Friday 18 October 2013

Twisted Blog Tour- Review and Giveaway


 
twisted tour
 
twisted

Cayden Rivers wants nothing more than to be normal, but we don’t always get what we want. For years he has been hiding a secret, afraid of being labeled a “freak”. Every day he goes to school, plays football, spends time with his girlfriend, and helps carry his drunken adopted father to bed. Nobody knows the truth about his unnatural speed and strength, including his life-long friend Camilla. Suddenly, four strangers enter Cayden’s life, and not only do they know his secret, they also have one of their own. With their help, Cayden discovers there is more to his power, something much more dangerous. Something other people will kill to possess.

Camilla wishes her parents were around more. She gets lonely sleeping in her big empty house night after night. Sure, she has all the money she could ever need, but the only person who is there for her is Cayden. He has his own family and a girlfriend who takes up most of his time, so Camilla knows he won’t be there for her forever, and recently he’s been acting really strange. Will Cayden be able to keep his secret and his friendship with Camilla, or will his new found power destroy everything, including his own life? Switching between Cayden and Camilla's point of view, Twisted will leave you aching for more.  
 
Review:
 
Twisted by KayCee R is the story of a teenage boy who lives with the knowledge that he's a freak. He has the ability to turn rocks to dust with his bare hands and he can run faster than the human eye can perceive. Cayden Rivers tries to lead as much of a normal life as anyone with super powers can. Sure he uses his abilities to his advantage sometimes, but he tries to remain as careful as he can because spending a lifetime being poked and prodded in a lab is not his idea of fun.
 
Cayden's abilities allow him to excel at football, but the table turn on him when he is tackled by someone who's speed and strength match his. But that's not where the similarities end- this guy is Cayden's replica.
 
I pushed the guy’s weight off me so I could get up to see if Dom caught the ball, but I stopped short when I looked up at who had tackled me. It was… me?  I must have hit my head. Hard. I heard cheers roaring, but they felt like they were coming from far away. That I was watching from a distance, even though I was there on the field.
 
From this point on Cayden's life is thrown into chaos. As if being freakishly fast and strong wasn't crazy enough without adding long lost brothers who share the same gifts to the mix...
 
Twisted is based on an interesting concept but I can't help feeling like the mechanism and the origin of the concept wasn't explained well enough. Along with that I felt like the story had too much dialogue, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the dialogues weren't coupled up with enough emotion. We get to meet Cayden's girlfriend Dayne, his sister Kaylie, and his best friend Camilla, but we don't really get to know a whole lot about his feelings regarding them apart from the initial introductions. There's little to no reference to childhood pranks, or inside jokes, or even first dates. There was a lot of talking and doing, but very little of thinking. 
 
Cayden's brothers were interesting but we don't catch a lot about their bonds amongst each other or their lives outside their family. I found myself really wanting to like Camilla a.k.a Cam but I just couldn't bring myself to. Cam was described as the nicest person ever but I just wished she'd grow a backbone and stand up to people who wrong her. I dunno; maybe that's just me.
 
Overall it was a nice story with a concept that had a lot of potential but there was just something lacking.
 
3 out of 5 stars!
 
Happy Reading Folks!
 
 

KayCee R
 
  kaycee

KayCee is a 24 year old self-published author from Cleveland, Ohio. KayCee has always loved reading. After a re-occurring dream she decided to try writing about it. She wrote the first installment of Twisted when she was 20. “I kept having this dream about these twins, and then I just decided to run with it. I wrote the beginning, the end, and then filled in the middle.” KayCee finished the book in 8 months and then decided to share the book online. After seeing people get interested in the book and the characters, she decided to write another book and turn Twisted into a series. KayCee has finished four novels in the Twisted series and is currently working on the fifth book.

 
Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/4/13

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Thursday 17 October 2013

Grab Your Pole Series Tour- Review: Shark Out of Water- & Giveaway





 


Tour Information

 

Title: Grab Your Pole Series

 
Author: Jenn Cooksey

 Age Group: Mature YA

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours; http://atomrbookblogtours.com

 

Shark Out of Water (Grab Your Pole, #3)

Blurb: 

 With the Amazon Bestseller Shark Bait, the first novel in the Grab Your Pole series, debut author Jenn Cooksey delivered a fun, snarky, and realistic beginning to a larger story that has found its way into the hearts of readers everywhere. Thus, many were unprepared for what was coming in the second installment of the GYP series, The Other Fish in the Sea, when Cooksey took us on a runaway roller coaster ride of emotion and solidly landed hit after hit, including a brutal sucker punch that left readers around the globe reeling.

In Shark Out of Water, the highly anticipated third installment in this humorous yet honest and real coming of age story, we delve even further into the lives of the GYP gang and many questions are sure to be answered, however, are you really ready for what lies ahead in the continuation of their adventure? Well, grab your pole and let’s find out.


Review:

Oh My Lord. I had been waiting for this one for what seems like forever! After that cruel, just plain old, cruel ending Jenn left us with, I simply didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted to read Shark Out of Water but I was also scared of what I'd find. Jenn you really need to stop putting my heart through all that emotional turmoil- I just can't take it.

Now that being said, Shark Out of Water, like every other book in the Grab Your Poles series, was phenomenal. P.H.E.N.O.M.E.N.A.L.

Unlike the other books in the series, Shark Out of Water was written from the boys' POV. Its interesting to have insight into the workings of the male mind. And since we all know that guys being the typical guys that they are, they suck at communication, we had A LOT of sucking-at-communicating going on here. Okay, so I can't blame the guys alone; the girls were their partners in crime. I just feel like a lot of the drama could have been solved earlier if they had just talked to each other.

From the moment the book starts off we witness a lot of tension between Jeff and Tristan which was clearly hurting both of them on the inside considering the fact they'd declared themselves to be blood brothers and Tristan faked chicken pox and took a year off school to support a pox-ridden 8 year old Jeff. But don't worry folks, I can guarantee you that they sort it out man-to-man... in a very unmanly way. You'll know what I mean when you get to that part. Let me just tell you it involved an arrogant unicorn- that's all I'll say on that matter (and no, this isn't another example of my randomness- there really was a unicorn.)

We also got to learn a lot about Brandon, who's demeanor seems to have slightly changed since book two- not that I can blame him for it. Now personally speaking, I really enjoyed Brandon's character because not only was he sweet and funny in his own way, he was also painfully honest and I admire that.

Now if you're someone like me and you were sincerely hoping everyone would just their shiz together soon enough and get to the good part... well you'll be as frustrated as I was. You know how I mentioned poor communication skills? Yeah well, I wasn't kidding. People don't start straightening major things out until 89% through the story (I checked).

But you wanna know the best part about it all -and by best I mean worst-? As if Tristan and Camie's problems weren't enough to torture us and keep us up at nights and glued to our e-readers, Jenn made sure to introduce Scott and Mia to the mix. Remember Scott? The guy from the bowling alley? Yeah well keep him in mind because he plays a bigger role in this one. And Mia...well actually Mia's not all that bad. She's pretty decent- I didn't mind her one bit, but some people/characters might disagree with me. *Cough cough* Camie.

But as we all know, no Grab Your Poles book is complete without the Jenn Cooksey-laugh-until-you-can't-breathe-and-then-eventually-pass-out humour. Yes we have an abundance of serious moments, but those moments are nicely balanced out with Phineas', Ferb's, Jillian's, and Not-so-lonely-or-gay Pete's awesomeness.

And now... what you've all been waiting for.... Its' Quote time!

“Oh, I take that back. I’ll also be getting a decent night’s sleep because when you come over, you’re taking your fur-babies home with you. They’re off their schedule and now they’re beside themselves. They’ve started to howl all night. I’m not kidding, Tristan… all dang night. And they’re loud. I mean really loud, Tristan. Like mother, like kitty daughters except that they’re louder than Camie, if you get my meaning, which I’m sure you’ll agree is god-awful loud.” - Jillian
(Kindle Locations 1104-1108).

"I dumped the can of treats on my bed and then I started to build them a new catnip sock while they gorged themselves on junk food as a means of coping with their domestic troubles."- Tristan
 (Kindle Locations 1456-1457).

“Go to McDonald’s this week and pick up a Happy Meal… the girls love the new toy. And just so you know, Phineas likes mustard on her cheeseburger, Ferb prefers chicken nuggets, they both take ranch with their fries, and contrary to what you might think, they both prefer strawberry shakes over chocolate or vanilla…oh, here, you know the drill,” - Tristan
 (Kindle Locations 1496-1499).

LOL. I just realised all the quotes I chose are about Phineas and Ferb :D

So watchya waiting for folks? Go grab your copy, like, yesterday. And if you haven't read any of the books from the series, smack yourself. Go ahead. Do it. I'm waiting. Don't make me do it for you. Okay now get out from under that rock and go buy all the books in series. You know why? Because I just rated Shark Out of Water 4/5 stars, that's why.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Links to the book:

 


 




 

 

Book Description:

Shark Bait: Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.


Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.

Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait?

 

 

The Other Fish in the Sea: In Shark Bait, readers everywhere met and fell in love with the new girl, Camie Ramsey, and swooned over her sure to be future husband, Tristan Daniels. Now, in the long awaited second installment of the Grab Your Pole series by Jenn Cooksey, The Other Fish in the Sea, Camie and Tristan are back, but so are their friends!

So, find a breathing apparatus and shimmy into your scuba gear, because it's finally time to dive deeper into the lives of the GYP gang, but be warned, it's a big world out there and an even bigger ocean where danger might be lurking around the next corner and realistically, anything could happen.

 

 

Shark Out of Water:

 

 With the Amazon Bestseller Shark Bait, the first novel in the Grab Your Pole series, debut author Jenn Cooksey delivered a fun, snarky, and realistic beginning to a larger story that has found its way into the hearts of readers everywhere. Thus, many were unprepared for what was coming in the second installment of the GYP series, The Other Fish in the Sea, when Cooksey took us on a runaway roller coaster ride of emotion and solidly landed hit after hit, including a brutal sucker punch that left readers around the globe reeling.

In Shark Out of Water, the highly anticipated third installment in this humorous yet honest and real coming of age story, we delve even further into the lives of the GYP gang and many questions are sure to be answered, however, are you really ready for what lies ahead in the continuation of their adventure? Well, grab your pole and let’s find out.

 

About the Author



 

Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, however she's no longer a resident of heaven on earth, but instead she currently resides in the 7th Ring of Hell with her husband, their three daughters, and a goodly number of pets. Aside from her husband, one cat, and three out of five fish, everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband will not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five. Jenn is also of the belief that Bacon should be capitalized and that just being yourself is the best way to go. That is, unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.

 

Author Social Media Links:






Pinterest


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To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpts click here or the tour button below.

 

 

 

 



 

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Cover Reveal: Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicle #3) by Suzanne Lazear

A button for your website
 
 
 
About The Author
 
Suzanne Lazear is the author of the fairytale steampunk series THE AETHER CHRONICLES. Innocent Darkness and Charmed Vengeance are out now, with Fragile Destiny releasing in 2014. She lives in Southern California with her daughter, her husband, and an army of pillow pets. One day she’ll make a working cupcake cannon.
 

Cover Reveal: Be With Me (Wait For You #2) by J. Lynn


 
Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…
 
About the author
 
 
# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
 

Cover Reveal: Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan



We are thrilled to be able to share with you the cover for SOUL POSSESSED, the second book in Katlyn Duncan's The Life After Trilogy, which releases next month on October 28th. We think the cover is absolutely beautiful and we can't wait for its release!

We also have an awesome excerpt from the book so be sure to check it out below!

***


SOUL POSSESSED (The Life After Trilogy #2) by Katlyn Duncan

About the Book

Release Date: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Carina UK
Series: Book 2, The Life After Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal
ISBN: 9781472044556

Description:

Life after Life

Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson. But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?

When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...


***

About the Author




Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.

Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.


***

The Excerpt



Jackson nodded and lifted his hand again. I stepped forward, swallowing any doubt as he reached out, one hand cupping my cheek, the other grasping my hand lightly, tracing circles with his thumb and before I could worry about how those circles made me melt inside, the memory slammed into me.

"Margaret!" Gemma shouted with glee. "Come out of there, I know you are trying to scare me!"

I watched the young red-haired girl put her hands on her hips, trying to be brave. She scanned their father's study, narrowing her eyes. The fire roaring in the hearth was the only source of light in the room, casting dark shadows across the furniture.

Maggie hid behind her father's chair, in silent wait for her prey.

"I'm going to tell Mother!"

Maggie's little hands tightened on the chair but she didn't make a sound. I walked over to her, watching her mouth twist up into a sly grin. She was the older of the girls, but she protected her sister fiercely, proclaiming she was the only one who could tease her. Gemma hated when Maggie played games, but it thrilled Maggie no end and I could feel excited anticipation roll off her in waves.

Gemma's bravery faltered as she stepped forward toward the overstuffed armchair, expecting her sister to jump out at her at any moment.

But Maggie waited. She had incredible patience, but I sensed that part of it was stubbornness and a desire to test boundaries. Her head poked out from behind the chair just as Gemma turned toward the love seat. I watched as Maggie slowly came out of her hiding spot and charged at her sister.

Gemma let out a scream but Maggie covered her sister's mouth with her hand.

Both girls collapsed on the floor, Gemma's muffled squeals threatening to break through Maggie's tiny fingers.

"Shh," Maggie cooed.

Gemma managed to wrestle her mouth away from Maggie's hand. "I hate you!" Her indignation faltered into a fit of giggles and Maggie quickly joined her.

As she helped her sister up from the floor Maggie said, "Gemma. You need to always expect the unexpected. You can't go through life being scared all the time." Even though Maggie was a mere nine years old, she spoke as if she'd lived lifetimes before. It was one of the things that drew me to her more than any other Prognatum I'd watched.

Maggie took a handkerchief and wiped her sister's cheeks.

"A lady wouldn't do that to her sister," Gemma said, finally relaxing.

"I don't want to be a lady," Maggie stated firmly. "I want to see the world and not just make babies for the rest of my life."

Gemma shook her head. "That's what we are supposed to do. That's what Mother does."

Maggie's indignation flowed through her and into me. I knew Maggie was born to follow through with her Prognatum duties, she just didn't know it yet. It was rare for a Prognatum to want the Guard position but Maggie would be thrilled when her father revealed it to her at seventeen.

As Maggie reached down to help Gemma up from the floor she whispered, "It's not for me."

Gemma wrapped her sister in a tight hug. "I will love you either way, dear sister."

Maggie rested her head against Gemma's shoulder. "I love you too."

I fell out of the memory just as quickly as I'd fallen in, my legs shaking.

***

Other Books in the Series



Title: SOUL TAKEN (The Life After #1)
Author: Katlyn Duncan
Publisher: Carina UK
Release date: June 4th
Formats: eBook

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!


Bloodlines by Richelle Mead Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong Fallen by Lauren Kate Halo by Alexandra Adornetto Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa Matched by Ally Condie The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent Theatre Illuminata by Lisa Mantchev The Tiger Saga  by Colleen Houck Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead The Violet Eden Chapters by Jessica Shirvington Wings by Aprilynne Pike Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Across the Universe by Beth Revis Beautiful Creatures Bloodlines by Richelle Mead Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout The Dark Divine by Bree Despain Dark Guardian by Rachel Hawthorne Darkness Rising by Kelley Armstrong Delirium by Lauren Oliver Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey Evernight by Claudia Gray Fallen by Lauren Kate Falling Under by Gwen Hayes Firelight by Sophie Jordon Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter Halo by Alexandra Adornetto Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins Hourglass by Myra McEntire House of Night The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin Matched by Ally Condie The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Paranormalcy by Kiersten White Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers Revenants by Amy Plum Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Theatre Illuminata by Lisa Mantchev The Tiger Saga  by Colleen Houck Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead The Violet Eden Chapters by Jessica Shirvington Wings by Aprilynne Pike Winterhaven by Kristi Cook The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston