The Life Below Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

The Life Below (The Final Six #2)
Author: Alexandra Monir 
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis:

As Naomi lifts off into space and away from a rapidly deteriorating Earth, she watches the world fade away, and along with it Leo, a Final Six contestant she grew close to during training. Leaving Earth behind is hard, but what’s ahead, on Europa, could be worse. The International Space Training Camp continues to hide the truth about what happened to the last group of astronauts who attempted a similar colonization but failed mysteriously. With one shot—at this mission and to Europa—Naomi is determined to find out if there is alien life on Europa before she and her crew get there.

Leo, back on Earth, has been working with renegade scientist Dr. Greta Wagner, who promises to fly him to space where he can essentially latch on to Naomi’s ship. And if Wagner’s hypothesis is right, it isn’t a possibility of coming in contact with extraterrestrial life on Europa—it’s a definite. With Naomi unaware of what awaits, it’s up to Leo to find and warn her and the others.

With all the pieces of their journey finally clicking into place, everything else starts to fall apart. A storm threatens to interfere with Leo’s takeoff, a deadly entity makes itself known to the Final Six, and the questions the ISTC has been avoiding about the previous failed mission get answered in the worst way possible. If the dream was to establish a habitable domain on Europa… the Final Six are about to enter a nightmare.

The Life Below is the fantastic second book in a great young adult science fiction series that will suck readers in from the beginning until the very end. I personally like the genre, and have read other books by the author - which I also liked - but for some reason I was blown away by how much I loved this book. It was as described, but it ended up being so much more. I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's the best way I can describe it. I started reading it not quite expecting to be blown away, but I was immediately drawn into the story line and ended up reading the entire novel in one sitting without stopping. The plot might not have been wholly original, but the author put a lot of personalized touches to make it fresh and different than others I've read. The story line had something for everyone - science fiction, action, mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance.

Two main things about the book really stood out for me. First were the characters. The main characters - Leo and Naomi - were well rounded and complex. They both had intricate personalities, histories, and were incredibly realistic. I connected with each of them almost immediately. Being the two main characters, there's bound to be a romantic aspect to the story, which is what happened here. I normally don't like when that happens because it feels like the romance overshadows the actual plot. I didn't feel that way with these two. I loved watching them meet for the first time and then watching their feelings grow throughout the story. It was sweet and actually made the novel better for me instead of detracting from it. 

The second huge positive was the author choice of writing style. She used the first person point of view, but alternated between Leo and Naomi as narrators. This way, the reader gets to see the story unravel from both perspectives and we get to really know each character on a personal level. That is always a huge bonus for me and this was no exception. I loved learning each of their hopes, dreams, fears, memories, and everything in between. It made them feel all the more realistic to me, which also turns their romance into something more alive and true. Overall, this book went way above any hopes or expectations I had for it and was an explosive second novel in the series. I definitely recommend it for fans of YA, science fiction, contemporary, romance, action/adventure, and space travel.

 

Alexandra Monir, Iranian-American author and recording artist, has published five novels for young adults, including her popular debut, Timeless. A Barnes & Noble best-seller and one of Amazon’s “Best Books of the Month,” Timeless and its sequel, Timekeeper, have been featured in numerous media outlets and been published in different countries around the world. She followed the duology with Suspicion and The Girl in the Picture, both standalone YA thrillers. Her upcoming science fiction novel, THE FINAL SIX (March 6, 2018) was acquired by HarperCollins and Sony Pictures during the same week, in two major pre-emptive deals.

Alexandra is also a singer/songwriter who often integrates music into her books’ pages. She wrote and recorded three original songs to accompany Timeless and Timekeeper, which were released as the album “The Timeless EP” and distributed by Jimmy Buffett’s record label, Mailboat Records. She also recorded a song that was released with the publication of Suspicion, and is composing a stage musical geared toward Broadway. Her musical roots are deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, the foremost Iranian opera singer.

Alexandra Monir is a frequent speaker at middle schools and high schools across the country, and at major events including fan conventions, women’s leadership conferences, and book festivals. She is a member of the Iranian American Women Foundation, an organization near to her heart. Alexandra currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and newborn son. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.

Win a copy of THE LIFE BELOW by Alexandra Monir (US Only)

Starts: February 18, 2020

Ends: March 3, 2020

a Rafflecopter giveaway 







 

The Final Six Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

The Final Six
Author: Alexandra Monir
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen

Description:

When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.

For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

As the race to the final six advances, the tests get more challenging—even deadly. With pressure mounting, Naomi finds an unexpected friend in Leo, and the two grow closer with each mind-boggling experience they encounter. But it’s only when the finalists become fewer and their destinies grow nearer that the two can fathom the full weight of everything at stake: the world, the stars, and their lives.  

Praise for THE FINAL SIX:

“A breathtakingly real look at love, loss, and the dangers of space, THE FINAL SIX skyrockets into twists and turns I never saw coming!” ―Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of Across the Universe series

“I sat down to read a bit before bed and then it was two a.m. and the book was half gone. This is a space competition of epic proportions, loaded with disturbing hidden secrets and intense action. Your eyes will be glued to the page.” ―Kendare Blake, #1 NYT bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns

“Compelling, cinematic, and fascinating. I can’t wait to read what happens next in the mission to Europa!” ―Romina Russell, New York Times bestselling author of the Zodiac series  

The Final Six is a fantastic new young adult science fiction novel that will suck readers in from the beginning words until the very end. I personally like the genre, and have read other books by the author - which I also liked - but for some reason I was blown away by how much I loved this book. It was as described, but it ended up being so much more too. I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's the best way I can describe it. I started reading it not quite expecting to be blown away, but I was immediately drawn into the story line and ended up reading the entire novel in one sitting without stopping. The plot might not have been wholly original, but the author put a lot of personalized touches to make it fresh and different than others I've read. The story line had something for everyone - science fiction (obviously), action, mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance. 

Two main things about the book stood out for me. First were the characters. The main characters - Leo and Naomi - were well rounded and complex. They both had intricate personalities, histories, and were incredibly realistic. I connected with each of them almost immediately. Being the two main characters, there's bound to be a romantic aspect to the story, which is what happened here. I normally don't like when that happens because it feels like the romance overshadows the actual plot. I didn't feel that way with these two. I loved watching them meet for the first time and then watching their feelings grow throughout the story. It was sweet and actually made the novel better for me instead of detracting from it. The second huge positive was the author choice of writing style. She used the first person point of view, but alternated between Leo and Naomi as narrators. This way, the reader gets to see the story unravel from both perspectives and we get to really know each character on a personal level. That is always a huge bonus for me and this was no exception. I loved learning each of their hopes, dreams, fears, memories, and everything in between. It made them feel all the more realistic to me, which also turns their romance into something more alive and true. Overall, this book went way above any hopes or expectations I had for it and I definitely recommend it for fans of YA, science fiction, contemporary, romance, action/adventure, and space travel.

 

Iranian-American author and recording artist Alexandra Monir has published five novels for young adults, including her popular debut, Timeless. A Barnes & Noble bestseller and one of Amazon’s “Best Books of the Month,” Timeless and its sequel, Timekeeper, have been featured in numerous media outlets and been published in different countries around the world. She followed the duology with Suspicion and The Girl in the Picture, both standalone YA thrillers. Her upcoming science fiction novel, THE FINAL SIX (March 6, 2018) was acquired by HarperCollins and Sony Pictures on the same week, in two major pre-emptive deals.
 

Alexandra is also a singer/songwriter who often integrates music into her books’ pages. She wrote and recorded three original songs to accompany Timeless and Timekeeper, which were released as the album The Timeless EP and distributed by Jimmy Buffett's record label, Mailboat Records. She also recorded a song that was released with the publication of Suspicion, and is composing a stage musical geared toward Broadway. Her musical roots are deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, the foremost Iranian opera singer.
 

Alexandra Monir is a frequent speaker at middle schools and high schools across the country and at major events including fan conventions, women’s leadership conferences, and book festivals. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and newborn son. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.

    

 

(1) Winner will be chosen for an Exclusive Skype call with Alexandra.
(1) Winner will receive The Final Six Swag by Alexandra Monir.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway






 

Suspicion Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Suspicion blog tour presented by Random House Children's Books! Today I have my review of the book - and don't forget to enter to win your own copy!

Suspicion

Author: Alexandra Monir

Genre: YA Mystery/Fantasy

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Description:

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

"There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.

Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride.

Praise:

"Take The Princess Diaries and add magic, murder and mystery, and you've got SUSPICION. A delightful read!"— Amy Plum, author of the of the international bestselling Die For Me series

"If Hitchcock had directed Downton Abbey, the result would have been this book. Alexandra Monir takes us on a gripping, nonstop thrill ride with just the right amount of supernatural and an ending that you definitely won't suspect. I devoured it in one sitting."— Jessica Brody, bestselling author of the Unremembered trilogy

Suspicion is a gripping mystery filled with twists and turns that will have the reader eagerly devouring each page to find out what will happen next. The story begins with our leading lady, Imogen Rockford, trying to live a normal life in NYC after the tragic deaths of her parents seven years prior. After her parents died, she was sent to live with her godparents - close friends and neighbors of the family. All these years later, Imogen is beginning to believe that she can let the past rest and move on with her life - until a mysterious man named Harry Morgan begins calling her and sending her letters. Imogen finally contacts Harry behind her "parents" backs, only to find out that her grandfather and her dear cousin Lucia have both passed away - leaving her as the sole heir to Rockford Manor, as well as a Dutchess. Imogen feels it's her duty to her family to accept her new title and inheritance, and moves to Rockford Manor in England. Things at the mansion are not as she remembers them and it seems as though secrets and lies haunt the halls - even hinting that the deaths of her family members weren't accidents at all. Everything that happened all those years ago, combined with all the strange occurrences now, have one thing at the center of both - Imogen. Along with Sebastian - a close childhood friend that she was in love with years ago. With nothing as it seems, will Imogen and Sebastian be able to unravel the mystery surrounding Rockford Manor before it's too late?

This was a really quick and fun read for me. I have to admit that the story was pretty slow at the beginning and it felt like it was dragging along and going nowhere. Once the action and mystery picked up, however, the pace quickened and I found myself lost in the pages. There were so many secrets, lies, twists, and turns throughout this book that it was constantly throwing me off. I would think that I had it all figured out, only to have a huge twist in the plot happen and break apart my theory. I always enjoy trying to figure out the big mystery of a book before the main characters do, but this one was hard to pinpoint - which made it all the more entertaining for me as a reader. The characters were pretty rounded, especially Imogen and Sebastian. I liked watching their relationship rekindle once Imogen returns to England, and I have to admit that I was totally rooting them on. The writing itself was well written overall, but it did have some areas that seemed to drag on with no point and began to bore me (like at the beginning, as I mentioned above). There are parts like this throughout the book, which really dampened my experience as a reader because my mind would start to wander and go off on tangents - until I finally made myself pay attention again until the plot picked back up. Overall, this was a good book and a fantastic mystery - I absolutely loved the dark feel of the setting as well as the strange happenings and, of course, the romance between Imogen and Sebastian. I would recommend this book to fans of the genre as well as those who like retellings or reimaginings of classic titles.

Author and recording artist Alexandra Monir broke onto the scene in her early twenties with the release of her popular debut YA novel, the paranormal romance TIMELESS (Delacorte Press/Random House). The book caught on quickly, landing on the Barnes & Noble Bestsellers chart and being named one of Amazon's "Best Books of the Month." The sequel, TIMEKEEPER, was published in 2013. Both books in the series have been featured in a variety of media, from USA Today to teen magazines and websites such as J-14, JustJaredJr, Teen.com and Justine Magazine. SUSPICION (Random House; December 9, 2014) marks Alexandra's first novel outside of the Timeless series, as well as her first foray into the mystery genre. Her fourth YA novel for Random House will be published in April 2016.

Alexandra is also a singer/songwriter, known for integrating music into her books' pages. She wrote and recorded three original songs to accompany TIMELESS and TIMEKEEPER, which were released as the album "The Timeless EP" and distributed by Jimmy Buffett's record label, Mailboat Records. She additionally recorded a new song to be released along with Suspicion, and is composing a stage musical geared toward Broadway. Alexandra is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, the foremost Persian opera singer.

Alexandra currently resides in Los Angeles, California. She has been invited to speak at middle schools and high schools across the country, and at major events including Comic-Con, Bouchercon, the Iranian-American Women's Leadership Conference, and New York Public Library's annual Teen Author Festival, among others. (Author info and image taken from Goodreads)

Author Links:
http://www.alexandramonir.com/ 
http://www.twitter.com/TimelessAlex 
https://www.facebook.com/TimelessSeries?ref=br_tf 

Giveaway: (1) Hardcover copy of SUSPICION - Open to US only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway