Salt: Review (w/ Giveaway)

 

Title: SALT

Author: Danielle Ellison
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: ARC for a blog tour (Rockstar Book Tours)

Summary & Cover

Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away.

When she’s finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister’s help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find "her" demon. To take back what was stolen.

Then she meets Carter. He’s cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He knows her secret—but he also has one of his own.

Suddenly, Penelope’s impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because Carter’s not telling her everything, and it’s starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda…and they’re far too interested in her.

Purchase Salt 

 

iTunes

Thoughts

Secrets. Secrets. Secrets! I loved how all of the secrets and hidden information slowly made its way though the story. So many secrets!

Penelope is our main character. She had lost her witch's essence when she was little when her parents were killed by a demon and that same demon tried to kill her. She is able to tap into magic while any of her family members are around. When she meets a new person...a booooyyyyy...she is also able to tap into her magic.

The boy is Carter. And let me tell ya girls, I adored me some Carter. 
Exhibit number 1:"I see you, Pen" he says, his hands holding firm to my cheeks. "You're the sun and the moon and the stars -- impossible to miss." (p. 285 in the ARC. Subject to change in the final version) (but I hope not!)

Once Carter and Penelope meet, they are instantly drawn together. Not in a romantic way, but in a power kind of way. They each feel the other when their powers are used. They both have secrets and they use the secrets to help one another.

The book actually reminds me a bit of the fantastic show, Charmed. Some of the terminology, special powers, demons (more on that when you read the book!!!) really stood out and made me love it and had me reminiscing of one of my favorite and most missed TV shows. :)

Penelope's snark was fantastic! Carter taking the snark and tossing it right back was even better. Of course there was kissing that I loooooved! There were several times I laughed. Out loud!

Ellison had me hooked from page 1.
"Gran always told us not to leave home without salt in our pocket." (p. 1 in the ARC)

I am definitely looking forward to getting more of Penelope and Carter's story. This book seemed to only break the surface of what could be out there and ready to happen to them!

A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.
Rating

About the Author

Danielle Ellison is from a small town in West Virginia. She spent her childhood pretending to fly and talking to imaginary friends. When she grew up, she finally flew away (in an airplane) and started traveling the world. She hasn’t stopped yet, but someday she may decide to settle in one place. Her real life friends would definitely like that; they would probably also like if she stopped talking to her characters out loud.

SALT comes out in August 2013, and then it's sequel. In October 2014, FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS (book one of the BOUNDLESS Trilogy) comes out. She's got a busy few years! 

Giveaway

1 SALT Necklace US Only

3 eBooks of SALT International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week 1:

12/30/2013- Bibliophilia, Please- Guest Post 

12/30/2013- Lost in Ever After- Review

12/31/2013- Shortie Says- Interview

12/31/2013- Dizneeee's World of Books- Review

1/1/2014- Whimsically Yours- Guest Post

1/1/2014- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review

1/2/2014- Chasm of Books- Review

1/2/2014- The Demon Librarian- Review

1/3/2014- Jenuine Cupcakes- Interview

1/3/2014- Such A Novel Idea- Review

Week 2:

1/6/2014- Page Turners- Guest Post

1/6/2014- Musings of a Blogder -Review

1/7/2014- IceyBooks - Guest Post 

1/7/2014- Donnie Darko Girl - Review

1/8/2014- Reading Teen- Guest Post

1/8/2014- In the Best Worlds- Review

1/9/2014- Allodoxophobia- Playlist

1/9/2014- Pieces of Whimsy- Review

1/10/2014- A Book and a Latte- Interview

1/10/2014- The Busy Bibliophile- Review

The Promise of Amazing: Review

Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 384 pages
On Sale Date: December 31, 2013
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance
Source: eARC from Publisher
Challenge: SARC

Summary

A sexy, poignant, funny, and authentic debut novel about two New Jersey teens as they discover who they really are-and find their way to each other.

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she's not popular, not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet good girl who's always done what she's supposed to-only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change but doesn't know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe's: star of the lacrosse team, at the top of his class, on the fast track to a brilliant future-until he was expelled for being a "term-paper pimp." Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change but doesn't know how.

One fateful night, their paths cross when Wren, working at her family's Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are-and falling in love.

Thoughts

Let me start with the cover. The cover fits Wren and Grayson SO well. Bravo! Most adorable couple on a cover goes to this book.

I love when you find out how the book got its title. In this case, it's from a passage when Wren was referring to Grayson's eyes: "Hands in pockets, swoon-worthy grin, deep brown eyes full of the promise of amazing." Wren was excited at the possibility of Grayson. She was just an average girl living a normal, uneventful life. He was engrossed and kept popping up.

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Wren and Grayson: ups and downs, fears and doubts.

I could have completely lived without the "hit" part of the story. Guys being guys, pretending to be other people, blah blah blah...fine. Whatev! But the stealing, and the fact that Grayson wasn't honest with Wren up front about it instead of letting Luke become a creepster, just made me want to reach inside the pages and slap him.

When the ish finally hit the fan, I was sad for Wren and Grayson. The remainder of the story, the actions, emotions, revenge, forgiveness, etc...I found to be a little unbelievable. 

Overall, it was a cute relationship story with outside issues that weren't quite believable. It's either that, or I'm too old and kids have really changed!

A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.

Rating

About the Author

Robin Constantine is a born-and-raised Jersey girl who moved south so she could wear flip-flops year-round. She spends her days dreaming up stories where love conquers all, eventually, but not without a lot of peril, angst, and the occasional kissing scene. The Promise of Amazing is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.robinconstantine.com.

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic: Book Blast (w/ Giveaway!)

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic is Book #2 in the Dowser Series 

by Meghan Ciana Doidge.

Summary

Three months ago, I lost my foster sister, Sienna, to the darkness. As in blood magic and chaos and general mayhem. No one saw it until it was too late, but I should have. Now, I have a wounded heart and soul that I can’t even reveal to anyone around me, because I’m supposed to hate Sienna with the fiery passion of the justified. And I do. I just wish I didn’t feel so lost without her, so unsure of the path I thought I had carved for myself, and so outclassed by the powerful Adepts constantly by my side these days. I’m not even sure if they’re with me for my own protection or because my shiny new powers are rare and valuable. Assuming I ever figure out who or what I am, and how my magic actually works.Even chocolate can’t save the day every time … just most of the time. At least I've got that going for me.

About the Author

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

Novels

After The Virus 

Spirit Binder 

Time Walker 

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser #1) 

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser #2)

Novellas

Love Lies Bleeding

Giveaway

This is an International giveaway. Must be 13+ to enter.

1 winner will receive:

$15 Amazon Gift Card

e-copy of Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic

e-copy of Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Romeo Club: Cover Reveal

Title: The Romeo Club
Author: Rebekah L. Purdy
Release Date: 03/25/14
YA CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Summary from Goodreads

THE ROMEO CLUB is Hitch meets The Secret of My Success.
What happens when you agree to help your brother “de-nerdify” so he can catch the attention of the popular Chloe Anders, and to everyone's surprise, he actually lands her?

And what if his equally geeky friends come running with girl wish lists of their own, offering money for your services?

Well, if you’re sixteen-year-old, Delyla Denson, then you start The Romeo Club. A secret club where she’ll teach these guys how talk, act, and be cool around girls. It’s a win-win situation.

She’ll get enough money for the awesome prom dress she’s had her eye on, and the guys, well, they’ll get dates and maybe learn how to do something other than beat the next level on their video games.

There are only two problems with this plan. One, her quarterback/track star boyfriend is getting jealous of how much time she’s spending away from him and decides to try and figure out what’s going on. And two, Delyla is kind of falling for her brother’s BFF, Trey who she’s been hanging out with a lot more. And who thanks to her help, has caught the attention of the beautiful, perfect, and popular, Portia Rickard. With Portia and Trey heating up, Delyla realizes that maybe the person she’s meant to be with has been in front of her all this time.

But falling for Trey means she’ll have to take drastic measures including sabotage, with a capital S.

About the Author

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Where You'll Find Me: Cover Reveal (w/ Giveaway)

Today, Erin Fletcher and Entangled Teen are revealing the cover for WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME, releasing early 2014! Check out the gorgeous cover, exclusive excerpt, and enter to win an eARC!

On to the reveal!

When Hanley Helton discovers a boy living in her garage, she knows she should kick him out. But Nate is too charming to be dangerous. He just needs a place to get away, which Hanley understands. Her own escape methods—vodka, black hair dye, and pretending the past didn't happen—are more traditional, but who is she to judge?

Nate doesn't tell her why he's in her garage, and she doesn't tell him what she's running from. Soon, Hanley's trading her late-night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate's recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn't sure which is worse: that she's harboring a fugitive, or that she's in love with one.

Pre-Order Where You'll Find Me

  

iTunes

Exclusive Excerpt
Nate looks me over, from my jacket to my favorite pair of jeans, to the shoes that are bonfire-worthy but still cute. My hair, with the help of a straightener, is so silky that my dark bangs fall into my eyes even more than usual. My eye makeup is amped up. Whether all of this is because of the bonfire or because of who I hoped I’d run into before leaving is open for debate. He reaches up and brushes my bangs away from my face. The split-second touch makes me crave more. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

“Where are you headed?”

Though staying here in the garage might be a better option, I say, “A bonfire.”

Nate studies me again, but this time it feels like he’s looking for something deeper. “Don’t you ever get tired of sneaking out?”

“Not really,” I say with a shrug.

He tugs on the zipper of my fleece, lowering it slightly and pulling me closer. “What are you running from, Hanley?”

It feels like my secrets are written all over my face, but I say, “Nothing.”

When he smiles, it’s almost sad. “I don’t buy it.”

I lean in, putting both hands on the car behind him, one on either side, trapping him. “You tell me why you’re living in my garage and I’ll tell you what I’m running from.”

He gives a sly smile and doesn’t budge. “Secrets it is.”

“Secrets it is,” I echo. And even though the small space between us is electric and threatening to disappear, I push off the car and step away. “I’ll see you later,” I say as I open the door.

“Hanley,” he says before I can get too far. “Be careful out there, okay?”

I don’t make any promises.

About the Author
Erin Fletcher is a morning person who does most of her writing before sunrise while drinking excessive quantities of coffee, believes flip-flops qualify as year-round footwear, and would spend every day at the beach if she could. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics (which is almost never useful when writing books) and lives in North Carolina.


Giveaway
1 eARC of WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME (International)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

True Love's First Kiss: Promo (Sale Price)

Only for a limited time, True Loves First Kiss by Heidi Garrett is only .99 cents for kindle!  True Loves First Kiss is the bind up of Nandana's Mark, The Flower of Isbelline and The Dragon Carnivale.  This series is YA  (ages 14+) Fantasy/High Fantasy/Fairytale Fantasy and is a total of 681 pages.

True Love’s First Kiss:
~ Books 1-3 of this five-book series in a single digital bundle ~
Half-Faeries and mortals. Black magic and genocide. Coming of age and coming into power.

~ Book 1 - NANDANA’S MARK ~
Melia longs to fly like the fullblood faeries.
Her mortal father plots to bring war to the Enchanted world.
Her faerie mother practice black magic behind closed doors.

Overshadowed by her parent's obsessions, Melia has become an outcast. She seeks aid from the mysterious Illustrator, who makes a strange mark on her forehead. The mark is meant to draw the help of a green-eyed stranger from distant lands. Before he arrives, a tragic accident destroys what's left of Melia’s already fractured family. Her mother is unforgiving. The punishment she metes out will leave her middle daughter torn between guilt and ecstasy—and will complicate her relationship with the green-eyed stranger.

~ Book 2 - THE FLOWER OF ISBELLINE ~
When a false marriage seduces Melia’s sister,
And the keys to power are at risk,
The cost of denying true love will be apocalyptic.
Melia is determined to stop her sister from pursuing their father’s damning legacy.

~ Book 3 - THE DRAGON CARNIVALE ~
In Illialei, a light queen practices black magic.
In Tyrannis, the dragonwitch rises to power.
In the Mortal World, Umbra pursues the halfbloods as vessels of incarnation.

Energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the halfbloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them--and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.

Find it:
Amazon

Goodreads 

If you don't have a kindle, download an app to read on any device here.

About the Author

In her life and in her writing, Heidi Garrett is fascinated by thresholds and borders between: human and divine, ego and Self, conscious and unconscious, reality and imagination.

Confronted daily with situations where the most superficial aspects of life are valued, she's obsessed with going deeper.

Whenever she's lost her way, fairy tales and fantastical stories have restored her faith.

Whether you've picked up The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series, or a story in her Once Upon a Time Today collection of contemporary fairytale retellings, these stories feature female characters who must draw from their deepest selves to win.

Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso.  She now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.

Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow and hopes to remind readers that:

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world...

Find the author:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

We'd love your help to spread the word, and for convenience we've put together some tweets or facebook posts for you.

What’s in a kiss? $0.99 Sale! TrueLove’s First Kiss #amreading #highfantasy #fairytale #quest #romance http://ow.ly/riRkB

$0.99 Sale! Half-Faeries & mortals. Black magic & genocide. Coming of age & coming into power. #TrueLovesFirstKiss http://ow.ly/riRkB

Half-Human, Half-Fae Protagonist Struggles Against the Dark #TrueLovesFirstKiss $0.99 Sale! http://ow.ly/riRkB

$0.99 Sale! TrueLove’s First Kiss #highfantasy #fairytale #compilation #KCD #KindleCountdownDeal http://ow.ly/riRkB

Melia longs to fly like the fullblood faeries… TrueLove’s First Kiss $0.99 #amreading #YA #fantasy #quest #romance http://ow.ly/riRkB

GIVEAWAY: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

This has been put together by CBB Book Promotions.

 

Twelve Steps: Cover Reveal

Welcome to my blog spot for the Twelve Steps cover reveal, hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.

Title: Twelve Steps

Author: Veronica Bartles
Release Date: 03/25/14

Book Summary

Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK,
maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said than done, but worth the effort in the long-run.

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn't as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina's flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

About the Author

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy. When she isn't writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn't actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.

TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel.

Author Links: