COVER REVEAL: The Midnight Spell by Rhiannon Frater & Kody Boye

Best friends since kindergarten, Adam and Christy have always been the perpetual outsiders in their small town in Texas. The other kids call Adam gay and Christy a witch.
On both counts the bullies are right.
Their junior year in high school seems destined to be the same old same old until Christy decides to cast a love spell for Adam at the midnight hour. The next day an alluring and mysterious boy enrolls at school and sets hearts a flutter, including Adam’s. Meanwhile, Christy’s mad crush on the handsome football player Ian seems to be going nowhere fast and her witch puberty is making her life miserable.

When a great evil arrives in town that threatens everything they hold dear, the best friends realize that finding a boyfriend is the least of their worries. Soon Adam and Christy will have to battle a force of darkness that has killed in their town before, and will again.

Release Date: February 2013

Goodreads

The cover has been revealed. 

The story is in front of you. 

But without these two lovely ladies, 

This wouldn't be possible. 

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.

Website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter

Kody Boye was born and raised in Southeastern Idaho. Since his initial publication in the Yellow Mama Webzine in 2007, he has gone on to sell nearly three-dozen stories to various markets. He is the author of the short story collection Amorous Things, the novella The Diary of Dakota Hammell, the zombie novel Sunrise and the dark fantasy novel Blood. His fiction has been described as ‘Surreal, beautiful and harrowing’ (Fantastic Horror,) while he himself has been heralded as a writer beyond his years (Bitten by Books.) He currently lives and writes in the Austin, Texas area.

Website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter

ARC Review of Broken by A.E. Rought

by: Sarah
Release Date: January 13th, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 384 pages
Source: ARC provided via Netgalley

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.
When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.
The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows

A good idea that was executed horribly. While I can understand every author has a vision of how they want their story to be told, there's still some things that just don't work. In this book's case, the writing was just all over the place with its tone. Sometimes it would delve into a darker gloomy prose and I'd think okay we're finally getting somewhere, but mostly it was just all shallow word vomit, complete with slut-shaming, subtle sexism, and awkwardly phrased ~*teen talk*~. Now I know the argument to that is always, "but that's realistic though because that's how teens actually are!!!!!!!!!!" Yeah, I'm aware of this, I was a teenager once upon a time, and I know that young people are capable of this type of behavior, but that doesn't mean EVERY teenager is like that. I think there are many other ways for an author to convey HEY! MY BOOK IS ABOUT TEENS! Sometimes playing the every character is vapid card can work, if the author is a talented enough writer to make the reader connect with non sympathetic characters. The writing in this book is not on that level. I found it nearly impossible to care about Emma whatsoever. Yes she's a young girl going through a painful time but her characterization was shite. If the writing had been on point then her horrid personality would have been interesting and even relatable, but it wasn't, so she was just an annoying brat.

Now, as for the plot, like I said before...good idea, bad execution. The meat of the book is basically just Emma having random cliche interactions with Alex and mooning/brooding over how much he reminds her of her dead boyfriend, Daniel. Aside from that nothing really happens. The romance was actually embarrassing to read.

And I quote:
“It does fracture the illusion.” His velvet tenor sends chills racing over my skin. 

“What illusion?”

Alex’s grip tightens, hugging me to him, squeezing the air from between us. When I look up, I see his eyes smoldering behind his mask. He leans closer, the ties of his shirt brushing my bare skin when he whispers, “That you’re a dream come to life.”

I giggle. What else can I do after a compliment like that?

THIS IS AFTER DAYS OF THEM KNOWING EACHOTHER.

Next, I click on Alex’s text: Why can’t I get you out of my head? You’re my dream, Emma, and I don’t ever want to wake up.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

There were odd, vague mentionings of Daniel's death a few times that aren't expanded upon until about the last third of the book, but it didn't really build mystery or suspense the way it was written, it just confuses the reader. The "mystery" surrounding Alex was obvious from the first page he entered the story. With lackluster characters and a dull, painfully predictable plot there was just nothing about this book that made me want to keep reading. I stuck with it just in case the ending would somehow wow me but no. The end was overly dramatic and unbelievable. I just think there was so much about this book that could have been good but the writing was just. so. bad.

There's not much else to say. I'm very disappointed as this book was toted as being a "modern spin on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein". Yeah, as someone who knows Frankenstein like the back of their hand, no no no no no it is not. It barely has anything to do with it at all. There are a few half-assed allusions to it and there's the obvious aspect of bringing the dead back to life, but other than that this book is just another poorly written, dull, teen "romance".

1 out of 5 coffee cups

_________________________________________________________________________________

Review also appears on goodreads
Contact me: sarah.harlan@hotmail.com

ARC Review of Midnight City by J. Barton Mitchell

Midnight City

By: J. Barton Mitchell

Review by: Kaede

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 384

Series: Conquered Earth

Source: ARC via NetGalley

Earth has been conquered by an alien race known as the Assembly. The human adult population is gone, having succumbed to the Tone---a powerful, telepathic super-signal broadcast across the planet that reduces them to a state of complete subservience. But the Tone has one critical flaw. It only affects the population once they reach their early twenties, which means that there is one group left to resist: Children.
Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, and his current target is Mira Toombs, an infamous treasure seeker with a price on her head. It’s not long before Holt bags his prey, but their instant connection isn’t something he bargained for. Neither is the Assembly ship that crash-lands near them shortly after. Venturing inside, Holt finds a young girl who remembers nothing except her name: Zoey.
As the three make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, they encounter young freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and the amazing powers that Zoey is beginning to exhibit. Powers that suggest she, as impossible as it seems, may just be the key to stopping the Assembly once and for all.

Let us just begin by admiring this cover here. Personally, I think it's beautiful. The swirls of the different tones of blues, and the amount that was able to be done with just one color, amazes the graphic designer in me. But here comes the million dollar question: Does the actual book measure up to the expectations worthy of this pretty eye-candy called a book cover?

If you're curious for my answer (but seriously, c'mon, who isn't? Wait, don't answer that...), I'd say it does, and it doesn't. I didn't go into Midnight City expecting a fresh new and unique dystopian book, I gave it a chance because I wanted a good steady read. One that'd keep me interested but not dying to read on; a book to serve as back-up when I didn't wanna any of the other books I was currently invested in. I am confident when I say that Midnight City fulfilled it's purpose for me, but I will also admit, had it been issued another purpose, we may not have the same outcome. Shall I tell you why? In a review formatted specially just for this book? *sigh* I really am being underpaid for all that I do. (What nonsense am I sprouting? I don't even get paid. Pfft. I really should be though. So you know, if someone wants to do just that for poor old me, you're more than welcome to do so. No, seriously. I. Strongly. Encourage. Doing. So. And I also strongly hope you know I'm kidding.)

DO(s): 
For all the places Midnight City rocked in.

• Do I even need need to repeat myself? The gorgeous cover. 
• Max. I've always been particularly fond of animals. I can't help it!
• The Librarian. You don't get to meet him until almost the very end, but he's exactly how I'd picture someone of his caliber to be. He's wise, with hundreds of years of experience under his belt, and he knows the weakness human emotion provides and how easily it can be used against an unexpecting person. He is able to keep his emotions disguised, and his feelings protected, but in the end he was still human once. He knows, no matter how distant that memory is, how to love and the power of a sacrifice made with love. What he did for Zoey and Mira and Holt definitely made me tear up a bit.
• The writing. While it isn't anything spectacular, it managed to stay at the steady pace I wanted. It wasn't all "OH I'M GONNA SO KICK YOUR BUTT NOW" one moment and "We strolled through the moonlight, hand and hand, enjoying the moment" the next. It was a good blend of fast and slow.

DON'T(s): 
For all the places Midnight City did not rock in...

• Connection. For all that it's worth, Midnight City failed in making me care deeply. In fact, I started out not caring if one of the main characters died until almost I was more than halfway through the book. I was never ever fully invested in this book, but when I reached the end, I can say that Midnight City did manage to improve slightly, as far as understanding the hidden agendas and motivation behind certain characters' actions go. But honestly, everything introduced felt distant. Like there was always a wall stopping me from seeing the whole picture, and connecting with everything. There was always that glass wall I couldn't break through, try as I might.
• The romance. Okay, seriously. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? I'm not even mad, cause I kinda do like Holt and Mira together, but I haven't a clue where the romantic feelings came from. Because for goodness sake, the boy started out trying to, and may I add suceeding in, kidnap you, darling Mira. My tiny brain cannot fathom how that would somehow form the beginning of a everlasting and forbidden love, but hey. Whatever pleases you. You know what they say. Love is complicated. (It sure is, my friend. It sure is...)

If nothing else counts, at least know that Midnight City had far more pros than cons. Is it a must read for readers of all ages? Probably not. But do I regret reading this book? Most certainly not. And who knows? I've been eyeing the finished copy.

*cough* Must add to the way too huge list of "to-buys". Perhaps I'll put it on the Christmas list instead? How 'bout it Mom? *cough*

3 and ½ coffee cups!

An advance copy was provided from the publisher for review via NetGalley. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.

--

Contact Kaede: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com

Kaede is currently reading: Through the Ever Night, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father & Send. 

UPCOMING REVIEWS: 
• Splintered by A.G. Howard (5 STARS. Did you expect anything less?)
• Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter. (5 STARS. OH MY GOD. 4 hours later and I'm still thinking about this. THIS CAN'T BE THE END. I NEED MORE. MORE OF HENRY AND KATE...please? I see a re-read of this series not so far in the future too... Huh. Definitely not far.)

TRAILER REVEAL: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hi darling,

I'm really excited to have been invited to be one of the many bloggers who's taking part in the Opal trailer reveal. I love all of Jennifer's works that I've read so far, and I'm sure I'll continue to do so. I can't wait for Opal's release. EEPPPPPPPPPPP.

... yeah.

So without furthur ado!



No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moment you've all been waiting for...

...is no longer near. It's here.

With great pleasure, I present to you:

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout's trailer reveal!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jessie Atkin

Yo, yo, yo!

...or something like that.

So today I have an awesome guest stopping by for an interview for her book, WE ARE SAVAGES. It's very unfortunate that due to a lack of time, I couldn't accept a review copy of this book and tell you guys all about it. But that doesn't mean I won't find some other way to promote her book, right? Cause Kaede always gets her way. And you'd do well to remember that.

So bring on the author interview!

So we do we have today? Visiting today is Jessie Atkin, here to talk about her debut novel.

K: WE ARE SAVAGES can be described as what following genre(s)?

JA: YA adventure fantasy

K: While writing WE ARE SAVAGES, did you have a specific goal or audience target in mind?

JA: My overall goal was anyone who enjoyed Peter Pan or Harry Potter, because those were some of my favorite books growing up.

K: With so many books out there, what about your book makes you feel will stand out?              

JA: I think We Are Savages will stand out because of its honesty. There are a lot of books out there about kids ending up in other worlds, but I think the emotion behind not only Tris, the protagonist, but her four main companions as well, really touches on how growing up feels to kids in different situations. I also think Mars, Tris's dog, who plays a prominent roll in the story, is a pretty unique character within the story.

K: Will there be any, you know, romantic tension that should be expected? Or any hint of romance at all? 

JA: Yes, there's a small hint. But it's not really the focus of the book in any way. The story focuses on family and friend relationships more so than romantic ones.

K: Was there an inspirational source(s) behind the idea and premise of WE ARE SAVAGES?

JA: The story starts with a girl and her dog, and that's where the original idea for the story sprang from. I was in college when I started writing Savages and I really missed my dog. But when I was cast in a school production of Peter Pan, that's when the story really evolved. I kept thinking, if the Darling kids ran away today, would it still be the Neverland? Is that still the world kids would dream of to escape the problems in their home lives?

K: Out of curiosity, do you have any books or shows that you are currently reading or watching? If not, what do you plan to read or watch?

JA: I just finished reading JK Rowling's new book, the Casual Vacancy, and plan to read Summerland by Michael Chabon next. As for TV shows, I really watch more than I should, but some of my favorites include Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and New Girl.

--

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jessie! We Are Savages sounds fantastic, and I'm so bummed out that I wasn't able to accept your review request. Maybe we could arrange something so that I could still end up able to read this? Hmm, hmm? Maybe? *hopeful* My curiosity is indeed getting the better of me and I'm wondering who the love interest is. SOMEONE TELL ME HIS NAME. I'm rolling around on my bed here, really wanting to know. My poor bed says he hates me. YES IT'S A HE. Don't ask me why though.... 

As always, links below! 

Until next time, 

Kaede. 

LINKY LINKS: 

Goodreads, Amazon, Website

--

Kaede is currently reading: Through the Ever Night, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father & Goddess Inheritance. 

So as you can see, I got my hands quite full at the time. Booo. :/ But I'm SUPER excited for these books. 

BLOG TOUR STOP: Morrigan by Laura DeLuca

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.
Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords

Today, I have with me a returning guest to Wake Up at Seven, here to promote her other work, Morrigan. I am very excited to host Ms. DeLuca once again, and you can find a previous tour stop for her novel, Jessica, HERE on Wake Up at Seven.

Continue reading for an excerpt from Morrigan!

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”

“Stop it! Sit down!” Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations.

The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.

“Dirty, filthy beasts!” Tiarn snarled as he climbed to his feet. “I hate Guardians.”

“They’re just little cats,” Morrigan told him. “What’s the big deal?”

“Just cats! Hah!” He was standing at a careful distance, even though they had started licking their paws nonchalantly. “They are much more than simple cats! Though even those I find distasteful.”

Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It does not matter.” Tiarn dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “They are not coming with us."

“They most certainly are coming!”

Tiarn growled again. “I beg to differ with you, Your Highness. They would only get in the way. Possibly even get killed.”

Danu raised her head from her grooming to hiss at him again, as though she had taken that last statement as a personal threat. The strange reaction of her faithful sidekicks made Morrigan wonder again just how much Tiarn could be trusted. She also wondered why, when she wasn’t sure she could trust him, she still felt the undeniable urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. “If they stay here alone, they’ll definitely get killed or at least sent to the pound,” Morrigan told him. “I can’t let that happen. So, they’re coming. End of story.”

Tiarn’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. “Very well, Princess. Bring your mongrel felines. Just keep in mind that Guardians and lycans do not mix well.”

“Lycans?” Morrigan repeated. A sick feeling started to settle in her stomach, as the truth of his words sunk in. It all started to make sense—his hairy arms and chest, his reaction to the cats, even his earlier comment about smelling her out. Her dark knight had a much darker side than she had ever seen in her dreams.

“Why yes, Your Majesty. Did you not realize? You are a witch and a sorceress. And I, your faithful traveling companion, am a lycan—a werewolf.”

Like what you see? Then let's reveal the mind behind it all!

Ms Laura Deluca!

 

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. She is the author of four young adult novels including: Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, and Morrigan and has many other works in progress.

Amazon, Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

Interested in more? Find out where Morrigan is headed next HERE! 



WoW: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter (5)

PRETTYYYYY. O_O

The Goddess Inheritance 

Release Date: February 26th, 2013

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

I have my review copy, yes, but nothing beats a pretty finished copy. And this cover is so. Very. Pretty. And I am so very jealous. -.- I'll be starting this tomorrow and I just can't stop jumping out of my seat. SO EXCITEDDDDDD. MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. MUST. Tehehehe.

--
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.

ARC Review of Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless
By: Hannah Harrington
Review by: Kaede

Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Pages: 288
Series: N/A
Source: ARC via Edelweiss

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

"Words matter - how we use them and how we don't...At the end of the day you answer to yourself, no one else, so you'll be happy that you did."

One. Two. Three.

The seconds go by.

Four. Five. Six.

Minutes. Days. Weeks.

Chelsea Knot can not speak. Believing her silence will benefit everyone, and her voice no one, Chelsea sets out to undertake a vow of silence. Besides, who's going to miss the girl who was always a snobby bitch, who now adds traitor to her long list of hate-worthy traits. And after realizing how much she herself tormented other students without second doubt, Chelsea doesn't think taking the vicious attacks and vile comments from people she used to call "friends" is all that bad. Because there's no way anyone would ever want to talk to her again, much less be her friend...right?

After Ms. Harrington's debut, Saving June, I knew she was an author to look out for. I just didn't think Speechless was a novel for me. But oh, was I wrong. Honest to good, I remember thinking that the premises for Saving June and Speechless were cheesy and way too over done. And still, that distinction has not vanished yet. But Harrington is able to turn that cheesy idea of a novel into something good. Worthwhile.

Finishing Saving June a few months ago left me craving some more of Ms. Harrington's work, too prove that the potential I saw was not misleaded and undeserved. Speechless did just that. I hestiantly requested Speechless off of Edelweiss when I saw it was still available. I was able to hit that send button because I told myself to probability of acceptance was one out of ten.

Seems like miracles do happen, because here I am reviewing a book I never thought I'd read, much less love. And, oh, did I mention that I only had three hours of sleep today? Because this book is so damn good, I had to finish it and find out how things end. And I almost never do that. The book has to be really special for me to such a thing, since what time I have to sleep and not study is quite precious to me. And because I just like to sleep a lot. *shrugs*

Chelsea's character is a hard one to evaluate. I don't think I should just plainly state my likes and dislikes, because it just doesn't seem right. Chelsea is, well, refreshing. A character so real, I can't find the right words for. Getting to understand Chelsea and to walk with her through her story really brings back what it's like to escape to another story, another world. A book that really let's me lose sense of my surroundings and pretend I'm someone else. Someone who knows Chelsea and can treat her as a real person.

Chelsea isn't perfect. Two wrongs certainly do not make a right (unless we're talking multiplying negatives here, but still), and Chelsea is not without her mistakes. But at least she's able to find the courage to own up to them; something I think a lot of people, myself included, have yet to find the ability to do. I loved Sam and Asha, absolutely adored Andy and Noah, but most of all: I loved what they meant to Chelsea. They were her building blocks to a new start, something indispensable. I do find it hard to believe that people like this group of awesome friends actually exists, and have a much harder time believing that I'd ever come in contact with people who have such a good, unbreakable, connection to one another. But until I do, I'll keep hoping.

Oh, and, for fans of Saving June, did I mention Jake and Harper have a short scene in this? *SQUEALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL*

It's a short scene , it really is. But it was more than enough for me to just know and have a confirmation that Harper and Jake's story didn't just end after the last page of their published tale.

As this memorable story proves, I'm certain Hannah Harrington is an author who's past and future works will stay with me for a long time.

This is a story that'll have you turning the pages wanting more, and even well the last page, it'll still leave you searching for more and speechless.

I have just one last thing to say:

Don't be afraid. Speak up.

5 coffee cups!

An advance copy was provided from the publisher for review via Edelweiss. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.

--

Contact Kaede: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
*I get questions quite often asking if this is my personal email. It's not. It's just an old one I made when I was young. I might change this email soon, who knows? Would you guys prefer I use one along the lines of, contactkaede@yahoo.com? Or keep it as it is?

Review also found: Goodreads

Review of What's Left Of Me by Kat Zhang

by: Sarah
Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 343 pages
Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1
Source: ARC provided via Netgalley

I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Here's a funny story: I actually requested this on Netgalley by accident. Yeah. But I figured oh well I probably won't get approved for this anyway and promptly forgot about the whole thing. Then, weeks later, imagine my surprise when I received an email saying I'd been approved. Clearly this is an act of a higher power and I was meant to read this book. (I said to myself.) So I dropped everything and dove in.

So. Two things,first off:

1. From me to this book: it's not you, it's me. No really. I'm not just saying that. No. No, no there's no one else. Nothing like that. Please don't cry. I hope we can still be friends. P.S. I want my pink shirt back. 

2. This is one of those books that you have to really suspend your disbelief for from the get-go. I am very bad at doing this. Well actually I guess I should say I am very unpredictably good at this. Sometimes a book can start out with the most nonsensical shit and I'm just like yes this is happening I accept this reality and then I breathe softly onto my monocle and rub it against my smoking jacket before popping it back into place. And sometimes I just go eeeehhhhhwhatno. That's what happened with this book, unfortunately. Early on in reading I kept impatiently waiting for a big breakdown of what this having two souls/hybrid thing was all about...I guess you're just supposed to be like okay this is a thing. It's not really a fault but I just was expecting something different, so let's cross that one off as my bad.

Now onto things that were your bad, book. In the same vein as my previous gripe, there's a big lack of explanation going on in this book; the world building is virtually non-existent. I'm still confused as to why the war that's periodically referred to even happened (it's glossed over a few times but never fully explained) , why hybrids are seen as this big bad threat to society (again, kind of touched on but nowhere near as in depth as it should have been), and what time period is this even taking place in? This is another fault of mine but I went into this book expecting a dystopian future, but I remember Eva mentioning during the wars that there was no TV News and all the battles were depicted through paintings, which leads me to believe it's a dystopian present. I think? Maybe I just had my brain turned off when I read this book but I was lost on all that. I'm usually not someone who needs heaps of backstory to enjoy a book but in this case it was a constant distraction. Particularly during scenes where Addie and Eva are starting to rage against the machine..there was a line that went something like "we're going against everything we've been taught about settling (the term for the submissive soul to fade into oblivion)" and it wasn't nearly as powerful as it could have been because I had no idea what they'd been taught about settling except that it was good and not settling was double plus ungood. I also find it very very hard to believe that a parent would just so willingly accept one of their children disappearing? I'm not really an expert on the matter but this isn't like The Giver where emotion doesn't exist and shit love is a normal thing in this society so I just don't see how loving parents would be like "well bye less extroverted child sorry you didn't make the cut see ya never!"

This book didn't really get going until last 90 or so pages, but the end was a pretty good set up to the next book in this series. I had pretty much convinced myself I didn't have any interest in continuing on but now I'm not so sure. But most importantly, as I said earlier, there's really nothing horribly wrong with this book. In my opinion it's a unique, interesting, and poignant novel. The sibling relationships being the focus while the "romance" being on the backburner was definitely refreshing in a YA novel like this. This book is definitely worth a read. It just didn't really hit the mark with me but it's got a very Never Let Me Go Jr. feel to it and I think young people who maybe couldn't quite grasp the depth or hang with the intensity of a book like NLMG could really sink they're little baby teeth into something like this. Not to say any adult who enjoyed this have baby teeth, I'm sure your teeth are very mature for their age.

PS: Looking through reviews I've seen several people say they had a hard time concentrating while reading this and found themselves putting it down a lot or not being able to really get into it. I had this problem too, which might be a contributing factor on why I wasn't over the moon with it. Hmm!

2.75 cups of out 5!

Kaede my sweet princess, I HAD to get on board with this coffee cup idea of yours because it's adorable. Hope you don't mind! You know what they say, imitation is the greatest form of stealing :P

BOOK COVER & TRAILER REVEAL: Pieces by Michelle Davidson Argyle

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.

Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.

Release Date: February 14th, 2013
Goodreads


Pieces is, in fact, a companion novel to a previous novel, The Breakaway. Sound familiar? Perhaps you recognize:

 

When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals. But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it.

Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

And so who does the work behind the scene?

Well, in this case, we have the lovely:
 

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.



LINKYS:
Website, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook

But that's not where it all ends! Because, as a bonus, we have for you today:

Pieces's book trailer!

So tell me, my darling, does Pieces interest you?

If so, check out Xpresso Book Tours to see if you can arrange a tour stop for your blog!