Of Witches and Warlocks: The Trouble with Spells by Lacey Weatherford

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Portia Mullins had always lived the life of a normal teenager, up until her sixteenth birthday. She is then informed by her grandma that she is actually a witch who is a descendant from a long line of witches and warlocks. After overcoming her disbelief she finds that being a member of the coven comes with one great perk in the form of the school's handsome bad boy, Vance Mangum. Vance and Portia have an immediate connection as a budding romance begins, only to be threatened by turbulent skies on the horizon as Vance's checkered past rears its ugly head to haunt them. Portia is forced to use her untried powers in defense of everything she loves in a desperate attempt to hold on to the one thing that really matters in her life.

Review:

When I first heard of the Of Witches and Warlocks series, I couldn't wait to read it because it contained one of my favorite subjects in paranormal YA, witches and warlocks. Luckily Of Witches and Warlocks: The Trouble with Spells provided to be a likable set-up to a new series I'll definitely be reading, but I will admit I did have several problems with it.

The first addition to this action packed series starts three days before Portia's birthday. Portia is your typical high school girl. She's crushing on her school's bad bay, she loves hanging out with her friends, and she can't wait until her sixteen birthday so that she can finally drive. Though, as it turns out there's more than meets the eye to the marking of her birthday. You see, she just found out she's a witch. No, not the one that rhymes with a b-work, the other kind, the one with magic. And as it turns out she's loving it, because not only is Vance, the swoon-worthy bad boy, a witch as well, but he's finally paying attention to her, plus it turns out Portia's a natural when it comes to spells. Though, not everything is as happy as it appears, as Portia is soon to learn...

Portia was a character that I found likable for most of the book, though that didn't stop me for wanting to shake her shoulders sometimes because of her rushed and sometimes idiotic decisions. Regardless, I thought Lacey did a great job of crafting her character into being three dimensional and someone relatable as well. I also enjoyed reading about Portia's relationship with Vance, but I felt that sometimes it was way too rushed for my liking. I mean, they never really got a chance to even know each other before they were "bonded" basically as soul mates. I just didn't see the connection, though maybe there relationship will become clearer in the next book?

The Trouble with Spells was also contained an action and romance packed plot, one that never ceased to make me eager to find out more as quickly as possible. Though, I felt that some of the book wasn't nearly as amazing as it would've been because of Lacey's occasional clunky writing that never really made the story jump of the page.

Regardless, The Trouble with Spells is still a book I did enjoy even with the slight annoyances on my end and one I will be suggesting. Also, the ending was a totally "wow!" moment that has left me eager to read the sequel.

Grade: C+

The Trouble with Spells is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Lacey!

Review: Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone. But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected...

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

Review:

If I was asked to quickly sum up Tweet Heart in one sentence, this is what I would say: Tweet Heart is without a doubt one of the cutest and funniest romances I've read not only this year but ever.

Tweet Heart tells the tale of four teens. Claire is the bookish and hopeless romantic that hopes her true love will follow her on twitter. But wait! Is he already doing so? Her best friend Lottie is the flirt of the group, jumping from guy to guy, hoping to find her own connection to someone special. But is this guy right in front of her? Will is the quiet yet sweet one whose secret desire is to tell his crush he likes her. Lastly, Bennett is the sly, sarcastic one who's the creator of one mess that will test this friendship of four to the limit.

One of my original worries of starting this novel was character development. I felt that given the way it was told in by tweets, blogs, and e-mails it would leave for little character development to be made but as it turns quite the opposite happened, because this was one novel that was never short in character development, which left for each person to jump of the page and become their own.

In all honesty, I could never pick a favorite character out of the mix because each had such unique and funny qualities that made me love them right of bat no matter how silly some of their actions were. Though, I will admit that Claire's often hit a chord in me because of how similar we are.

Further more, while the plot of this was at times predictable, it never failed to be engaging and fun to read. I really adored the way it was told because it left for it to move in such a fast pace, making this truly be a perfect read for reluctant readers. Further more, I give Elizabeth Rudnick props for creating such a three dimensional story in so little words. She is absolutely an author to keep an eye out for.

In all, Tweet Heart is truly the perfect romantic comedy and one read I'll positively be suggesting to others.

Grade: A-

Tweet Heart is now out!

Source: Publicist at Disney Hyperion. Thanks, Atoosa!

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Meet Jordy. He’s on his own in New York City. Nobody to depend on; nobody depending on him. And it’s been working fine.
Until this girl comes along. She’s 18 and blond and pretty–her world should be perfect. But she’s seen things no one should ever see in their whole life–the kind of things that break a person. She doesn’t seem broken, though. She seems . . . innocent. Like she doesn’t know a whole lot. Only sometimes she does.

The one thing she knows for sure is that the world is an ugly place. Now her life may depend on Jordy proving her wrong. So they hit the road to discover the truth–and there’s no going back from what they find out.

This deeply felt, redemptive novel reveals both the dark corners and hidden joys of life’s journey–and the remarkable resilience of the human soul.

Review:

Becoming Chloe is one of those books that gives you hope in the world we live in, that even if it fells like the world is crashing down around us sometimes and we're nothing short of loosing it all, there is still beauty in it. Beauty that is endless. Beauty that gives you hope no matter what the situation.

From the first page, the reader is thrown into the world of Jordy, a boy who's just about lost it all. He's homeless and has no money to speak, as well as a big cut in his head that he doesn't want to talk about. But that doesn't stop him from reaching out to Chloe, a girl who is so worse of then him, it makes him look privileged. But inside the beautiful, bubbly, and sometimes simple Chloe hides secrets so dark, it's slowly making her loose it all. So Jordan starts operation beautiful world with a mission to show Chloe that the world is beautiful even with the chaos, wars, and murders surrounding them. And off they go on a trip across the country were they'll meet the nice and mean and see the beautiful and ugly. But will Chloe be able to pull it all together by the end? Will Jordan? You'll just have to see.

Jordy and Chloe were both main characters I loved from the beginning. Jordy was always the put together one, the adult in the relationship, but yet he had just as much freight and horror in his love Chloe had, leaving me to never cease to root for him no matter what the situation. Chloe, on the other hand, was in most cases the child, so emotionally detached from the world it made you wonder if there was something mentally wrong with her, but at other times she's wise beyond her short eighteen years of life. She also was a character I rooted for from the first and last page and everything in between.

The plot of this moved smoothly and never once made me loose interest. Though, the one thing I loved most about it was its ability to give hope to the reader no matter what the situation and make you grateful for the live you have because there's always someone out there worse of than you and beauty still out there to be amazed by. It was just such a great and empowering message!

In all, Becoming Chloe is my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde but it definitely will not be my last. My last words consist of this; Read this book! It's touching, empowering, gritty, and hopeful! A book I feel most should read at least once in their lifetimes.

Grade: A-
 
Becoming Chloe is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Catherine!

Exclusive Deal for Readers of Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Hi everyone,

Harrison at Bancroft Press and I have teamed up to bring you an exclusive deal!

You see, Bancroft has just started using Smashwords to sell eBooks of their titles, Eileen Boggess's Mia series is one of them. And to give you an idea of what Smashwords is and to raise awareness of Eileen Boggess and her books, Bancroft Press is offering the use of an exclusive coupon to knock down Mia the Meek's, the first in the awesome Mia series, price tag from $8.99 to $3.50 for one week and one week only.

To make use of the coupon, simply head over here to purchase Mia the Meek, hit the "add to cart button", type in this code GQ79P at check out, and boom you'll have your deal and a fab new book to read! The offer ends August 4th.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at laurenscrammedbookshelf(at)gmail(dot)com

And in case you missed my review of Mia the Meek, you can check it out here. Also, I've included the cover image and summary below:

Mia Fullerton has entered her freshman year at St. Hilary’s with a goal: to lose her nickname “Mia the Meek,” and soar into a confident high school career. Unfortunately, her transformation is made harder by her English-teacher mom, bratty little brother, already popular nemesis, and new neighbor. In telling her story, Mia proves to be a witty, candid, and interesting fourteen-year-old.

Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris . . . Idaho!

Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg, with name brand clothes, in a round, horribly podunk, hole.

Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, whose been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town.

Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets

Review:

Summer in Paris is your typical coming-of-age tale. It involves a romance, realization that everything may not be as bad as it seems, and growth of character. Sadly enough, while I normally love a nicely told coming-of-age tale, this one just didn't quite hit the spot for me because it lacked a certain spark that is necessary in these type of books. Though don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some parts of this just not all.

When affluent Kenzie learns her father has lost nearly everything she is devastated, because not only does she have to no money or house to speak of now, she's being shipped of to Paris, Idaho, land of mountains, cornfields, and farm chores. A mix no one in their right would want for themselves, or so she thinks. Though, soon enough she meets the charming, mysterious Adam, a guy with a heart of gold who's supposedly behind a sting of fires, someone who might be able shake up Kenzie's new world in a positive way if given the chance.

I found Kenzie to be a likable character because she was funny and nicer than you would think at first look. I liked how she gave Adam a chance when no one else would because it was the first step at shedding her rich girl attitude. Also, I enjoyed reading about the friendships she developed with Simon, her cute little cousin, Allison and Hover. Though, I have to say Adam was my favorite character out of the mix. He was alluring, cute, and had an intriguing background.

The plot of this moved in a typical fashion, but I have to say the whole resolution to the mysterious fires was something I wasn't expecting. So, I'll give Michele props for that.

Michele Ashman Bell's writing and world building was the part of Summer in Paris that failed the most in my eyes, because while I think she did a good enough job establishing the characters and the plot, she failed to dig deep and bring it fully to life.

In all, Summer in Paris is a good enough book, but I have to say I've read better books with the same topic, so my advice? Get it from the library or skip it all together. Though, who knows maybe you'll see something in it I didn't.

Grade: C

Summer in Paris is now out!

Source: author. Thanks, Michele!

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.


Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.

Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Review:

From a brilliant premise to spectacular writing to relatable and witty main characters, there leaves no doubt in my voice when I say that The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June is hands down one of the best books of the year.

Each character is crafted in a way that makes them jump right of the page from the start and became a part of you as you see their story unravel in front of you.

I really liked the fact that each stood on their own with their unique personalities. Since, I hate nothing more but when characters in a book, especially one that jumps from narrator to narrator like The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June, all sound the same. Though that was far from the case in this book. April is the smart one, whoever feels the need to be her sister's protector, even if it sometimes get in the way of her own life, while May is the sarcastic and witty loner that forever has you awed by her charm to turn something normal into being something slyly funny. And June? Well, she's basically a girl who wants nothing more to fit and be part of the popular crowd, though there's more than meets the surface to this girl who seemed a bit selfish at the beginning. All three constantly had me and giggles and relating my own life to theirs.

The premise, as mentioned above, in The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June was brilliant, and the execution was even more so. I loved seeing all three girls come to terms with their powers all while trying to find themselves in the new life they have been given. In turn, it provided a page-turning read that was extremely hard to put down, even for a second.

In all, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June is a book that you should definitely check out this summer, because I have no worries when saying that I'm sure that you'll love and adore it as much as I did.

Grade: A+

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June will be released August 3, 2010.

Source: Publicist at Penguin.

In My Mailbox: Week 81

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

For Review:

The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff + Bookmarks (I received this as part of a Teen Book Scene blog tour I'm participating in, so be sure to check back in September for a review/interview/contest!)

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (Did you know this hit #1 on the NYT Children's list for chapter books this week? How cool is that? Anyhow, it looks great and I've heard nothing but fantastic things about it, so I'm looking forward to reading it.)

Annexed by Sharon Dogar (I'm really looking forward to reading this one as well, though I'm not really looking forward to the inevitable sad ending that I know is going to be there.)

I also got a bunch of Children's books from Abrams this week as a surprise. As you probably know, I don't really review children's picture books here, though maybe I'll do little mini-review post for them? Hmm. I'll have to think about it. Would you mind see a huge mini-review post for all five of them sometime in September? Let me know in the comments! I would love to hear your thoughts.

 Dotty by Erica S. Perl

The Exceptionally, Extraordinarily Ordinary First Day of School by Albert Lorenz

Library Mouse: A World to Explore by Daniel Kirk

Miss Tutu's Star by Leslea Newman

All the Seasons of the Year by Deborah Lee Rose

In all, great week book-wise (thought not heat-wise here on the east coast)! Though enough about me, what did you get? Anything really awesome? Let me know. :)

Karma for Beginners by Jessica Blank

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Fourteen-year-old Tessa has never had a normal life. Her mother, a frustrated hippie with awful taste in men, has seen to that. But when her mom pulls her out of school to live at an ashram in the Catskills, Tessa goes from being a freak among normal people to being an outcast among freaks. Freaks who worship an orange robe-wearing guru. And while her mom is buzzing with spiritual energy, and finding a little too much favor with the guru, all Tessa feels are weird vibes. Unless she’s with Colin, the gorgeous boy who fixes trucks for the ashram. The connection they share is the most spiritual thing Tessa has ever felt.

But he’s older—like illegally older—and Tessa’s taking dangerous risks to spend time with him. Soon her life is blooming into a psychedelic web of secrets and lies and it’s clear that something’s about to give way. When it does, will she have anyone to hold on to? Will she even know herself?

Revelations abound in this mind-altering novel from the acclaimed author of Almost Home.

Review:

It has taken me a while to pick up Karma for Beginners, and I'm really not sure why. It has a pretty cover, an interesting premise and setting, and some great praise, so after some thought I decided to give it a chance.

So, here's the question: am I glad I did or not? Well, I certainly am because it was a empowering and enlightening book, which I flew right through easily; one read that I could see myself reading again someday, even though it wasn't an absolute favorite of mine.

Tessa was a character who I liked from the start, even though I didn't necessarily like all her choices. Because of Blank's excellent character development, Tessa's angst against the life her mother had chosen for her was spilled across the pages in a case were you understood her pain, her confusion, her wanting of normalcy, someone who got her, and a father figure easily. Her relationship with Collin, the sexy older boy, was done well. And while it wasn't the wisest of choices on Tessa's part, it provided her with a lot of much needed direction and strength in her life. Though, I did not like how Blank never had any of the characters face the consequences of their actions. I also liked how Blank showed the situation of a child acting like the mother and the mother acting like a dependent of child because, by the end, I felt it gave a good example how to deal with the situation if you are in Tessa's place in the relationship.

One of my favorite parts of Karma for Beginners was the use of an ashram as the setting. I've never had the chance to read a novel with that type of setting before. Which is surprising ( Well, to me at least) because I feel the whole idea of people turning to a single, ordinary man for their guidance and decision making is simply fascinating. Further more, I liked how Blank used the setting to make the plot more believable and move it along.

I also enjoyed the main plot of the novel because through Collin and Tessa's relationship it gave an overall message of why everyone should stand up for themselves and voice their opinions no matter what the situation.

My only real complaints about Karma for Beginners was that I feel the conversations between the characters felt more stilled rather than real, as well as the rushed ending and what I mentioned before about the consequences.

Overall, Karma for Beginners is a novel with an interesting setting and characters and plot events that set examples for teens, as well as provided fun reading material. I'm looking forward to reading more by Blank.

Grade: B-

Karma for Beginners is now out!

Source: Publicist. Thanks, Nicole!

Giveway: And Then Everything Unraveled + And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman

Today, I have a paperback copy of And Then Everything Unraveled and a hardcover copy of it's sequel, And Then I Found Out the Truth, to giveaway.

Here are the summaries for each. Though, be aware that And Then I Found Out the Truth's summary contains spoilers.

And Then Everything Unraveled (My review)

Delia Truesdale has no idea her life's about to change forever. She's too busy enjoying the California summer. Her Internet tycoon mother, T.K. Truesdale, is out of town, and that means Delia can spend all her time at the beach, surfing. That is, until everything unravels.

Her mother suddenly goes missing, and everyone thinks she's dead - except Delia, who knows T.K.'s way too organized to simply disappear. But Delia's still sent to New York to live with her two aunts - a downtown bohemian and an uptown ice queen.

And in case that's not bad enough, she also has to deal with a snooty new school and trying not to fall for the wrong guy. Oh, and finding her mother.

As she delves deeper into the tangle of conspiracies and lies surrounding T.K.'s disappearance, Delia begins to suspect that the wrong guy may be the right guy...and that some secrets - especially the dangerous ones - were never meant to be unraveled.

And Then I Found Out the Truth (My review)

First there was a kiss.

Then there was doubt.
Then there was danger.
And then…

Delia Truesdale didn’t think life could get more complicated. After all, her mother’s on the run in South America and won’t be coming home anytime soon – at least, not until Delia can outwit the evil-doers who are out to destroy them both.

But it’s hard to thwart evil-doers from an entirely different continent, especially when everyone thinks you should be doing your homework instead. And Delia’s stuck in Manhattan, along with her slightly insane Aunt Charley, her completely uptight Aunt Patience, a petulant psychic, a love-struck detective, a boy-crazy brainiac, and Quinn, who defies description but has kissed her twice.

The answers are waiting in exotic Buenos Aires, and time is running out. Delia might not speak Spanish or know how to tango, but she does have a passport. Will she be able to uncover the truth — before it’s too late.

To enter, please fill out the following form.

Though, as with any contest there are rules:

~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Open to participants with an United States mailing address only. (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail)
~ Don't comment below to enter or you will not be entered!
~ The contest will close on July 30th at 6:00 AM Eastern.

Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

“I’m so tired of feeling sad. And waiting for other people to make me happy and they don’t. And if no-one else is going to make you happy, well maybe you just have to do it for yourself?”

Fourteen year old Georgie Harris feels as if the summer holidays are over before they have even begun. Banned from going to the local drama workshop by her bully of a step-dad and her increasingly fragile mum, she is consigned to six long weeks of looking after her tooth-fairy obsessed kid sister. Sick of feeling like the outsider at home and at school, she starts emailing the one person she thinks might understand; Dylan Curtland, star of the popular soap opera Jessop Close. And when Dylan starts emailing back, Georgie finally feels a spark of hope. At last she has someone who really gets her, someone who really wants to help. But in the faceless world of email all is not as it seems…

Review:

Dear Dylan is truly a diamond of a novel. It's touching, funny, and full of heart; simply a novel I just couldn't give enough of.

I have to admit when I first saw this novel I was hesitant to read it because of the fact it was written entirely in emails. As it turns out this method of telling it by worked out perfectly with the story, and I feel that if it was told in a different way it would be missing something crucial, because it allowed for me to get such a personal look in the lives and thoughts of the characters.

Georgie Harris, the protagonist of the story, was such a great and witty character from the first page. I loved how funny and lively she was even with the tragic events among the happy ones unfolding in front of her and how she found such a great friend in Nan. And talking about Nan, I adored her as well. She was such a sweet lady, one I would love to have in my own life because her advice was quite awesome, I have to say. Further more, I liked how Siobhan addressed abusive situations in Georgie's life, as well as toxic friendships, because I feel like it leaves teens that are facing similar issues to not feel so alone. In addition, Georgie's romance with the fab, swoon-worthy Jamie was nothing short of sweet!

Lastly, Siobhan's writing proved to be well done in this novel because she always provided to dig a little deeper into each character, giving the reader an even better understanding to them. And when I say the following I'm speaking nothing but the truth: I simply can't wait to read by her!

In all, I feel the funny and touching novel Dear Dylan is establishes Siobhan as one great writer, one who I hope has a very, very long successful career in front of her filled with more wickedly awesome books!

Grade: A+

Dear Dylan is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Siobhan!

Giveaway for What’s Your St@tus? + $10 Starbucks gift card

Thanks to Katie Finn/Scholastic I have one copy of What’s Your St@tus?: A Top 8 Novel to giveaway along with a $10 Starbucks gift card! Plus I'll throw in my copy of Top 8 if you haven't read it yet.

Here's the summary for What’s Your St@tus?, in cause you have no clue what it's about. Though, be aware of possible spoilers because this is a sequel.

Sixteen-year old Madison still loves logging on to Friendverse to see what her BFFs and her cute new boyfriend Nate are up to. But the latest social networking craze is Status Q, which is all about rapid-fire status updates. When one of Mad’s friends has to pull off a high-pressure heist, the gang relies on Status Q to send code messages to each other…all in the middle of a school dance! Will up-to-the-minute social networking save the day…or lead to good old-fashioned disaster?

To find out more about Katie Finn and her books head over to her thisispoint.com or Katie's website. Also, you can acess chapter two of What’s Your St@tus? here.

To enter please fill out the following form.

Though, as with any contest, there are rules:

~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Open to participants with an United States mailing address only. (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail)
~ Don't comment below to enter or you will not be entered!
~ This contest will close on August 6 with the winner being announced August 7 and 8.

Top 8 + What's Your Status? by Katie Finn

Summary/Cover Image taken from Publisher's Website:

Madison MacDonald is seriously freaking out

Madison MacDonald
16
Putnam, CT

Status: Single?

About Me:

Everything in my life was working out. I had my three best friends, a brand-new boyfriend, and the lead in the school play. Aside from that history paper I hadn't started, things felt perfect.

Then I returned from spring break to find my Friendverse profile hacked. Someone clearly out to ruin me had spilled the most damaging secrets - AND posted the worst photos of me ever taken - online.

Goals:

Figure out who could have this, get my boyfriend back, and clear my name!

Also, pass history.

Review:

I have to admit I was bit hesitant to read this one and to tell the truth I'm not really sure why. Thankfully, I did give it a try, and let me tell you I'm so glad I did because it proved to be not only be filled with funny parts and mystery but some substance as well! A mix I simply adored!

Madison, the main character in this, was one I liked a lot and could relate to, because she was funny and filled with a lot of heart, and someone who while made mistakes, fixed them and learned from them as well. Her friendship with Ruth, Lisa, and Shy was one of my favorite parts because it was easy to see how much these girls cared about each other, and when mixed together, they always provided laugh out loud scenes. Also, Nate equals swoon-worthy!

The plot of this was one I really enjoyed, because it was fully developed and always kept me guessing at who it was who broke into Maddie's profile and what their motive was all the way to the end. A good sign, no? Also, I liked the incorporation of technology with the add in of the Top 8 profiles, and how through Maddie's hacked profile it gave you a much needed warning message about technology.

Also, Katie's writing moved swiftly, making this a novel that was easy to fly right through.

In all, Top 8 proves to be a read that's not only fun but makes you think a little, too, about the technology you use in your life.

Grade: B

Top 8 is now out!

Source: Chelsy at Big Honcho Media. Thanks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Warning: Spoilers may be present since this is a sequel.*

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sixteen-year-old Madison still loves logging on to Friendverse to see what her BFFs and her cute new boyfriend Nate are up to. But the latest social networking craze is Status Q, which is all about rapid-fire status updates. When one of MadÂs friends has to pull off a high-pressure heist, the gang relies on Status Q to send coded messages to each other...all in the middle of a school dance! Will up-to-the-minute social networking save the day--or lead to good old-fashioned disaster?

Review:

Top 8 is back, and it's better then ever before, I have to say, because in this addition there's more romance, mysteries, heists, and extremely funny scenes that will have almost any reader laughing out loud!

If you thought Madison's life was hectic in Top 8, well you haven't seen anything yet, because in What's Your Status everything seems to be going wrong. For one, because of some unintended innuendo and an unfortunate hand gesture, Maddie's boyfriend thinks that she wants to go all the way, which is far from reality. Add in the facts that she just lost her school's most coveted treasure, her best friend is dealing with something major problems, and her other one is mad at her, well, let's just say that Maddie's prom season will be anything but forgettable.

The one thing I love about Maddie is the fact that she's flawed just like anyone else is out there. She makes mistakes and yet she doesn't let her occasional bad choices get her down- quite the opposite actually because she learns from them and does better the next time. The other thing I love about her character is how much she loves and cares about her best friends and how she would do literally anything for them. It's easy to tell she would be a kick-butt friend to have if she real. Also, I love her romance with Nate, and the fact that unlike some relationships out there in YA, it seems real, because they actually talk and communicate, not just make out.

Moving on, the plot of this is filled with action, action, and more action, which left me to be hooked on this book because I was dying to find out what would happen next. Like, would Maddie ever get back the crown? Would she work out her problems with Ruth? How evil is Isabel? And plenty more, leaving this book to be one I promise you is un-put-a-down-able. Also, I love how technology is incorporated in the plot!

Lastly, Katie's writing is even better in this addition because she fully fleshed out the characters and plot events to the point where they jumped of the page, and from that she shows she's one author who knows how to write quite the kick-butt chick-lit/romance/mystery read.

In all, the Top 8 series is one you shouldn't miss for anything! I can't wait to read more by Ms. Finn!

Grade: B+

What's Your Status? is now out!

Source: Chelsy at Big Honcho Media. Thanks!

~~~

Check back latter for a giveaway for What's Your Status? and more!

Winners + Other Info/News

Hi, everyone!

I've been behind on posting winners even though I picked them ages ago.

Though here they are:

Sea Change:

Myra Castellano

Lost for Words:

Sab H
Nicole Motovidlak
Cassandra

Salvaged:

Lasha

Congrats you five! I hope you enjoy your new book!

Didn't win? Well, have no fear because I have two other contests going on (Links above!) and a ton more on the way so be sure to check back! :)

~~~

Also, you might remember I posted some info about Jennifer Weiner's upcoming “Cupcakes Across America Book Tour”, and recently, all the info has been released and you can find out more here.

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Finally, this happened ages ago, though I keep forgetting to mention it on here. Anyhow, I was interviewed for and quoted in a New York Times article dealing with Candace Bushnell's The Carrie Diaries back on June 9! You can check out the full article HERE if you would like. And I have to say, it was a really cool experience. :)

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

"If I really wanted to open up, I'd confess that I really am the liar everyone believes I am."

High-school junior Tola Riley has green hair, a nose ring, an attitude problem, and a fondness for fairy tales, which are a great escape from real life. Everyone thinks she's crazy; everyone says so. Everyone except Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. He gets her paintings and lets her hang out in the art room during lonely lunch periods.

But then rumors start flying and Tola is suddenly the center of a scandal. The whole town is judging her—even her family. When Mr. Mymer is suspended for what everyone thinks is an affair, she has no choice but to break her silence. Fairy tales won't help her this time . . . so how can she tell the truth? And, more importantly, will anyone believe her?

Review:

Bad Apple is bizarre and eccentric, yet I simply adored it.

Bad Apple tells the tale of Tola, a slightly weird and cynical girl dealing with a boatload of problems. For one, everyone in her small town is convinced she had an affair with her art teacher, Mr. Mymer; for two, Mr. Mymer is now suspended because of it; for three, Tola never had an affair with Mymer and that's what she's says, but no one believes her; and lastly, her dad's acting like a jerk, her sister's having a mental breakdown, her step dad's obsessed with his car, and her mom seems to hate her. Leaving Bad Apple to turn into one bad apple of situation almost as soon as possible, but also leave room for some comic relief and interesting events that would manage to have any reader hooked.

Even though I would be one the first to admit Tola was a bit strange, I still really liked her and found her story to be addictive. I liked the fact that she was brave when it came to standing up to the "mean girl" in this, and I also feel that most could relate to her feeling that she's never really listened too. One of my favorite parts of her character was her love of art, because it lead to a lot of interesting moments, thoughts, and situations in the book, ones that sometimes even included Grim fairy tales. I also liked her friendship with Seven, who seemed adorable, and June, a control freak obsessed with all things school.

The plot of this was attention-grabbing and fast paced. I always find the whole 'teacher/student' relationship scandals to be interesting because of seeing the motivations and reasons behind their actions, and thankfully that was present in Bad Apple. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the fact that it always kept me guessing about what really happened between Mymer and Tola, if anything all because it provided for tension, tension, and more tension. Also, I thought the add-on of the "comments" section was cleaver because it allowed for the reader to see more than one person's reaction to the situation.

Lastly, Ruby's writing always provided to have the plot developments and characters fully fleshed out and kept the story moving at a rapid pace.

In all, Bad Apple is an addicting, witty, and cleaver story of one girl's decision to tell the truth no matter what. I can't wait to read more by Ruby!

Grade: B+

Bad Apple is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Laura!

Summer of Sarah: This Lullaby (+ Contest)

This summer Sarah-land, Sarah Dessen's social networking site, is hoping to better connect readers to her, generate discussion and interest in her backlist titles, and help her fans with the anticipation of  her next title in 2011, What Happened to Goodbye, by launching Summer of Sarah, a nine week long event.

This week's book is This Lullaby, one of my favorite Dessen books, and to celebrate this not only will I be giving away a copy of it here, but on Sarah-Land there will be trivia questions and quotes specific to This Lullaby for a chance to win a signed copy of the novel. (Sarah-Land also has additional chances to win Lock & Key necklaces in challenges throughout the summer!)

Though, before we get to that, here's Sarah talking about This Lullaby (source: http://www.sarahdessen.com/this-lullaby):

Raised by a mother who's had five husbands, eighteen-year-old Remy believes in short-term, no-commitment relationships until she meets Dexter, a rock band musician.

Okay. So that, in one sentence, is how my publisher sums up This Lullaby, my new novel. It’s funny how someone else is so able to do that. Whenever anyone asks me what any of my books are about I find myself fumbling and mumbling like an idiot before delivering some really long boring explanation that always begins with “Well, it’s about this girl….”. The above sentence is much, much better. Trust me.

There are few things I can tell you about this book. First, I think it’s different from the others. Most of my other narrators are quieter, more introspective types: they hang back watching everything, processing it, and reporting on the drama of their showier, more outgoing friends. (Think Casey in That Summer, Rina in Dreamland, Isabel in Keeping the Moon, that kind of thing.) I was kind of struggling with my writing last winter and one of my friends, trying to help, said something about how maybe I should try something different. “You know,” she said, “you always have these dynamic friends in your books. Maybe you should write from that point of view, just for a change.”

I thought this was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. God, I was NEVER the dynamic friend, I thought, I was a total wall-hugger, like I’d ever know how to do that. I was so annoyed, in fact, that I couldn’t stop thinking about this, and within a few weeks I had something. Just a little germ of an idea, but it was more than I’d been able to come up with in a while. So I sat down, tossed up one of those Oh Well looks that always precedes a novel, and out came Remy. Just like that, I could see her. Hear her. She was kind of bitchy, kind of cold, and was sure she had everything figured out. I couldn’t wait to see her proved wrong.

This Lullaby is also, essentially, a love story. And while I’ve had subplots about relationships and their ups and downs in other books, in this one I really wanted to see if I could take love, and all the crap that goes along with it, and make it the center. Plus it’s a summer book: set in that wonderful stretch from June to August when it just seems like everything is possible. Dreamland, my last book, had been so heavy, so emotional. I was ready for something a little lighter, but that still had something to say.

Basically, this is a story about faith. Faith in love (bear with me here) and just faith in general. Remy’s tragic flaw, of sorts, is that she’s afraid to take a chance on something she can’t guarantee. She wants hard proof, facts, a mathematical equation where X equals Y, before she’ll even begin to think about taking any kind of risk. But what she learns---what we all learn, eventually---is that the living is in the leaping. Sometimes, you just have to close your eyes, and jump.

So. There you have it. Five paragraphs to say what someone else can summarize in a single sentence. (But then again, I always overexplain. It’s my trademark.) What else can you expect in This Lullaby? Well. There’s some songs about potatoes. Diet Coke comes up quite a bit. And oh, yeah, a character from Someone Like You turns up to make a little cameo appearance, a thank you to everyone who has written to ask if I’d ever go back for a sequel. As for the rest, you’ll just have to read the book. And when you do, let me know what you think it’s about.

I’ll be waiting.

And once again, if you are a Sarah Dessen fan be sure to check out Sarah-land! It really is an awesome website, plus it's having a bunch of really great challenges and contests this summer. You can click below to join or look around.


Visit Sarah-land

*For any Twitter mentions the hash is #sarahland *

Also, here's a summery type video with Sarah giving us all a tour of Emerald Isle, the town where she based Along for the Ride's setting on:



If you would like to win a copy of This Lullaby, please fill out the following form.

Also, as with any contest there are rules:

~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Open to participants with an United States mailing address only. (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail)
~ Don't comment below to enter or you will not be entered!
~ This contest will close on July 26 with the winner being announced July 27 or 28.

(And don't forget to head over to Sarah-land as well for an extra chance to win!)

In My Mailbox: Week 80

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

For Review:

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch (Surprise book... different from what I usually read, but I'll give it a try. Thanks, Venessa!)

All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost—an orphanage in the swampland of New Jersey. Covertly reading old comic books is Jack’s only solace. But his life changes forever when he meets an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in the world originate. Including Jack.
Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability—one that could make him the savior of Imagine Nation and the world beyond…or the biggest threat they’ve ever faced. (Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website)

From Contest:

Notebook with special message from Kristin Mcbride, author of The Tension of Opposites, plus The Tension of Opposites swag (I won this from Kate at Read This Book! I loved the book so it's cool to have some swag as well as a special message from Kristin.)

Overall, a slow, relaxing week book wise, which I definitely needed after some of those hectic weeks. :) Though, enough about me. What did you get? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link.

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The inside scoop from the Cupid of Beverly Hills, who has brought together countless couples who have gone on to live happily ever after. But for every success story there are ridiculously funny dating disasters with high-maintenance, out-of-touch, impossible to please, dim-witted clients!

In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks. From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives.

Readers will laugh, cringe, and cry as they journey with her through outrageous stories about the indignities of dating in Los Angeles, dealing with overblown egos, vicariously hobnobbing with celebrities, and navigating the wannabe-land of Beverly Hills. In a city where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can't help but run for the Botox every once in a while.

Review:

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker reads like an extra-long addition to one of those trashy yet fun to read celebrity magazines. You know the type. Glamorous, exciting, and funny. But this book has something most of those magazines don't have. Those aspects? Substance and an extra-dose of reality.

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker tells different tales straight from author Marla Martenson's life. Stories that include dealing with her Matchmaker status and the tasks that come with it, to encounters with various celebs, to promoting her first book, to writing her next among many others. These stories were often told in an engaging tone, one never failed to make me feel like I was right there with her the entire time, laughing at the funny parts and cringing and relating at some of the others.

The only aspects I truly disliked about this book were her shifty transitions between scenes and her habitat of reiterating unnecessary info.

Regardless of all that, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker is a novel I highly suggest to all of you out there looking for a funny and honest look of life in Beverly Hills. Also, Marla Martenson is an author I'll definitely be going back to for future reading material.

Grade: B

Diary of a Beverly Hilss Matchmaker is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Marla!

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what’s more: Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. Rumors are flying, and Ruby’s already-sucky reputation is heading downhill.

Not only that, she’s also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances.

In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love—if such a thing exists.  

Review:

The Ruby Oliver Noels, along with the Princess Diaries series and Shug by Jenny Han, were actually some of the novels that originally got me addicted to reading YA. To this day the Ruby Oliver series is still a favorite of mine, and Treasure Map of Boys only proves this fact farther.

In Treasure Map of Boys Ruby is in the thirty-seventh week of Noboyfriend, though that's okay because she's friends with Meaghan and Nora, she's been put in charge of Tate's bake shale, and is still going to her weekly therapy meeting with Dr. Z. But soon enough, everything comes tumbling down. Jackson's sending her frogs once again and acting like he cares, the sexual tension with Noel is getting worse and worse, especially given the fact that Nora likes him, and Gideon is becoming more and more friendly. Plus, add in the fact that she just saw Dr. Z out in public with her boyfriend, leaving Ruby creeped out and bringing the therapeutic process to an end, it seems like junior year keeps getting better and better-not.

It's a funny thing. At times I detest Ruby for the way she treats her friends, the ones who love and put up with her, but then I start to adore her wit and sympathize with her situation, and once again I'm back to rooting for her like my feelings of detest weren't even there five minutes ago. Isn't is just amazing how Lockhart can control my feelings in that way? I think so. Moving on, I have to say I love all the boys in this one, well except for Jackson, though I did like how Ruby finally, after all these months, stood up to him. Noel is his same cute, funny shelf but I hate the fact it always takes him forever to realize he likes Ruby as more than a friend, especially given the fact that he's leading poor Nora along at the same time. And Gideon! He's the sweet college boy you wish you knew, and I'm starting to think I would prefer Ruby getting together with him in the end instead of Noel in the end. Hutch is awesome as well. I loved his idea of heavymetal therapy. Meaghan is without a doubt my favorite friend of Ruby's, since she's funny, honest, and, surprisingly, very wise. Plus, I give her props for putting Ruby for this long.

Just like the others, the plot of this was addicting and always left me with questions rolling around in my head, such as; "Who will Ruby end up with-Noel or Gideon? Someone else? No one at all?" to "Will Nora ever come to her senses?" and on and on. I loved all the development in this addition, even though I know the ending is coming soon, sadly. Lastly, Lockhart's writing moved smoothly and left for more plot and character development to occur, which I love.

In all, The Treasure Map of Boys is a great, funny addition to the Ruby Oliver series, and if you haven't read this one yet or any of the series at all, I highly suggest you give it a go.

Grade: B+

The Treasure Map of Boys is now out!

Source: Random Buzzer's Blogger Program. Thanks!

Once Upon a Read-A-Thon Wrap Up Post

If you were part of the Once Upon a Read-A-Thon, you'll know that it's officially over. :( Though, that's okay because I got of ton of reading done and had lots of fun.

Here's the list of all the books I read:

Becoming Chloe
The Demon Kiss
Angel Star
Shadowed Summer
Evidence of Angels
Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth
Donut Days
The Frenzy

This equals eight books (or 1,614 pages) all together!! I feel quite accomplished. haha

I also participated in two mini-challenges, one was at Confessions of a Bookaholic and the other was at Book Crazy. To find out what the mini-challenge was about and what I said, click on the link.

Lastly, I hosted my own mini-challenge, as most of you probably already know. And the winner of the giveaway associated with it is:

Christina!

Congrats! I'll be sending you an email about how you can claim your prize shortly.

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

After a terrorist attack kills Dani's aunt and unborn cousin, life in Argentina- private school, a boyfriend, a loving family- crumbles quickly. In order to escape a country that is sinking under their feet, Dani and her family move to the United States. It's supposed to be a fresh start, but when you're living in a cramped apartment and going to high school where all the classes are in another language- and not everyone is friendly- life in America is not all it's cracked up to be. Dani misses her old friends, her life, Before.

But then Dani meets a boy named Jon, who isn't like all the other students. Through him, she becomes friends with Jessica, one of the popular girls, who is harboring a secret of her own. And then there's Brian, the boy who makes Dani's pulse race. In her new life, the one After, Dani learns how to heal and forgive. She finds the courage to say goodbye and allows herself to love and be loved again.

Review:

There's not an excellent enough word out there to describe just how amazing, touching, and beautifully written this novel is or how it pulls on your heart strings one second, having you close to tears, but at the next moment has you smiling with a slight giggle escaping from your mouth, your tears drying instantly like they weren't even there one second ago. Life, After is a book that touches on the important but sad parts of life- tragedies, terrorism, and coping; they are all there within the pages along with the happiest parts of life- love, friendship, strength, and hope.

Life, After is a novel told from the viewpoint of Dani, an Argentina teenager dealing with the after affects of The Crisis- a crisis that has left her dad jobless and desperate, her mother working constantly, trying to keep her family alive, and her friends, herself, and boyfriend defenseless against the grim future ahead of them. But soon enough comes a chance, a chance to start over in brand new country, and opportunities that will give them hope, even if it's definitely not an easy task in the long-run.

To me, Dani is an immensely strong teenager. One that not only serves as a role model because of the way she acts, but someone who I'm sure most readers could relate to, because who hasn't had a bad year because of a tragic event? Or maybe has started in a new country or place were they didn't no anyone? Or felt so broken to the point were they doubted they could never be fixed again? Or feel in love with a boy who made them smile in the best or worst of times? Or-well, you get the picture. I couldn't help but relate and root for Dani in the tragic and good parts of her life. I also adored reading about her blossoming romance with Brian and her friendship with Jessica, Jon, and Gaby; four people any girl would be lucky to have.

One of my favorite parts of this novel was the fact that Sarah had Argentina serve as the setting for part of it because I learned a great deal from Dani's experiences there, but I have to admit I would have loved to have had just a little more information and development into The Crisis there. Also, another favorite and interesting part was seeing Dani begin her new life in America. To someone like me who's so well adjusted in America because of the fact I've lived here my whole life, I sometimes forget how hard it is for immigrants to come and start over here. But Sarah showed a light into this, one that has made me greatly appreciate those immigrants who have worked so hard to get well-adjusted to their life here.

In all, Life, After is a book I highly suggest you pick on your next trip to the book store, because I pinkie-promise you, you won't regret it for one second after beginning this wonderful story of falling down and learning how to bloom and grow again. Lastly, this review wouldn't be complete if I didn't share my favorite line of the book, which I feel perfectly sums up the themes and purpose of this novel:

"Because with joy, we overcome the terror. With love, strength, and hope we prevail." (page 278)

Grade: A+

Life, After is now out!

Source: Publisher. Thanks Scholastic!

Quick Q and A with Jim Bernheimer + Contest!

Today, I have not only an interview with the lovely Jim Bernheimer, author of  Destiny Book One: Rider and Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman, for you all but a contest for 1 copy of Spirals of Destiny Book One: Rider and 1 copy of Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman as well.

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In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens or even adults should consider picking up your newest release Rider: Spirals of Destiny?
Three reasons - 1) It is an entertaining story. 2) I think teenagers and adults will identify with the characters. 3) Did I mention that it's an entertaining story.

Majherri and Kayleigh Reese are the main characters of Rider: Spirals of Destiny so can you tells us a little about them. Also, if you could offer each any type of advice what would you say?
Majherri is the only unicorn to survive the loss of his first rider. His portion of the story is the broken hero, trying to reclaim what he has lost. Kayleigh has lived all her life assisting her mother and traveling from town to town. She's three years older than the other recruits and her story is the fish out of water and the outsider.

What was your favorite part of writing Rider: Spirals of Destiny?
My favorite part was finishing the first book. There's nothing like sending the final corrections back to the publisher and knowing that it's on the way to the printers.

Do you have a favorite line or scene from Rider: Spirals of Destiny? If so, would you mind sharing or telling us about it?
My absolute favorite part is the ending. Naturally, I can' give that away, but I also liked writing about the developing bond between Kayleigh and Majherri. The odd numbered chapters are from the unicorn's point of view and the even ones are from the rider's. This helps to give the readers different perspectives insight.

If Rider: Spirals of Destiny had a theme song what would it be?
Haven't really given much of thought to theme songs. I guess that Miley Cyrus song, The Climb would be a suitable theme for what the characters experience during the story.

Is there a specific message you hope readers take from Rider: Spirals of Destiny?
The message from the story would be to be true to yourself and follow your dreams.

Out of all three books you have written, do you have a favorite among them?
I don't really have a favorite out of my two novels and short story collection at the moment. All of them are milestones on my writing journey.

If you could live in any book for one what book would you choose? Why?
I'd have to pick the superhero universe from my novella Confessions of a D-List Supervillain that is in Horror, Humor, and Heroes. The Spirals universe would be tempting, just to see magic, but I like the modern lifestyle too much.

Name three random things most people don’t know about you.
Three random things no one knows about me. 1) I'm very easy going and have no problems corresponding with my readers. 2) I'm not an especially fast writer, so I have to make up for it by spending a good deal of time doing it. 3) I've used speech to text software to "speed things up," but I can't do it while anyone is in the house because I feel self-conscious.

What’s up next for you book-wise?
Next up? I'm halfway done with the sequel to my urban fantasy Dead Eye 2: The Skinwalker Conspiracies. I'm hoping to have it to my publisher by the end of August and maybe a Halloween release date.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for the interview.

~~~

Thanks, Jim!

Now, time for the contest.

Jim has offered up 1 copy of Spirals of Destiny Book One: Rider and 1 copy of Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman.

Here's the summary for each in cause you don't know what they are about:

Spirals of Destiny Book One: Rider

Forget everything you thought you knew about unicorns and maidens... A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence. Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior. To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them.

Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman

My name is Mike Ross. I'm a Ferryman. I help people with ghost problems, or ghosts with people problems. Funny thing, no one ever helps me with my problems. Civil War ghosts bent on killing me, Skinwalkers who just want my body, and a vindictive spirit linked both to my bloodline and my destiny... It turns out the dead still hold a good deal of influence over the world, and they don't want to give it up. I'm in way over my head. Fortunately, I'm too stubborn to quit.


To enter, please fill out the following form. There will be TWO winners toatal ONE for Spirals of Destiny Book One: Rider and ONE for Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman.

Also, as with any contest, there are rules:

~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Open to participants with a United States mailing address only. (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail)
~ Don't comment below to enter or you will not be entered!
~ This contest will close on July 27 with the winner being announced July 28 or 29.