December 31, 2014

2014 End of the Year Book Survey!

http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2014/11/5th-annual-end-of-year-book-survey-2014-edition.html

I can't believe that 2014 is over already! Where did it go? I sort of feel like I lost a few months of my life because it went so fast! Anyways, I'm participating in the 5th Annual End of the Year Book Survey being hosted by the lovely Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner! There's still plenty of time to join in on the fun - just click on the badge at the top of my post to go to her official page!! Here we go!

Number Of Books You Read: 152 Number of Re-Reads: 0 Genre You Read The Most From: YA (Young Adult)

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

Poetry - Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann 
 YA Fantasy - The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain
YA Paranormal -  Empower (Violet Eden Chapters #5) by Jessica Shirvington
YA Paranormal Romance - The Warrior by Victoria Scott
YA Contemporary - One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington
YA Thriller - Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
YA Mystery - Remember Me by Romily Bernard
YA Horror - Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore
YA Science Fiction/Dystopia - The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
YA Fairy Tale/Retelling - Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
YA Debut Author - Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
New Adult - Carrier/Walled (The Line series) by Anne Tibbets
Adult Fantasy - Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
Adult Paranormal - The Line by J.D. Horn
Adult Contemporary - Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell
Adult Thriller - The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander
Adult Mystery - The Girl With a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson
Adult Horror - The Freeing of Jonathon Mark by Nathan Gross
Adult Science Fiction/Dystopia - Shovel Ready by Adam Sternbergh
Adult Fairy Tale/Retelling - While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
Adult Debut Author - Rooms by Lauren Oliver (it was her debut adult novel, so I'm counting it!)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

Shovel Ready by Adam Sternbergh

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

 Empower by Jessica Shirvington

 5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

 Best Series Started -
YA Dystopia - The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
YA Fantasy - Into the Dark by Bree Despain
YA Fairy Tale/Retelling - Cruel Beauty Universe by Rosamund Hodge
YA Science Fiction - Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
YA Horror - Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolomore

Best Sequels -
YA Thriller - Remember Me by Romily Bernard
YA Fantasy - Unhinged by A.G. Howard 
YA Paranormal - Steadfast by Claudia Gray

Best Series Ender: TIE! Empower by Jessica Shirvington and The Warrior by Victoria Scott

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

 Lindsay Cummings
Rosamund Hodge
Jen McConnel

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Fiction - Fragile Line by Brooklyn Skye
Nonfiction - My Thinning Years: Starving the Gay Within by Jon Derek Croteau

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 Empower by Jessica Shirvington
The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Line Duology (both books) by Anne Tibbets

 9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 Rooms by Lauren Oliver
They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire
Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?


11. Most memorable character of 2014?

 Dante Walker from The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Alyssa/Jeb/Morpheus from Unhinged by A.G. Howard

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

 While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

 Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

 One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014? 

"You can lose your way anywhere." - Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2014?

 Shortest: 114 pages - Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann

Longest: 535 pages - In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
 
How I did this: Went to my read books on Goodreads and sorted by page number and just looked for what I knew I read this year that was the shortest and longest.

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most 

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

 Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Violet and Lincoln from Empower by Jessica Shirvington
Dante and Charlie from The Warrior by Victoria Scott 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Tella Holloway and Madox (her Pandora) from Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

 Empower by Jessica Shirvington
The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Unhinged by A.G. Howard
Steadfast by Claudia Gray

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

 Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

 Bishop from The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

 Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
The Line by J.D. Horn

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

 While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

 Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway
Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

 The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Empower by Jessica Shirvington

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Line by J.D. Horn
Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman
Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel
Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 Empower by Jessica Shirvington
The Warrior by Victoria Scott

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

 Shovel Ready by Adam Sternbergh
The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

.The Line Duology (both books) by Anne Tibbets
Unhinged by A.G. Howard

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014? 

 Too many to name! :)

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014? 

 While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

??

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

 ??

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

 Getting tweets, emails, and FB messages from authors that I love!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

 The Waking Engine Blog Tour: Author Guest Post + Giveaway

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 My Review of Harry Potter: The Creature Vault: The Creatures and Plants of the Harry Potter Films by Joy Revenson

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

The YA Book Exchange and the awesomeness of trading! 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Yes - I set a Goodreads reading challenge of 150 books. As of right now, I've read 152. 



1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

 There are WAY too many to name even half of them! Some titles are: Made for You by Melissa Marr; The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman; Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers; Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater; The Fall by Bethany Griffin; The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

 Ensnared by A.G. Howard! And about a gazillion more!!

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

 Ensnared by A.G. Howard
Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott
Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

 Get out of my reading slump/funk; read more books; post more reviews, and comment more.

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

 I actually haven't read any yet!



Did you participate in the survey? Link me up so I can check out your post! Are any of my answers similar to yours? Leave a comment!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


 

December 30, 2014

Release Day Blast + Giveaway: After Us by Amber Hart

afterus-release

Amber Hart's AFTER US is now available! Be sure to grab your copy today - and get ready to be hooked!

afterus  

About AFTER US: 

"Beautiful, lyrical writing and a dangerously suspenseful plot. . .an unforgettable novel that readers will love." --Lucy Connors, author of The Lonesome Young

Sometimes secrets kill. Maybe slowly, maybe painfully. Maybe all at once.

Melissa smiles. She flirts. She jokes. But she never shows her scars. Eight months after tragedy ripped her from her closest friend, Melissa is broken. Inside her grows a tumor, fed by grief, rage, and the painful memory of a single forbidden kiss.

Javier has scars of his own: a bullet wound, and the memory of a cousin shot in the heart. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a boy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his familia, Javier joins the gang who set up his cousin's murder. The entrance price is blood. Death is the only escape.

These two broken souls could make each other whole again--or be shattered forever.

Our time will come. And we'll be ready.

Add it to Goodreads here

Amber Hart grew up in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. She now resides on the Florida coastline with family. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She's the author of BEFORE YOU, AFTER US, UNTIL YOU FIND ME, and sequel to UNTIL YOU FIND ME (untitled as of yet). Represented by Beth Miller of Writers House.






 

Release Day Launch + Giveaway: Forever Found by Nazarea Andrews

Forever Found RDL 
It's release day for Nazarea Andrews' Forever Found - a novella sequel to Girl Lost. For the first time, Nazarea is telling Peter Pan's story from Peter's eyes. Be sure to read all the way down for the excerpt she's sharing, as well as her fantastic giveaway!


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Forever Found Synopsis: 

Losing Gwen was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to survive. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love her. 

But finding her was never about that. And now that I have found her–now that she knows the truth about me and the Island, I have to trust her to believe. Because her leaving me didn’t just destroy me–its killing Neverland. 

I need her to love me. But we all need her to believe again. 

Peter Pan has grown up and found the girl who left–but the stakes are higher than ever in this romantic conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.    

Buy Links:  Forever Found on Amazon / Forever Found on Barnes and Nobles: pending
“You ran away.” 

She gives an unladylike snort. “You decided you were a delusion of my past, and then you expected me to sit there and listen to your insane ramblings. Thanks, but no. I can’t do that. I’ve had enough crazy for one life.” She bites her lip, and then blurts, “You stole my file, didn’t you? That’s how you know about the Boy.” 

“Do you remember the firefly meadow?” 

She goes still, and I smile, gently. “You do.” 

“That wasn’t real,” she whispers, and I feel the shudder. 

“We’d hide there, from the lost boys. And you’d fall asleep telling me your happy thoughts, and wake up to a galaxy of fireflies, and we’d chase them until you made yourself sick, laughing. And then I’d hold you and we’d stare at the stars, and you always said they were different. It smelled like jasmine and honey-“ 

“And wild woods and freedom,” she whispers, her blue eyes impossibly wide in her pretty face. I take a tentative step toward her, and touch her fingers.  

Why are your stars different? 

“It wasn’t a delusion, Gwendy. You know it wasn’t. Trust yourself.” 

She shudders. “Can’t. My mind lies. It wasn’t—“ 

“Gwendy,” I say, desperately. Her eyes are filling with tears and I can feel the disbelief, the way it will tear apart the world I’ve known, and the girl I’ve loved, and I can’t. I move without thinking, catch her head and bring her lips to mine.

Neverland series banner  
     

Girl Lost Synopsis:  
Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00025] 
Northern was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where people didn’t know who I was or how I had spent years in and out of mental institutes. People didn't know about my parents death or the island no one heard of. But when Peter sits next to me in lit class, I can’t stop the memories, and I don’t want to. He looks too much like the boy from the island, and despite my best intentions, coaxes my secrets from me. 

He’s gorgeous, irresistible, a little mad, and completely lost—we are a pair of broken cogs in a world neither of us truly fits into. He is somehow gentle and fierce, heartbreaking in his devotion and savage in his defense. 

When Belle, his best friend, shows up, pale and lovely and sick, Peter pulls away from me, a startling withdrawal. It’s a relationship that scares and confuses me. She is at times warm and friendly, and other times is violent and unpredictable. 

Peter says that he wants me, but refuses to let himself get close. And there are secrets, surrounding both of us, that border on nightmares. As the memories close in, as Belle gets sicker and more violent, I’m torn between what is true and what I believe, and what this magical boy knows about my mysterious past.  

1525096_10151826862048342_1551981715_nNazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She is the author of the University of Branton series, Neverland Found series, and Edge of the Falls. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Enter Nazarea's giveaway!!  
 




 

Release Day Launch + Giveaway: Heartlines by S.G. Holster

Heartlines RDL banner 
Today is the release day launch for Heartlines, the third book in S. G. Holster's Thirty Seconds to Die trilogy. She's got a fabulous giveaway as well, so read down to check out all the details!

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Heartlines Synopsis:  

Heartlines is not a standalone book. It is only meant to be read after first reading Thirty Seconds To Die and Terrible Lies. 

Sometimes in battle surrender is the strongest move of all. 

Brett Owen, the son of a Sentori leader, promised himself he’d never do the work of his brotherhood - killing reborn souls. He’d been naïve to make such a vow. He’d been naïve about a lot of things – such as the bond of family and love. 

Taunted by a Sentori hunter, Brett does whatever he can to survive, even if it means embracing his dark Sentori side and earning the unwanted attention of the Sentori leaders. His life had never looked so frantic. And all the while, his true family is infecting his heart and mind. 

When his heart is tied to an unexpected soul, he finds himself fighting for a future he desperately wants to live to see. It becomes clear that whatever freedoms Brett is hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Fragile lives that had been carefully woven together will be ripped apart swiftly and easily. 

Faith is betrayed. 

Remorse and innocence intertwine. 

Fate and chance collide to mend the tattered strands of Brett’s heart in the shocking conclusion to the Thirty Seconds To Die series.

Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | BN


Catch up on the series now!! 


Thirty_Seconds_To_Di_Cover_for_KindleAbout Thirty Seconds to Die

Lexi Flynn thought she could hide from her dreams. 

She thought her fears were all in her imagination. 

She couldn't imagine that after everything she'd been through, she could fall in love. 

She was wrong. 

An ancient society, one extraordinary letter, and the secret Alexandra Flynn would die for - again - to protect. 

For Lexi, life had always been - normal. But it only took one moment to change everything. Her life quickly becomes the opposite of normal when Ren Miller moves to the small community where she lives. Mysterious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Lexi discovers Ren is no stranger. They've met before - in another life. 

When Ren pulls her into his bizarre world of past lives and secret societies, all bets are off. They become the targets of the Sentori, an ancient, secret society who believes it must protect the sanctity humankind by killing those like Lexi and Ren, those who are reborn. 

In an effort to protect Ren from the Sentori, Lexi is forced to enlist the aid of the most unlikely of all allies. Her decision ignites a series of events that lead to a heartbreaking decision and a devastating conclusion. 

If your life was all you had to give, wouldn't you give it to save the only person you ever loved? 

Thirty Seconds to Die draws the reader deeply into a story of danger and flight, of love and hate, and of the extraordinary power of the spirit - human or otherwise.  

Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | BN



SMASH COVERTerrible Likes:  

This is the second novel in the Thirty Seconds To Die series. Ren and Lexi's story continues...  

"Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love." - John le Carre 

Against the odds, Lexi Flynn closed the passage for the souls. Fleeing to Alaska was a heartbreaking decision that has left her feeling devastated and alone. She wishes that her life could go back to normal. But as the protector for the passage and being pursued by superhuman assassins, it’s hard to tell what normal is. Just as she hits rock bottom, Ren sweeps in as her hero. 

Refusing to let her go, he attempts to rebuild her trust. What no one knows is that Ren needs Lexi to save him from his own devastation when a dark family secret is uncovered. Transformed by their decisions, their choices become irrevocable as they learn that some secrets should remain hidden. 

Lexi must fight to save those she loves while dealing with the conflicting emotions of grief, forgiveness, love, and while discovering the strength of her own identity.  

Terrible Lies author S.G. Holster’s second book of the Thirty Seconds to Die series, is an exciting journey with twists, heartbreak, romance and sacrifice.  
  
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | BN


S.G. HOLSTER lives in California with her husband and their two daughters. She is the author of the THIRTY SECONDS TO DIE series. The third and final book in the series, Heartlines, will be published late in 2014. 





 

December 29, 2014

Release Day Launch + Giveaway: A Necessary Sin by Georgia Cates



A Necessary Sin (Sin Trilogy #1)
Author: Georgia Cates
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 29, 2014

Description:

Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well.


Buy Links:  iBooks / Amazon


Sinclair Breckenridge’s POV:

“I’m in the business of boundaries and limits. I’m aware of what mine are and how far I’m willing to go to get my job accomplished. It can include lying and sometimes stealing.” I wait a moment for driving the last nail into the coffin. “And perhaps the occasional killing.”
“How do you feel when you do those things?”
“Powerful.” I purposely choose that word because it’s the one she used to describe how she felt when she brought Duff to his knees. I want her to see just how similar we are.
She watches out the window for a minute before speaking again. “Do you like the way it feels?”
I can’t lie. I get a high from it. “Very much.”
Another minute passes. “Okay.”
What? “Just … okay?”
“Would you like me to be horrified?” she asks. “I can do that if it would make you feel better or improve your opinion of me.”
She’s no fucking Pollyanna. So I guess there’s no reason for her to pretend to be. “No. Okay works for me.”
I’m not sure if I should be disturbed by her lack of appall. It feels like a double standard to be shocked by an absence of dismay.
My God, has the pot met the kettle? “I wish I could get inside your head.”
“No, you don’t,” she says. “My mind is a dark place to be.”
I think I may have met the perfect woman. In her eyes, I’m not a monster at all.


The Next Sin – Release Date – Feb 9th, 2015

One Last Sin – Release Date – March 23, 2015
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.