me. Alyssa grew on me. At first, her character came off as kind of clichéd and I found myself rolling my eyes at how “punk” she was. After her transformation in Wonderland, I grew to like her and found she had more depth than I originally thought. Her love interest Jeb was a yawn and I didn’t find myself invested in their relationship. I found Morpheus much more interesting and there scenes together drew me in more than the sweet moments with Jeb.

The pacing was just okay for me. At times, I felt like I couldn’t stop reading while others I grew bored and found myself eager for the scene to end. I especially felt like this in the beginning. The second half, especially after Alyssa’s arrival in Wonderland, was a much more captivating read.

The ending was pretty good, but it seemed like it was kind of open-ended and made me wonder if there’s a possibility for a sequel. There are plenty of stories left to explore in the Wonderland universe.

I would recommend this book to fans of Alice in Wonderland and individuals who love books filled with fantastical creatures and amazing world building.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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

HUGE Announcement and Teaser Tuesday for Second Sight Book Three

As promised, I'll be posting another teaser for Second Sight Book Three. But, first I have VERY exciting news to share. I've accepted an offer through Crescent Moon Press to publish my NaNoWriMo book The Memory Witch! I am beyond excited to be working with them, they have an amazing group of writers and staff. I've had a great experience self-publishing my Second Sight series, but I'm ready to focus more time on writing instead of the editing, cover art and formatting that goes into a book when you do everything on your own. Here's the link to my page on the publisher's site and I'll be posting more information as I go through the process: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/MemoryWitch.html

Here's an unedited version of another scene from the third Second Sight book. In this scene, Declan and Kate are discussing possible suspects over who wants to kill her.

“Maybe it’s someone from one of the cases you’ve worked. You foiled their plans and now they’re out for blood.”

Kate was chilled by the sentiment. “They’re in jail now. But I guess it’s possible for them to hire someone…”

“If not them, maybe it’s someone you know.” Declan paused, as he seemed to mull over potential murder suspects. “Hey, how mad was Jared after you told him you kissed me? Maybe he’s the one who wants to off you.”

She became a little annoyed that Declan could be so flippant about her murder. “With that same sentiment, it could be you that wants me dead. Your thinking may be that if you can’t have me, nobody can.”

He laughed a little too hard for her liking. “Kate, it was a great kiss, but it was barely a blip on my radar. I’m way too good-looking to be pining over some girl.”

“Well, if it isn’t you and I’m one hundred percent certain Jared would never hurt me, who else?”

“You know what we need…a detective. Do we know anyone like that?” he asked sarcastically. “Oh right, you were dating one. It wouldn’t make any sense at all to ask him to help figure out who wants you dead.”

Edge of the Past by Jennifer Comeaux Review + Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Life on the Edge



Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.



Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Edge of the Past



Emily's skating career and personal life have never been more golden. She and her partner Chris have won every competition they've entered this season, and she's found the man of her dreams in her coach Sergei. But when one of the biggest competitions of the year takes Emily and Sergei to Russia, Sergei's past explodes into the present and makes Emily doubt everything in their future.

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Jennifer Comeaux

Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life On the Edge, her first published novel.





When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see a different side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Links: 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

MY REVIEW:


This was a great sequel to Life on the Edge. Although Emily's actions sometimes made me want to reach into the book and shake some sense into her, I found myself really drawn into the drama surrounding Sergei and his past in Russia.

What's great about this book and its predecessor is that you can really see how much the author loves ice-skating. I've learned so much about the sport from her books. I think some of the strongest scenes in the books take place on the ice. In particular, the skate with Emily and Sergei really gave me a glimpse into the love and passion they have for one another.

Many familiar characters appear in the sequel along with a few new faces because of Emily and Sergei's trip to Russia. I liked getting to read about how Sergei grew up and his early skating career. I thought it was sweet how much Emily tries to immerse herself in Russian culture to learn more about his heritage. Sergei is also an appealing male lead and it was refreshing to read about a nice guy instead of a clichéd bad boy.

I think the author really handled the subject of being a stepparent at a young age well. I went through the same thing as Emily and I found myself relating to the emotions that she went through. It's hard to not feel like the third wheel and wonder if you should back off in order to let the family stay together. However, some of her actions were really overstepping the line and I think she should've been a little more sympathetic about Elena and Sergei's difficult situation. For instance, when Liza doesn't want to sleep with her mother, Emily lets her sleep with her. No, no, no!  Of course, Elena was going to feel threatened and try to smother Liza.

I also wasn't crazy about how judgmental some of the characters came off. I had grown to like these characters in the first book and it turned me off how big of a deal they made about how Elena got pregnant at seventeen and Sergei's big "mistake." Instead of coming down on Sergei, Emily should've told her family about him being a father instead of being embarrassed when he came to her event with Liza in tow.

The conclusion was satisfying and I think the characters grew from the experience, especially Emily. I ended up rooting for her and Sergei again. I thought it was touching how much she was willing to sacrifice in order for him to have a relationship with his daughter.

Most of my issues come from my personal feelings and didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely read subsequent books from the author and I really think she should write more stories that take place in the skating world.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/24/13


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.