If You Only Knew Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

If You Only Knew
Author: Prerna Pickett
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

A boy recently released from jail and the daughter of a prosecutor fall for each other against the odds in this YA novel.

Corey has just been released from jail, and all he wants is a new beginning. But when his former gang comes knocking, Corey agrees to vandalize the home of Kent Hopper, the prosecutor who put him away.

To erase the guilt she carries from getting away with a crime, Tessa spends most of her nights riding her motorcycle. When she catches Corey destroying her father’s car, she doesn’t see a criminal: She sees a way to finally right her own wrongs. So instead of turning Corey over to the police, she convinces her father to give Corey a second chance.

As Tessa and Corey spend more time with each other, it becomes difficult to ignore the pull between them. But they’re both keeping secrets, and when those secrets come to light, they’ll each have to face their demons in order to have a future together.

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Vance unzipped the backpack he’d thrown onto the concrete floor when we’d first broken into the garage. He lifted a can of spray paint and tossed it to me. I thought they’d used all of them on the house.

“And that’s not all.” He tipped over the bag to show me the other cans he’d brought along. “Do your thing, Picasso.”

I should have known. Vance let me stay back while Drew and Jaimie worked on spraying the house and breaking windows earlier. He’d led me into a false sense of security, and now I knew why.

This was the finale. And I was conducting it.

I slipped on the painting mask and took in a deep breath. The familiar shape of the can held easier in my hand than the bat. The metal ball bearing clanged as I shook the can and squatted down. A hiss and my hands glided against the side of the car as I directed the flow of the paint, shaping it, creating. I was the master and the paint was my bitch.

Jaime and Drew tipped over the boxes sitting on the metal shelves, the sound ricocheting against the walls. Papers flew around me; one landed on my head before floating to the floor. But I couldn’t be bothered. I was in the zone. This was my aerosol- ridden heaven.

Every now and then, a crunch or squeal of broken glass managed to disturb my work but not enough to knock me out of the high I felt when painting.

Vance pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the flame flickering in the dark, showcasing the scar that sank on his left cheek. He never got his hands dirty with stuff like this. He made sure it got done, that we didn’t back down.

I ground my teeth and went back to work, spraying the finishing touches to my masterpiece.

An ache lanced along my muscles. I stood up and rubbed my shoulders, pulling my hoodie up over my head. June nights in Pennsylvania could be suffocating, but I didn’t want to risk being recognized and my dark sweatshirt did the job.

I cleared my throat. “We should get out of here.”

I’m a wife, mom, writer, reader. Lover of foods, beaches, the ocean, shoes, starry nights. Sometimes I pretend like I’m good at drawing.

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Just My Luck Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

Just My Luck
Author: Jennifer Honeybourn
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: July 16, 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads


Description:

Marty has terrible luck and she knows exactly why. While working as a housekeeper at the ritzy Grand Palms hotel in Maui, Marty made it a habit to steal small items from the guests. What better way to stick it to the rich snobs they have to clean up after? Marty knows how to turn her luck around — she just has to return all of the items she stole.

When Marty meets Will, a new guest who is staying for the summer, she does the one thing she always promised herself she’d never do — fall for an out-of-towner. But Will’s special, different from the other guests at the hotel. Maybe Marty’s luck is finally turning around.

After a string of misunderstandings and accidents threaten Will and Marty’s relationship, Marty has to find a way to fix her luck for good — or say goodbye to Will forever.

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“The tall one is cute.” 

I pick up a stapler, even though I have nothing to staple. “I didn’t notice.” 

Benjie scoffs. “When have you not noticed cute?” 

I frown. He’s right — every hot guy who crosses our path is usually up for immediate discussion. I don’t know why I’m being weird about Will. 

That’s a lie. I do know why — whatever it was that just passed between Will and me, it’s something I haven’t felt since Kahale. And look how that turned out. I don’t want Benjie to pick up on this, because he will never let it go. 

He sets the muffins in front of me. “You like him.” 

Okay, so obviously I’m not doing a very good job of hiding my feelings. 

“I don’t even know him,” I reply. 

“The beginning is the best part of a relationship.” Benjie sighs. “I remember those days.” 

“Those days were not that long ago,” I remind him. He’s only been with Aaron, one of the hotel’s chefs, for a couple of months. “And calm yourself. The last thing I’m interested in is a relationship.” 

“Fine — fling, dalliance, summer romance. Call it what you want,” he says. “I call it love.” 

I snort. “I talked to him for ten seconds.” And, okay, it was a pretty meaningful ten seconds, but still. Love is the furthest thing from what that was. 

I grab one of the chocolate chip muffins — one of the benefits of working with someone well connected to the kitchen — and take a large bite. I cry out as something crunches horribly in my mouth and an excruciating pain shoots through my gums. 

Benjie wrinkles his nose as I spit the muffin out into my hand.

“I think I just chipped my tooth.” 

“I don’t think that’s even possible,” he says. “Muffins are practically pre-chewed. There’s nothing to chip your tooth on.” 

But he moves a bit closer to me and peers into my mouth. “Oh my god!” he cries. “Half of your front tooth is missing!” 

I groan and run my tongue over the jaggedy edge of what’s left of my tooth. “Great.” 

“Maybe they can reattach it or something.” 

“It’s not like a finger,’ I say, but I dig the shard out of the spit-out remains of the muffin, just in case. My hands are shaking as I drop the shard of tooth into my pocket. 

I take a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. My luck seems to be getting worse with each passing day, and it’s starting to get to me. I’ve done everything I could think of to try and flip my karma — no sneaking out, no talking back to my mom (well, mostly), no taking things that don’t belong to me. I’ve picked up every penny I’ve come across on the street. I feng shui’d our entire house. I’ve hung horseshoes above my door, bought a rabbit’s foot — a faux one, but still. I even considered getting a four-leaf-clover tattoo, until I realized my mom would kill me dead, so I settled for a necklace with a charm of the lucky symbol instead. 

I’ve been a model citizen for an entire month. Nothing has worked. My luck still sucks. 

And I have no idea how to fix it.

Jennifer Honeybourn works in corporate communications in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. If she could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, she’d have high tea with Walt Disney, JK Rowling, and her nana. She lives with her husband, daughter and cat in a house filled with books. Wesley James Ruined My Life is her first novel.

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The Hummingbird Dagger Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

The Hummingbird Dagger
Author: Cindy Anstey
Genre: YA Historical Mystery
Publication Date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder.

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.

Fans of Cindy Anstey’s previous novels won’t want to miss The Hummingbird Dagger, a dark and twisty new offering that blends romance, danger and mystery.

Praise for Duels & Deception:

“Delightful … It is Jane Austen spiced with action, suspense, and humor.” —VOYA, starred review

“Jane Austen fans in need of a good new book, look no further.” —Entertainment Weekly

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Without a knock or a by-your-leave, the library doors burst open. Walter entered with great energy; Henry followed in his wake. Paying no heed to the fact that he was interrupting, Walter launched into a dramatic declaration.

“Life is so wild and unexpected! Life holds such excitement, especially in the spring. Do you not find?” he asked no one in particular and continued without hesitation, “Here I was in a fit of blue devils, for I was cruelly deprived of my curricle, suffered unwarranted criticisms, and then duties were pressed unjustly upon me. Bored and bored again, only to find Henry this morning with great news.” Walter’s drama was affecting no one but himself. “They have a guest at Risely Hall, recently of the West Indies. Full of stories and adventures. I am revived!” He turned to leave the room, as self-involved as when he entered it. “I am off.”

“Walter.” James did not raise his voice. “Where are you going?”

Walter’s smile slowly disappeared. “Why to Risely Hall, of course.”

James crossed his arms, and without taking his eyes off Walter, addressed Henry. “Thank you for dropping by, Mr. Thompson. Walter will, unfortunately, be unable to join you at Risely today. Or tomorrow.”

Walter snapped his jaw shut.

Henry bowed without a word and stepped into the hall. The footman quietly closed the door behind him. Stealthy footsteps faded away.

“Now see here, James. You cannot keep me here twiddling my thumbs in penance. I did not mean to force the stagecoach from the road.” Walter turned his appeal to Caroline. “Do not let him bully me like this, sweet sister. I will be miserable.”

James watched Caroline struggle to maintain her composure. Her mouth opened and closed silently until the heat in her face flushed to the roots of her hair.

“How dare you! How dare you think of your own selfish wants while that poor girl lies in bed half demented because of your carelessness!” She rose and stood in front of her younger brother. Somehow she managed to tower over the taller boy. “You had better make yourself useful, not only to James and me, but more important, to the young woman that you injured.

“Her family and friends will be sick with worry, sitting up night after night watching and waiting, praying for some word of her safety. And you, you are worried about being bored!” Caroline sat down, shaking with emotion.

The room was silent. No one mentioned that only one night had passed.

Walter had the good sense to look contrite and cowed. “I had not thought of it that way. Mrs. Fogel said she was doing fine. I thought...I thought—”

“That is the trouble, Walter; you were not thinking.” James shook his head, swallowing the lump of anger in his throat.

Walter’s shoulders dropped, and he found great fascination in the pattern of the carpet.

Caroline took a deep breath and rose to her feet. “James, could you introduce your brother to our guest? I am in need of some fresh air.” She turned to Walter. “You will do whatever you can to make her comfortable. You will talk to her, you will make her laugh, and you will read to her. You will ease her troubled mind and distract her. You will fetch her tea if she wants it.” She raised her hand to silence him before he spoke. “Daisy has other duties. Beth will be yours. There will be consequences if I find you dallying.”

Tight-lipped, Caroline left the room. Her careful footsteps and the swish of her gown could be heard through the doorway.

Whenever she is not sitting at the computer, throwing a ball in the backyard, gardening or reading, Cindy can be found–actually, not found–adventuring around the world with her hubby.

She has lived on three continents, had a monkey in her yard and a scorpion under her sink, dwelt among castles and canals, enjoyed the jazz of Beale St and attempted to speak French.

Cindy loves history, mystery and… a chocolate Labrador called Chester.

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The Impossibility of Us Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

The Impossibility of Us
Author: Katy Upperman
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

The last thing Elise wants is to start her senior year in a new town. But after her brother’s death in Afghanistan, she and her mother move from San Francisco to a sleepy coastal village.

When Elise meets Mati, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Mati is new to town too, visiting the U.S. with his family. Over the course of the summer, their relationship begins to blossom, and what starts out as a friendship becomes so much more.

But as Elise and Mati grow closer, her family becomes more and more uncomfortable with their relationship, and their concerns all center on one fact—Mati is Afghan.

Beautifully written, utterly compelling, and ultimately hopeful, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US asks—how brave can you be when your relationship is questioned by everyone you love?

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She is beautiful like shattered glass— 
sharp, asymmetrical, unique.

She is soaked in seawater, 
and smells of salt. 
She is shades of pomegranate and peach. 
She struggles to breathe, 
as if the air is mud-thick, 
too viscous to inhale.

I know the feeling.

She is exhausted, because of me. 
My swim-gone-wrong. 
My naiveté, my foolishness.

She falls, falls, falls to the ground, 
nestling into the sand like a seashell.

She peers up at me, 
eyes hard, expression hostile. 
She wants me to go.

Instead, I sink down to sit beside her.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” she rasps. 
“You could have drowned!”

She could have drowned, 
and I would have been responsible.

She wrings the ocean from her long ponytail, 
then pulls her shirt, drenched and transparent, 
from where it clings. 
I am tired and I am troubled, 
but I am mesmerized by her movements— 
I am mesmerized by her.

She glares, flagrant, and I shrink into myself. 
I avert my gaze; my face sizzles with shame.

A dog bounds over—her dog. 
It is discordantly cheerful, 
covered in wet, wheat-colored curls. 
It licks salty water from her face. 
She gives its head an amiable pat, 
while scowling at me.

Finally, she snaps, “You’re welcome.” 

As if I have thanked her.

I should. I should say something. 
Instead, I shiver against harsh wind, 
and commit her features to memory.

She is a heart-shaped mouth. 
She is slick caramel hair.
She is bottomless brown eyes. 
Even in anger, she is dazzling.

Katy Upperman is a graduate of Washington State University, a former elementary school teacher, and an insatiable reader. When not writing for young adults, Katy can be found whipping up batches of chocolate chip cookies or exploring the country with her husband and daughter. KISSING MAX HOLDEN is her debut novel; her sophomore novel, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US, will be available summer, 2018.

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Love Me, Love Me Not Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

Love Me, Love Me Not
Author: S.M. Koz
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

Family, abandonment, and forbidden romance are at the core of SM Koz’s powerful and emotionally charged novel about a teen who falls for her foster brother.
When Hailey Brown is removed from her home and put into foster care, all she wants is a safe, comfortable place where she can finish school and move on with her life. It’s not easy adjusting to a new school and a new life, but Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and their teenage son, Brad, welcome Hailey with open arms.

As Hailey begins to adjust to her new life, she and Brad grow closer. For the first time, Hailey feels like she might have a real shot at a future. Soon, however, Hailey realizes her relationship with Brad has crossed the line from friendship into something more. But being with Brad would mean giving up the perfect life that Hailey has waited so long to have.

Can Hailey and Brad resist the feelings that are developing between them—or will they risk it all to be together?

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, SM Koz delivers a powerful debut about the ups and downs of being a foster child.

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I have to talk to Brittany. This whole Brad thing is messing with my head. For the past four nights, I hardly got any sleep as homecoming kept replaying in my mind. I finally decided I needed help. Maybe someone on the outside can provide me with a better perspective and get my stupid hormones in line.

“Can we talk?” I ask, sliding in next to her and her friends.

“What’s up?” she replies.

I motion for her to follow me to the other end of the table so we can have some privacy.

“This must be big,” she says, pulling a fruit cup out of her lunch bag.

“I like Brad.”

There. I said it. You can’t fix a problem until you admit you have one, right?

“No kidding,” she replies, rolling her eyes.

“This is a huge problem!”

“How so?”

“He’s my foster brother! What is wrong with me? How can I even think of him like that?”

She opens her fruit, then says, “Because he’s hot as hell and the nicest guy in school?”

“And also my brother.”

“Come on,” she says, waving the plastic lid in her hand. “He’s not really your brother.”

I stare at her like she’s got a unicorn horn coming out of her forehead. “He is as long as I’m living in his home with his parents. Do you ever think about your foster brother’s gorgeous eyes?”

She cringes. “No, gross.”

“Exactly my point.”

“Jonas is ten, Hailey.”

“Oh.” I thought he was older. “I need to figure out a way to only think sister thoughts around him.”

She drains the fruit cup in three bites. “I’m pretty sure he’s not thinking brotherly thoughts around you.”

“What? Of course he is. He’s been the perfect big brother.”

She searches in her lunch bag for something while saying, “I saw the way he looked at you at homecoming.” She pulls out her hand, holding a plastic bag of Oreos. “Michelle wishes she could get that look. Want one?”

I grab an Oreo. “You’re being ridiculous. He was acting nice. Trying to make me comfortable.”

“Uh-huh,” she says, laying the cookies on the table and reaching down to her backpack on the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Texting a friend. I want to know if there’s a DSS rule about dating your foster sibling.”

I practically spit out my Oreo. “Of course there is!”

She shakes her head. “I’m not so sure. They want us to be normal. They aren’t going to tell us we can’t date.”

“Dating in general is way different than dating the boy whose house you live in.”

She types a message and then lays her phone on the table. “Maybe.”

When I’m done with the cookie, I turn to my chicken wings. After swallowing a bite, I ask, “How do you convince yourself a guy is physically repulsive?”

“Never gonna happen with Brad.”

“It has to happen.” If not, I’ll end up driving myself crazy.

Her phone vibrates on the table and she picks it up. After scanning the screen, she says, “Bummer.”

“What?” I ask, licking sauce off my fingers and craning my neck to see her phone.

“There were two foster kids in the same house who started dating a while back. DSS moved one of them somewhere else. So, you’ve got to decide—Brad or your placement.”

“There’s nothing to decide. Brad’s not into me. I just need to get my hormones under control.”

She smiles. “Maybe if you convince yourself he’s a serial killer?”

I frown. “That’s the best you’ve got?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

SM KOZ is a medical writer from North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and numerous pets. She has a BS in Biology from Duke University and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, photographing nature and her family, gardening, travelling, and attempting, usually unsuccessfully, to decorate birthday cakes. Love Me, Love Me Not is her first traditionally published novel.

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The Brightsiders Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

The Brightsiders
Author: Jen Wilde
Genre: YA Contemporary/LGBTQ+
Publication Date: May 22, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

A teen rockstar has to navigate family, love, coming out, and life in the spotlight after being labeled the latest celebrity trainwreck in Jen Wilde’s quirky and utterly relatable novel.
As a rock star drummer in the hit band The Brightsiders, Emmy King’s life should be perfect. But there’s nothing the paparazzi love more than watching a celebrity crash and burn. When a night of partying lands Emmy in hospital and her girlfriend in jail, she’s branded the latest tabloid train wreck.

Luckily, Emmy has her friends and bandmates, including the super-swoonworthy Alfie, to help her pick up the pieces of her life. She knows hooking up with a band member is exactly the kind of trouble she should be avoiding, and yet Emmy and Alfie Just. Keep. Kissing.

Will the inevitable fallout turn her into a clickbait scandal (again)? Or will she find the strength to stand on her own?

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When we pull up to the building, photographers and TV cameras are waiting. Chloe untwists the lid of their plum brown lipstick and slides it over their bottom lip. I must have seen them wear it a hundred times, but it always looks amazing. It compliments the green hues in their eyes and their dark brown skin perfectly. One of the many things we have in common is that we both wear make-up like knights wear suits of armor. I hope mine protects me from the arrows coming my way today.

The driver steps out of the car first, doubling as our bodyguard. Paparazzi rap their knuckles on the window. TMZ, Entertainment Now, and a host of other celeb gossip reporters are here, their lenses pointed right at me.

"Oh, God," I groan.

"Neutral," Chloe says. I nod.

I dab a fresh layer of powder over my nose, ease my sunglasses over my eyes and step out of the car. I keep my head down as our bodyguard pushes through the crowd. I don't cry. I don't smile. Not even when the barrage of questions start.

"How are you, today, Emmy?"

"Hey Chloe! Are you on babysitting duty today?"

"Have you been drinking this morning, Em?"

“Where’s Jessie this morning? Still in jail?”

"Are you an alcoholic, Emmy?"

"Emmy! How does it feel to hit rock bottom?"

Security ushers us into the foyer and we hurry to the elevators, desperate to get out of sight.

“You’ve got this,” Chloe says when we reach the top floor.

Jen Wilde is a writer, geek and fangirl with a penchant for coffee, books and pugs. She writes YA stories about zombies (AS THEY RISE), witches (ECHO OF THE WITCH) and fangirls (QUEENS OF GEEK). Her debut series reached over three million reads online and became an Amazon bestseller. Her next book, THE BRIGHTSIDERS, comes out May 2018, and GOING OFF-SCRIPT releases Summer 2019.

When she’s not writing, Jen loves binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix, eating pizza, traveling to far away places and going to conventions in Marty McFly cosplay.

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A Prom to Remember Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

 

A Prom to Remember
Author: Sandy Hall
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads

Description:

Love it or hate it, you’ll never forget it. In this heart-warming novel, Swoon Reads star, Sandy Hall, explores a classic high school celebration, capturing every relatable and hilarious teen milestone along the way.

Cora: Dating Perfect Boyfriend Jamie. Has NO IDEA how to break up with him…

Paisley: Anti-prom. Somehow nominated her anxiety-ridden best friend for prom king…

Henry: Hates social situations. Invited to prom by the most popular girl in school. SEND HELP!

Otis: Half of one of the cutest couples in his class. Not quite ready for a post-prom hotel room…

Lizzie: Shy. Excited to go to prom. With a boy. Whose name she doesn’t know.

Cameron: Loner. Over high school. Just wants to meet the mysterious girl who’s been leaving him notes…

Jacinta: Unnamed Nerd Girl #3. Determined to become the star of her own life, starting with prom…

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, A Prom to Remember, from Sandy Hall (author of A Little Something Different), is a funny and cinematic look at the biggest dance of every high schooler’s life.

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The first message had started with:


So I’m bored. I’m going to ask you a million questions (or maybe just five) on the off chance you’ll answer them and then I’ll have something fun to read. Please respond in complete sentences. The five questions are as follows:


* What’s your favorite color?
* Can you use chopsticks?
* What’s your first memory?
* What do you want to be when you grow up?
* Do you have a name?


He happily responded to all her questions.


My favorite color is green. But like LIME GREEN. A green that can be seen from outer space. A green so green you can practically taste it.


I cannot use chopsticks.


Number three is a difficult question. Because memory is a weird thing, isn’t it? Do I really remember a certain moment, or is it because I’ve seen pictures of it and heard the story a million times? I would say that prob­ ably my first memory is being in a minor car accident with my mom when I was four or five. I know there are no photographs of this moment slipped into family scrapbooks. No one was hurt, it was only a small fender bender, but it’s a pretty traumatic event for a kid. Also, I was really into police cars, so I remember when they arrived on the scene very distinctly.


Oh man. I have no clue what I want to be when I grow up. I had no idea that I’d be quizzed on this today, and I have no answer. “Something that’s not terrible” is about as specific as I can get.

As for your last query, yes, I do have a name. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer not to share it. It’s kind of fun being anonymous.

And I ask you the same million (or five) questions.


When he got the laptop the next time, Laptop Girl had answered and he had to work pretty hard not to laugh too much at her responses.


My favorite color is now lime green. You’ve convinced me. A green so green that you can almost taste it.

I am surprisingly good at chopsticks. I got a little obsessed with them after my aunt took me out to hibachi for my sixth birthday. I wanted des­perately to be able to use them, so she took her time to show me, and after dropping several pieces of chicken on the floor, I managed to get one in my mouth.

Funny enough, I’m pretty sure that my birthday hibachi dinner is also my first real memory. There are other moments, but they’re more like images than memories, like a trip to the zoo and getting a new couch. I really REMEMBER the restaurant and the onion volcano.

I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I was hoping that you’d have an idea and I could steal it, much like your favorite color.

I, too, have a name, but I won’t be sharing because you’re right, ano­nymity is fun.

I’m a teen librarian from New Jersey where I was born and raised. I have a BA in Communication and a Master of Library and Information Science from Rutgers University. When I’m not writing, or teen librarian-ing, I enjoy reading, slot machines, marathoning TV shows, and long scrolls through Tumblr. A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT is my first novel.

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Dreamer Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

 

Dreamer (Traveler #2)
Author: L.E. DeLano
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Description:

This thrilling sequel to Traveler doles out adventure and heartbreak in equal measure as it takes readers through a kaleidoscope of intricately crafted worlds of wonder, discovery, and danger.

You’re still you no matter where you go.

Jessa has learned the hard way that traveling to alternate dimensions isn’t all delicious, glittering desserts and fancy parties: it also means accidentally running into people she thought she’d never see again. Still mourning a devastating loss, Jessa isn’t really prepared for the arrival of a reckless version of someone she once loved who is now bent on revenge. Add an increasingly complicated relationship with her best friend Ben, the reappearance of an old enemy, and the threat of the multiverse collapsing, and Jessa’s got a lot on her plate. She may be destined to help save an infinite multitude of worlds… but in the end, all Jessa really wants to do is save her friends.

In Dreamer, the young adult fantasy follow up to Traveler, author L. E. DeLano delivers a gripping, emotional story that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.

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Dreamer is the second book in an exciting young adult fantasy series that fans are sure to love. There are plenty of books about time travel, but rarely do you find alternate realities. The idea is a breath of fresh air to me - mostly because instead of one or even two realities, there are so many varying ones in the world the author creates for the characters. With every mirror and dream being portals to alternate realities - the possibilities are basically endless, and that brings a ton of possibilities to life before our eyes. I loved learning even more about the Travelers and what they're able to do, along with all of the intriguing things the alternate realities contain. I'm personally fascinated by the theory of alternate realities and the multiverse, so this gave me a lot to think about. I loved how the author shows that there are always the same people in each universe, but they might not be the same as the one you know personally. It's kind of confusing, but if you read the book - you'll understand it much better than I'm trying to explain.

The major characters are complex and rounded with unique traits. Jessa, our main character, is the narrator of the book. She's a fellow lover of books and writing - and that only made me like her more. I easily reconnected with her and it soon felt like there hadn't been any time since Traveler. She grows and matures even more over the course of the novel, and I liked watching her change and adapt. The story is told from Jessa's perspective, in the first person - which is by far my favorite style of writing. I think it's a perfect fit for the book. It wouldn't have had the same kind of effect on me as a reader if it had been done differently. I'm excited to see where the next book will take them and what sort of trouble they'll find. I'm looking forward to learning more about Travelers and their gifts, and getting to know the characters even better in the coming books. Recommended for fans of YA fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, supernatural, and even romance.

L.E. DeLano is a YA novelist rep’d by Barry Goldblatt Literary agency, author of the upcoming “Traveler” (Swoon Reads/MacMillan 2017) and lifelong writer. Her work has been featured on various online outlets and she lives in Pennsylvania with two very adventurous kids and two very ridiculous cats. In her spare time, she writes (of course) and binge-watches way too much Netflix.

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