[Review] A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight by Jen White

A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight
Jen White
Published by: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication date: April 20th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Middle-Grade

Jen White’s A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is a sensitively-written middle grade novel about a girl struggling with anxiety, family secrets, and the meaning of friendship.

Cora is constantly counting the minutes. It’s the only thing that stops her brain from rattling with worry, from convincing her that danger is up ahead. Afraid of the unknown, Cora spends her days with her feet tucked into sand, marveling at La Quinta beach’s giant waves and her little sister Sunshine’s boundless energy.

And then danger really does show up at Cora’s doorstep–her absentee uncle, whose sudden presence in the middle of the night makes her parents nervous and secretive. As dawn breaks once more, Cora must piece together her family and herself, one minute at a time.

A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is an endearing and revelatory middle-grade novel that is perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree.

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Author Bio:

Jen White writes middle grade fiction. Her second book, A THOUSAND MINUTES TO SUNLIGHT, releases on 4.20.21. Her debut, SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE, has been translated into several languages. She grew up in Southern California and currently resides there with her family. Jen received her bachelor of art’s degree in English and her master’s degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. You can find out more at www.jenwhitebooks.com.

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My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this novel, I know this because I didn't take too many notes. I was too busy reading! It was a wonderful story of friendship, family, and self-growth.

I really connected with Cora, because I understand her. I have pretty bad anxiety, and it's honestly only getting worse as I get older, because there are more things to worry about! But, I really connected with her after reading this passage (that I also shared on my Teaser Tuesday post previously):

A silent house, in the middle of the night, might be one of the loneliest places on the planet.

Did you hear that?

Brain says: Absolutely an ax murderer.

Crouched in the hallway, I'm poised for anything. It's 11:31 P.M. to be exact, and a wonder that I can even hear Brain, with my heart hammering in my eardrums.

Inside my head, I count.

1 2 3 4 5

This is pretty much how I react to weird noises at night, or even without any noise to prompt me at all. I just lie awake thinking someone is going to try and get into my house and hurt us. The only difference is I don't count. I use a variety of other coping mechanisms, but I don't think I have ever counted. Counting is Cora's big thing, that and her conversations with Brain.

I hate Brain, but that's what the author wants. Brain makes Cora question everything and makes her keep to herself. Brain tells her she is no good, that no one will ever want to be her friend, and that people are always thinking bad things about her. I love watching Cora grow and realize that maybe Brain isn't right all the time and maybe she should ignore Brain and just go with the flow. The first time she told Brain to "Hush" I actually cheered out loud a little. It was nice to slowly watch Brain fade into the background and Brain to actually question "What the heck is going on?" as Cora becomes more and more independent. 

Patrick was my favourite character in the book. Everyone needs a Patrick in their life. He is so happy, energetic, and doesn't let anything, or anyone's opinions, get in the way of enjoying his life. He is a great friend and always there for you, supporting you however he can. I really enjoyed his storyline, and LOVED how they "resolved" it. I love how Cora and Patrick bond over their goals, just 2 kids with 2 impossible dreams.

The novel is simply written, and perfect for middle grade readers. The chapters are short and easy to get through, and I loved the intriguing and unique chapter titles. The subject of mental illness is addressed cautiously and with tact. I love that both parents are in the picture and are supportive. I love Cora's sister, Sunshine, and how supportive she is always trying to be, especially with the affirmations. She is such a little sweetheart! I love that therapy is used and medication is discussed. I also like how they worked in a possible family connection to show it's not just her and that mental illness runs in the family. 

My only issue was I wish they would have left out the two incidents that "may" have caused the issues with her brain, because I would have preferred a character with mental illness with no causation as I feel it might have been easier for other kids to connect with her and what she is dealing with without the causation aspect.

Overall it's a fabulous book that is very well written for the target audience and I recommend it to everyone.

The Pros:

• Mental health is addressed in a positive and helpful manner.
• The characters are all very well done and realistic.
• The importance of family and friendship is strong.
• Patrick!!!

The Cons:

• The idea of something possibly causing the mental health issues made me feel uncomfortable in this specific novel.

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[Review] Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz

Title: Of Wicked Blood
Series: The Quatrefoil Chronicles, #1
Author: Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz
Genre: YA, fantasy, magic, paranormal
Format: audiobook
Publication Date: January 11 2021
Published By: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks            Source: NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

No rest for the wicked... or the cursed.

SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.
Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.
Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.
If any of us fail, I’m dead.
I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.
The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.

CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.
Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?
Wrong.
The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.
But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.
Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.
Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.

*Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind). (less)

About Olivia Wildenstein

USA TODAY bestselling author Olivia Wildenstein grew up in New York City and earned her bachelor’s in comparative literature from Brown University. After designing jewelry for a few years, Wildenstein traded in her tools for the writing life, which made more sense considering her college degree.

When she’s not sitting at her computer, she’s psychoanalyzing everyone she meets (Yes. Everyone), eavesdropping on conversations to gather material for her next book, and attempting not to forget one of her kids in school.

She has a slight obsession with romance, which might be the reason why she writes it.

About Katie Hayoz

Katie grew up in Racine, Wisconsin where she acquired an irreversible nasal twang and an addiction for books with a slightly dark edge. She now lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband, two daughters, and a very fuzzy cat. She has been an avid reader of YA fiction for years. While she has a penchant for the paranormal, she devours a range of books -- along with popcorn and black licorice. She consumes all three in large quantities. Luckily, the books don't stay on her hips.

My Thoughts:
Our story takes place in the cozy village of Brume, where their history is rooted in magic, but of course that's not really true...or is it? Of Wicked Blood takes place in the middle of winter, which I find adds to the magical setting. I just love how everyone is always bundled up in sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, and mitts. It adds the touches of realism needed in such a magical story.

Magic used to be a large part of Brume's history, but the majority of the residents just think the magic is a kind of fairytale, until Slate comes to Brume and puts on the cursed ring that starts the magical wheels in motion again. Now Slate, and three others, must work together to find their specific magical pieces to bring back magic as a whole to Brume.

The writing is very well done, and smooth, which is hard to achieve when working with two separate authors, but Olivia and Katie make an amazing team. I have since joined their Facebook page, The O.K. Crew, and it's great watching them interact live with each other. Everything is very descriptive. I was sucked in almost immediately. It's easy to imagine everything like a fantastic little movie playing in my head. I was completely immersed in the story almost 100% of the time. I just found the many French words and phrases inserted throughout off-putting. 

The conversations were fantastic, humourous, and realistic! No stuffy and stiff dialogue in this book. The internal dialogues were often even better than the normal dialogue, especially with Slate. I found myself laughing out loud often when he was internally speaking. Needless to say, Slate was my favourite character. It was hard to like him at first, but he grew with the novel, and I grew to love him along with it.

I was very happy with the development of the romance in this book. I often get frustrated because everything seems to happen so fast, but in this novel, even though it technically only happens over a matter of days, it feels slower, and more natural. I also really liked that when they had an issue with one another, THEY TALKED IT OVER! Not always right away of course, because you have to drag out the drama a little, but they did approach each other and discuss what was bothering them. They didn't just let things fester between them for the whole book and then blow up at each other and fix it just in time for the ending...which is pretty typical.

I struggled with the audiobook version for many reasons. First off, as much as I enjoyed listening to Thomas Locklear's deep, smooth, and sexy voice, I just didn't feel like it fit the college level character of Slate. Funnily enough my first though was he should be narrating adult romance or erotica novels, and low and behold, when I looked him up on Audible, that is primarily what he does narrate. I might have to pick one of those up! Holly Fielding on the other hand had a very pleasant voice that fit her character well, however she didn't do voices of the other characters very well and I often found it painful as she voiced Slate, her father, etc. Another irritating factor was the fact that the sound levels often changed even in the middle of the same conversation and it felt kind of oddly pieced together at times. This saddened me because the story is really really good!

There was one character that really got under my skin, the creepy Mayor. Usually when there is a creepy character there is a reason he is included, some part of the story he is meant to draw out, but I just found his creepiness unnecessary at the time, like being creepy just for the sake of being creepy, which really bothers me. I hope book #2 proves me wrong and there is a reason for this character, otherwise I think his specific creepy nature could have been reworked not to be so disturbing. I often found myself asking, "What is the point of this character?"

The end left me befuddled. What just happened? Argh! I can't say too much, because SPOILERS, but I don't get what happened. There are just too many unanswered questions. I need book #2 now!

The Pros:

• Dialogue, especially internal dialogue, is very well done.
• Slate is awesome!
• The romance aspect was well done.

The Cons:

• The French gets a little annoying.
• The audiobook could use some work.
• Too many unanswered questions.
• The creepy Mayor.

[Review] Star-Crossed Dragons by Chris Cannon

Title: Star-Crossed Dragons
Series: N/A
Author: Chris Cannon
Genre: YA, fantasy, dragons, magic
Format: ebook from the publisher on NetGalley
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Published By: Entangled Teen
Source: ebook from the publisher on NetGalley

Synopsis from Publisher

Ice-princess, Sara Sinclair, is the most un-Blue Blue Dragon of her Clan. And now her parents signed a marriage contract to an absolute asshat. Sara has no interest in being one half of a snobby Blue power couple. In fact, all she can dream about is biting her obnoxious fiancé’s head off and burying him in the garden. Since that can’t happen, her future seems like a lost cause, until she meets Ian, a fire-breathing Red Dragon—who is everything her fiancé is not.

Now Sara’s jumped from the frying pan into the fire because dating outside of your Clan is against Directorate law. Ian could be thrown in jail or executed without a trial. But now that she knows what love feels like, she can’t imagine being with anyone else.

Talk about a rock and a hard place…

About Chris Cannon

Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series, the Crossroads Chronicles, the Boyfriend Chronicles, and the Dating Dilemma series. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.
She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

My Thoughts:
Star-Crossed Dragons tells the story of Sara Sinclair, a well off member of the blue dragon clan. She has been promised to another high ranking blue dragon clan member, and she is struggling with the idea of this union and her role in the blue dragon clan as a whole. She runs into Ian, a member of the red dragon clan, while she is fleeing her intended. Ian is like no one she has ever met before. She likes that he actually listens to her and involves her in things, unlike Ferrin, her intended, who believes the role of blue dragon women is only to bear children and support their husband.

The story starts off very strong. The world building is fantastic and I was quickly pulled into the world of the dragon clans. I loved how every color dragon had their specialty and their role in society. I think I would have been a black or green dragon. I would have loved even more about their difference and how their society came to be. However, I was often caught wondering why the clans were kept so separate. Why can't they have relationships outside their own color?

I felt there were explanations missing for many things, like the directorate. Why were they formed. Why did the rest of the dragon society allow it. Why do the rest of the dragons not fight against the amount of power and fortune the blue dragons hoard? What was the punishment for being out past curfew? Why was there a curfew? What is the extent of their powers?

The writing was pretty basic throughout the majority of the book, and for some reason it got worse as the book progressed. The first half was wonderful, but the second half dragged in places, but then the epilogue raced through so much where I would have liked more details. The pacing was just awkward overall.

I also felt like parts of the book were missing that dangerous feeling that I felt it should have had. Sara and Ian are doing things that could get them killed. Yet even though it's mentioned, the danger isn't really felt. I don't feel them being careful, sneaking around. There should have been more people that were curious about their actions. There should have been that rush of the directorate coming after them, the actual chase, but I just never felt it. The ending was just too slow, too basic, too much back and forth, should we, shouldn't we. Just not enough drama/action! It just seems too much happily ever after with not enough fight/suffering. Too easy.

I was also left wondering what happened to the characters left behind. I would have liked a little focus on their reactions, maybe how they handled the directorate questioning them (because I am assuming that would have to happen). Maybe there will be another book? Hopefully?

Overall I enjoyed the story, it was a light easy read, and I would be interested in reading more from this world.

The Pros:

• The world building is fantastic.
• Ian was my favorite character.
• Sara's attitude and her always wanting to shift and bite off Ferrin's head.

The Cons:

• The writing is basic, almost feels like a rough draft, especially nearing the end.
  
• The back and forth, should I, shouldn't I gets tiring fast.
• Sadly seems to be a one off, I would like to read more in this world.

[Review] Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian
Series: Lux (Book 1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genre: YA, sci-fi, aliens
Format: audiobook from library
Publication Date: July 17, 2015
Published By: Tantor Media, Inc.
Source: Borrowed From Library

Synopsis from Publisher

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

About Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, 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, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

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 is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

My Thoughts:
Jennifer L. Armentrout is a very talented writer. I love the way she uses humor in her writing. 

My palms itched to have a close encounter of the bitch-slap kind with his face.

Her characters are very realistic (even the alien ones) and the story is believable (even with aliens). The way the differences between the two alien races are described is very interesting, with the light and dark. I don't completely understand the hatred of the Arum for the Luxans, but maybe more will come out later in the series.

I loved that Katy was a book review blogger. It wasn't just mentioned once and then brushed off, it was mentioned many times and it was part of who she was. She loved books and loved talking about them. I felt like we were kindred spirits. I also loved that she is a take no shit kind of girl. I kind of want to be more like her that way. Daemon is an ass to her, but she gives back and doesn't just run away and cry in a corner.

“Thanks,” I muttered and added under my breath, “Douchebag.”

He laughed, deep and throaty. “Now that’s not very ladylike, Kittycat.”

I whipped around. “Don’t ever call me that,” I snapped.

“It’s better than calling someone a douchebag, isn’t it?” He pushed out the door. “This has been a stimulating visit. I’ll cherish it for a long time to come.”

Okay. That was it. “You know, you’re right. How wrong of me to call you a douchebag. Because a douchebag is too nice of a word for you,” I said, smiling sweetly. “You’re a dickhead.”

“A dickhead?” he repeated. “How charming.”

I flipped him off.”

I know a lot of readers had an issue with Daemon's attitude and the way he often talked to Katy, and I understand that. But, I read/listened to the prequel first so I understand the underlying reasons for his behavior. Does it make it right? Of course not, but again, I understand the reasoning. He wanted to chase her off. He didn't want what happened to his brother to happen to anyone else in his community, especially his sister.

I loved Daemon. He had the outside asshole thing going on, but you could tell he had a solid heart. He cared deeply for his sister and wanted to protect her as much as he can. Later, he forms an unwanted bond with Katy and tried to protect her as much as he can, without really realizing that is what he is doing. The whole storyline with the other young man who takes her to prom (I can't remember his name) was proof enough of that. I look forward to reading Oblivian, which is Obsidian told through Daemon's eyes.

The love/hate relationship between Katy and Daemon drives me nuts. It was cute at first, but went on way too long. I don't understand how two people can be so blind. I don't understand how Katy can't see past Daemon's sharp words to the actions which clearly show he cares for her. She lets his words hurt her (which of course they would hurt) but she doesn't even try to look beyond the words to see what he is actually showing her. 

With regards to the audiobook edition, I really enjoyed the narrator, Justine Eyre. I have listened to several books she has narrated, including the prequel to this series, Shadows. Her voice kind of reminds me of Katie Holmes as Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek.

Overall I am a big fan of this book and I look forward to continuing on with the series.

The Pros:

• Jennifer's writing style is entertaining and full of humor.
• The audiobook narrator was very talented. I enjoyed listening to her voice.
• I was very much interested in the two alien races and hope to learn more about each one.

The Cons:

• The love hate relationship gets very tiring.
  
• I found it hard to believe that Katy was so blind that she couldn't distinguish the difference between Daemon's words and his actions. His actions clearly show he cares.

[Blog Tour] By a Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell

About By a Charm and a Curse: 

Le Grand’s Carnival Fantastic isn’t like other traveling circuses. It’s bound by a charm, held together by a centuries-old curse, that protects its members from ever growing older or getting hurt. Emmaline King is drawn to the circus like a moth to a flame…and unwittingly recruited into its folds by a mysterious teen boy whose kiss is as cold as ice.

Forced to travel through Texas as the new Girl in the Box, Emmaline is completely trapped. Breaking the curse seems like her only chance at freedom, but with no curse, there’s no charm, either—dooming everyone who calls the Carnival Fantastic home. Including the boy she’s afraid she’s falling for.

Everything—including his life—could end with just one kiss.

Buylinks: https://entangledpublishing.com/by-a-charm-and-a-curse.html

About Jaime Questell:

JAIME QUESTELL grew up in Houston, Texas, where she escaped the heat and humidity by diving into stacks of Baby Sitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High books. She has been a book seller (fair warning: book lovers who become book sellers will give half their paychecks right back to their employers), a professional knitter, a semi-professional baker, and now works as a graphic designer in addition to writing.

Author Links:

Author Website: jaimequestell.com

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimequestell/

Author Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jaimequestell

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15396319.Jaime_Questell

Newsletter: http://jaimequestell.com/events/

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Excerpt from By a Charm and a Curse:

Leslie smiles at the girl with a mixture of pride and tentative hope. “It took us a few days to get Sidney set up somewhere else, and I’m sorry about that. But this wagon belongs to the occupant of the box.” Leslie strokes the side of the ladder that leads to the door. “What you’re going through is terrible, we know it is, though we can never truly understand. It’s a small comfort, but we want you to have a place that’s just your own, a place that you can use to escape.”

A weak, wobbly smile lifts the corners of the girl’s mouth as her gaze roves over the outside of the wagon, a shadow of the smile I saw the other night, when she was with her friend. I wonder what it would take to get her to smile for real.

“What about Sidney?”

“Sidney can make do.” Leslie’s smile broadens into a grin. “Have you seen the way he’s been eating? I wouldn’t be surprised to see him waddle out of the cook shack one of these mornings like Templeton the Rat.” She dangles a small copper key from the end of a length of faded red ribbon. “It’s like I said—the carnival owes the person in the box. This is the least we can do for you in return.”

The girl’s hand shakes as she reaches for the key, and she wraps her slender fingers around it tightly, as though she’s afraid of dropping it. I lose sight of her as she steps inside, and all I can do now is hope she likes the wagon.

I turn to head home and feel the sickening lurch as my foot lands in a slick patch of mud and whips out from beneath me. I throw out my arm. A flash of white-hot pain flares through my hand, but I manage to keep my footing. I step out of the mud that had nearly sent me sprawling on my ass, unsure as to how I even missed it in the first place. Then my hand begins to throb.

A gash runs diagonally across my palm. Blood wells from the wound, filling my cupped hand. The pain sets in, a deep pulsing starting in my palm and radiating up my arm. I glance over at the trailer and see a splash of red smeared along a sharp flap of metal. I must have sliced my hand on that as I tried to grab onto something to keep from slipping.

Falling on carnival grounds doesn’t happen; the charm sees to that. But my bloodied hand begs to differ.

[Cover Reveal] Finding Me by Dawn Brazil

Finding Me by Dawn Brazil is the first book in the Finding Me Trilogy and is set to re-release on March 3rd from Booktrope Publishing. This YA Fantasy cover was designed by Yosbe Designs.

About the Book

Sixteen-year-old Chloe Carmichael’s perfect world is in chaos.

It’s not because she has a vision of her boyfriend murdered and then he’s found dead exactly as foreseen. It’s not because she suddenly has the ability to move objects when she’s upset. It’s kinda cool to close a door without touching it. And it’s most definitely not her overbearing mother who only cares about appearances. Chloe has already grown quite accustomed to her family’s distance.

So what has Chloe cringing in fear?

It’s having to become another person for a new group of people. She knows she’s not perfect, but apparently she was in another life. In that other life, she was known as Amanda. Amanda was perfect. Chloe, not so much. Her new friends won’t allow her to forget.

Chloe struggles with a love that exposes the soul. It’s a love that defies reason. It’s a love that speaks to her heart and demands attention.

It’s the stench of impending death that hovers over her every move. It’s that final threat as she tries to acclimate to a life of super human proportions.

It’s the enemy she can’t see and doesn’t remember. And most importantly, it’s never discovering who she really is that truly frightens her.

About The Author

Dawn wants to live in a world fully inhabited by fictional characters. She thinks fictional characters are cooler than real people; except herself, of course. But since the world is not comprised of dreamy book boyfriends, she creates them for everyone to fawn over. Her debut novel, Finding Me, book 1 in the Finding Me Trilogy, is set to release on March 3,

When she is not writing, she can be found with her nose in a book—swooning over another book boyfriend, drying up tears from a recent heartbreak, or shouldering a wound she received in battle. She also loves to create magic in the kitchen, with an array of inspiring dishes she pulls from Pinterest. Dawn lives in South Texas with her sports- obsessed husband, three technology-infatuated teenagers, and her great big colossal imagination.

She is currently editing the final book in the Finding Me series, Becoming Me. The book is set to release the summer of 2016. She is a master juggler and is working on two other young adult standalone novels: a high-fantasy tearjerker and a science fiction story with a romance that will make your heart ache.

Contact Info
Website: http://www.dawnbrazil.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DawnBrazil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnBrazil
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Brazil/e/B00JBWGE08/ref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8049152.Dawn_Brazil
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brazildawn/
Blog: http://www.dawnbrazil.blogspot.com/


Finding Me Publishing/Marketing Contact
Lauren Jones Book Marketing Manager Booktrope Publishing lauren.jones@booktrope.com

About Booktrope
Booktrope is a new type of publishing company, founded in 2011 in Seattle, WA. Committed to the creation of quality books and to our unique marketing methods, we’re pioneering a book development process called team publishing. Learn more at www.booktrope.com.

[Cover Reveal] Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins

Until We Meet Again

by: Renee Collins

Release Date:

November 3, 2015

Genre:

Romance

Website:

http://reneecollinsauthor.com/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/reneecollins

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23277959-until-we-meet-again

Author Bio:

Renee Collins grew up on a beach in Hawaii. Sadly, she never met anyone from the past on those shores, but she did go on to get a degree in History, which is almost the same.

Synopsis:

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time.

Cassandra is a headstrong teenager craving drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and new stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger named Lawrence shows up on their private beach claiming it’s his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence’s life—in jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history—or risk losing Lawrence forever.

Love, murder, and mystery make for a swoon-worthy romance in Renee Collins’s new novel UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN releasing this November. It is The Time Traveler’s Wife for teens, and meets 1920's glamour that’s perfect for fans of The Great Gatsby and Bright Young Things.

[Review] Ward Against Death by Melanie Ward

Title: Ward Against Death
Series: Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer (Book 1)
Author: Melanie Card
Genre: YA, fantasy, necromancers
Format: E-book, 306 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2011
Published By: Entangled Publishing
Source: Received from publisher for tour

 Synopsis from Publisher

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11796405-ward-against-death

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Death-Chronicles-Reluctant-Necromancer/dp/1620612984/ref=la_B0058P2KRS_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354564666&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ward-against-death-melanie-card/1103944555?ean=9781620612989

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Ward-Against-Death-Melanie-Card/9781620612989

Add book 2 Ward Against Darkness(Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #2) coming out in June 2013! 

The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire. But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16000437-ward-against-darkness

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Darkness-Chronicles-Reluctant-Necromancer/dp/1620612887/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354567587&sr=1-4

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ward-against-darkness-melanie-card/1112164467?ean=9781620612880 The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Ward-Against-Darkness-Melanie-Card/9781620612880

About Melanie Card

I have always been drawn to storytelling. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

Where you can find her:
Website: http://melaniecard.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melaniecard
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melanie.card.37?fref=ts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4970892.Melanie_Card

Giveaway Information:

A Ward Against Death Prize Pack including:

A Signed copy of Ward Against Death

A Mug

A tote bag

9 copies of the eBook of Ward Against Death

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

12/31 K-Books  http://k-booksxo.blogspot.com  Ch 1 part 1

1/1  Tynga's Reviews http://www.tyngasreviews.com/  Review

1/1  Fiktshun   http://www.fiktshun.com/  Ch 1 part 2

1/3  Always YA At Heart   http://www.alwaysyaatheart.com/ Review

1/4  Bibliophilia Please   http://bibliophiliaplease.blogspot.com/   Ch 1 part 3

1/7  Refracted Light   www.refractedlightreviews.com  Q&A with Celila and Ward

1/8  Chapter by Chapter   www.chapter-by-chapter.com   Ch 1 part 4

1/9  Book Briefs   http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/   Ch 1 part 5

1/10  Rants & Scribbles   http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com   Review

1/11  My Life With Books   http://www.jenkjovus.com/   Ch 1 part 6

My Thoughts
Melanie Care tells a vivid and realistically fantastical tale about a young man who would much rather be a surgeon than a necromancer as he has been forced to become by his family (and a mistake he made before the story takes place that get's him thrown out of school as a physician). After a wake gone a little awry Ward is forced to run for his life, while trying to help Celia prove who it was that killed her.

The Pros:

• I loved the title of this novel, very suitable to the story being told
• Melanie Card is a great writer and her world building is very solid and realistic
• The back and forth bickering relationship at the beginning of the novel was fabulous
• Ward is a solid character who sticks by his Oath, as much as he wants to run away
• Celia is also a solid character who is feisty and very suspicious of everyone, which makes perfect sense given her assassin lifestyle

The Cons:

• I wasn't exactly excited about the story and often found myself being forced to turn the page
• The seemingly forced romance became tiresome towards the end, chemistry was lacking

Overall a mostly enjoyable unique read that I recommend you check out if this type of story interests you.

[Review] Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Title: Glitch
Series: Glitch (Book 1)
Author: Heather Anastasiu
Genre: YA, dystopia, sci-fi
Format: E-book, 371 pages
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Published By: St. Martin's Press
Source: Received from publisher

 

Synopsis from Tour Host

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Author Bio (Spotlight)

Heather Anastasiu is the author of the young adult sci-fi novel, GLITCH (St. Martin's Press/Spring 2012). She recently moved to Minneapolis with her family, and when she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café.

Random Facts About Me:

• I played the piccolo in my high school marching band.
• I paint a little, but for some reason, only in winter.
• So, the last name, I know it looks like Anastasia, but it has a U on the end: Anastasiu (rhymes with 'so-nice-to-see-you'). It's Romanian in origin.
• I like body art. Well, I like art of all kinds, but especially body art, i.e. tattoos, because it's the art you get to take with you. I figure, there's so much about the body we're given we don't have control over (hips, nose, forehead, chin, height, foot size, health), so much that we get no choice in, but hair color and ink designs? Hello world, this is me and the kinds of things I find beautiful!
• I was in a wheelchair for a year during college because of health problems. Being wheel-bound and knee-high for a year certainly changed my perspective on life (pun intended).
• Yes, I am a fan of cheesy puns.
• My favorite book is East of Eden because it blew open my world when I first read it at age 20.
• I also unabashedly love Twilight. I even wrote a chapter in a forthcoming book of academic essays about how Twilight, for all its shortcomings, can also have positive implications for readers in that it provides a platform for public participation in a communal female myth. It's compulsively readable and is all about engaging our fantasy lives and letting us participate in vicarious wish fulfillment.
• I like pink and black together, but not apart.

www.heatheranastasiu.com | @H_Anastasiu | facebook.com/HeatherAnastasiu

My Thoughts

Glitch is an intriguing introduction to what I hope will be a wonderful new series. It's an interesting look into a society where the government has decided the people are better off as unfeeling controllable drones than free-minded happy and social citizens.

I really enjoyed exploring the ideas of feelings and emotions through Zoel's newly opened eyes as she "glitches" and loses contact with the Link that usually blocks the population from feeling and building close relationships with others. It's almost funny when she experiences some sort of emotion and has no idea what is happening to her, and the resulting actions that come from that experience.

Emotion was exhausting. Life had been so much simpler without it.

I have seen some complaints regarding the "love triangle" that occurs in Glitch, and as a self-proclaimed hater of the love triangle arc myself, I was surprised that this one barely bothered me. I guess it's because it is almost always clear which two belong together. Zoel, even with her steep emotional learning curve can feel that one of the boys just isn't right for her while the other clearly makes her react differently.

There was something else I couldn't quite define--something that made me uneasy. We were a wrong fit, like unmatching puzzle pieces.

I thought about everything that had happened since I'd met him, how I'd instinctual trusted him from the start,  how his touch calmed me and made me feel safe, even in the most tense situations.

The character of Maximin did bother me quite a bit though. I feel as though he could have been made the "wrong choice" in better ways than was actually used. He just came out way too creepy stalker and almost abusive and I physically shuddered any time I had to read an interaction between him and Zoel. I just didn't enjoy it at all.

I found the world building very intriguing and the whole idea behind the society of great interest as well. It's one of those things, like with The Giver, where you can see some of the reasoning behind the choices that were made, but wonder if perhaps (well yes) the government took things too far...especially when it comes out that the government themselves don't follow their own rules! But then again, do they ever?

As a Torontonian, I think the subway train scenes were always some of my favorite and made me feel at home. I wish ours were as orderly as The Community's though!

The subway train had stopped with a hiss of brakes, exchanging passengers promptly ever quarter hour. I breathed in and looked around me. It was overcrowded as always, but subjects entered and exited the train in evenly spaced, perfect lines. Order first, order always.

I wish!

But overall Glitch is a highly enjoyable read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys dystopian tales. I look forward to the release of Override, book 2 in the series.

My rating?

[Review] Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Book 1)
Author: Laini Taylor
Genre: YA, fantasy, angels, demons
Format: Hardcover, 417 pages
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Published By: Little Brown and Company
Source: Received from publisher

Synopsis from Goodreads

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?



My Thoughts

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully written, yet haunting tale of a girl raised by monsters, in a world where so many secrets are kept about things right in front of you, and behind locked doors.

The girl, Karou, is a very intriguing young woman who is an art student and has a love of oddly colored hair, tattoos, and making interesting wishes. I like that she is not afraid to stand up for herself (and a kick a little ass) but it's also nice to see that's she is not perfect, and has made bad dating choices in her life (because hey, haven't we all?). This makes her a very realistic teenage girl character, and I found it so enjoyable readying about her and her friend Zuzana.

I think one of the ironic, and best parts of this book, is the fact that the monsters themselves (the ones who raised Karou) don't seem all that "monsterly". The are kind, caring and compassionate as you would expect (or hope) a family to be toward their child. They do have to keep secrets from Karou often, but that is to protect her from the dangers of their world.

“It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry 'Monster!' and looked behind him.” 

The settings in this story are amazing! I mean Prague! Oh yes please! And that little place they are always eating at, that has the coffins and skeletons everywhere? That is totally my type of place. Can I tell you I secretly want to be Karou right now! Eat at cool places, take art classes in Prague, change may hair color and tattoos with a single wish, step through a door that takes me to the opposite side of the world...but I digress...

There wasn't much I didn't like about this book, especially the first act let's call it. It had a somewhat tense, yet romantic, Romeo and Juliet type feel, made even more vibrant by the beautiful flow of the author's lyrical writing. A real love for an ages, a perfect definition of a love that knows no boundaries, not even time.

“Your soul sings to mine. My soul is yours, and it always will be, in any world. No matter what happens. I need you to remember that I love you.”

As much as I understand the need to only feed your reader's a little at a time, I did feel some of the secrets were kept too long. I mean, as interesting as the whole underlying of what the teeth represented, I think we could have been told a little sooner... I was also, not really upset with, but slightly irritated by the break in the book toward the end. I almost feel like maybe it could have been spattered throughout the book as told through Akiva's eyes instead of re-enacted completely, in the past, almost like a separate novel. It really through me out of my special little reading zone.

And of course...the end... Typical cliffhanger of DOOM! Not amused...November...where are you? I guess I will have to wait for Days of Blood and Starlight!

My rating?

[Review] Once by Anna Carey (Plus Giveaway)

Title: Once
Series: Eve (Book 2)
Author: Anna Carey
Genre: YA, dystopian, post-apocalyptic
Format: Hardcover, 358 pages
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Published By: HarperCollins
Source: Received from publisher

Synopsis from Goodreads

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

My Thoughts

Even though I wasn't the hugest fan of the first book in this series, Eve, I was curious about what had happened to some of the secondary characters I had grown attached to. I had been patiently (not really) waiting for many months when I saw this on Edelweiss and decided to take a chance at requesting it. I hadn't had much success with Edelweiss prior to this, so I wasn't holding my breath. But thankfully, HarperCollins was awesome enough to accept my request and be my first acceptance on Edelweiss. I realized there were only 5 days left before the title would be archived so I rushed to download and read it. I didn't make it all the way to the end before it expired, but that's OK. My loss is your gain, because I had to obviously go out and buy a copy so I could finish the story, and now I want to share that with you. At the end of my review I will have a Rafflecopter form where you can enter for a chance to win my hardcover finished copy of Once.

My main complaint with Eve was Eve herself. I thought her to be wimpy, wishy-washy, and just not a stand-up character at all. I much preferred Arden, who ended up disappearing towards the end of Eve, which really annoyed me. But I have to admit that in Once, Eve has obviously gone through a period of growth during her time in Califia. It's nice to see her sticking up for herself and standing up for what she believes in, even if others don't completely agree with her methods. Also, the amount of emotional stress that Eve endures throughout this book is a testament to her growth, and how much more she is obviously going to continue to grow in the final book in the trilogy, Rise.

I have to admit that the storyline I was expecting to come out of this book did not actually happen. It was completely twisted and was a surprisingly intriguing touch, and I quite enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to see how it evolves by the end of the series.

I also fell in love with many of the new characters. The King was quite the enigma. You want to hate him for all that he has done that has caused the suffering of these girls and boys and the less wealthy people of his "Kingdom", but when he speaks about his reasoning behind his actions you can almost understand why he did it, or at least understand why he thinks it is necessary and not malicious. There are so many other characters I want to rave about, Beatrice, Charles, and so many more...but to tell you much of anything about them would give too much away. The one things I can tell you is the depth that Carey gives to each and every one of her characters is amazing. People are not just good and/or evil, they have motives, they have emotions, they make bad decisions, and they question themselves along the way. They are not perfect, and they all have flaws. They are realistic.

I also loved the setting for Once. The City of Sand, which is now the name of former Las Vegas is an amazing place to set up a new city. The many hotel suites are renovated and refurbished as living quarters (which is ingenious), and the logistical reasoning of choosing this city also makes a great deal of sense. It was a great touch! 

The only issues I had with Once were typical of a second-in-a-series book, and that is primarily pacing. Although I enjoyed the story and the characters quite a bit, I did find it to be quite slow and sluggish in many sections. Also, I really hate when a story throws in an animal of some sort just for the added emotional anguish of taking it away at some point. I often want to stop reading a book (or watching a movie) at that point. It's not really adding much, if anything, to the story. All it does is upsets me, and for no good reason. Just don't do it.

It was great seeing so many familiar faces, even if just for short glimpses throughout the story. Some closure was given, but by the end even more was left up in the air. What will happen next?

And OMG, the end? Damn you cliffhanger of DOOM! I am not amused...not amused at all...is it April 2013 yet? /sigh

My rating?

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

[Review] The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Gathering
Series:  Darkness Rising
Author:  Kelley Armstrong
Genre:  YA, shifters, demons, fantasy
Format:  Hardcover, 400 pages
Publication Date:  April 5, 2011
Published By:  RandomHouse Canada - Doubleday Canada
Source:  Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads

On the heels of the wildly popular "The Darkest Powers" series comes the first in another supernatural YA trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can't find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students — for every grade from kindergarten to twelve. Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won't go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret — and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.

My Thoughts

As mentioned in a previous review, I am a long-time fan of Kelley Armstrong, pre-YA novel days. And one of the things I feel Mrs. Armstrong does best is shifters. It was wonderful to see her returning to a shifter based character.

I think I am also a bit biased because this story takes place in pretty isolated portion of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I have long since had a strong fascination with this area due to the "sea wolves" that live there. I love nature, and wildlife, and just general outdoorsiness, and this book has it all and more. It also has a strong basis in native culture, which also is a strong draw to me. (This is one of the few things I actually enjoyed in the Twilight series as well.)

Maya, the main character reminds me so much of myself. I was instantly able to connect with her and understood almost every decision she made (and I pretty much had made them in my head before even she did!). I was a very enjoyable read.

One of the best things about this book was the presence of strong parental figures! It's about time! I am so tired of wondering where the heck all the parents are in these YA books! No wonder they get into so much trouble without anyone to guide them. But Maya's parents (adopted) are fantastic role models that support her in her decisions while still allowing her the space to become her own strong and independent person. But you still get those strong parental undertones, like when Maya comes home with a guy and you can immediately tell the father is not super impressed by it at all. It makes sense! This is the way parents would (typically) act in reality. Thank you Mrs. Armstrong for proving parents can indeed still exist in a good YA novel.

Since most people are aware of my extreme hatred for cliffhangers of doom...I was warned in advance that I might not quite be happy with the ending. But I have to admit, it didn't really bother me as much as others have in the past. It seemed mostly wrapped up with a little bit of "what now" at the end. I can live with that.

I don't have much negative to say except for a slight feeling of "meh". I don't quite know how to describe that more in detail, but basically there was just a little of the certain something missing that I would need to rate a book a perfect 5. It was really close, but not quite there. Maybe next time! I'm also not a huge fan of the covers. I don't feel it suits Maya at all. The model on the cover seems much older and "calm" for the Maya I have pictured in my head as I am reading.

I have already devoured book two in the series, The Calling. The review will follow soon!

My rating?