Taking it One Book at a Time: April 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} RecuitZ - By Karice Bolton

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Author: Karcice Bolton

Webiste

Release Date: 10/2013

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

Twisted!

Not at all what I was expecting, not even close. In a book that's about zombie I honestly expected to see more of them.

That heart racing fear about not knowing where they're going to come from is what we all love, and though this book had other fantastic areas, I still found myself wanting more.

Rebekah is a badass.

Things in your life change you, living through the zombie apocalypse is one that will, but watching your husband being taken from you and eaten.....well that's a whole different ball game. After seeing that & suddenly some mysterious vans come rolling up to take the zombies back from where they came from, Rebekah knows something major is up! As the story goes on she learns there's a whole different world out there, one that is a danger and lurking right at the door step of her loved ones. Now she feels that she must do everything she can to stop it.

I really like how the book progressed, one of my favorite times was when she was first introduced to Preston. Mild-mannered bartender by night, kick-ass boss of a secret organization by the rest of his day. Rebekah and him had a lot of common bonds, loss, wanting answers, but it was great that they were able to actually form a connection with each other. Not that gushy-lovey type, but the kind where 2 people care & have an understanding.

By the end of this book I was dying to have answers! I got them, and well now I want another book! Maybe one where the zombies are running free....it's just a thought!

4/5

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GIVEAWAY:

Open INTL

---$50 Amazon card

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} Essence - By A.L. Waddington

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Author: A.L. Waddington

Website

Release Date: 1/15/2014

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.

Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?

JUST WOW!

Be forewarned, there will be a few spoilers in this review.....so leave now or prepare to have your minds blown!

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Ok, I warned you!

Jocelyn's life seems normal, like she's living the American dream....OK, this right here had me fearing it was going to be your slightly typical YA novel with the hunky boy living across the street...not-even-close! As soon as Jackson entered this novel it immediately created something different within the novel. (Totally leaving aside the fact that he's hawt & mysterious) Jocelyn went from a 2009 life where Jackson made her sick, dizzy and even faint, to suddenly thrust into a 1878 life that had so many parallels it had Jocelyn thinking she was bonkers.

1878; Jackson & Jocelyn are set to be married, but when a secret relationship shows itself things have a serious wrench suddenly thrown in them.....oh, doesn't that sound like it could be something bad.....Yes I am mean enough to toy with your emotions like that *insert evil laugh*!

By the end of this freaking amazing novel I was in such an emotional wad it took me a good 3 days to get over the literary hangover I had. You know that feeling where you are in such a stunned state, that regardless of how hard you try to get into your next book it won't work??!! Yep, that was me!

I absolutely can not wait to see more work from this author, she has blown me away!

5/5

{Blog Tour: Dream Cast + Giveaway} Lost In Thought - By Cara Bertand

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SYNOPSIS:

LOST IN THOUGHT
Sententia #1
Release Date: April 25th 2014
Publisher: Luminis Books

Perfect for readers who love books and series such as Vampire Academy, Spellbound, and Sweet Peril, Lost in Thought is a sure winner for young adult readers interested in the paranormal, romance, and action-packed twists

Lainey Young has a secret: she’s going crazy. Everyone else thinks she ha
s severe migraines from stress and exhaustion. What she really has are visions of how people died—or are going to die. Not that she tells anyone that. At age 16, she prefers keeping her crazy to herself. When doctors insist she needs a new and stable environment to recover, Lainey’s game to spend two years at a private New England boarding school. She doesn’t really think it will cure her problem, and she’s half right. There is no cure, but as she discovers, she’s not actually crazy. Almost everyone at Northbrook Academy has a secret too. Half the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted. A vision of another student’s impending death confirms Lainey is one of them. She’d like to return the crappy gift of divining deaths with only a touch, but enjoys spending time with Carter Penrose—recent Academy graduate and resident school crush—while learning to control it. Lainey’s finally getting comfortable with her ability, and with Carter, when they uncover her true Sententia heritage. Now she has a real secret. Once it’s spilled, she’ll be forced to forget protecting secrets and start protecting herself.

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Amazon

Chapters

Powell's

IndieBound

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Dreamcasting was fun, but hard! I don’t watch a whole lot of TV/movies that aren’t cartoons anymore and I basically invented all the characters but Carter in my head, so it was a challenge for me to find even semi-famous people who fit.

So here goes—how’d I do? I’d love to hear reader suggestions.

Lainey: A young Jennifer Connelly with a little bit of Sophia Bush thrown in is how I imagined her. She’s not tall, but I do like the look of Adelaide Kane from Reign.

Carter: is actually inspired by a handsome young man who cashiered at, well, mylocalliquorstore. In a pinch, model Jesse Shannon (whose look is unique and incredibly versatile) couldmake a nice Carter. Assuming, of course, he could act.

Amy: She’s too small, but lighten her hair and Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars could make a cute Amy.

Or! I just saw Vampire Academy and thought Sarah Hyland might be perfect.

Caleb: I bet Freddie Highmore could be a good Caleb.

Or maybe Callan McAuliffe.

Alexis: I’m obsessed with Pitch Perfect, and actually think Alexis Knapp could be a good Alexis. Same name and everything :)

Or maybe Naya Rivera. She’d probably be great.

Jenna: Who’s a tiny blond and can do sweet, innocent, and more? I guess Elle Fanning if no one else.

Constance Stewart: I mean, we’re dream-casting, right? So Michelle Obama. She’d be amazing. She is amazing. Smart, polished, and fierce as hell. She’s actually even tall enough.

Tessa Espinosa: There’s probably no more dream-castable actress of Mexican descent than Salma Hayak.

{Blog Tour: The Burning Star + MASSIVE GIVEAWAY} Top 5 YA Paranormal Book Boyfriends - By Jessie Lane

If you love fantasy, the paranormal, romance and twisty-turny stories featuring

two young women in the fight of their lives then we have the book for you! Pick up Jessie Lane’s THE BURNING STAR, available now, and today we are happy to have the author join us for a visit!

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Top 5 YA Paranormal Book Boyfriends

Hi everybody! Today I'm stopping by Taking It One Book at a Time to talk about my favorite book boyfriends from YA Paranormal books. Now, please keep in mind that I have NOT read a YA book in quite some time, so you may think some of my picks quite dated. Personally, I think I'll love these guys until the end of time though. Here we go:

1) Jace Wayland from Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments Series - Sarcastic, handsome and witty. Jace reminds me of that boy that I was torn between wanting to kiss and wanting to punch in high school.

2) Niall from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely Series - OMGAWD!!! He is a powerful Fae that oozes bad-ass pheromones and ends up becoming the King of the Dark Court. Sexy, intelligent and absolutely wicked. Isn't that what every girl wants?

3) Daemon Black from Jennifer Armentrout's Lux Series - The KING of smartass. He's absolutely the boy I love to hate... and drool over. When he does have his sweet moments, they melt me straight to my ooey gooey marshmallow core.

4) Rafe from Rachel Hawthorne's Dark Guardians Series - BAD BOY... YUM. Okay, so I'm sure you've noticed a pattern here. YES, I'm a sucker for the bad boy. That little trait got me into many a trouble back when I was a teenager, but now I just drool over them in books. This werewolf can make me howl to the moon anytime. *wink wink*

5) Seth from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely Series - When Marr created the character of Seth, I'm pretty sure she broke the mold. Seth is THE GUY that every girl dreams of (when she's not dreaming about the bad boy like me). He's good to his core, he's unbelievably sexy with his lip ring and rock star style and he loves Aislinn with an intensity that takes my breath away. Over the length of the series, he proves the extent of his love over and over again, causing me to fall in love with him each and every time.

So tell me ladies, who are your favorite book boyfriends from YA books? Anyone else a sucker for the bad boy like me?

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The Burning Star by Jessie Lane

Re-Release Date: March 23, 2014

Original Publication: May 23, 2012

Links: Website | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Hosted by: Author's Taproom

*This book is a re-release and revision from the original book. Please be aware that some things have been added, deleted or changed.*

Kay’s journey of a lifetime started in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was there that the 17 year old met a beautiful man along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn’t exist; a place where myths and fairy tales were real, and in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer.
With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters that she would meet along the way, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, it would become clear that Kay wasn’t the only one with problems.
Yet another 17 year old young woman was fighting for her freedom and her life.Kira had lived in a magical world that Kay had only dreamt of. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. As a matter of fact, she considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life. She fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture.
Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira’s master, Lord Donovan.
As the two young women set forth in their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. The only question that would remain was who would come out alive and whole in the end?

WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance/OMNI Lit | Kobo

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Crystal and Melissa often live half their lives with their heads in the clouds dreaming of alpha military hunks, werewolves and kick ass heroines crazy enough to chase after creatures that they unquestionably should know better than to chase.
Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance. They are now working on their next two novels, Walk On The Striped Side and Secret Maneuvers. With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | GOODREADS

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