Death's Academy by Michael Bast

Midnight Smith has a problem.  He's a hoodie.  Well, almost.  He has to go through Death's Academy so he can learn how to snuff out shorties (humans, like you and your friends) and outsmart those pesky halos.  Then he'll get his shroud and calling and become a full-fledged Grim Reaper.  But to get into Death's Academy, there's a real killer exam . . . and Midnight stinks at exams.

What he doesn't know is that the exam is the least of his worries.  When the hoodies and halos go on their yearly retreat, the time is ripe for an old enemy - the diabolical unicorns- to strike.  That leaves Midnight and his friends as the only ones to stop the attack- and this is something he just can't fail at.

If you are looking for a middle grade fantasy sort of book for boys and girls alike, this just might be your book.  The main character is a boy named Midnight and his best friend is a genius girl named Mal.  Everyone ought to have a best friend like Mal.  She invents way cool stuff and she does animal speak.  I really liked Mal.

I'm not so sure I'm the biggest fan of Midnight.  He breaks rules without remorse, he is disrespectful to his parents and other authority figures, he lies and he sneaks out of his house.  As a mother I'm not a fan of any of these things.  He pulls off a good thing in the end but I wonder at the lack of consequences for his continued bad behavior.  He is young though and I think he learns some valuable lessons by the end so it's not all bad.  I just prefer to see a main character (especially in books where young kids may be reading) have a bit more respect.

This book is filled with fun and adventure.  The secondary characters are engaging and the story flows well.  The few pictures throughout the book were fun and I liked how it enhanced my mental pictures.  I kind of wish there had been more of them.  :)

This is a clean book, well, mostly.  There is no swearing or sexual content but there is quite a bit of potty humor.  There are several references to the character swearing, but no actual words.  

You can find Death's Academy at Amazon.  This book will be officially released Jan. 14th.

See the book’s official trailer here.

Blue Ridge Set Up by Kimberly Rae

Not him. Anybody but him.

When Kayla’s great-aunt Lavender, an eccentric romance novelist, invites Kayla to come live with her in the Blue Ridge Mountains for the summer, Kayla accepts. No one will know her there. No one will be disappointed in her failure.  A failure she had kept a secret until Ryan Cummings destroyed her dreams.

What Kayla does not know is that her aunt attends Ryan Cumming’s church and has decided Ryan and Kayla would make wonderful characters for her latest novel. Aunt Lavender hires Ryan to build additions to her property, making sure he will be around as long as Kayla is.

Neither Kayla nor Ryan have any desire to be set up. However, as Kayla battles feelings of worthlessness—started when health problems got her sent home from the mission field—a friendship grows and blossoms, one that may become a reflection of the perfect love, the love that casts out fear, that Kayla has always longed to know.

Obviously, as you can read from the blurb above, this is a Christian Fiction novel.  It is also a very sweet romance that builds slowly.  Kayla is struggling with a lot of different things.  She develops a severe health problem that impacts everything she does.  I actually really liked that Kayla had this health issue.  It made her real and vulnerable and allowed me to connect with her on a different level.

Kayla has some deep insecurities which get in the way her happiness sometimes.  It was a journey of growth and understanding facilitated by the love of a good man- Ryan.  I loved that Kayla and Ryan's relationship started out a bit rocky and developed into a friendship of sorts before moving farther.  

Sometimes we have ideas, goals and hopes for life that get derailed by, well, life.  One thing this book magnifies is that even though life may derail what you thought you wanted, you can take what you are given and still find purpose and meaning.  Change plans, find a new focus.  Sometimes what you end up getting can be even better than what you thought you wanted.  :)

I really enjoyed this book.  It was sweet and had a great happily ever after ending.  

There were some very Christian moments of theology and talk of God.  It is a Christian fiction book after all.  :)

My thanks to Astraea Press for allowing me to read and review for them.  They are a great publisher to work with.

You can purchase "Blue Ridge Set Up" at Amazon.

Echo In Time by C.J. Hill: Review + a Giveaway

After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.

I'm so excited to be a part of this tour with Fire and Ice.  C.J. Hill is a favorite author around my house so of course to be a part of her new release, Echo in Time, made me a happy girl!  This is the second book in this series and if you haven't read the first book, Erasing Time, you really should!  Right now it is only .99 cents on Amazon.  That's a killer sweet deal!

Identical twins, Sheridan and Taylor are stuck in the future- 400 years in the future to be exact.  In this book Taylor and Joseph are sent on a mission back to the hub of danger.  They have to destroy the Time Strainer.  Secrets and hidden agendas make for a dangerous decision that changes everything and suddenly lives of more are at stake.  

I love the connection between Sheridan and Taylor.  They are quite different personalities but when tested, I think they are more alike than they originally thought.  Sheridan realizes that she is stronger than she thought and smarter too.  Taylor, for all her blustering, has a heart.  She is loyal and brave and she cares about people.  Sheridan and Taylor work separately for most of this book but their primary goal is always protecting the other.

This book has time travel, action, intrigue, humor and a little bit of romance thrown in.  That sounds like the perfect recipe for a great book to me.  The icing on the cake for me is that this is a book I can easily share with my daughter and my niece without any reservations.  No swearing, no sex, just a good, clean story.  I love that.

I'm loving this series.  This book was the perfect read for the New Year.

CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother's pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children's books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

Most writers' first novels aren't publishable. CJ Junior's first novel wasn't, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.

CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

Author website/blog/goodreads/macmillan/twitter

The author is generously providing for a giveaway of the first book of this series, Erasing Time, in print form.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.  

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15 Winter Reads $100 Book Blast!

Sit back, relax in your favorite reading chair and enjoy 15 Winter Reads from 15 bestselling YA authors. There is something to delight every reader in this box set – paranormal romance, futuristic sci-fi, historical, time travel, and contemporary. Many of the Indelibles have given you access to both the first and second books in their series – you’ll be reading well into the New Year!

LIMITED TIME BOX SET - from 15 bestselling YA authors ON SALE 12/29 - 1/11 for just $1.99

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

15 Winter Reads includes:

 

The Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn

Escaping an experimental prison, Thalia tries to hide her past and her gifts, from her friends. But her past isn’t always easy to escape, especially when it hunts you down.

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

 

Tremble (Celestra Series) by Addison Moore

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking. When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

Exiled by RaShelle Workman

Venus wakes to find herself no longer on her home planet of Kelari, but on Earth with a week to get back or she'll die.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads * Wattpad

Dragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore

Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.

Amazon  * Facebook  * Twitter  * Goodreads  * Pinterest

 

Open Minds and Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

 

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

When Grace's forest ranger dad disappears on patrol, she fights town authorities, tribal officials, & nature to prove he’s alive. Torn between a new hot boy and cute ex, she heads into the wilderness to find her dad. Soon, she is caught in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder.

 Twitter * Facebook * Blog  * Goodreads

 

How to Date an Alien and How to Break Up With an Alien by Magan Vernon

Alex Bianchi takes an internship at an alien operations center to pad her college applications but doesn't plan on falling in love with one of its residents. But as Alex’s senior year progresses, everything changes and she can’t figure out if it is interstellar or if it is just time to break up with an alien.

 Twitter * Facebook * Website * Goodreads

 

Flutter of Luv by L.M. Preston

Dawn, the neighborhood tomboy, is happy to be her best friend’s shadow. Acceptance comes from playing football after school with the guys on the block while hiding safely behind her glasses, braces, and boyish ways. But Tony moves in, becomes the star Running Back on her school’s football team, and changes her world and her view of herself forever.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

Watched by Cindy M. Hogan

It takes more than a school trip to change Christy's life. It takes murder.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

   

Clockwise and ClockwiseR by Elle Strauss

A follow up to Clockwise, Casey and Nate travel back in time and race against the clock to rescue Casey's rebellious brother Tim from frontline battle in America's civil war.

 Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

   

Glimpse (Zellie Wells #1) and Glimmer (Zellie Wells #2) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

While working together to figure out what their shared vision means, Zellie discovers that Benjamin is a worthy friend and mentor. If only he could keep his hands off of her - if only she wanted him to...

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling

After dodging bullets on a first date, Savvy must decide how far she'll go to protect the ones she loves.

 Blog * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Grasping At Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

An eternal soul mate, a supernatural family who has known her for centuries, and lifetimes of erased memories: this is Maryah Woodsen’s life. She just doesn’t know it yet.

 Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

Lacrimosa by Christine Fonseca

In the world of angels and demons, one thing is clear - some sacrifices should never be made. Even for love.

 Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Google + * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

The town of Spruce Knoll hides many secrets—and many dangers, among them are that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that she is far more than she realizes.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

Giveaway Details
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends
1/11/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Love Lessons by Christine S. Feldman

Self-assured Nadia Normandy knows everything there is to know about men and dating, which seems to be why little old Mrs. Beasley maneuvers her into taking unsuspecting and bookish accountant Benji Garner under her wing.  Her mission?  Shape him up for the opposite sex, preferably in time for New Year’s Eve.

A challenge?  Sure, but Nadia discovers that Benji’s got a charm all his own, and she finds herself avoiding her usual social scene in favor of time spent with him—all in the name of mentoring him, of course.

Except that after a while, it starts to feel less like mentoring and more like something else—which could present a problem, because just as Nadia begins to realize she didn’t know quite as much about men as she thought, other women are starting to notice her unlikely protégé.

Much like Nadia is beginning to notice him in a whole new way herself…

This review will be in perfect timing with New Years Eve today!  If you've got a couple of spare hours until the ball drops and a dollar, consider cozy-ing up with "Love Lessons".  This sweet novella is set right around New Years and will have you raising your glass in cheers.  :)

I am really loving this novella series by Christine Feldman.  This is the second book in the Heavenly Bites series and it is so cute.  Nadia is all confidence and focus and loves a challenge.  She is a fun, energetic character.  It was easy to like her.

The growing attraction and tension in this book is fantastic.  It all leads up to New Years Eve and believe me, you won't want to miss it.  :)  Humina, Humina.

This novella was sweet and clean.  Cheers to that!  :)

You can buy Love Lessons at Amazon.  (for just .99 cents!)

Happiness is a Habit: Simple Daily Rituals that Increase Energy, Improve Energy, Improve Well Being, and Add Joy to Every Day by Michele Phillips

Renovate the rhythm of your life to create a healthier, happier you! Forget superficial fixes like fad diets or shopping sprees and instead learn how implementing simple daily habits like journaling, juicing, and unplugging electronics can improve your quality of life. The confidence, vitality, and joy that you deserve are just a habit away!

Every now and then I enjoy reading a non-fiction or self help sort of book.  This book sounded like a winner because who doesn't want to be happier?  Making happiness a habit?  Yeah, that sounds good to me.  A happier start to a new year.  I don't really make New Year's resolutions but I am a goal oriented girl and making a goal to achieve happier habits sounds perfect.

What I like about this book is that you know right up front that this will take time and work.  Habits are not formed over night.  The author even recommends that you pick one habit and do it for 90 days.  Just one at a time.  That way you are not overwhelmed and you give the new happy habit a chance to really become a part of who you are.  Happiness is a choice.  Some have to work harder at it than others, I think, but everyone benefits from having a happier person around.

I can really get behind a lot of these happy habit ideas.  Not all of them suit me and my exact situation, but a lot of them do.  Or, the ideas can be modified to work for me.  Many of them I'm already doing in some form or another.  It's really all about finding things that improve your quality of life and how you interact with others.

A few of my favorite habit ideas were "Give Smiles", "Go Outside", "Do Something Kind", "Make Time for Recovery and Refueling" and "Say Yes to Adventure and Leave Your Comfort Zone".

There is really plenty of advice to be had in this book.  Many habits seemed repetitive to me and I think could have been condensed into one but overall there are just a lot of good ideas here.  I enjoyed reading through this book.  I am going to be implementing many of these good habits over the next year.  I think I'll start with "Drink Water".  I do drink water but not nearly enough and I need to do better.  So there you have it.  My first happy habit.

You can find Happiness is a Habit at Amazon.

Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin

What if your devastating break-up became this summer's hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother's request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she's ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared's big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire's heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it's been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

The blurb totally got my attention for reviewing this book.  I'm a sucker for modern re-tellings of my favorite old books- especially Jane Austen.  The other thing that really got me was the music aspect of this book.  I love books that involve music.

The music was definitely my favorite thing about this book.  I love how feelings, memories and situations all revolved around music.  I'm sure we all have songs that when we hear them take us right back to a certain moment.  There are songs that remind me of people and places and feelings I had.  I love music.  It is so powerful and can evoke such emotion.  The emotions, events and people in this book are all interwoven in music for Claire and Jared.  I loved that the most about this book.

Of course, misunderstanding is a key player in this book.  Claire breaks up with Jared to please her mother and regrets it every day.  Jared doesn't understand and uses his music to vent his feelings.  Misunderstanding leads to hurt.  I enjoyed Claire's maturing in the book.  She learns along the way and starts figuring out what Claire wants and how best to get go about getting it.  The moments I enjoyed the most were when Claire becomes emotionally vulnerable and puts herself out there to succeed or fail- knowing it could go either way but still trying.

The things that I didn't like about this book were the swearing (including the F word, multiple times), the underage drinking and drug use, and the casual references to sex.  There was no open sexual situations in this book, just talk about them happening (or not).  I'm just personally not a fan of these things in YA books.  This book would have been just as good (well, better in my opinion) if those things were kept out.

My thanks to Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read and review for them.  You can find this book at the Harlequin Teen website or at Amazon.