Engage Relaease Day Blitz & Giveaway!

 

Engage by Erica Crouch Series: Ignite #2.5 Published by Patchwork Press on May 5, 2015 Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal, Young Adult Pages: 128 Goodreads Synopsis:

Kalaziel is a terrible guardian angel: her temper’s shorter than she is, she swears, she’s missing a wing, and she sees no problem with letting man make their own choices—no matter how questionable. That’s what free will is all about, right? Her overseers disagree. After she mishandles an assignment, Heaven strips Kala of her title and throws her back into training, hoping to reinforce the covenant of vows she swore to uphold as a guardian. But the angels’ motives aren’t as pure as they appear: they want to eradicate any opinions that conflict with Heaven’s code. With a mass cleansing on the horizon, Kala discovers she is not alone in her insubordination; there are other angels who are restless with the stasis of Heaven and ready for change. Progress doesn’t come easily, though, especially when it means uniting ancient enemies to fight for a common cause. Engage is a novella that prequels Kala and Ana’s story in Incite.

Today’s the day — release day! We are so excited to share Kala and Ana’s story with everyone. This book is the book that almost wasn’t; without Erica Crouch splitting Incite in half, we never would have had the opportunity to hear the background of just how New Genesis came to be…at least, not in a format like this! And really, we can't get enough of our favorite lesbian angel couple! Like Entice, Engage is available as both a paperback and an ebook, so you can have it sitting on both your physical bookshelf or your virtual one! You can order Engage from:

• Amazon
• B&N
• iTunes
• Kobo.

Sign up to participate in the Infinite cover reveal May 15th! Just a little over a month until the conclusion of the series comes out -- Infinite will be available June 16th, so mark your calendars!

 

About Erica Crouch

Erica Crouch is a young adult and new adult author from Baltimore, Maryland. She has a strange blended aesthetic of cute and spooky, and her books reflect her ever changing mood. (You may find romance, you may find gore—sometimes both in the same book, but probably not at the same time. Probably.) Erica is the cofounder of Patchwork Press, an author-powered publisher of middle grade, young adult, and new adult titles. She is the head of editorial services and design, with nearly fifty projects to her name.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Book Review - A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Perinovic

Title: A Magic Dark and Bright (Aslyum #1)
Author: Jenny Adams Perinovic
Publisher: Bookish Group Press
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Format: E-ARC *Thank you NetGalley and Patchwork Press co-op*
Rating: 3/5 Stars

She meant to help a ghost...not unleash a curse. Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died. The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return. Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her. But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

I wasn't sure what to expect when I had first started this book because I'm not much of a horror fan and horror tends to creep me out pretty well. So that being said; I figured why not give it a try and see what happens. It wasn't as bad as I thought it for the type of book it was. I really connected with the setting of the novel; which is in a small town in Pennsylvania. Growing up and living in a small town in PA, Jenny really captured the feel and atmosphere of the small town and how everyone knows everyone and the like of what is going on. Even the way the characters that she has created could have just been like any of the people that I know because of how they are (which isn't a bad thing necessarily). 

Amelia and Charlie being the main characters of the novel (besides the Woman in White), had something that made them work well together but at the same time I feel as if the relationship was a little bit odd. Charlie being new to town and is automatically supportive of Amelia and the fact that she sees a ghost in the woods behind their homes. Amelia on the other hand is dealing with the death of her brother and her father leaving and being the only one in town who has seen the Woman in White. Together they try to figure out how to help the Woman in White move on and hopefully help Amelia's brother move on as well. What actually happens, sets the plot for the rest story. The evil that they unleash comes with consequences they never saw happening. 

 At times AMDAB creeped me out enough that trying to sleep was rather difficult (did I mention I don't do horror). The vibe was perfect for being the first horror novel I had read and I can't wait for the next one. The Woman in White was one of my favorite things about this novel. She is what kept me turning page after page because I was curious as to what was going on with her. What really got me is that I originally thought this was going to be a stand alone novel but once I got to the ending I knew that this wouldn't be the case and upon some further research its turns out that there is indeed going to be another book. 

Overall I would give this book a 3 out of 5. It was good for what it was and I enjoyed reading it and has changed my tune for other horror books within the YA genre.

Downcast by Cait Reynolds Cover Reveal

Title: Downcast
Author: Cait Reynolds
Publisher: Booktrope

Publication Date: May 28th, 2015

About the Book:

 

It’s the start of Stephanie Starr’s senior year of high school, but sadly, this is no life of the prom queen. Stuck at the bottom of the high school social totem pole, Stephanie is forced by her domineering mother to wear lumpy linen dresses and eat organic tofu for lunch in a world of mini-skirts and pizza. 

What Stephanie doesn’t anticipate is gorgeous and cocky Haley Smith who breaks social convention and pursues her with a determination that is both terrifying and flattering. Afraid that Haley is simply trying to set her up for massive humiliation, Stephanie does her best to push him away. But the more attention he pays to her, the more she runs, and the more everyone else begins to notice.

Instead of a loving family to support her as the mean girls make their play, Stephanie’s mother begins to unravel mentally, her possessiveness of Stephanie spiraling to new and frightening extremes. Stephanie is forced to grow up, find herself, and learn the truth about her past in order to save her mother, her friends, and her town. When the truth is revealed, nothing can prepare her for the outrageous reality of her existence…and nothing can save her from her fate.

Except Haley.

 

Add Downcast to Goodreads

 

About Cait Reynolds: Cait Reynolds hails from the Boston area where she lives with her husband and 4-legged fur child. She discovered her passion for writing and has already published four novels under various pen names. Downcast is her first foray into the world of paranormal young adult. When she isn’t cooking delicious meals, running around the city, rock climbing like a boss, or enjoying the rooftop deck that brings her closer to the stars, she writes. Downcast is book one in a three book series coming from Booktrope Editions. Reynolds is able to pull from real life experiences such as her kidney transplant and a bout with cancer and her writing reflects her passion for life from having to stare the dark places in the face. Please visit her at: www.caitreynolds.com

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Book Review - Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Rating 5/5 Stars

Synopsis:In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

 Ok so I wasn't expecting Lola to be as good as Anna but boy oh boy did Stephanie Perkins prove me wrong! I loved Lola just as much as I had loved Anna. I picked Lola up as soon as I had finished Anna. So glad I had it on standby. With a whole new city, a whole new cast of characters and a whole new situation of falling in love made it another 5 star read. 

This time instead of being set in Paris, I found myself in a city a lot closer to home. San Francisco was a wonderful place for this story to be told. Lola and Cricket's relationship I loved probably more than I loved Anna and Etienne's relationship. The characters were different from those in the first book and they made them so easy to fall in love with and watch them go through the ups and downs of their lives and how they want to be together but the past is making things difficult. What really made me fall in love with the book was the reappearance of Anna and Etienne. That's right, they came back! It was a nice touch to see how things were going with them but it didn't distract that it was  Lola and Cricket's story to be told. 

Book Review - Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks Series #1)
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: SourceBooks Fire
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Format: Paperback 
Rating 4/5 Stars

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble

High school football, high school seniors, some amazing universities, a quirky cast of characters, romance, comedy, and some heartfelt moments made Catching Jordan a quick read that I enjoyed.

Starting off with that cast of characters who kept me turning the pages. Jordan Woods is unlike any MC I've read about before. Over 6 feet tall and the star quarterback of her high school football team, right there I knew this would be different. Enter her best friend; Sam Henry; who is also on the football team and is funny and downright charming. Ty Green is something else entirely with his looks and being QB as well. These 3 right here were totally fun to follow and I learned so much and could relive some memories of high school through them. The whole of the supporting characters and even minor characters were great additions and their roles were interesting.

I loved being able to watch Jordan go from just being of the boys and discovering that not all girls are entirely like the cheerleaders that she doesn't like. *cough Marie and Carrie cough* Those two supporting girls were probably some of my favorite characters because Marie knows about football and I call that a bonus for me and Carrie is just so sweet and both were there for Jordan. You go girls!

Ah the romance combined with the comedy kept me laughing and smiling throughout the course of the book. Managing to combine both is something I didn't know was possible. I have a habit of talking out loud while I'm reading if there's something that I find great happening and I did a lot of talking. So kudos for making me do that. The romance was nicely worked into the book and I didn't know how the book was going to end for a while, it kept me guessing. Didn't end like I thought it would have either. Little confusing right there I know but to figure out what I'm talking about you need to get this book right now. I even made it easy for you, I left links to purchase it ;).

Have You Seen This?

As the book nut that I am there are some ARCs that I'm in search of and thanks to Andi at Andi ABCs and Brittany at Book Addicts Guide for creating have you seen this to help collectors find those hard to get books to finish their collections.

So what I'm looking for are ARCs of:

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (does this even exist?)

If you have any of these or know anybody who does tell them to look me up and I'll see what I can do in return! Thank you!!

Waiting on Wednesday

 

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Release Date: May 5th, 2015

Synopsis: 

An exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, from the author of Cruel Beauty.

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless—straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.
Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in a vain effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her hunt for the legendary sword that might save their world. Together, they navigate the opulent world of the courtly elite, where beauty and power reign and no one can be trusted. And as the two become unexpected allies, they discover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic . . . and a love that may be their undoing. Within a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

*As always Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine*