Unrequited: Blog Tour

Unrequited by Emily Shaffer
Release Date: 09/23/14
Swoon Romance

Other Stops on Tour
Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:
In the town of Belle Ridge there are doctors, lawyers and teachers... but there is only one vampire. Will Leighton has become an expert in making a life for himself amongst the unsuspecting small-town inhabitants, as the high school history teacher. He has spent hundreds of years crafting an identity and routine that make him feel almost human, but he is always missing that important final element, love.
Ashton Wallace is beautiful, smart, and angry. She was forced into an eternal existence, and now her family has moved her away from everything and everyone she knows. In Belle Ridge she is supposed to finish high school and start her life again, but how do you make plans for the next several centuries?
Will has never met another of his kind, and is immediately intrigued by Ashton. He longs to show her that the perceived vampire lifestyle, so popular in storybooks, is far from reality...but will she let him be a friend and guide in this new existence? Can Ashton accept Will into her life, or will she be led astray by a dark stranger with whom she shares an unknown connection?

Excerpt

“Ashton, I think you'll be very happy here at Belle Ridge.” The principal was talking, but Ashton wasn't paying attention to him. Instead, she slumped in her seat, glaring at her parents.

She couldn’t think of a worse moment than sitting in this man's office. Well, there was one worse moment, the moment that brought her here, but she tried to never ever think of it. So instead, she would dwell on this one.

Ashton had begged her parents to let her get her high school equivalency degree. She was already nineteen years old. Her friends had all graduated last year. It had been painful to miss out on her senior year with the people she'd known since childhood. Instead of football games and prom dress shopping, Ashton had spent her senior year at home, feeling confused and alone. Her parents decided to move Ashton and her little brother to Belle Ridge. It was supposed to be a fresh start and a chance for Ashton to finish high school and figure out some way to move forward with her life.

Her parents felt the only way to deal with the uncertain future was to cut ties with the past. Ashton wasn't stupid; she knew she could never go back to the life she used to have. But the thought of letting go of her old hopes and dreams was almost more than she could bear. Even worse, she was sitting in a high school in Belle Ridge, just a few months shy of what should be her twentieth birthday. A twenty year old high school senior? Ashton felt like a joke.

“Nobody has to know anything about you that you don't want them to know,” her mother had told her more times than she could count. She had said it again in the car just before they arrived here today. Maybe she needed to embrace being a blank page. From her current position, a life of anonymity seemed like the best course.

About The  Auhor Whether writing stories to entertain her younger siblings, or typing up an essay for a class, Emily Shaffer has been a writer for as long as she can remember. Her stories may have changed from talking cartoon frogs to angsty young adults, but her goal to write a compelling story remains the same. When not writing, she lives in Nashville and enjoys all the music, food, and excitement that city has to offer. Her first novel, the well-received chick-lit title That Time of the Month was self-published on Amazon in 2012. Her latest novel, as the others before, are fueled by diet soda and pie.

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Undertow

Undertow (Undertow #1)
by K.R. Conway
Release Date: 10/18/13

Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:Luckless Eila is unknowingly the last of her kind: Rare. Gifted. Breakable. Stunning Raef is her kind's historic enemy: Soulless. Lethal. Lost. A legendary death 160 years before would set their lives to collide, forcing a beautiful killer to become a savior, a simple wallflower to become a warrior, and ruthless destiny to become a death sentence.

SUMMARY:High school senior Eila Walker knows that good luck skips over her like an Easter Bunny on Speed. So when she inherits her grandmother's million-dollar Cape Cod home, she is downright shocked. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.
A self-proclaimed loner and previous-social reject, Eila thinks she's hit the jackpot when drool-worthy Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow. But being hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow slams the brakes on bliss – especially when Raef storms to her aid with coal-black eyes and iron-like strength.
Eila, entirely freaked, demands an explanation and Raef comes clean, revealing that neither of them are average humans but rather the genetic remnants of an angelic pissing-match gone wrong. Eila supposedly can channel the power of human souls, while Raef is quite adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-ass warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.
Now sought by Raef’s own family for her destructive ability, Eila must trust him to watch her back. But when a quest for information goes terribly wrong, Eila is suddenly left with only two options: become a weapon for the enemy or follow in her Gram’s fearless footsteps to save those she loves. Unfortunately she needs a willing enemy to ignite her suicidal energy and the only one she trusts has been guarding her butt and scorching her lips.

Guest Post

Are your books pure fiction or are some aspects inspired by your own life or someone close to you?

The series is based on a REAL version of Cape Cod. In fact, one of the characters owns an ice cream shop named The Milk Way. While “The Milk Way” is fictitious, it is 100% based on Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville (a REAL town, were fictional Eila lives). Four Seas knows they are in the book and they host book signings. Other things in the book that are real to Cape Cod (so you can basically visit here and do all the things that Eila and her crew do) are:



1. Eila’s house – The home the main character inherits, and thus sets off the chain of events for UNDERTOW, does exist in the historic area of Centerville, not far from Four Seas Ice Cream. It used to be owned by a friend of mine and we hung out in it all the time when we were young. She now resides in Hong Kong as a pilot, so we catch up on Facebook and she gives me more secrets about how the house was built. FYI – don’t go knocking on the door, because someone else owns the house now.

2. Barnstable High School – Totally real and totally cool public high school that does some crazy thing. The students and faculty know they are in the novels (and even decided to begin building their own book trailer based on the series), so they allow me to come in and walk the halls as needed to make sure I stay true to the story. And yes – it is so huge that I need a GPS to find my way out. 2000+ students go there. Their award winning theater department became part of a major TV network series known as High Drama a few years ago. American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus was a student there.

3. The Jeep Subculture – Again, totally real. On Cape Cod, Wranglers are the most beloved vehicles of all. Most families have one, and if you drive one, other Wrangler drivers will wave to you when you pass each other – like Harley riders do. And yes – you can drive them out onto some of the beaches (MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHICH ONES!)

4. Witch Balls, The Crimson Moon, and Eila’s Bracelet – All real. Witch Balls are made at any one of our beautiful, glass-blowing shops (and yes – you can watch them actually blow glass, which is so cool). The Crimson Moon was based on The Lavender Moon, which is no longer in business. It was owned by a real coven of witches and when you would go in there, you could buy healing stones, herbs, crystals, oils, etc. Don’t worry – Dalca didn’t work at the real version! Eila’s bracelet is a staple of Cape Cod and there are several variations, though the original is simply called a Cape Cod Bracelet. They come in various sizes, so having a two-year-old with one is not unusual. The ball screws the bangle together, which means that sucker ain’t coming off, so don’t get it caught on anything or your arm may go with it.

5. Town Neck, the Bonfire party, and the infamous bridge – All real, though I did take a few creative liberties. So, Town Neck beach is part of the town of Sandwich. It has the boardwalk, just as described, and the long beach at the end, AND, yes, the river. Kids can jump from the bridge (yup, I’ve done it too, and IT IS FREEZING). However, you cannot drive a car out on Town Neck and you are not supposed to bonfire there – all those things can be done on SANDY NECK or NAUSET (where Raef hunts), so I kinda sorta blended the two beaches.

6. Barnstable Harbor and the Ferry – Totally true and yes, you can sit and people watch. You can also catch a Cape Cod Baseball League game in the nearby field. The Cape Cod League is famous because so many players get called up to the Majors.

About The  AuhorI have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.
In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.
I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing-obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.
Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Rush: Book Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway

Rush (The Game #1)
by Eve Silver
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads:So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?
When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures.
There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Buy Links: (US/CAN)
amazon CA | amazon US | Kobo CA | Kobo US | iTunes US | iTunes CA | Barnes and Noble

Other books in this series:

Push│Crash

Excerpt

He catches my wrists and holds them, just tight enough that I can’t hit him anymore, but not so tight it hurts. I freeze, heart slamming against my ribs, because I’m angry and afraid, and because he’s touching me, his hands on my wrists, our faces inches apart.

My pulse races; my cheeks feel hot. Lots of people touch me, and it never feels like this.

“So now you know,” he says. “Happy?”

I pull my wrists free. “No,” I say. “Not at all.”

“I know.” He lifts his hands and closes them on my upper arms. I stand there, too numb to jerk away. Slowly, he pulls me closer. I let him. I let him wrap his arms around me. I let myself rest my cheek against his chest. And for a few moments, I just breathe and listen to the steady beat of his heart.

About The  Auhor
Eve Silver lives with her gamer husband and sons, sometimes in Canada, but often in worlds she dreams up. She loves kayaking and sunshine, dogs and desserts, and books, lots and lots of books. Watch for the first book in Eve’s new teen series, THE GAME: RUSH, coming from Katherine Tegen Books, June 2013. She also writes books for adults.
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Tumblr│Pinterest

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Indelible

Author: Dawn Metcalf
Publication: July 30, 2013
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: Some things are permanent.
Indelible.
And they cannot be changed back.
Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.
Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.
Somewhere between reality and myth lies…
THE TWIXT

Rating: êêê

Review

This book is unique in quite a few ways. First of all, I loved the idea of certain people having the Sight and being able to see faeries of the folk. I also really liked the unique romance, it's a bit backwards from what we typically see in the young adult world in that Ink is the inexperienced one and Joy is the one who takes the lead.

Unfortunately, the world building was mediocre and I had a really difficult time understanding how the two worlds were intertwined and where Ink came from. I also had a difficult time envisioning all the different creatures that were brought into the story, the author would name them but did not provide enough descriptions.

I like the main characters: Joy, Ink, and Inq. I thought it was cute that Ink and Inq had similar names. There were a couple characters that I am on the fence about, for example Graus Claude and never fully trusted him. I was also a bit concerned about Joy's friend, Monica. I loved their honest conversations, but hated that Monica was OK with the fact that she hadn't met Ink (and didn't even know his name) - come on! no way a good friend would let that fly! I also felt like the Joy's family drama took up a bit too much space - it was quite for background information on our character, but all the details given weren't necessary.

I found the romantic development to be believable, given the circumstances our characters are in. I also found that there were some really well written, sensuous scenes (that were totally PG),

The climax of the plot picks up quickly and it reaches its resolution quickly as well. However it was my favorite part of the book because of all the action. 

The ending left me a bit sad, but hoping for a pick me up in the second book.

Honestly, this series has a lot of potential and I am looking forward to seeing development in the second book.

Ten Book Challenge

I got tagged to do the Ten Book Challenge by Nikki @ Love at First Write. Thanks so much for tagging me!







All you need to do is list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Do not take more than a few minutes, and do not think about it too hard. They do not have to be the 'right' books or great works of literature, just ones that have affected you in some way. Paste these instructions and tag ten friends through comments. Be sure to comment on my blog so I can see your list!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Graceling by Kristen Cashore

The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Maas

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

The Annihilation of Foreverland by Tony Bertauski

I tag...

Val @ Innocent Smiley

Monique @ Mo's Books

Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

Becca @ Pivot Book Reviews

Talina @ Sassy and Dangerous

And of course anyone who wants to play along!!

Frostbitten

Author: Heather Beck
Publication Date: June 23, 2014
Source: Author in exchange for review

Summary from Goodreads: Great beauty hides dark secrets...
Seventeen-year-old Anastasia Lockhart has never led an easy life, but when she starts getting into serious trouble, she’s sent to live with her grandparents in Cedar Falls. The small, picturesque town hasn’t changed since she visited four years ago, with one exception – the presence of a handsome, mysterious boy named Frost. Despite warnings from her grandparents and friends to stay away from Frost, Anastasia can’t deny their attraction, and the more time they spend together, the deeper in love they fall. Unfortunately, Frost has a secret that is beyond Anastasia’s wildest imagination, and she soon finds herself in the midst of a supernatural legend that has haunted Cedar Falls for years.
Can Anastasia and Frost’s love really overcome anything, or are their fates much darker?

Rating: êêê

Review

This book was a bit slow for me, I had a hard time becoming fully absorbed into it. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, perhaps they could have been developed a little more. I liked Cedar Falls and feel like the setting was perfect for the story.There was a good balance between romance and mystery. I also liked author's take on werewolves. The plot moved slow and even at its climax, I didn't feel much. There were a lot of unanswered questions and the ending makes it clear that there will be a second book.

Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J Maas
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Source: Purchased (at the Heir of Fire Book Tour!)

Summary from Goodreads: Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.
While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

Rating: êêêêê

Review

Brilliant! Amazing! Un-put-down-able!

OK, so assuming you've read the other books in the series, you think you know Celaena, well you really get to know her in this book (and you're mind will be blown!). The character development is really well done; we finally get details about Celaena's past and we get to see her grow.

We are introduced to a new character who is also well developed, and I really don't want to say more about him because I can't spoil it for you. I am looking forward to more from him, and seeing where his story goes.

The plot moves at an excellent pace. There are a lot of details woven throughout scenes that come together in unexpected ways. The plot literally thickens as Celaena continues her journey. 

This book is darker and deeper than the others in the series, however I feel that it truly was necessary for the story. The writing is spectacular! This book made me feel pretty much every emotion possible (yes, I even cried... more than once). 

Seriously, you should stop reading this review and just pick up this book already!

Enter to win a signed copy!

GIF Tag

I've been tagged by Monique @ Mo Books to play along with the gif tag.

Here's how you play:
I will give a list of 10 books. You have to list the books, and then write one sentence that either, relates to what you think of when reading the book, and then a gif to show if you liked them or not! Or just a gif. Got it? Then, tag people/blogs and list ten books for them to do this with! Try to keep the books relatively well known or popular. When you receive this make sure you mention who tagged you! Pass it on!

Books assigned by Monique

1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

hmm... should I pick this up?

2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

haven't read this one either

3. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

or this one

4. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

seriously, Monique.... you're killing me with this list

5. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

I am feeling like the worst book blogger ever right now

6. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

I haven't read this one either

7. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Finally one I've read! 

8. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

yet another book I haven't read

9. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

this is how I am feeling about this list right now...lol

10. Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Finally another one I have read!

I tag...

Missie at A Flurry of Ponderings

Charnell at Reviews from a Bookworm

Kristen at Pretty Little Pages

Becca @ Pivot Book Reviews

Your Books

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
3. Graceling by Kristen Cashore
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
5. Ender's Game by Orsen Scott Card
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
7. The Giver by Lois Lowry
8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
9. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Feel free to play along even if you haven't been tagged and be sure to let me know if you do in the comments!

Captivate Me

Author: SJ Pierce
Publication date: April 1st 2014
Source: Received in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:“My mom had always told me – when you meet “the one”, you’ll know; they’ll captivate your heart the moment you lay eyes on them. I had always wondered, though, if my mom’s words of wisdom were finite – if they applied to everyone. Maybe those who had found their one great love were the lucky few, and maybe the rest of us would have to settle for less than earth-shattering.”
Seventeen-year-old Kat Walsh is a Gifted – a human with paranormal abilities. With her mom a former Angel and her dad a dream prophet, it’s always been in her genetic make-up to be extraordinary. But, unfortunately for her, the world can’t handle the strange or unusual. So when she slips up and uses her powers at her high school in Ireland, the entire student body treats her like a freak – even the ones she thought were her closest friends.
Broken, but hopeful for a fresh start, she allows her parents to enroll her in a boarding school buried deep within the forests of a small Colorado town. At Midland Pines, School for the Gifted, she feels as though she can finally be herself; she makes new friends and even has the attention of the most popular guy in school – Levi. Everything feels normal again… or does it?
Not long after her arrival, weird dreams of an alluring boy whom she’s never met surface during the night, and the eerie, shadowy trees encircling their school seem to call to her. As these disturbing, yet enticing developments intensify, other bizarre occurrences happen – students and staff turn up missing, and mystery visitors leave gifts while she sleeps. With all of these other things fighting for her attention, a desperate Levi has to fight even harder to keep her interest. But with the dreams of the attractive boy slowly captivating her heart, Kat has to make a choice – will she settle for ‘great’ Levi, or will she search for her elusive dream visitor, possibly stumbling across ‘amazing’?
From the author of the Alyx Rayer Chronicles, comes a refreshingly different Young Adult series with plenty of love, suspense, and a new take on the Paranormal.
Recommended for readers 16 and up due to mature content.

Rating: êê

Review

Realistically, this book is 1.5 stars, but I gave this book 2 stars because it did have a couple decent pieces that made it OK.

I love the idea of children of angels, it's one I have never read about. However the execution could have been better with more details about these people. 

At the start there was this in-your-face blatant attempt to avoid insta-love that I found even more annoying than actual insta-love. Then there was insta-love, which made the whole avoidance of insta-love even more annoying. The world building needs a lot of work, I had so many questions about where this book takes place and why things are they way they are. Unfortunately, I never got the answers.

The characters didn't do it for me either. The story is told from Kat's point of view and I found her voice to be annoying especially when it came to Levi and her mothers advice on love, it felt like to droned on and on and on about it. We barely get to know Gabe which makes the whole captivation thing concerning - how can you be captivated and not know someone?! 

 I struggled with this book. Reading was a chore, I found myself checking Facebook and email just because I was bored or needed space. I'm not sure I would recommend it.

The To Be Read Tag

Oh HEY! I've been tagged by Val @ The Innocent Smiley to do the TBR tag! Basically there's a list of questions about my TBR list, and all I have to do is answer them! Oh! And also tag others!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
umm... I am terrible at this. I use Goodreads sometimes, but let's be real, that list is spiraling out of control. At one point I tried a Google Spreadsheet and I just found that annoying. So, what it has come down to is I don't keep track. If an author/publisher ask me to read their book and I agree it moves up the list and I put a reminder in my phone to start that book next.

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?
ebook, I have an Amazon freebie problem

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
If I have an obligation to someone, that takes priority. The rest of the time it's all about how I feel: am I digging vampires? do I need to shake things up? do I like that cover?

A book that's been in your TBR the longest.
The first book I ever added on my Goodreads TBR was Poison Study on Feb. 25, 2012.



A book you recently added to your TBR.
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken and Indelible by Dawn Metcalf both were added at the Heir of Fire book tour I went to on Saturday.


A book in your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover.
The Body Finder


A book in your TBR that you never plan on reading.
A Tale of Two Cities.... I added it when I was going through a "I should read the classics" kick


An unpublished book in your TBR that you're excited for.
Well, it was Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas, I was dying for that book to come out and now that I have it in my hands (with her signature!!) I can't think of anything else at this time... which reminds me: WHY am I blogging when I should be reading that book?!


A book in your TBR that everyone recommends to you.
You know, I haven't gotten any recommendations lately which makes me think my readers are slacking (yes, I am intentionally calling you out and hopeing for recommendations).
I guess the last big book that people were recommending was The Fault in Our Stars, which I dutifully read.


Number of books in my TBR.
On Goodreads: 341, but again I know it's WAY more than that


Tags:
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

Monique @ Mo Books

Aneta @ Angelic Book Reviews

Jazmen @ This Girl Reads a lot!
PrettyLittleWarrior @ Sassy And Dangerous

If I didn't tag you and you want to play go right ahead and be sure to let me know in the comments!