Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Some Fine Day by Kat Ross

We are partnering with author Kat Ross on the release of her new book, Some Fine Day.  Keep reading for the chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite!

Some Fine Day Launch Giveaway

Grand Prize: Kindle Paperwhite with custom cover, preloaded with Some Fine Day

Second Prize (2): Signed copy of Some Fine Day
 
Third Prize (2): CD audiobook of Some Fine Day

This contest runs from February 7 to March 7.

 
Synopsis:
A generation ago, continent-sized storms called hypercanes caused the Earth to flood. The survivors were forced to retreat deep underground and build a new society.

This is the story that sixteen-year-old Jansin Nordqvist has heard all of her life.

Jansin grew up in a civilization far below the Earth’s surface. She’s spent the last eight years in military intelligence training. So when her parents surprise her with a coveted yet treacherous trip above ground, she’s prepared for anything. She’s especially thrilled to feel the fresh air, see the sun, and view the wide-open skies and the ocean for herself.

But when raiders attack Jansin’s camp and take her prisoner, she is forced to question everything she’s been taught. What do her captors want? How will she get back underground? And if she ever does, will she want to stay after learning the truth?
 

Some Fine Day is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can find more reader reviews on Goodreads.


 
About the author:

Kat Ross was born and raised in New York City and worked several jobs before turning to journalism and creative writing. An avid traveler and adventurer, she now lives with her family—along with a beagle, a ginger cat, and six fish—far enough outside the city that skunks and deer wander through her backyard.

You can find Kat on Twitter and her website.
 
 
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Audio Book Spotlight: Legion: Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson

Today we are featuring an audio clip of Brandon Sanderson's latest book: Legion: Skin Deep.  I haven't read this particular book, but I loved Steelheart (my first time reading Sanderson).  I look forward to trying the Legion series---it sounds just as intriguing and fast-paced as Steelheart was!
 
 

 
Summary:
 
Stephen Leeds, AKA “Legion,” is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the new story begins, Leeds and his “aspects” are hired by I3 (Innovative Information Incorporated) to recover a corpse stolen from the local morgue. But there’s a catch. The corpse is that of a pioneer in the field of experimental biotechnology, a man whose work concerned the use of the human body as a massive storage device. He may have embedded something in the cells of his now dead body. And that something might be dangerous…

What follows is a visionary thriller about the potential uses of technology, the mysteries of the human personality, and the ancient human need to believe that death is not the end.
Legion: Skin Deep is speculative fiction at it most highly developed. It reaffirms Sanderson’s place as one of contemporary fiction’s most intelligent—and unpredictable—voices.
 
Links:



Book Review: Skink: No Surrender (Skink #7) by Carl Hiaasen

Summary:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Carl Hiaasen serves up his unique brand of swamp-justice in Skink—No Surrender.

Classic Malley—to avoid being shipped off to boarding school, she takes off with some guy she met online. Poor Richard—he knows his cousin’s in trouble before she does. Wild Skink—he’s a ragged, one-eyed ex-governor of Florida, and enough of a renegade to think he can track Malley down. With Richard riding shotgun, the unlikely pair scour the state, undaunted by blinding storms, crazed pigs, flying bullets, and giant gators.

Carl Hiaasen first introduced readers to Skink more than twenty-five years ago in Double Whammy, and he quickly became Hiaasen’s most iconic and beloved character, appearing in six novels to date. Both teens and adults will be thrilled to catch sight of the elusive “captain” as he finds hilariously satisfying ways to stop internet predators, turtle-egg poachers, and lowlife litterbugs in their tracks. With Skink at the wheel, the search for a missing girl is both nail-bitingly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.

 
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Age Group: YA
Source: Review copy from publisher
Reviewed By: Evan
 
Review:
 
“I do believe that some things aren’t meant to be understood. And I also believe in karma” says Richard, a level-headed young teen searching for his rebellious and possibly kidnapped cousin, Malley.
 
Though Skink: No Surrender is an exciting adventure, the rescue of Malley---who falls prey to an internet predator---is not why you should read this book. Skink, the one-eyed ex-governor of Florida, turned rogue vigilante, is!
 
Skink has got to be one of the funniest characters I have ever encountered! His dry sense of humor and no nonsense implementation of justice, kept me reading and asking what will he do next?
 
Skink: No Surrender was fun, smart, and entertaining.
 

Just One Night (Just One Day #2.5) by Gayle Forman

Summary:
After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.
 
Release Date: May 19, 2014
Age Group: YA
Source: Purchased
Reviewed By: Kelli
 
Review:
I have liked this series and was so thrilled to have this novella as an epilogue of sorts for Allyson and Willem. My main complaints about the first two books in the series have been with the endings.   Just One Day (read my review here) ended on such a cliffhanger, and Just One Year (read my review here) ended at the same point in time that Just One Day did.  I was not happy about that----I was expecting more of the happily ever after, not just the journey there.  

I am so happy to say that Forman completely and utterly redeemed her blunders with the endings of books one and two with Just One Night.  NOW I feel like this series is finished.  Now I feel like I can move on with my life.  Now that I know Allyson and Willem are happy, I can go back and appreciate the first two books for the great pieces of writing that they are.  

Just One Night is the perfect conclusion to Allyson and Willem's story.  It was just long enough to satisfy my every desire for their relationship---declarations and plans for the future were made---yay!  I loved seeing them together at last and really reveling in each other.  

Just One Night has a finality to it that really pulls the books in the series together.  I so wish I'd read the three books back to back because I think I would have enjoyed the first two books so much more that way.  There's not anything I would have wanted to change about this book and I highly recommend it!   
 
 

Book Review: Lark Rising (Guardians of Tarnec #1) by Sandra Waugh

Summary:
Full of romance and nature magic, this debut fantasy is perfect for fans of Shannon Hale, Juliet Marillier, and Kristin Cashore.
 
Lark has foreseen two things—she will fall for a young man with sage green eyes,and he will kill her.

Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.

Release Date: September 23, 2014
Age Group: YA
Source: Review copy from publisher
Reviewed By: Evan

Review:
This book is an easy read if you enjoy fantasy fiction. I loved her use of mythical creatures, though I would have liked to see more. Castles, trolls, warriors on horseback, swords, magic, all were exciting and fit well into her plot. Consistent action and mystery kept me wanting to know more.

I would have liked a lot more writing devoted to character development. There was an emotional connection missing. I truly feel that if the main character had died I would have not been affected.

I would give this book three stars- I liked it.




Book Review: Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Summary: 
Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Constant darkness.

Brutal and savage violence.

Excruciating pain.

Every day is a fight for survival.

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Release Date: June 2013
Age Group: YA
Source: e-book
Reviewed By:  Nat

Review:
I downloaded this book for two reasons: one) it sounded like the twisted crap I enjoy and two) I read a little about the authors and discovered one was a nurse… yes please, I judged a book by its author and I scored! Anyone who doubts the reading power of a nurse is just plain dumb. A lot of my reading gals are from the hospital that Kelli and I used to slave work for and the majority of our fellow book cronies were nurses; they know what’s going on because they see the twisted realities of healthcare. #enoughsaid 

Therefore, nurses have an unfailing muse- freaky people in freaky situations. They are from the trenches and in one night shift could probably outline an entire series plot (I know because I hear Sweet Stuffs stories and sometimes think to myself “Oh that would be a good plot twist, sad… nah).

My goal is to use as many multiple descriptive adjectives as I can, to convey my absolute love for this book! It is now one of my top favorite dystopian tales ever.  It was so TWISTED, BRILLIANT, GRITTY and wait for it ORIGINAL! When I finished chapter one I was panting and hooked! I actually stopped three pages in and checked to make sure I hadn't skipped ahead and that I was in fact in chapter 1. Ketner & Kalicicki have created a gut wrenching dystopian world. It is like The Purge meets The Capital. 

You are just thrown right into The Hole and I felt like I was right next to our leading lady Lexi Hamilton. I wanted to hide under a rock because I was shell shocked. The premise of this book takes place in in a post WWV society run by a dictator known as The General

He controls our depraved society and believes sinners make the human race unforgivable. His power is a crushing fist, rendering all beneath him helpless. So much so, even family members turn on each other when an accusation surfaces. Just an accusation. No trial, no evidence, nothing but an accusation.

You don’t just get sent to the hole, you get demoralized as the final blow. If the concept of The Hole isn’t twisted enough just add a branding to the sinners (residents). It’s crazy! The general premise of marking sinners with colored tattoos was cleverly planned and unique.

I just know someone would have accused me of lust just because I’m a reader... my logic- frequent book lust. Anyway, the whole branding process that takes place before being thrust into the hole was so barbaric and vivid and I might have wanted to punch someone in the face. 

Lexi.
Lexi was soft and a true innocent beauty but without all the damsel in distress baggage. I loved her growth and her determination to keep her dignity. She was a fighter and she really kept evolving throughout the story and it didn’t feel like someone I had read before, she was unique. The flashbacks to her life were so creepy and heart wrenching that you feel like you are suffering with her. There are so many twists and turns and if you want to know more details? Read the book. You will not be disappointed, it’s impossible.

Love.
...and then I was thinking, what’s with this guard? And in steps Cole; he is a bit of a mystery but awesomesauce. #needmorecole Cole had Dimitri-like qualities and that is the highest honor I can give a fictional man. DONE.

It is pretty impressive that in the mix of all this crazy there was a love story! #YYYEEESSSSS I am always up for a struggling love story, it’s a must really. I was so happy that there wasn't a love triangle. It seems like there is always a triangle but to be honest, ain't no body got time for that in The Hole.


In short this series is gruesome, terrifying, violent, and heart wrenching and I can’t wait for the next installment, Hunted (Sinners #2)! Which is set to release July 5th, 2015 and a teaser of chapter 1 and a giveaway are available HERE.
  
You can overcome anything short of death! 
 #mynewmantra 
PS
Dear Ketner & Kalicicki, 
Write faster, bring it and thanks- now I want a dog... a BIG dog.
 

Book Review: Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts



Summary:
"When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics."

So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

Release Date: July 24, 2013
Age Group: YA
Source: School library 
Reviewed by: Madi B

Review:
I was hesitant about his book because it was a cancer book. It would be so hard NOT to compare it to The Fault in Our Stars. And sadly it wasn’t as good. Although I really liked this book.
 
The story starts with Zac: a funny teen quarantined in his hospital room because of his leukemia. He soon “meets” (They didn't talk, or see each other so i’m not sure if this even counts) Mia the not-so-happy cancer patient. Their relationship was never face-to-face and was always via note or Facebook which is not something I liked. I think because of this, I don’t feel like they had as much chemistry as they could have, had their relationship not be just through a keyboard. I also would have liked their relationship to progress a lot faster.
 
But other than that the book was really good. I felt like the author made sure not to glamorize cancer which is something I thought was extremely important. The plot, although slow, was enough to keep me from socializing for a good 12 hours!
 
I really loved Zac. He was really witty, loyal, and down to earth. Mia was a bit irritating to me. She was very obsessed with her image, VERY stubborn, and in my opinion, not good enough for Zac. She was SO impulsive and selfish it really made me mad sometimes. Like I said—NOT deserving of Zac.
 
Overall, I think that because of this book’s plot, it will always be compared to The Fault in Our Stars and sadly I don’t think it’s as good. But, it does have some engaging characters, some REALLY great quotes, and has the ability to make you FEEL for its characters. 




Cover Reveal: Sacrifice of Greatest Price (Between #4) by Cyndi Tefft

I've been reading Cyndi Tefft's Between series for almost four years now, and I'm so excited to share the cover of the final Between book, Sacrifice of Greatest Price.
 
Read my reviews of the first three books: Between, Hell Transporter, and Even in Darkness by clicking on their respective titles. 
 
Even in Darkness, book three, ended on quite the cliffhanger and I've been anxiously awaiting book four.  I can't wait to dive into Sacrifice of Greatest Price!
 
Summary:
 
Three in one, forward and back
Here and gone, to deepest black
Silver blooms, swollen with child
Birth crimson globes, untethered wild
Life meets death where the sun meets the sea
Blood sacrifice, for you and for me.

It has all come down to this.

 
A prophecy, passed down through generations of MacRaes, tells of a blood sacrifice. A simple stone placed in an ancient dagger unleashes an army of hell transporters with glowing red eyes who have now come to exact that price.

In the epic finale of the Between series, Aiden and Lindsey will be tested in ways they could never have imagined. Visions of the past, from thousands of years ago when the Broch of Gurness in Orkney was whole, provide more questions than answers. But every secret will be revealed as the MacKinnons and MacRaes join forces to fight a battle they cannot hope to win.
 
 
 

Guest Post and Giveaway: Arwen Elys Dayton, author of Seeker

 
 
I reviewed Seeker earlier this week---read my review here---and I am so happy to host author Arwen Elys Dayton here today. 
 
Seeker was one of the most consuming, unique YA books I've read in a while.  I seriously loved everything about this book!
 
I asked Arwen if she would share her journey to publication with us.  I can't wait to read the next installment in the Seeker series! 
 

 
 
My Journey to Publication
by Arwen Elys Dayton
 
Shortly before I wrote Seeeker, I had a science fiction novel called Ressurrection published by Amazon's 47North.  Resurrection was doing very well on Amazon's sales charts as I was writing the manuscript for Seeker.  That book's success helped me get the attention of an agent I had always admired, Jodi Reamer.
 
With Jodi's help, I did another couple of drafts of Seeker, and then she sent the manuscript out.  We were extremely fortunate to get strong interest right away from many publishers.  Krista Marino and the team at Random House felt right to both of us, and we were delighted to place Seeker there.
 
At the same time that we were talking to publishers, the Seeker manuscript began to get interest from Hollywood---I'm still not entirely sure how that happened.  Shortly after the deal with Random House, Columbia Pictures bought the movie rights to the book, with Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan, Source Code, The Day After Tomorrow) producing.  That was---and still is!---extremely exciting.
 
Working on the manuscript with my editor, Krista, was a terrific experience.  It was as though she moved into the world of Seeker and challenged me with questions a "native inhabitant" might ask.
 
Everyone I've met at Random House has been incredibly supportive and excited about the book, so Seeker's path to publication has been a dream come true for me.  I'm grateful for all the care and love this story has been given along the way.  I hope it finds an audience of readers who enjoy stepping into the world of Seeker.  I'm working hard to make that world an interesting place to visit.
 
About Seeker
 
Title: SEEKER
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Pub. Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: AmazonBarnes & NobleGoodreads

 
Their Legacy is…A calling. An Honor. A lie.

#SeekerSeries

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.

As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.

And she’ll be with the boy she loves—who is also her best friend.

But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.

Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it’s too late to walk away.


Seeker Reviews

“Fans of Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Marie Lu’s Legend, and Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games series: your next obsession has arrived.” —School Library Journal

“[A] powerful beginning to a complex family saga . . . Dayton excels at creating memorable characters.” —Publishers Weekly

“A tightly woven, action-packed story of survival and adventure, Seeker is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.” —Tahereh Mafi, author of the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series

 “Secrets, danger, and romance meet in this unforgettable epic fantasy.” —Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures and author of Unbreakable

About Arwen:

Arwen Elys Dayton spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by a single fading flashlight when researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, and lots of ruined castles in Scotland. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire.

Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. You can follow her @arwenelysdayton on Twitter and Instagram.

 



Giveaway Details: 5 Winners.

5 winners will receive finished copies of SEEKER, US only.


 
Tour Schedule:

2/9/2015- Spiced Latte ReadsReview
2/9/2015- Supernatural SnarkInterview
2/9/2015- The Cover ContessaGuest Post

2/10/2015- Once Upon A TwilightReview
2/10/2015- Reading YA RocksGuest Post
2/10/2015- The Eater of Books!Interview

2/11/2015- WinterHaven Books - Review
2/11/2015- Paranormal Book ClubInterview
2/11/2015- Literary MeanderingsGuest Post

2/12/2015- A Dream Within A DreamReview
2/12/2015- I'd So Rather Be ReadingGuest Post
2/12/2015- Bookhounds ya- Interview

2/13/2015- BookishReview
2/13/2015- Bewitched BookwormsInterview
2/13/2015- Nerdophiles- Guest Post

  

Audio Book Spotlight: UnDivided (Unwind #4) by Neal Shusterman

Today we're featuring one of my favorite reads of 2014: UnDivided by Neal Shusterman.  UnDivided is the last book in the Unwind dystology, and it's an outstanding read.  Read my original review of UnDivided here.  And here's the Audible clip of UnDivided:




Summary:
Teens control the fate of America in the fourth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman.

Proactive Citizenry, the company that created Cam from the parts of unwound teens, has a plan: to mass produce rewound teens like Cam for military purposes. And below the surface of that horror lies another shocking level of intrigue: Proactive Citizenry has been suppressing technology that could make unwinding completely unnecessary. As Conner, Risa, and Lev uncover these startling secrets, enraged teens begin to march on Washington to demand justice and a better future.

But more trouble is brewing. Starkey’s group of storked teens is growing more powerful and militant with each new recruit. And if they have their way, they’ll burn the harvest camps to the ground and put every adult in them before a firing squad—which could destroy any chance America has for a peaceful future.
 
Links:
 
 

Book Review: Seeker (Seeker #1) by Arwen Elys Dayton

Summary:
For readers of A Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games comes an epic new series.

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor. As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world. And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.

But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes. Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it's too late to walk away.
 
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Age Group: YA
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed By: Kelli
 
Review:
Oh wow!  I absolutely loved Seeker!  I can't think of one single thing I'd change about this book.  Everything was so well-done and I loved every aspect of this engaging story.

Every time I think I'm through with fantasy novels, I read one like Seeker that renews my faith in the genre.  Seeker is everything I love about YA fantasy: a strong heroine, a well-developed cast of characters, a unique premise, and a fast-paced plot.  Not to mention an ending that left me aching for more. 

Seeker is full of action from the very first page.  The story moves fast, and there was not a dull moment to be had.  Seeker was one of those "ignore my family" books.  I couldn't get enough of the story, and when it ended, I was sad. I wanted to stay in the world Dayton has created with Seeker

Seeker has a fantasy premise, yet it's set in our world.  This is my favorite kind of fantasy to read: there are no rules of a high fantasy world to remember.  And the thought of paranormal events happening as the rest of the world is unaware makes these books very plausible to me. 

I am usually one for a first person narrative, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the alternating perspectives in Seeker.  Each chapter is narrated by a different character, with the main characters Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maud.  I really fell in love with these characters and found myself quite invested in their stories. 

I love it when books encompass a long period of time, and Seeker takes place over a period of eighteen months.  Of course, the plot skipped ahead a few months at a time, otherwise this novel would have been huge.  I loved that the arc of the story took place over such a long period of time, because it allowed for so much character growth and plot development.

The ending was just right for this story: a good amount of closure, yet open enough that I was left wanting more.  I so wish I had book two rightnow, but I'm willing to wait for another book as good as Seeker