Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

I'll admit that I've been a bit obsessed with this series.  It is easily one of my favorites and I can't tell you how excited I was to read an advance copy of this book from the publisher.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Harper Collins.  And, today is release day for this book!  Yipee!!

It's so bittersweet to get to the end of a series.  One the one hand, I am happy to have a conclusion.  To know the end.  And on the other hand, I hate to say goodbye to this story and these characters.  I love them.

This last book was absolutely full of heart pounding emotion and action.  From beginning to end.  It's was so easy to get caught up in this story and not want to put it down.  I can visualize the characters and the settings.  It was a vivid movie in my head.

I love Perry and I love Aria.  I love them together and I love them separate.  Perry's loyalty and bravery are overwhelming.  He is capable and strong.  His love for Aria runs so deep and I loved that.  He listens to her and wants to make her happy.

Aria is the bridge between the Dwellers and the Outsiders and she is also the bridge between Roar and Perry.  Come to think of it, she is also the bridge of sorts between Sable and everyone else.  Aria carries quite a weight and she does it well.   She is equal parts strong and vulnerable.  It's so easy to like her.

I sure would like to see a big happily ever after ending for Roar.  Maybe I could get a whole new series dedicated just to him?  While still seeing Perry and Aria now and then?  Is that too much to ask?

I loved this book and I'm sad to see it end.  I hope Veronica Rossi is madly writing away at another great book for me to love.  :)

As far as content, there was one instance of mild swearing that I can remember.  It is implied that a couple is intimate but there are no details at all.  It does contain violence.

About the Author:

Veronica Rossi was born in Rio and now lives in northern California with her husband and two sons. She attended UCLA and studied fine art at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Having created vivid, sweeping oil paintings, Veronica has turned to writing fiction for teens. Enthusiastically embraced by readers, the Under the Never Sky trilogy has already sold into twenty-five countries and has been optioned for film by Warner Bros. You can visit Veronica online at www.veronicarossi.com.

You can find out more about this book HERE and HERE.

You can purchase Into the Still Blue at Amazon.

Rebels by Scott and Judith Powell + $25 Giveaway

   

The world is on fire. From the ashes like a phoenix rises a new America, one that will save it all. Under one condition; absolute and complete surrender. The world complies without question. Those who don’t are destroyed. It is in this world, John is born. His very name is treason. If the New America, now known to everyone as the State, knew what John was, they’d kill him, but instead they give him a gift.

The premise of this book is really good.  When I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read this book and I guess I sort of had high hopes for it.  It has all the potential of being a fantastic book.  The whole idea.

After reading the book I can still say that the concept and the whole premise of this book is still very intriguing to me.  I told my family about the book because it really shows so much promise.

There are two main problems I have with this book though.  First is the lack of emotion.  I just didn't become emotionally involved.  The story is told so factually and the little emotions that were displayed were just not enough.  I never became invested emotionally.

The second problem I had is that John was supposed to be 15 years old.  He did not sound, act or talk like any 15 year old that I have ever known.  I think I got that John was mature beyond his years, and he was raised in a completely different kind of world but I didn't believe he was 15.  Not once.  

But, having said that, it was such an interesting idea.  I was, and still am, curious about the plot.  I want to become personally invested in this book.  It was a clean read- no swearing, no sexual situations, which I really appreciated.  I loved how John's parents taught him about the founding fathers of our nation.  They never forgot what this country was built on.  I wish we could all remember that today.  It really is a plot that I can really get behind.  I just needed more emotional connections and a more believable age for the main character.  I'm hoping I get it in the next book.  (which I will be reading)

Enjoy the following excerpt!

They circle me forever. Finally, David lunges at me trying to grab me while another comes from behind. I tuck my chin down so he is unable to put me in a choke hold while I raise my right leg and thrust it forward, as if to kick a door in, and plant it right into David’s gut. He is blown back, right onto the ground. Knowing there is a third assailant, I quickly grab the arm around my throat and jerk down like my father had taught me and slipped my head to my right through an opening that I had created and pulled him towards me. I proceed to knee him multiple times while using him as a shield between me and my other opponent.

Even with the gear stuff, I know I have caused enough damage to incapacitate this young soldier and prepare to engage his companion. I have angered them which is good. My dad always said if I can get someone to become emotional I have already won because they are not thinking with a clear mind. He rushes with no technique which allows me to grab the back of his head, controlling his movement, allowing me to put him into a front choke hold. He immediately taps out, knowing it will only be seconds before blackness overwhelms him.

Now it’s only David and me, and he is still very furious remembering how I’d humiliated him and more importantly, he believes that I have taken his rightful place, being the number one cadet.

  

Scott Powell was born in Burlington, Vermont, to a father who was a police officer and a mother who emigrated from South Korea. He received a degree in marketing from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a master's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Scott served a two-year Spanish-speaking mission for his church. He is a mixed martial artist who continues to train with his father, a second-degree black belt in Tae kwon do and a kick boxer. Besides being married to Scott for over seventeen years, Judith Powell is a stay-at-home mom whose whole life has been full of stories. Being raised by an Irish storytelling father and a Native American mother, stories have filled her life and her head until they finally had no choice but to flow out through her fingertips.

Website * Twitter * Pinterest

Rebels' Facebook Page

Judith's Facebook * Scott's Facebook

    Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/29/13 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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

PAWN (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

This was a book I just didn't want to put down.  It was so interesting and compelling.  And a little bit freaky too.  Yikers.

Society ranking.  It always has been, it always will be.  I don't think that will ever change. Pawn gives ranking a whole new meaning though.  Little twists keep coming in to play that kept me, as a reader, on my toes.  I liked that.  There are a lot of characters in this book but Aimee Carter does a great job of introducing them in a way that I never felt overwhelmed.  They are all very distinct and real in my head.  Maybe too real!

I really like Kitty.  She is strong and capable even though she thinks she isn't.  She is super smart but has a learning disability that is forever making her feel less than she truly is.  As Kitty learns through acting as Lila, she realizes that she has to do something for the people and the cause she believes in but she is caught in a scary and deadly game.  Very deadly.  The Hart family is twisted and will stop at nothing to keep power to themselves.

Content:  There is some talk of sex and a situation where a girl decides to sell herself as a prostitute to make money.  There is some graphic violence and mild swearing.

PAWN will be released on November 26th.  What an awful long wait it will be for the next book.  Which I will absolutely be reading.

You can pre-order this book at Amazon in print or e-book.

My thanks to Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read and review this book for them.

The Unbounded Series: The Change and The Cure by Teyla Branton

There are only two ways to kill Unbounded, and fire isn’t one of them—as law school dropout Erin Radkey learns the hard way. By fluke of a recessive gene, she has become Unbounded, a nearly immortal being with paranormal abilities.

Erin’s Change separates her from her loved ones and alters everything she believes to be true. A week earlier she was considering a marriage proposal; now she contemplates the best way to stay alive. Caught in a battle between two Unbounded groups, she is also hunted by a secret mortal society sworn to eradicate the Unbounded gene. Worse, a new identification software could mean death for all Unbounded—or enslavement for the entire mortal world.

As Erin plunges into this dangerous new life, she must carve out her own place in the madness, protect her mortal family, and decide which group she should join. Her powerful attraction to Ritter Langton, whose family was massacred by opposing Unbounded two hundred and forty years ago, complicates her choices. There are no second chances. Death, life, or love—Unbounded always play for keeps.

Non-stop action, terrifying consequences, and powerful romance make this an exciting addition to the world of urban fantasy.

Erin Radkey remembers all too well what life was like as a mortal—and it’s not something she wants to repeat, though there were a lot fewer people trying to kill her before her Change made her one of the Unbounded.

Over the centuries the long-lived Unbounded have divided into two groups, the Emporium who craves money and power and will do anything to achieve its ends, including experimenting on its own people, and the Renegades who protect unsuspecting humanity.

Now the Renegades are close to discovering a cure that will save many lives, and the mortal husband of Erin’s closest friend is first in line. But cures cut into Emporium profits, and their agents will stop at nothing to destroy the research and assassinate anyone who gets in their way.

Erin’s new abilities are tested as she and fellow Renegades fight against the Emporium in a struggle that soon becomes all too personal and where lines of loyalty are blurred by relationships of the past. Everything is at risk, including the lives of her friends—and the love of Ritter Langton, the Renegade Unbounded who both infuriates and excites her.

From the busy streets of Portland to the jungles of Mexico, The Cure is a page-turning urban fantasy that will keep you guessing until the end.

Okay, so here is a new book series that I picked up this last week.  The first book, The Change was free on Amazon a few weeks ago so I picked that up then but I didn't get to read it until this last week.  Needless to say when I finished it, I was right back over at Amazon looking for the next book.  Lucky me, the second book was out too.  :)  I love instant gratification.  It should never be underrated.  :)

The first book, The Change, started out a bit slowly for me.  It took awhile for me to become invested and "all in" but it did happen.  The pace picked up and honestly it hardly ever let up.  As I got to know the characters, I grew to like them.  Well, or not like them, depending on who the character was.  The first book had good character development and setting descriptions so I could easily picture the book playing out in my head.

Like I said, I was glad to be able to read right into the next book in this series.  Not having to wait was awesome.  

There is good tension between Erin and Ritter but I didn't feel like it ever progressed farther than attraction.  I didn't see the "love" developing based on the interactions they had.  Hope for love maybe.  The attraction and tension were palpable and real though as they were in the first book.

There was violence in both books, but especially in the second book.  It was a bit bloody.  The Unbounded get hurt a lot but lucky for them they heal quickly and can get right back in the game.  And get hurt again.  And again.  And again.

In the first book there is, I think, one instance of mild swearing.  What bugged me was the progression of that in the next book where I encountered the B word within the first few pages.  I felt like it was unnecessary and out of character with the rest of the writing.  Aside from those couple of instances there was nothing more.  

As far as writing goes, I enjoyed these books a lot.  I would say that this author has greatly improved her writing here from the other books she has written.  She is using a pen name for this series so I know her from other books written primarily in the LDS fiction genre.  These books are so much better than those and aside from my gripe about the two random swear words, I loved reading these books.

I would describe these books as fast paced and engaging.  I was caught up in the world of the Unbounded and I really liked it there.  I'm looking forward to the next book and will definitely be picking it up.

You can find The Change and The Cure at Amazon.  (titles are linked)

Terra on Tour! Review, Scavenger Hunt and Giveaways!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours... 

Hello there! My name is Gretchen Powell. I am 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. I am an occasional drinker of classy wines, and I wrote a book.

By day, I work for a government contractor in our nation’s capital.

By night, I binge on episodes of Doctor Who and sleep fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, I write another blog called Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! about weight loss, food, fitness, and my life.

Some of my favorite things include polka dots, Harry Potter, pretty much any TV show that airs on Thursday nights (yep, I'm talking Vampire Diaries #notashamed), and playing the ukulele.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Terra

by Gretchen Powell
Paperback, 286 pages
Published December 12th 2012 by Hopewell Media

Premise:

A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.

A discovery that will change everything.

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.

Amazon  *  Barnes & Noble

I'm excited to be a part of this blog tour for Terra.  Laura over at Prism Book Tours really knows how to put on a party of a blog tour.  This tour has a scavenger hunt which totally picks up on the theme of Terra.  Such a lot of work went into this tour.  Hats off to Prism Book Tours and Laura!

Terra was a great read.  It is like a dystopian/science fiction genre which I really enjoyed. The world has changed as we know it.  Terra is of the "lower class" living on the earth and working as a scav to try to keep herself and her brother alive.  It's a dangerous job and people have been known to lose their lives doing it.

Terra is a great character.  She is smart and she knows how to work and how to survive.  Her main priority is to keep her brother safe and make a better life for him.  I love Terra's devotion and loyalty to those she loves.  

The plot just keeps pushing forward in this book.  There is always a sense of something coming~ that wedge of suspense that is always there.  It makes you keep reading.  I was definitely caught up in Terra's world and life.  I could picture it clearly in my head.  You know how I love that.  A movie in my head.  Sweet.

The ending left me wanting more.  It wasn't so desperate a cliff hanger that you feel like you've literally been left hanging over a cliff but the ending, along with the book will ensure I come back for the next in this series.  I really, really enjoyed it.

Content:  There is some kissing, some violence (torture) but this book is mostly on the clean side.

In Terra's world, resources are scarce and many people make their living as "scavs," hunting for scraps to turn in on Collection Day in exchange for credits. For this tour, YOU are a scav, and there are scraps all over the blogosphere for you to find! On each participating blog, there will be one of 9 possible questions. Answer the question to receive a keyword that will get you an extra entry in the awesome giveaway!

Giveaway April 1 - 26

One lucky scav will win a Terra prize pack! Get a signed copy of Terra, along with three exclusive (and gorgeous!) bookmarks, as well as a delicate silver watch--just like Terra's!--all packed up inside a scav bag of your very own! US only.

An additional five (FIVE!) winners will get a digital copy of Terra in the format of their choice. International.

Open only to those who can legally enter. 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 on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner 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 Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Gretchen Powell. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Terra on Tour!!

April 2013

Check out the Reviews of Terra!! And become a "scav" and track down all the answers to the Collections questions hidden in the excerpts. :-)  Plus, celebrate Gretchen's birthday by bringing something fun to the party!!

1 - April Fool's Day LAUNCH!
 - Colorimetry
 - I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Excerpt 1
 - fuonlyknew Excerpt 2
2 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner Review
 - Pause Time - Review
3 - Jessie's Book Place Excerpt 3
 - The Reading Diaries - Excerpt 4
4 - Mel's Shelves - Review
5 - Lovin' Los Libros - Review

7 - Christy's Cozy Corner - Review
 - Total Book Geek - Excerpt 5
8 - The Quiet Concert - Review
9 - LDS & Lovin' It - Review
10 - Jessabella Reads - Excerpt 6
11 - Gretchen's Birthday Party!!
 - Passion & Life - Excerpt 7
12 - Tressa's Wishful Endings - Review

14 - Living a Goddess Life - Review
 - Books, Books and More Books - Review
15 - Marked by Books - Excerpt 8
16 - Blood, Sweat and Books - Review
 - My Seryniti - Review
17 - Bookworm Lisa - Review
 - Mortality Bites - Excerpt 9
18 - Getting Your Read On - Review
 -The Broke Book Bank Interview 10

19 - Grand Finale Blast!!

Through the Ever Night: love, Love LOVE

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.


Like most bloggers, I read a lot of books. All kinds of books. Some books are good and some aren't so good. Sometimes when I write reviews I wonder if I am too stingy with my love. You know when you read a book and it's good but it's not the kind of book that pulls you in and pushes you forward, engaging and emotional. I've read a lot of books lately and they've all been good. But they have been missing that something that makes me gush love. I love when I read those books that for me have that "something".

What is that "something"? Pulling you in. Pushing you forward. Winding you up tight. Filling you up. Investing your emotions. The book you can't put down. The book that you ignore all others for. (by others I might mean books or I might mean children, husband, small animals and food.)

It's official. I am in love with this Under the Never Sky series. This book has that "something" that kept me up late because I was not going to put it down until I got to the end. I love this story.

Is there another word for love? I need to get some new words. I'm over using love.

Characters, plot, dialogue. Fantastic.

I'm in. 100%.

Roar? <sigh> I'm invested in him. I want him happy. Liv? Say it isn't so. Perry? I will follow you anywhere too. Aria? You make me proud. You are a girl I want on my team. Cinder? Hold on kid. You can do this. Kirra? Go away. Get your hands off. Marron? Thank goodness for you.

Book 3 cannot come fast enough. I wish it was today.

Content: A few instances of mild swearing. Some heated kisses.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

I just finished reading this book and wow, I just love this series.  I can't believe how creative author Marissa Meyer is.  How does she think this stuff up?!

The play on old fairy tales is incredible.  First we have a cyborg Cinderella and now we have a little red riding hood with the whole wolf aspect that you won't believe.  

The characters will draw you in.  The pacing of the book is forward moving at all times.  It just doesn't let up.  I loved that we didn't lose touch with Cinder and Kai and all the characters from book one.  We get alternating views from Cinder and Scarlet throughout the book, set on a course to intersect.  You won't believe all the crazy going down in this book.  CRAZY!  Crazy good.  :)

If you haven't read Cinder yet, you should.  This is a series that shouldn't be missed.  

You can buy Scarlet everywhere but here is the link to Amazon.  

Infraction Blog Tour + Giveaway!

YA Dystopian

Title: Infraction (Sequel to The Burn)

Author: Annie Oldham

Date Published: 11/1/12

Violent nomads. The coming winter. Jack's unspoken feelings. Leaving the relative peace of the settlement is more difficult than Terra ever imagined. But what she should fear most is the government that professes to protect its citizens. Imprisoned in a labor camp, Terra learns just how much the corrupt regime wants absolute control. Never has she felt more powerless to act. But there's always the call of the ocean, and her captors just might underestimate how powerful that call can be.

I'm so excited to be a part of this blog tour for Infraction.  I've been wanting to read this series, which starts with The Burn, for awhile.  Luckily for this tour I got to read BOTH The Burn and Infraction.  Awesome!

The Dystopian genre is big right now.  I've read quite a few books in this category and this one is one of my favorites.

The main character, Terra, is one courageous chick.  When she lost her ability to speak, I was worried that the book would suffer.  How does a girl that cannot speak communicate effectively with others push a book plot along?  Especially a dystopian book which are usually known for their action and uprising.  Somehow Annie Oldham does it though.  You'll be surprised.  Terra has heart.  That is what draws the reader in and that is what connects her to the other characters in this book.

Like any great dystopian, the government corruption is believable and scary.  You know it could be real someday.  That's the freaky good thing about dystopians.  The idea in this book about the methods of control are good.  Yikers!  

There are great supporting characters in this book as well as two worlds, one on land and one under the ocean, brought together.  I really like the ocean colonies and I'm excited to see how those two worlds mesh together in the next book.  I'm anxious to know where this story is going.  I know there is more to this- an even bigger picture that I haven't gotten yet.  Infraction sure ended abruptly.  I thought for a minute that I was missing part of the book, but no.  It just ended that abruptly.  I guess I was just ready for the book to go on and on.  :)

Here is an excerpt from Infraction:

We burrow down in the hollow and scrape the bracken around us. I pile the leaves down against our legs and shiver as the dampness seeps into my pants. I'm pressed up against Jack, and his arm wraps around me protectively, before he can even stop to question—like he has on so many other nights—if I'd even want him to. There's no time for thinking, and when there's no time to over think this, I realize I never want him to move his arm. But I can't follow that train of thought through to its conclusion because I hear footsteps coming toward us.

I reach my hand up to Jack's arm and squeeze it so tightly I'm sure he'll gasp, but he's silent and still as a tomb. I'm trembling, and even Jack's arms around me can't stop it. Nomads were one thing. They might kill us, but it would be quick. But agents? They would torture us to find out where we've been, how many other illegals we've come across, and what unauthorized settlements we've seen. They would probably kill us eventually, and there would be nothing quick about it. I look down and see the small thread of a tracker scar on Jack's arm next to the unblemished flesh on my own. Very few people have never had a tracker. What would the agents think of me, and what would they do about it?

Content:  violence, mild swearing

Purchase Links

Amazon

Smashwords

Annie Oldham adores writing and reading YA novels. She grew up in a house full of books and developed an insatiable desire to read, which led to the insatiable desire to write. Away from her writing, she's the mother of the three most adorable girls in the world, has the best husband in the world, and lives in the hottest place in the world (not really, but Phoenix sure feels like it). She loves to cook, sing, and play the piano. She is the author of Infraction, The Burn, Bound, and Dragon Sister.
CONTACT
Website
Twitter: @annie_oldham
Facebook

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The Blemished, Review and Giveaway!

A beautiful world comes at a price...

In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.

Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…

The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion.

My thanks to Reading Addiction Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of the tour for The Blemished.

How about that cover?  I think it's so pretty.

Any fans of YA dystopia out there?  This will be another to add to your list.  What makes so many dystopian books great is that they take "real" issue we have now, like cloning, and throw it into the future where it is ballooned into something especially frightening yet realistic.  The Blemished is set in a world of clones.  Anyone not cloned is said to have blemished genes, unwanted and worthless, because of weaknesses both physical and mental.

Mina lives among the Blemished and lives a lesser life.  Although she doesn't have riches and is constantly put down and bullied, Mina still has a kind heart.  I really love that.  There is a scene where Mina realizes that there are people out there, not far from her, who have even less than she does.  I think sometimes when we are feeling low or picked on, it's always good to remember that there are probably people out there who have even less than you.

I'm so glad I get to share an excerpt with you from this book today.  This is one of the scenes that really stood out for me probably because I felt the humiliation and violation right along with Mina.  

I entered the classroom. It felt wrong. The chairs were arranged differently – pushed together into a circle. The rest of the Blemished girls stood around unsure of where to sit and why the strange arrangement. In the centre of the circle was a single chair as though one of us would be the focus.

“Everyone take a seat except Miss Hart.” Mrs Murgatroyd’s voice made me jump. There was a hard edge to it, even colder than usual. I shivered. “Miss Hart, I believe there is a place for you in the middle of the circle.”

With shaking legs I stepped through a gap between two chairs and made my way to the centre. I turned and eyed each of my classmates in desperation while Mrs Murgatroyd looked down at me with a strangely tense smirk on her face. It was as though she was mentally battling with an inner conflict. It made her look frightened and cruel in equal measure. With my chest feeling tight and my breathing coming out in rasps I took my seat in the circle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Angela’s concerned face.

“For today’s lesson I needed an example, which is why you see Miss Hart at the centre,” said Mrs Murgatroyd as she slowly walked around the outside of the circle. “Today’s lesson is about boys. You see, there are some among you who seem to have had some experience in this area. Isn’t that right, Miss Hart?”

“I… I… suppose,” I stuttered.

I tried to rein in my emotions, to concentrate and be in control. I couldn’t use my gift in front of all these people. It would be too obvious. I glanced down at my hands hoping that she wasn’t going to beat me in front of the class. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Billie shaking her head and remembered what she had said in the garden.

“Angela Dixon?”

“Yes, Miss,” Angela replied with a shaky voice.

“Tell the class how a good Blemished girl should behave around members of the opposite sex,” Mrs Murgatroyd instructed.

“Not to look at them directly. Modestly,” Angela recited.

“That’s correct.” Mrs Murgatroyd never stopped her laps of the chairs with slow paces and her hands folded behind her back, the picture of control. “And why is that?”

“Um, we don’t want to give them the wrong idea,” Angela replied quietly.

“That’s correct,” said Mrs Murgatroyd. “You are not here to mate. Your genes have been proven unworthy. You are here as servants to the GEMs, which is your rightful place. And if you are lucky and behave appropriately for a Blemished then you may even get a job. Now Angela, could you tell me one more thing? How should a Blemished girl behave in the company of a male GEM?”

“W… we shouldn’t talk to them. Or look at them. Unless we are spoken to,” she answered quietly.

“Excellent,” Mrs Murgatroyd said. “Now, class. I would like you to answer together. Should you talk to a GEM boy?”

“No,” said the class in unison.

“Should you reveal your hair to a GEM boy?”

“No!”

I didn’t join in the chant. At this point the tears began to roll slowly down my cheeks and my lips trembled so badly I couldn’t open them.

“Should you let a GEM boy touch you?”

“No!”

“And how about you, Miss Hart? Should you let any of these things happen?” Mrs Murgatroyd moved into the centre of the circle and bent low to speak to me. I felt her hot breath on my cheek.

I shook my head feebly in answer.

“Yet you did. Didn’t you?” She yanked at my headscarf and began to unwrap my hair. Her pointed nails scraped on the back of my neck and her rough fingers pulled my head back and forth. “Do you think you are better than everyone else in this room?”

“No,” I said hoarsely. I could barely see through my tears now. I shut my eyes against the stares of my peers.

“Then why do you act like it?” she said cruelly. She grabbed my hair and pulled my head back. “You bring everything on yourself, Miss Hart. When will you learn your place?”

On the last word she yanked my head back even further and pulled a pair of scissors out of her jacket pocket. The rest of the class gasped. I stared at them – wide-eyed. For a horrible moment I thought she might stab me, but then she did something almost as awful. With a ghastly smile on her face Mrs Murgatroyd cut chunks out of my hair; big, uneven, ugly chunks. I watched in horror as the long strands fell to the floor.

Uugh.  Awful, right?  This gives you a really good taste for the book though.  I really enjoyed reading it.  It had those tense action scenes and those moments of romance too.  What a great start to the series.  There was a bit of a cliff hanger so I'm anxious to see where Mina and friends end up and what is going to happen.

Content wise, there is some swearing (mostly hell and the B word) and a few instances of profanity.

I'm so happy we get to have a giveaway for this book today.  The giveaway is open to all and ends on 10/5.

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Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.

Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine, Apex Magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales. The Blemished is her first full-length novel.

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

From Goodreads:  One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Yes.  This book is every bit as good as they say.  I was doing a bit of hoarding with this book.  I really wanted to read it but I really didn't want to get to the end knowing I would have to wait another year to read the next book.  Oh, the cliff hangers.

It took me a minute to remember Divergent and get back into the feel of Tris and her world again.  I love that Insurgent picks RIGHT up where Divergent left off.  We literally don't miss a beat.

In Insurgent we get a closer look at some of the other factions.  It was so interesting to me.  All of the factions have awesome traits but it really is true that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.  We cannot become too lopsided in life.  We need parts of everything to find balance and order.  

I know there are lots of people out there who thought Tris was annoying.  Overcome by grief, heartache and guilt, Tris was struggling.  I actually liked Tris a lot in this book.  I think her struggles were realistic.  Watching your parents die and having to kill your best friend is not something you just get over with the turn of a page.  I think watching a character deal with the kinds of emotions that could potentially become debilitating and rise above them in the end shows true character and courage.  I think that is what I loved most about this book.  

Veronica Roth is an amazing writer.  She has created a world that I can envision and characters that I'm invested in.  I couldn't stop reading this book.  I loved the pull.  It is going to be an unbelievable long wait for the next book.  I love this series.

Content:  Some mild swearing and some moments of intense violence and torture.

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I've seen so many reviews for this book.  They've been mixed, lots of comparisons to The Hunger Games and the Bachelor reality show.  While I can see how people would say that, especially about the Bachelor show, this book was more than that.

First of all, I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.  This was an eat it up kind of book for me.  I finished it fast and had no desire to stray.  (that means I didn't pick up another book while reading it.  hee hee)

Oh, and don't you love the cover?  I think it's so pretty.

America lives in a land using the caste system.  She is a 5 on a scale of 1-8.  That's pretty low on the totem pole and she and her family have to work hard to survive.  Life isn't easy and it definitely isn't pretty.  I found myself enjoying America.  She is kind and she thinks about other people.  When she makes a mistake, she knows how to apologize.  

While Aspen is such a hard working, good looking guy, he really didn't steal the show for me.  Well, maybe he did in those heart stopping kissing moments.  :)  Maxon on the other hand was really the guy I was rooting for.  His inexperience and self doubt when it came to the girls was endearing.  I know that given the chance that boy will be just as passionate and confident as Aspen.  He has all the makings of a great leader.  He has compassion and he knows how to listen.

I'm so happy I picked this book up.  Yum, yumma, yum yum.  I'm really looking forward to the next book!

As for content, there was mild swearing throughout and some steamy kissing.

Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

It was so nice to get to the end of this trilogy.  This is one intense, fast paced, action packed series and the wait in between books was killer.  

Poor Thomas.  He's been through so much in this series.  I really hope he can find a good therapist because I have no idea how anyone can survive what he did without one.  But, Thomas is loyal and brave and has a smart head on those shoulders of his.  All very admirable traits.  He is an awesome lead man.

I also have to say that James Dashner is one funny dude.  I've heard him speak a few times and have always enjoyed it.  Here I am with him at a book festival.  He would not give up that pamphlet of his book.  Believe me.  I did try.  We are also the same age.  I know, right?  Old.  <sigh>  Wait, did I just call myself old?  lol.  I'm looking forward to the future writings of Dashner.  He has some freaky stuff going on in that head of his.

Okay, well that wasn't much of a review, but I don't have much time.  I have a very sick kid with strep.  No fun.

FYI:  This book contains mild language and some graphic violence.  Just so you know.  :)

Review: Rip Tide by Kat Falls

(from Goodreads)
Return to the subsea frontier with Ty and Gemma! The mysteries of the deep are deadlier than ever when Ty, with time running out for his parents, leads the two teenagers to the underwater underworld...and into an alliance with the outlaws of the Seablite Gang. But one mystery soon leads to another. How has an entire township disappeared? Why is the local sealife suddenly so aggressive? And can the Seablite Gang be trusted...or are Ty and Gemma in deeper water than they realize?

After recently reading Dark Life, the first book in this series by Kat Falls, I was really looking forward to reading Rip Tide.  I love the whole concept of these dypstopian books, set under the water as people are forced to pioneer a new life when the land begins disappearing and water rises.  

Honestly, I'd be scared to death to live underwater!  Maybe that's what makes these books so fascinating to me.  A lot more of this book takes place on land though and deals with the rough and shady characters at the water's edge.  

Ty is desperate to find his parents who have been abducted.  I guess that sort of desperation leads you to do all kinds of crazy things because I'm telling you, that kid is nuts.  The situations he jumps into are made up of your worst nightmares.  Shark attacks, wild salt water crocodile attacks, freezing to death underwater, drowning, being stung and eaten by Diablo Rojo (the red devil), bare hand fighting until someone falls in the water full of blood sucking eels...  I'm telling you- EEEWWW!!!

One of the things I really appreciate is that this book is free of the swearing that appears in so many books.  It is also low on the romance, with only a couple sweet kisses near the end of the book making this book more appropriate for the younger tween readers.

I really enjoyed this book!  

Review: Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

After the plague sweeps through the population of the greater New York City area, Lucy finds herself alone, devastated by the loss of her family, friends and life as she knew it.  Survival is a day to day struggle with never enough food.  One day Aidan shows up, saving her from the dogs that seem determined to catch her, and leaving her longing for human contact again.  When a tsunami pummels her makeshift home, Lucy scrambles to escape and ends up finding Aiden and the tattered group of people he lives with. 

Sweepers keep attacking and taking people away, never to be seen again.  Lucy is frustrated by the group’s lack of action, wanting to find out why people are being taken and where they are going.  When a girl escapes the sweepers and returns back to the group, Aiden and Lucy decide the time has come to find some answers, setting off a chain of events that nobody could imagine.  The answers, it seems, are in Lucy's blood.

I first have to say that I'm really enjoying so many of the books coming out in the Dystopian genre.  This was no exception.

I thought Lucy was a strong character.  Life had forced cruelties upon her but she survives.  She sets her mind to the task and does what needs to be done.  Lucy also has a sense of loyalty which I really liked.  

The author does a good job of creating characters.  I felt like I could picture them in my head.  They seemed real and tangible.  The premise of the book was interesting and incorporated so many of the things that I think as a society we fear happening.  Massive virus or infection that sweeps across population, devastating everyone, government propaganda leaving us confused as to the truth... yeah, scary stuff.

The one problem I had with the book was the ending.  Here I am, in the middle of this intense escape scene, running for my life, trying to get away, and then Aidan pulls Lucy over and kisses her.  THE END.  Huh?   Okay, so I'm as happy as the next gal that Aidan and Lucy finally connect that way but I really felt like I was escaping with them, running with adrenaline and then BAM, I turn around and everyone is gone.  There is an Epilogue which provides some after the fact answers, but still.  That ending.  I don't know.

Everything else was good though.  I enjoyed the read and I'm looking forward to the next book.  At least, I hope there is a next book!  :)

Review: The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

From Goodreads:
The future is uncertain. The battle to control the past has begun. The final book in the riveting Hourglass Door trilogy begins when Abby steps through the black door, and she doesn't dare look back. Though it means leaving Dante—wounded, bleeding, and possibly blind—she knows it is the only way to save her family and stop Zo from manipulating the river of time and throwing the future into chaos. In the end, Abby must face a final confrontation that will take her to the very origins of the hourglass door.


I have been waiting for a long time to see how this series ends.  It's been a great journey with Abby and Dante.  The trouble with waiting a year in between books is that you tend to forget some of the things that you read and it takes awhile to be reminded of where you left off.  Sometimes that isn't a big deal, but Lisa Magnum has such a way of writing.  It took me a few chapters to remember and get back into the world(s) of the Hourglass Door.


I really loved this last book.  It had all the things I was looking for and hoping for.  I love resolution and I love happily ever afters.  :)  I love that Dante and Abby are strong individuals but together they are even stronger, more powerful.  Together they are able to right the wrongs and turn chaos into peace.


I love that this series is clean and well written.  My thirteen year old daughter loved reading it too.  In fact, I was second in reading this book.  It was snatched right out of my hands the minute it came.  But, no worries because I knew it would be back in my hands the very next day.  And it was.  With a contented smile.


I'm anxious to see what Lisa comes up with next.  She is a fabulous writer.