Tour: Shattered Veil

Check out the Tour Schedule!

Shattered Veil by Tracy E. Banghart

Publication Date: February 28th, 2014

Amazon/Barnes and Noble

For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face—and the one promise she swore she’d never break.

In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.

As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.

Interview with Tracy E. Banghart 

1. Can you describe Shattered Veil in 3 words?

intense, complex, intriguing

2. What do you do when you are not writing? What are your hobbies?

I have a 15 month old son, so he takes up pretty much every moment that I'm not writing! Not exactly a hobby, but he's the coolest and we have a ton of fun together. :-)

3. How did you choose the genre you write in?

I have always gravitated most towards young adult books. They were the ones that sparked my imagination as a young person, and they're the ones that I still find the most entertaining to read now, as an adult. I feel YA is where my writing style fits best. Of course, within YA, I like to explore different sub-genres. I've written paranormal romance, scifi, and I have a fantasy coming out this summer. 

4. How did you come up with the titles of your books

For some reason I really enjoy two-word titles for my books. Usually I come up with my titles before I start writing (I knew Moon Child's title before I wrote a single word), but sometimes they change as I go along. I'd actually completely forgotten about this, but I was looking at my first draft of Shattered Veil the other day…its original title was "To Find You". Personally, I think Shattered Veil is a much better fit. Veils so often hide things - faces, the truth - and the book has a lot to do with exploring identity/truth and shattering barriers.

5. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

My advice is to keep writing. This business can be awfully discouraging, no matter what path you choose towards publication, and it's easy to let the world tell you you're not good enough. The only way to prove the naysayers wrong is to keep writing, keep working on your craft, keeping pushing forward. You never know which of your books will strike a chord with an agent, an editor, or thousands of readers!

6. Do you have any pets?

I do! I have two dogs - Scrabble and Koko - and a cat, Mia. They are all very cuddly and much-loved. Scrabble is our clean-up crew after our son eats his meals. ;-)

7. What are your two favorite colors and why?

Turquoise and hot pink. I'm not sure why they're my favorite, but I love pretty much anything with that color combo. They were even the colors at my wedding! (I had hot pink streaks in my hair and my bridesmaids wore gorgeous turquoise dresses. They looked awesome!)

Giveaway

4 prizes: 

--$50 Amazon gift card (INTL) 

--3x "swag packs" which will include: a notebook, magnet, button, 2 signed bookmarks, and Shattered Veil-themed temporary tattoos - picture below. (US/CAN)

a Rafflecopter giveaway Hope you enjoyed the interview!!!

Top Ten Tuesday #31

Top Ten Most Popular Authors I've Never Read
Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish


1. Victoria Schwaub
I really want to read Vicious and The Archived!

2. Brandon Sanderson
I've heard such great things. Why haven't I read his books before???

3. Ransom Riggs
I will soon remedy this as I bought Miss Pergrine's the other day!

4. Neil Gaiman
I've heard he is a very interesting writer!

5. Lauren DeStefano
I've never had much of a interest surrounding her books, but there has been so much hype!

6. A.S. King
According to her fans, King's books are amazing!

WOW, that is all I can say after extensive (I'm not kidding) research. Seems like I have read all the "Popular YA Authors".

What's on your list? :)

Blog Tour: Solving for Ex (Review + Giveaway)

Follow the tour schedule!

Solving For Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans

Publication Date: February 11th, 2014

Genre: YA Contemporary

Amazon/Barnes and Noble

1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.

Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy. 

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the
battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.

SOLVING FOR EX is a YA contemporary romance that remixes Mansfield Park as Clueless meets Mean Girls in a crazy mix of high school society, mathletic competition, and teenage romance. 

Praise for SOLVING FOR EX by LeighAnn Kopans

“Amazing! If you like Sarah Dessen you will LOVE this.”

• Emma Pass, author of Acid and The Fearless (Random House)

"Putting a modern spin on a Jane Austen classic, Solving for Ex proves that brains can be sexier than brawn. In this complicated equation of high school drama, mean girls, mathletics, and romance, LeighAnn delivers yet another beautifully written young adult novel that authentically captures teenage emotions while also capturing the reader's heart."

• Nikki Godwin, author of Chasing Forever Down, American Girl on Saturn, and the upcoming Falling from the Sky

“Ashley is the kind of girl you want to root for, smart and capable and self-assured, despite of, or maybe because of, her vulnerabilities. And in Brenden, LeighAnn has crafted a boy worth of such a girl. Through all the heartbreak and angst of high school, their connection is undeniable and pressing. It's elementary, dear readers - Solving for Ex is one must-read romance.”

• Jenny Kaczorowski, author of The Art of Falling (Bloomsbury 2013)

“If you only read one book in 2014, make sure it's Solving For Ex! I sincerely doubt that you'd regret reading it; it's intelligent, hilarious, intense and touching…Honestly one of the most amazing books I have ever read.”

• Luciana Scath, blogger at Figments of our Imagination

Solving Ex was such a fun, cute read! I read this delightful contemporary at just the right time, when I needed something addicting and adorable! All you have to do is look at the cover and you will start to see how fun this book was. 

I loved how Solving for Ex incorporated awesome math into so many pages! While I hate math homework, I am a fan of math itself and it was so refreshing to read about the Ashley’s Mathletes team. 

Also, this book managed to surprise me. Perhaps I am just not a good guesser, but I felt like the author successfully hinted at a false ending. I was pleasantly surprised about the events that unfolded at the end of the book. The ending definitely bumped up my rating of Solving for Ex to four stars!

Ashley was is no way a flawless narrater. She has realistic faults. However, I liked that she loved math. Also, I liked reading from her entertaining viewpoint. There were time I didn’t like Ashley’s decision making skills, but overall I though that Kopans has created a pretty cool main character.

Overall, math fans and people in a contemporary mood will gobble up Solving for Ex. I cannot wait to see what Kopans publishes next!

*I received Solving For Ex for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not bribed with money, a free math tutor, or a fluffy chihuahua.*

4/5 Stars

Giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Review: Fake ID

Fake ID by Lamar Giles
Publication Date: January 21st, 2014
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: HarperCollins
Amazon/Barnes and Noble

Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight…

My name isn’t really Nick Pearson.

I shouldn’t tell you where I’m from or why my family moved to Stepton, Virginia.

I shouldn’t tell you who I really am, or my hair, eye, and skin color.

And I definitely shouldn’t tell you about my friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy he was about to uncover when he died—right after I moved to town. About how I had to choose between solving his murder with his hot sister, Reya, and “staying low-key” like the Program has taught me. About how moving to Stepon changed my life forever.

But I’m going to. 

I had a hard time finishing this book. It’s not that the characters or plot or writing was horrible... it was just that I never clicked enough with the story to be fully immersed. Nevertheless, I am sure some others people will enjoy Fake ID. I just... struggled.

The number one thing that had me yawning during the story, was that I never connected enough to the characters to care what happened to them. Maybe I am cold-hearted, but I have to feel a connection to fictional characters before I care about their life. I feel like the characters had a lot of potential. For example, I felt that Nick and I seriously should have loved each other. I (usually) really like humorous male protagonists. However, I didn't really care for Nick. I just don't think the author ever developed his characters enough for me to grow attached. 

The novel did have some positive aspects. Kudos to the main character for being humorous. Also, kudos to the author for bringing non-white and non-female protagonists to the YA genre. Thank you! 

That said, I still never connected to the book. The plot never pulled me in. Honestly, I remember very little of the story line and I finished this book only a month ago. That should tell you a lot about how I felt about the book. It wasn't memorable.

Overall, Fake ID wasn't terrible in any way. In fact, there were a few things I liked. Sadly, the book was pretty bland in my opinion. If the author had worked a little more on the characters, I feel like I could have enjoyed this more. I will still look out for Lamar Gile's next work.

I had the hardest time deciding what to rate the book. I'm going with 2.5 Stars.

*Received for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Queen of Zombie Hearts

Yay! The cover of Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS is here! We're so excited to be able to share this with you as it joins an already stunning set! Ready to see it? Not quite yet lets take a look a the first two covers in the series!

Presenting... THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS

Official White Rabbit Chronicles website

On-sale date: Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Add it to your TBR!  Goodreads

Pre-order your copy! Amazon, Barnes & Noble

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

About Gena:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  

In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/The White Rabbit Chronicles Facebook

Giveaway!

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wow, the cover is kind of creepy! What do you think?

Waiting on Wednesday #37

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
Publication Date: May 6th, 2014

Genre: YA
Amazon/Barnes and Noble

The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence.

I love Jennifer Donnelly and mermaids... Score! Also, I love the cover and this is supposed to be turned into a series of four books!

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Defy

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: YA Fantasy

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Defy was a mess. Before we go in, let me clear one thing up. Normally, I love High Fantasy novels. However, in my opinion, Defy was a terrible addition to my favorite genre. I really wish I could have enjoyed this story more.

The first thing I disliked about this novel was our main character, Alexa. This is a girl that is supposed to be tough. She is masquerading as a boy for heaven’s sake! And not even just a boy... a soldier who fights! Sadly, I found Alexa the opposite of tough. She seemed to need to be saved at every corner and she is constantly swooning over her two love interests instead of thinking of more important things. Like, you know, the COMING WAR! 

Speaking of the two love interests, I have to say that I really don’t understand what was so special about either of them. Prince Damian seemed to switch personalities every second, and all I remember about Ryland is that Alexa is obsessed with describing his eyes. Sadly, they were both boring and I honestly do not care which one Alexa ends up with at the end of this series. 

Finally, what annoyed me most was how the romance and small drama happening with Alexa took center stage. I wanted some good world-building! How about a memorable cast of UNIQUE secondary characters? Even the writing in Defy was subpar. 

Overall, Alexa was not the tough heroine I wanted her to be. She turned out to be crying, blushing mess who had two boring guys fighting over her, confessing their deep feelings, and all that jazz. There was a lack of world building, and the characters lacked originality and depth. I would not recommend picking up Defy. 

1/5 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday #31

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon (I Promise)



1. Anna and the French Kiss.
Etienne St. Claire = British (yet somehow French and American too), cute, and funny. How can anyone not love Etienne St. Claire? Even his name is awesome for heavens sake!

2. Pivot Point. 
Trevor is amazing. I am now reminded that I need to get my hands on Split Second NOW! It releases tomorrow (I think). YAY!

3. Bloodlines (the whole series)
Adrian and Sydney are such a perfect match. However, for some reason, Richelle Mead wants them to be apart. Stop their suffering and trials! (I'm kidding. You all know I love it.)

4. Fangirl
Levi :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D All those smiley faces explain how my face looked every time he was on the page!

5. Vampire Academy (the whole series)
Once again, Richelle Mead has created two characters with the best chemistry. Then, she repeatedly tears them apart and puts terrible obstacles in their path. Let's all give a toast to Rose and Dimitri!

6. Catching Jordan
Sam Henry is so freaking adorable and charming!!!! *squeals*

7. My Life Next Door
This book is an awesome, swoony summer read!

8. White Hot Kiss
I just read this AMAZING book and I have just one word: Roth. *fans self* Really, you should pre-order this baby for a fun, swoony ride!

9. The Last Olympian
Okay, so all the swoons were basically on the last page. However, I waited FIVE BOOKS for that page. (Spoiler: Percabeth FOREVER)

10. The Boys of Summer, An Endless Summer, and That One Summer
After reading this series, I was a mess of giggles and smiles.

 What are some books that made you swoon?