Blog Tour: The Shadow Prince by Stacey O'Neale

Guest Post Question: Give us a list of your BOOK BOYFRIENDS

Ha! I am the perfect person for this guest post. I have a LIST of fictional boyfriends. Since you've all likely heard of Edward Cullen, Jace Wayland, Four/Tobias, Peregrine, Daemon Black and Petta, I won't put them on my list. Instead, I'll try to pick some lesser known members of my coveted list.

Roth (The Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout) is the latest addition to my list. He's all sexy and snark and bad boy perfection. I absolutely adore him and I will fight dirty if someone tries to claim him. I've only read the first book in this series, but I had to add him to my list right away.

Cassel (Curse Workers series by Holly Black) is someone I want to reach through the pages and hug. He comes from a family of magical mobsters, but he's one of the good guys. His circumstances are definitely not ideal, but he finds a way to overcome. Oh, and he's very powerful and sexy!

Ash (Black City series by Elizabeth Richards) is vampire which would be awesome in most YA series, but in this one, it makes you a total outcast. Like, basically a step above slavery outcast. But, my sexy boy perseveres regardless of the circumstances. Did I mention a bite from him is like an orgasm?

Bram (Gone With the Respiration series by Lia Habel) is a zombie. That's right, I said I have a zombie boyfriend. Read the book and you'll see why. He's not the kind of zombie that normally comes to mind. Actually, this whole series is incredibly unique. It was so many different things, it was hard for me to review.

Niall (Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr) is not the fan favorite in this popular series. Most people fall for Seth or Keenan, but I'm Team Niall all the way. I do love my broken birds. He's a fey from irish mythology called a gancanagh. Basically, he can seduce humans with a simple touch, but in most cases, they become so addicted to him that it costs them their lives. Whoa!

I hope my choices have inspired you to pick up one of these books. I do love giving recommendations. 

About the Book:
Every sacrifice has consequences.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

Available for FREE on Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Also available in PRINT from Amazon

About the Author:

Stacey O'Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.

Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Pinterest, and GoodReads. You can also visit her blog at http://staceyoneale.com/.

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Review: Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Title: Sekret

Author: Lindsay Smith

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: 4.1.2014

Pages: 337

Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Paranormal

Series: Sekret #1

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Review:

What would you do if nothing you thought or did was safe? Your mind was a treasure chest full of secrets and past events were memories used to find you. Sekret is a wonderful book, historically so, of the Russians and Americans with an added twist with psychics.

I was really pleased with setting. Lindsay have you the perfect picture of 1960 Russia. The dreary towns with their poverty, the splendid towers in the city and even the castle like fortress Yulia soon lives at; you can picture them perfectly, even if you don't want to.

I loves how Yulia is just as confused about who or what she is as you. There always seems like there is so much more right around the corner but it's just out of reach. She had her ideals and beliefs and didn't allow anyone to make her give in or change her ways. Her struggle with the KGB and trust and even  herself is a true testimony of strong will.

Now I have read a few historical fiction books and they weren't bad. The history was put in in such a way that it really added to the story. With Sekret I felt like I was reading a book for world history class. If you were to take out the only level of fiction, the psychics, that's what it would be. In the end of the book it describes he reasoning for this and I understand it and why she did it that way. I can only the imagine the amount of research on this particular event that went into creating this.

If you like this type of historical fiction then this is definitely the type of book for you, it just wasn't mine. I can only applause Lindsay for the work that went into this.

 Buy: Amazon

Blog Tour: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

About The Book

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published by: Disney Hyperion

To Be Released on: April 15th, 2014

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add it to Goodreads

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

About The Author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer 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 is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Follow Jennifer via:  Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook 

Exclusive Excerpt

“The memory loss could be permanent. These things are hard to predict. Right now, we

just don’t know.” Dr. Weston cleared his throat. “The good news is that the rest of her injuries

are superficial. And from what we can gather from additional exams, she wasn’t assaulted.”

“Oh my god,” cried the woman. “Assaulted? Like in—”

“Joanna, the doctor said she wasn’t assaulted. You need to calm down.”

“I have a right to be upset,” she snapped. “Steven, she’s been missing for four days.”

“The county boys picked her up outside Michaux State Forest.” Dr. Weston paused. “Do

you know why she’d be there?”

“We have a summer home there, but it hasn’t been opened since September. And we

checked there. Right, Steven?”

“But she’s okay, right?” asked the man. “It’s just her memory that’s a problem?”

“Yes, but it’s not a simple case of amnesia,” the doctor said.

I backed away from the door and climbed into the bed. My heart was pounding again.

Who were these people, and why were they here? I pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. I

caught bits and pieces of what the doctor was saying. Something about suffering an extreme

shock combined with dehydration and the concussion—a medical perfect storm, where my brain

had dissociated from my personal identity. Sounded complicated.

“I don’t understand,” I heard the woman say.

“It’s like writing something on your computer and then you save the file, but you can’t

remember where you saved it,” the doctor explained. “The file is in there, but you just have to

find it. She still has her personal memories. They’re in there, but she can’t access them. She may

never find them.”

I sat back, dismayed. Where did I put the file?

Then the door swung open, and I shrank back as this woman—this force to be reckoned

with—stormed into my room. Her deep russet–colored hair was pulled into an elegant twist,

exposing an angular but beautiful face.

She came to a complete stop, her eyes darting all over me. “Oh, Samantha…”

I stared. Samantha? The name didn’t do anything for me. I glanced at the doctor. He

nodded reassuringly. Sa-man-tha…Nope, still nothing.

The woman came closer. There wasn’t a single wrinkle in her linen pants or her white

blouse. Golden bangles hung from each of her slender wrists, and she reached out, wrapping her

arms around me. She smelled like freesia.

“Baby girl,” she said, her hand smoothing my hair as she looked me in the eyes. “God,

I’m so happy you’re okay.”

I pulled back, clamping my arms to my sides.

About the Giveaway

Thank you to Disney Hyperion, each site has 1 copy of Don't Look Back to giveaway. To enter today's giveaway, please fill out the form below. 


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The Tour
Don't by tomorrow's stop to read the next excerpt! Follow the tour here.

Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Title: Faking Normal

Author: Courtney C. Stevens

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: 2.25.2014

Pages: 336

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Issues

Series: No

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

Review:

So a few months ago I was having a twitter conversation about books that make you cry. I was forced to admit the truth—books hardly ever make me cry. Music can pull the waterworks out of me, movies can (especially those involving furry animals), but books … it’s a harder sell for me.

Of course the next book I read was FAKING NORMAL by Courtney C. Stevens. And of course I was sitting in a parking lot, bawling my eyes out before I had even hit the mid-point.

Yeah. It’s that freaking good.

Alexi and Bodee are two horribly broken people dealing with some of the hardest things anyone regardless of age can comprehend. But this book is so much more than two people with issues trying to sort through them. Anyone can write about that, but it takes someone with grace and humility to capture the despair and desperation so perfectly as Stevens does.

This book shattered me as much as it did Alexi and Bodee. Even still, through the pain and the tears, it’s not a hopeless book. Stevens subtly and gently weaves in threads of hope throughout the novel to show you can go on. One moment does not define us.

If there is one book I want everyone to read this year it’s FAKING NORMAL. It’s that book that everyone needs to read. I promise you won’t be sorry you did. 

Buy: Amazon

Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must Die

Author: Danielle Paige

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: 4.1.2014

Pages: 432

Genre: Retelling

Series: Dorothy Must Die #1

Source: ARC from ALA MW

Rating: 3 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Review:

I’m not exactly sure where this book went wrong. Don’t get me wrong, DOROTHY MUST DIE is a brilliant idea. And Danielle Paige is a pretty good writer (still kind of green, but that’s expected). But despite all my excitement and flailing over this book, once I started it was like sinking on the Titanic. A slow demise into oblivion.

Amy. Amy is the biggest problem with this book. Snark is fun. Snark is awesome. Mindless whiny bitching is annoying. Amy quickly went from amusingly snarkilicious to this irritatingly annoying brat. I get it, honey. You’re from a trailer park. You get made fun of. No one understands you. Do you want a freaking medal? Maybe if you were less of a bitch you would have a couple more friends.

Truth hurts.

Amy was by far my biggest problem with this book, and since the book is told entirely from her perspective, it’s hard to escape her. She had a few brief moments of win, but she was a horribly blah character.

The supporting cast of characters, however, was great. I loved them. From the munchkin to the monkey, they kept me giggling. And Paige does a great job of setting the scene and bringing Oz to life.

Just a shame she couldn’t breathe that same beauty and life into her heroine.

 

Buy: Amazon

BEA 2014: 10 Rookie Mistakes

So I wasn't going to make a BEA tips & tricks post this year. I made seven last year and pretty much said everything I wanted to say. But lately I've seen some people making big rookie mistakes that can be easily avoided. 

1. Know What You're Getting:
BEA registration is a confusing mess. I know. This was my third year registering and I still had to backtrack and fix mistakes. But I keep seeing people mixing up passes and buying more than they need. Let's clarify this, OK?
       -Blogger Con: This comes with not only a pass to blogger con on Wednesday, but also a 4 day pass to BEA (Wed-Sat).
       -BEA Badge: This is a pass that covers all 4 days of BEA (Wed-Sat). It does NOT include the Blogger Con. You can watch people set up on Wednesday I guess...?
       -Single Day Pass: Only covers (can you guess?) one day.
       -BookCon (formerly known as Power Reader): This pass is only valid on Sat. and gives you limited access to the show floor.
      -Press Pass: The elusive "free" pass. Yes, this covers all 4 days of BEA in addition to some seminars on Wednesday. You also have access to the press room. But while this pass is free of charge, please understand it is given with the idea that you are not only reviewing the books you get at BEA, but also BookExpo America as an event. Tweet, facebook, and instagram while there and/or make a recap post when you get home. 

*People who have a BEA pass for all 3 days are automatically included in BookCon. No additional pass is necessary. BookCon attendees, however, will not have access to all of BEA.*

**The BEA site says they have 4 day passes (thanks, Julie!) but I don't know why. Nothing happens on Wednesday if you aren't going to blogger con or meetings. I guess you can ... stand there? But not on the floor.**

2. Think Before You Post:
Most of us are adults, but that doesn't mean you throw out the stranger-danger talks your mommy gave you as a kid. When planning meetings, talking about hotels, and days/times of plans, be aware that you are blasting your location for the world to see. Save the specifics for DMs, emails and texts.

3. When In Doubt - ASK:
My first BEA I had no clue what to expect. Little newbie me actually emailed random bloggers I found who had attended BEA and asked for advice. And you know what? They helped me. Graciously, kindly, and wonderfully. One of those people is a dear friend of mine to this day (3 years later). 

The point is, people want to help you. If you're worried about inconveniencing people, then here you go. I am freely offering myself up for questions. Email me, message me, tweet at me ... heck I'll even Skype with you. But don't be afraid to ask questions that can save you time and money.

4. No One Likes a Braggy-Pants:
Get invited to a super awesome, super exclusive party? That's seriously awesome for you. Not so awesome for the 100+ people that didn't get invited. When celebrating about party invites, keep it classy. Don't rub it in other people's faces.

5. You Can't Do It All:
You cannot hit every single signing you want to attend. You can't. There are lines. Some lines have lines. Prioritize your signings. I cannot stress this enough. Yes, everyone giggles when I mention my color coded schedule and laminated floor plans (I have issues, OK?), but my plan keeps me sane. I know what I can't miss and what I can live without.

6. If You Want to Be Hercules, Have Your Chiropractor on Speed-Dial:
Inevitably this happens every single year despite warnings all over the place. You are convinced you don't need to check a bag (suitcase, cart, pack mule, etc.) and you can just carry tote bags all day. Yeah, OK. Forgive me as I wheel my suitcase by your broken body on my way out.

All kidding aside, BEA is intense. You are carrying a lot of extra weight with books. I don't care if they're in a tote or a backpack. All that weight is not good for your body for days on end. You will have blisters, you will have muscle cramps and you will be exhausted (and not in the fun, BEA-brain kind of way).

7. Protect Yourself:
I love NYC. I adore the city to pieces. If I could afford it, I would probably move there. That being said, be safe. Be aware of your surroundings, especially if you aren't familiar with big city settings. Make sure you have the phone numbers for your roommates programmed into your phone. Not staying with roomies? Have your friends' numbers saved that will be around. Make sure you have a portable battery not just so you can tweet/text/facebook all of BEA, but so you never get stranded in the dark with no cell phone. Use the buddy system when you can.

8. Don't Be An Ass:
Every year - every year - this happens: I'm sitting in line waiting to get into BEA, in my spot that I have been in since 7 am, and at 8:45 someone walks up to the front of the line and tries to nonchalantly stand there to get in before everyone else. Or will flat out try to bypass the Guardian of the Entrance by saying, "Oh, no, it's cool. I have a pass that lets me in there."

Cue the entire line laughing and the guardian telling you, "So do all those people behind you." If you want to be first inside at BEA, you need to get to the Javits at 6:30 or 7. Want to be first in line for a big signing? Get there at least an hour ahead of time. Don't think you're the one person who can bypass the lines. This isn't DisneyWorld. There is no express pass - unless you bought the Avid Reader Pass. But even then, you get one line jump. ONE. Don't get cocky. 

9. Do Not Get Overwhelmed:
Easier said than done, I know. I've been there. But when you hit that point at BEA where you're all turned around and being pounced around like a pinball, step back (preferably out of the aisle so you don't get mowed down) and take a breath. Calm down. Missing one or twelve books isn't the end of the world. You can always buy it when it is released or get it from the library.

10. Have Fun:
BEA is a fantastic whirlwind, but my biggest regret of the first year is not taking the time to just wander and see who I could meet, what I could discover. I was so focused on getting the most out of my BEA experience that I almost missed out on the fun. This year? Yeah, the books are cool. But more than anything I can't wait to be in the city and hanging out with some of my absolute favorite people.

Waiting on Wednesday:

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly waiting to get into our hands.

This week I'm waiting on....


AMITY
By: Micol Ostow

For fans of Stephen King and American Horror Story, a gruesome thriller suggested by the events of the Amityville Horror.

Inspired by a true-crime story of supernatural happenings and gory murders, Amity spans two generations and beyond to weave an overlapping, interconnected tale of terror, insanity, danger, and death.

Why I Want It:
Other than the fact that I'm a horror junkie who loves being scared witless? Totally my kind of book. I am so excited. And look at that cover!

Amity will be released August 26, 2014 by Egmont USA

Top Ten Tuesday - Gateway Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun!

Top 10 Gateway Books

The books that got me to where I am today

1. Little Golden Books: These were my first books, some of which I still have today. What? I'm sentimental. But these books were my bookish building blocks.

2. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit: This was the first book I ever remember re-reading. It was a gift from my next door neighbor (she was a teacher) when I was like 7. I read this over and over. It was also the first book that reduced me to tears.

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This was the only required reading book that I actually liked in school. Whenever I was told I had to read a book, I immediately dug my heels in and hated it on principal. This book was the exception.

4. Sweet Valley by Francine Pascal: Not I didn't say Sweet Valley Kids, High, Middle ... because I read them all. I grew up with these books. They were my first foray into the world of the series. I read everything with a Sweet Valley stamp on it and lamented that I was born without a twin.

5. The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin: Let's be real - every girl read this series and formed her own babysitter's club with her friends that fell apart a couple weeks later because they realized watching squalling toddlers sucked. Also, why did I think $3 an hour was all that? Even in the 90's, I'm sure that was well below minimum wage.

6. A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury: This book launched my love and addiction to Christian fiction. I was on a retreat with my youth group and spotted this book, buying it on a whim. I was at the weird high school phase were I was outgrowing the small YA section that was out there but adult novels were too convoluted and full of adult stuff for me to love. These books pulled teenage Hannah back into the reading world.

7. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles: I've said it before and I'll say it again: This book is the reason I ever started blogging. It was my gateway back into YA. I was in my mid-twenties, aimlessly wandering in a B&N when I saw this cover on a shelf. My jaw dropped when I saw that steamy cover. How was that young adult? I bought it on impulse and devoured it in a night. I had grown up in the world of Sweet Valley where kissing was briefly mentioned and this was ... Whoa. Intrigued, I started randomly buying more and more YA novels.

8. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout: My first ARC, my first Jen Armentrout book ... This book is special to me because of all the memories it triggers. 

9. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer: Yes, I picked that book of the entire series. BD was my favorite in the Twilight series, deal with it. Also this is the first book I went to a midnight release for. I camped out at my local B&N with my friend (who was 7 months pregnant at the time). We sat in the children's section, flipping through picture books and talking about baby names until midnight where I went home and read for 4 hours, slept for 3 and then finished the book in another 3 hours.

10. Blank Canvas by Jen Fisher: Technically this isn't a book in the traditional sense. It's a kick ass manuscript written by an amazing friend of mine. This book is special because I have literally seen it from conception to birth to Extreme Makeover: Book Edition and I love every incarnation of it. This book (and author) have also inspired me to get my butt in gear and write for myself. 

Review: The Lure by Lynne Ewing

Title: The Lure

Author: Lynne Ewing

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 2.11.2014

Pages: 288

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Issues, Gangs

Series: No

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 3 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Fifteen-year-old Blaise Montgomery lives in the gritty outskirts of Washington, DC, where a stray bullet can steal a life on the way to school. Drugs and violence are the only ways to survive, so Blaise and her friends turn to gangs for safety, money, and love. When Blaise is invited to join Core 9, one of the most infamous crews, she jumps at the chance. Though her best guy friends, Rico and Satch, warn her about the danger, she agrees to be beaten for a minute straight as part of the gang's initiation ritual.

Now Blaise is finally part of a crew. A family.

But things get only more dangerous when she becomes a member of Core 9 and tensions with a rival gang heat up. Trek, the head of Core 9, asks Blaise to be his "lure," the sexy bait he'll use to track down enemy gang members and exact revenge. Rico and Satch tell her it's a death sentence, but Blaise can't resist the money and unparalleled power. As Trek puts Blaise in increasingly dangerous situations, she begins to see that there's more to lose than she ever realized-including Satch, the one person who has the power to get under her skin. With death lurking around every corner, should Blaise continue to follow the only path she's ever known, or cut and run?

Review:

I was so excited to learn about this book. I love gritty, emotional stories that deal with real life issues, especially when set in my own backyard. OK, so DC is a more like a 2 hour drive, but still! Lynne Ewing lured me in with THE LURE.

From the beginning you knew things were only going to get worse for our heroine. Blaise is a tough girl, struggling to find her place in a crazy world that she has no escape from. My heart twisted at what she had to go through—from the horrific ways girls are initiated into the gang (either being jumped in or pulling a train—and I don’t mean a locomotive) to the sad way she lived in squalor with the grandmother. It’s a brutal, terrifying world that all too many teens live in.

But then things started to go south, and not for Blaise, but for the book. What started as a hard-hitting, pull no punches book about gang life turned into some fantastical, wildly outrageous story that wasn’t believable at all. Things started to decline around the middle point of the book and once we were sliding downhill, there was no stopping the inevitable train wreck at the bottom.

I gave this book 3 stars because the beginning was brilliantly written. It’s truly a shame that the book devolved into something I typically see on daytime soap operas. It was so far-fetched ridiculous that I could only sigh and shake my head. I do recommend trying this one, if for nothing except the beginning, especially if you’re unfamiliar with inner city gangs and gang culture.

 Buy: Amazon

Review: Archetype by M.D. Waters

Title: Archetype

Author: M.D. Waters

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Publication Date: 2.6.2014

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Dystopian, SciFi, Romance, Mystery

Series: Archetype #1

Source: ARC from author

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

Review:

This is one of those reviews that is so frustrating to write because all I can really say is, “OMG! Buy and read this book immediately …. But I can’t tell you why.” In one of the best debuts I’ve seen in years, M.D. Waters has drafted such a complex, layered world that peeling one single layer back could potentially expose the entire story. And I refuse to deny readers of that, “Holy sh*t” moment that comes while reading ARCHETYPE.

Emma is a complex girl with a lot of issues, the least of which being she wakes up with no memory to a gorgeous man standing over her saying he’s her husband. Never mind the voice that keeps whispering in her head and the dreams she has of another man. Emma has a lot to deal with, and you can’t help but cheer and root for her as a reader.

Mystery lovers will be thrilled over the twists and turns, romance lovers will swoon over multiple scenes, and scifi lovers will be in heaven. Waters is a powerhouse writer with a bright career ahead of herself. Thankfully the sequel, PROTOTYPE, will be out later this year! I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Again, sorry for the brief review, but spilling one small secret could unravel all the others. Trust me when I say you need to read this one as soon as you can get your hands on it!

Buy: Amazon