Thursday 26 January 2017

Blog Tour Review: The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins

How do you live your life if your past is based on a lie? A new novel in both verse and prose from #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins.

THE YOU I’VE NEVER KNOWN
By: Ellen Hopkins
Release Date: January 24, 2017
Pages: 608
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Received an egalley of the book through Lady Reader's Bookstuff to participate in the blog tour and give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Description:

For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire.

Maya’s a teenager who’s run from an abusive mother right into the arms of an older man she thinks she can trust. But now she’s isolated with a baby on the way, and life’s getting more complicated than Maya ever could have imagined.

Ariel and Maya’s lives collide unexpectedly when Ariel’s mother shows up out of the blue with wild accusations: Ariel wasn’t abandoned. Her father kidnapped her fourteen years ago.

What is Ariel supposed to believe? Is it possible Dad’s woven her entire history into a tapestry of lies? How can she choose between the mother she’s been taught to mistrust and the father who has taken care of her all these years?

In bestselling author Ellen Hopkins’s deft hands, Ariel’s emotionally charged journey to find out the truth of who she really is balances beautifully with Maya’s story of loss and redemption. This is a memorable portrait of two young women trying to make sense of their lives and coming face to face with themselves—for both the last and the very first time.

REVIEW

I became hooked on Ellen Hopkins' books a few years ago when I finally picked up CRANK, so now I'm always eager to pick up her new books when they release and THE YOU I'VE NEVER KNOWN was no exception! 

Like all of Ellen's books THE YOU I'VE NEVER KNOWN immediately sounded like it was going to be a book with some subjects that are hard to handle and read about. From the description alone, it's clear that this book is tackling some pretty serious issues, like abuse, abandonment, sexuality, and even kidnapping. Having finished it now, I can tell you that it definitely does tackle all of those subjects, and it's tough to read at times. I could see this book being a trigger to some though, so I will warn you about the abuse because that was definitely the part that was the hardest for me to read. Ariel's father was a very gifted manipulator, and he was very good at spinning everything so that Ariel didn't feel as if she was being abused. At times it was fairly subtle, but at others, it was right there out in the open and even Ariel had a hard time denying it. I don't want to spoil any specific parts of the book, so I hope you don't mind my vagueness. I do feel like that might trigger some people though, so I wanted to bring that out in the open during my review. While I found the abuse aspect of the story pretty difficult to swallow, Ariel's sexuality was a part of the story that really made me think. It wasn't cut and dry, and Ellen Hopkins' spent a very thorough part of Ariel's internal narrative exploring it which I really appreciated! I think that was my favourite aspect of the story because I thought it was really well done!

THE YOU I'VE NEVER KNOWN tells both Ariel's and Maya's story, and the two intersect at a pretty interesting point. Ariel's POV is told in Ellen Hopkins's characteristic verse style, while Maya's is in prose. Both characters's lives had some pretty tough spots, and I loved seeing how the two stories interwove. It was a fairly quick read, and definitely kept me interested in seeing what would unfold next! The only part that fell a little flat for me was the ending. It felt rather abrupt, but other than that, I definitely enjoyed it, and I'm extremely glad that I read it!

Overall, I really enjoyed THE YOU I'VE NEVER KNOWN. As I said, it was tough to read at times, but I thought that the issues within the book were tackled really well, and Ellen Hopkins' writing style complemented the story perfectly! I'd recommend this one to anyone who already enjoys Ellen's books, and to anyone who's looking for a story that isn't afraid to tackle some hard hitting issues.


BOOK PLAYLISTS

Ariel's

  • 

"Bring Me to Life," Evanescence

  • "Uprising," Muse
"
  • Sweet Dreams," Marilyn Manson

  • "Hang Me Up to Dry," Cold War Kids
  • 
"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked," Cage the Elephan


t

Ellen’s



  • "Still Breathing," Green Day

  • "Oh No," Bring Me the Horizon
  • 
"Snow Cats," AFI
  • 
"Sweet Disaster," Dreamers
  • 
"Numb," Linkin Park

About Ellen:

Ellen Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles and five NY Times Bestselling novels-in-verse. She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing.

Ellen mentors other writers through her position as a regional adviser for the Nevada chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

She is a regular speaker at schools; book festivals and writers conferences across the US, and now throughout the world.

Connect with Ellen: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr


What do you think?
Are you a fan of Ellen Hopkins?
Are you planning to read The You I've Never Known?

Cover Reveal: Defy (Sinners of Saints #0.5) by L. J. Shen


Last week, I was utterly and totally swept away by a book called VICIOUS by L.J. Shen! I absolutely LOVED it, and couldn't stop thinking about it (it's still on my mind actually!), so when I found out there was a cover reveal for a prequel/tie-in story in the series called DEFY, I jumped at the chance to be part of the reveal!!

Now, keep scrolling to see the cover for DEFY!

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Title: Defy
Series: Sinners of Saints #0.5
Author: L.J Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: February 3, 2017

Blurb:

My name is Melody Greene, and I have a confession to make.
I slept with my student, a senior in high school.
Multiple times.
I had multiple orgasms.
In multiple positions.
I slept with my student and I enjoyed it.
I slept with my student and I’d do it all over again if I could turn back time.
My name is Melody Greene, and I got kicked out of my position as a teacher and did my walk of shame a la Cersei Lannister from the principal’s office, minutes after said principal threatened to call the cops on me.
My name is Melody Greene, and I did something bad because it made me feel good.
Here is why it was totally worth it.

Defy is a smutty, insta-love, insta-lust short novella. Defy is a prequel to Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1). It is recommended, but unnecessary, to read Defy before reading Vicious.

In the Series:
Vicious (Sinners of Saints #1)
Amazon | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU


Author Bio:

L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams.

Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.)

She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.

Connect with L.J. Shen:
Amazon | Pinterest | Email | Newsletter Sign up | Facebook
 Twitter | GoodreadsWebsite | Instagram

DEFY TEASERS

Warning...these teasers are steamy and full of smut...read at your own caution! ;)






I was kind of expecting a photo with a face on it for DEFY's cover, so I was a bit surprised by this one, but I do really like it! I love that it has the same feel as VICIOUS! The fonts match. and the colour tone of the photos are very similar as well. They look uniform, and I like that! :D

What do you think?
Are you a fan of DEFY's cover and does this sound like a series you'd like to read?

Monday 23 January 2017

Cover Reveal: BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS by Meg Kassel

Hello, bookworms! 

Today I have an exciting cover reveal for you!! It's the cover for BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS by Meg Kassel, one of Entangled TEEN's top books for 2017!

I'm going to keep my introduction for it short and sweet! It's a bit dark, taunting, and definitely gorgeous...scroll down to see it for yourself!

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Black Bird of the Gallows
by Meg Kassel
Publisher: Entangled TEEN
Pub Date: September 5, 2017

Description:

A debut novel about a teenage girl who discovers the new boy next door is a harbinger of death, and who must find a way to survive in a town destined for tragedy.

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full. Harbingers settle in places where tragedy is about to strike, then feed on the energy of the dying. Then, they leave. Off to the next doomed place. No one wants a family of harbingers of death as neighbors, but that’s exactly what seventeen-year-old Angie Dovage gets when Reece Fernandez moves in next door.

Angie knows the mysterious boy is more than he appears, but can’t imagine that his presence heralds a tragedy that will devastate her small community. But her fears run deeper than Reece’s inevitable departure, because where harbingers of death go, grotesque, ruined creatures called Beekeepers follow. And where Beekeepers go, fear and chaos and death follows.

Angie wants to protect everyone she cares about, but stopping the Beekeepers involves a choice that will claim her life or Reece’s soul. She will learn the price of both.

Add Black Bird of the Gallows on Goodreads!
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

 
About the Author

Meg Kassel is the author of The Black Bird of the Gallows. A New Jersey native, Meg graduated from Parson's School of Design and worked as a graphic designer. She now lives in Maine with her husband and daughter and is busy at work on her next novel.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Goodreads



I really like this cover! The colours are gorgeous, and I love how it looks like it's been painted with watercolours and inks...absolutely stunning! It definitely has an eerie feel to it which goes PERFECTLY with the description!

What about you?
Are you excited to read BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS?
And what do you think of the cover?

Friday 20 January 2017

Audiobook Review: Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg, Read by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt

Source: Purchased the Kindle ebook and audiobook on Audible.
Publisher: JKB Publishing, LLC
Release Date: November 14, 2016
Number of Pages: 347 (ebook)


Description from Goodreads:
An all new second chance love story by the New York Times Bestselling author of the beloved Driven series.

It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s new wedding.

I should have ignored it.Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t. I replied.

With a plus one.

And then my assistant accidentally mailed it.

Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye.

When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me.

But I didn’t.

And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next?
Gah!!! I absolutely loved SWEET CHEEKS!!!

This was my first time with both Andi Arndt and Sebastian York as audio readers and with reading a book by K. Bromberg, and I will definitely be enjoying both audios and books from all three of them in the future! I really, really loved this audio! Seriously! I can't praise it enough! :D

SWEET CHEEKS was an absolutely adorable story about rekindled romance, and the name is incredibly fitting! The story was sweet, sexy, and most definitely cheeky and funny, too! I loved the characters, the plot and all of the banter and the little extra touches (like the social media posts) were so well done! This book had me hooked right away and I was constantly laughing, gasping and smiling throughout the entire thing!

The story itself is superb! I'm always a fan of second-chance romances, and I definitely love stories involving hunky high school sweethearts who become super duper famous movie star...I mean what's not to love, especially when the character is as divine as Hayes was! Not only was he an amazing actor and a real dreamboat, he was also one of the sweetest heroes that I've encountered in quite a while! He'd definitely made mistakes in his past, but he did an amazing job making up for all that he'd done. And Saylor! I adored her!!! She was smart, funny, confident (with a tiny bit of insecurity that made her super easy to relate to), and just all around amazing! I really admired her character, and loved getting to know her! 

Both Andi Arndt and Sebastian York gave fantastic performances, too! I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio readers so I usually listen to samples of each audio before I start it and I wasn't quite sold on either reader from the sample, but I did think they sounded interesting. I decided to give this audio a chance, and once it started, I was completely sold! I'm so glad that I bought this audiobook and I definitely now see the appeal of Sebastian York! His voice is PERFECT for audio and he did an amazing job as Hayes! So sexy and earnest...loved him! And Andi was amazing, too! She delivered Saylor's sassy lines perfectly and I really loved her performance! I think I still would've loved SWEET CHEEKS in paper or ebook, but I really loved the added dimension that Sebastian and Andi brought to both characters—they captured them wonderfully and really brought them to life!

If you're looking for a great second chance romance and want to also experience a wonderful audio experience, I highly recommend this one! I thought SWEET CHEEKS was amazing and look forward to listening to it again and again! :D



Ahhh, just thinking about this book is enough to get me all giddy all over again!!
What a sweet romance!!

What do you think?
Does SWEET CHEEKS sound like a book you'd enjoy?

Thursday 19 January 2017

Blog Tour Review: HOME RUN (The Boys of Summer #2) by Heidi McLaughlin


Title:
Home Run
Series: The Boys of Summer #2
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Release Date: Jan 17, 2017 (ebook)
(Paperback to be published June 6, 2017)
Source:
Received an egalley through Netgalley to participate in the blog tour and give my honest review.
Publisher:
Forever Romance
Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)
 

Synopsis:

LOVE ISN'T A GAME . . . 

I’ve given up everything for the chance to play major league baseball. Everything. Now I’m so close I can practically hear the crowd chanting my name. There’s nothing that could take my dream away from me . . .

Unless I lose focus. And Ainsley Burke is the most beautiful, distracting woman I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I can’t think of anything else.

But no matter how much I want Ainsley, there’s no room for love in my game plan. I can give her a quick tour of the bases, but that’s it. Then I have to let her go. If she wants to think I’m a love ’em and leave ’em player, fine.

All dreams require sacrifice. I just wish this one didn’t mean tearing out my own heart.
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Author Info:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production for a major motion picture.

Connect with Heid: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Instagram

REVIEW

I first came across The Boys of Summer series when I read an excerpt for the third book, GRAND SLAM, which won't be out until May, but once that caught my interest, I knew I had to go and read the other two books! I came across the opportunity to join the blog tour for HOME RUN and I jumped at the chance! I'm so glad that I did!

I really, really loved Cooper, and I thought that his relationship with Ainsley was adorable! I did think that it could've been flushed out a little better. For example, we were told that they were talking on the phone late at night a bunch of times rather than getting to experience it firsthand, and I felt like Cooper's attitude was a bit flip-floppy at a couple of moments in the book, but other than that, I really enjoyed HOME RUN! I loved their chemistry, and I really loved the moments when they talked and weren't afraid to share their feelings with each other. The romance itself was adorable, and it had a great HEA!


Now I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the series, THIRD BASE, featuring Ethan and Daisy!! I'm sure their story will be just as, if not even more, adorable than HOME RUN was! Overall, I thought that this was a very solid romance. The characters were pretty well developed, their chemistry was definitely there and very steamy, and all in all, I was extremely happy with how this story turned out! I'd definitely recommend HOME RUN and the rest of The Boys of Summer series to contemporary romance fans, especially if you've got a soft spot for sports romances like I do!



AUTHOR PLAYLIST

Into You by Ariana Grande
Don't Let Me Down- The Chainsmokers & Daya
Animals- Maroon 5
Treasure- Bruno Mars
This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A Motherfucker- Maroon 5
Want To Want Me - jason derulo
Where Are You Now - Skrillex & Justin Bieber
Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake
Dancing On My Own - Calum Scott
Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes
Let Me Love You - Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne
Constant Crush - Verite 
Something to Believe In - young the giant 
Can't Stop The Feeling Justin Timberlake
Boyfriend - Tegan & Sara
The One - Kodaline
House Party - Sam Hunt
Sippin on Fire - Florida Georgia Line
Smoke - A Thousand Horses
Wild Child - Kenny Chesney
Girl Crush - Little Big Town
Humble and Kind - Tim McGraw
Break Up in a Small Town - Sam Hunt
I Met A Girl - William Michael Morgan
Die A Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
Record Year - Eric Church


TEASERS





What do you think?
Do you want to read HOME RUN?
And if you've read it already, what did you think?

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Cover Reveal: THE BROKEN ONES by Danielle L. Jensen #CoverReveal #Giveaway


Hi everyone!

Today I have a gorgeous cover to share with you all!! 

I've been a big fan of Danielle L. Jensen's Malediction Trilogy right from the very start. I fell hard and fast for the series that started with Stolen Songbird, and I only grew to love it more and more when I read books 2 and 3, Hidden Huntress and Warrior Witch, respectively. When I heard that Danielle was going back and writing Marc and Pénélope's story as a prequel to the trilogy, I was absolutely thrilled! So, today I'm thrilled to share the cover for that book with you!!!

Without further ado, here's the cover for Danielle L. Jensen's THE BROKEN ONES!

Credit for this gorgeous cover goes to the artist, Steve Stone.
(Website) (Artist Partners Profile)

THE BROKEN ONES Synopsis

A prequel to the USA Today bestseller and Goodreads Choice finalist Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy).

Below Forsaken Mountain, a revolution stirs with the aim to overthrow the tyrant king of Trollus, and Marc is the right hand of its leader. It’s a secret more than one troll would kill to possess, which is why he must keep it from everyone, even the girl he loves.

Since a tragic accident revealed her affliction and ruined her sister’s chance at the throne, Pénélope is an anathema to her father, the Duke d’Angoulême. Deeming her life worthless, he gives her one chance to survive: find proof that the boy she loves is a leader in the sympathizer revolution.

Marc and Pénélope must navigate the complex politics of Trollus, where powers on all sides are intent on using them as pawns, forcing them to risk everything for a chance at a life together.

Except being together might be the greatest risk of all.

RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2017 (Angry Robot)

Preorder Links:

If you haven't read it yet, here's where you can buy the trilogy that started it all!

Stolen Songbird (Malediction Trilogy #1):

Hidden Huntress (Malediction Trilogy #2):

Warrior Witch (Malediction Trilogy #3):

Add the series on Goodreads: 
 

About the Author

Danielle L. Jensen was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. At the insistence of the left side of her brain, she graduated from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in finance. But the right side of her brain has ever been mutinous, and it sent her back to school to complete an entirely impractical English literature degree at Mount Royal University. Much to her satisfaction, the right side shows no sign of relinquishing its domination.

Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of The Malediction TrilogyStolen SongbirdHidden Huntress, and Warrior Witch

Connect with Danielle: Amazon | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY


Angry Robot is giving away four sets of paperbacks (to be sent when the finished copies of The Broken Ones are available), plus signed swag (bookmarks & bookplates).

The giveaway is international.

ENTER ANGRY ROBOT'S GIVEAWAY USING THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW:
I absolutely LOVE this cover! It goes perfect with the covers from The Malediction Trilogy, and it seems to embody how Marc and Pénélope's love is forced to be in the shadows...absolutely breathtaking!

What do you think?

And is anyone else a big fan of Danielle L. Jensen's books?

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Release Day Blitz: HOME RUN (The Boys of Summer #2) by Heidi McLaughlin



Happy book birthday to Heidi McLaughlin!! HOME RUN, the second book in her The Boys of Summer series comes out today! 

I had the chance to read it a little early, and let me tell you, it's pretty great!!! I'll be posting my review later in the week, so I won't go into too much detail, but if you're a fan of sports romances, this is definitely a series you'll want to check out! 

Keep reading to learn more about HOME RUN, and to get to read some fantastic teasers!



Title: Home Run
Series: The Boys of Summer #2
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Release Date: Jan 17, 2017
 

Synopsis:

LOVE ISN'T A GAME . . . 

I’ve given up everything for the chance to play major league baseball. Everything. Now I’m so close I can practically hear the crowd chanting my name. There’s nothing that could take my dream away from me . . .

Unless I lose focus. And Ainsley Burke is the most beautiful, distracting woman I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I can’t think of anything else.

But no matter how much I want Ainsley, there’s no room for love in my game plan. I can give her a quick tour of the bases, but that’s it. Then I have to let her go. If she wants to think I’m a love ’em and leave ’em player, fine.

All dreams require sacrifice. I just wish this one didn’t mean tearing out my own heart.
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Author Info:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production for a major motion picture.

Connect with Heid: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Instagram


TEASERS






What do you think?
Does HOME RUN sound like a book you'd enjoy?
Any other sports romance addicts out there?