Friday, July 29, 2016

The #FridayReads Review (7/29/16)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen, #1)
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (ARC)
Needed a fantasy fix so I decided to give this a try. Not quite as good as I'd hoped, but still an interesting enough read so far.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz, #4)
The Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson (HBK)
3.5 Stars. More ridiculous but also more introspective and serious than the previous books. Still a fun read, though. And I'm really looking forward to the 5th and final book! Review to come.


>> READING NEXT <<
The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen, #2)
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows (ARC)
Since I have the sequel on hand I'll probably go straight into it.


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Release Spotlight: Invincible (Dawn Metcalf) & P.S. I Like You (Kasie West)


Today I spotlight the final book in an amazing series, and the latest from an amazing author! The first is Invincible, the fourth and final book in the Twixt series by Dawn Metcalf! If you enjoy highly imaginative contemporary fantasy, the Twixt series is not to be missed. The second is P.S. I Like You by Kasie West! I have read and loved everything she has written, and cannot recommend her highly enough of you enjoy contemporary romances. If you haven't yet done so, check out both below!

Invincible (The Twixt, #4)
Title: Invincible
Series: The Twixt #4
Author: Dawn Metcalf
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 7/26/16

Love must be stronger than fear, stronger than fate. 

Invincible. 

The future of two worlds depends on it. 

Joy Malone has learned to live between two realities, surviving mortal threats and agonizing betrayals. And she's found true love. But the world of the Twixt is in chaos, and the Council wants someone to blame… Facing a danger greater than any she's ever known, Joy must find the strength to rely on herself as her allies fall away, because Joy is no longer sure just who—or what—she is. She knows only that her deepest secret is also her greatest vulnerability and the key to saving them all. 

As she fights to protect her friends and family and to unite two disparate worlds, Joy has to trust that some bonds are stronger than magic.


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

Check out the first three books in the series!

Indelible (The Twixt, #1)Invisible (The Twixt, #2)Insidious (The Twixt, #3)

Book 1: Indelible

Book 2: Invisible
Goodreads Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository | My Review

Book 3: Insidious

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P.S. I Like You
Title: P.S. I Like You
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Point (Scholastic)
Release Date: 7/26/16

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository


Monday, July 25, 2016

GLITTER by Aprilynne Pike Interview + ARC Giveaway!

It is with great pleasure that I present an interview of bestselling author Aprilynne Pike on her upcoming YA Nigh-Fi, GLITTER! If you've been eager to learn more about this gorgeous book, then you have come to the right place - Aprilynne has given me the scoop from how it all began to if we can expect a series, including research subjects, inspirational music, favorite characters and quotes, and her GLITTER Love List! But that's not all: Aprilynne has generously offered an early signed ARC to one lucky reader! Want to read GLITTER before its October release? Then see the giveaway at the end to enter!

THE BOOK
Glitter
Title: Glitter
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Random House BYR
Summary

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike comes a truly original new novel—Breaking Bad meets Marie Antoinette in a near-future world where the residents of Versailles live like it’s the eighteenth century and an almost-queen turns to drug dealing to save her own life. 
 
Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison.


When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates.


Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed.


But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.



THE INTERVIEW

1. GLITTER in one sentence:

Danica Grayson tries to escape a world of blackmail, court intrigue, fancy dresses, and cutting-edge technology by selling a new designer drug.

(For a more detailed explanation, see Aprilynne's "About Glitter" post here!)

2. What inspired GLITTER?

Ha! This is hilarious (to me) actually! I was a huge fan of Breaking Bad, and though the series finale was amazing, I found the first half of Season 5 to be … lackluster. And, as we egotistic writers do, I kept thinking, I could do better. Then I thought, but what I really want to do is write girls in pretty dresses. And that’s how it all started.

3. What were some of the subjects you researched for GLITTER?

I did SO much research into the time when the three King Louis lived in the Palace of Versailles. Truly it’s glittering heyday. Lots of research into Marie Antoinette, arguably France’s most famous queen ever, and watched a lot of documentaries. I also spent a lot of time on the Palace of Versailles’ website because the Palace is almost like a character itself and I wanted to feel like I’d been there. (I haven’t, actually.)

4. Was there any particular music that inspired you while writing GLITTER?

I have no idea why the song Boston by Augustana resonated so deeply while I was writing Glitter, but it did. More understandably, I discovered the song Le Tempdes Cathédrales from the musical Notre Dame de Paris while writing Glitter (though it must be sung by Bruno Pelletier, and it must be sung in French) and have listened to it over and over hundreds of times.

5. Who was your favorite character to write & why? Who was your least favorite to write & why?

Oh, the King. The King is unabashedly a ruthless, awful, selfish person and not only does he know it, it makes him a very good CEO. I enjoy seeing just how bad I can make him, while still making him the hero of his own journey. That being said, in the sequel, as I continue to take Danica down her own path, Danica is getting to be just as much fun to write as the King … though I probably shouldn’t say much about why. :)

My least favorite character to write is Danica’s mother who is an equally awful person, but making her act selfishly in a way that she is quite aware is going to make her child suffer is difficult to write as a mother. It’s a line I would never cross and writing a truly awful mother has been stretching for me as an author. But it’s not fun.

6. What’s your favorite line/passage in GLITTER?

Oh dear. It’s the last couple lines of the book. I truly can’t say anything beyond that. However, my second fave is about a character I adore, named Lord Aaron: 
Some knights appear on white steeds; mine rides bejeweled heels with satin laces.”

7. Aprilynne Pike's GLITTER Love List
  • Danica’s hair! It’s long and thick and can make a pompadour all by itself.
  • Pretty. Dresses. That is all. :)
  • Writing a selfish and rather reckless anti-heroine.
  • Men in heels.
  • Fancy food.
  • A hero who is in no position to save anything, much less the day.
  • My setting. Not just the Palace of Versailles, but Paris.
  • Danica’s corset.
  • M.A.R.I.E.’s acronym (the Mainframe for Autonomous Robotic Intelligence Enhancement).
  • All of the little things that don’t seem so important in this book, that are crucial in the next one.

8. If possible, would you live in your future Palace of Versailles Pocket Kingdom? Why or why not?

Oh man, I would be sorely tempted to say yes! All the glitz and glamour of the days of the Sun King, but with all of the modern comforts they didn’t have access to four hundred years ago. If only the government weren’t so very corrupt …

9. Is GLITTER a standalone or a series? 

Glitter is going to be two books and I am editing the sequel as we speak! It’s slated to come out one year after Glitter.

10. Anything else you’d like to say about GLITTER?

As fun as it’s been to write an anti-heroine, it’s nerve-wracking too. Male characters get away with so much more than female characters without losing the sympathy of the reader. So I am hoping that readers will enjoy reading about a girl who does some really bad things as much as I enjoyed writing her doing them! Main character she is … Good girl she is not.


And that's it! Thank you so much to Aprilynne for the interview. ❤❤ If you want even more info on this amazing book, check out the Happy Ever After interview Aprilynne did back in March for the cover reveal here, and be on the lookout for the GLITTER Blog Tour this October from Rockstar Book Tours!

THE AUTHOR
Aprilynne Pike is a critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author of young adult fiction including the Wings series, Earthbound series, Charlotte Westing Chronicles, and Life After Theft At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found running; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne lives in Arizona with her husband and their four children. 

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

THE GIVEAWAY

So what do you think, want to get your hands on this beauty as soon as possible? Then enter below for the chance to win a signed ARC of GLITTER - good luck!!

US/CAN only | Must be 13+ years to enter
(Cheaters do not prosper here - be warned I check every entry!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 22, 2016

The #FridayReads Review (7/22/16)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz, #4)
The Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson (HBK)
Just when I thought these books couldn't get any crazier, I started Book 4. Needless to say I'm quite enjoying it, and all the laughter has already elicited several comments of "Good book, huh?" from those around me. 


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)All the Feels

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (PBK)
3.5 Stars (3rd/4th read?). Solid writing and story as expected, but the two villain rants at the end were SO LONG. Might've just been me burning out on my HP binge, though.

All the Feels by Danika Stone (ARC)
3 StarsAn initially heavy but eventually light and fun contemporary romance for fangirls. The first half was oddly a bit depressing for me thanks to Liv’s anti-support system, but the second half at DC was really fun and uplifting with a good ending. Definitely had some problems, though. Review to come.


>> READING NEXT <<
Imprudence (The Custard Protocol, #2)
Imprudence by Gail Carriger (ARC)
The time, I think she has finally arrived. So excited!!


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Release Spotlight: Imprudence (Gail Carriger) & The Shattered Lens (Brandon Sanderson)


Today I spotlight two long-awaited sequels! The first is Imprudence, the second book in The Custard Protocol series by favorite author Gail Carriger! The second is The Shattered Lens, the fourth book in the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson! Both are amazing series I highly recommend, so if you haven't checked them out yet do so below!

Imprudence (The Custard Protocol, #2)
Title: Imprudence
Series: The Custard Protocol #2
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit Books
Release Date: 7/19/16

London is in chaos.

Rue and the crew of The Spotted Custard returned from India with revelations that shook the foundations of the scientific community. There is mass political upheaval, the vampires are tetchy, and something is seriously wrong with the local werewolf pack. To top it all off, Rue’s best friend Primrose keeps getting engaged to the most inappropriate military types.

Rue has got personal problems as well. Her vampire father is angry, her werewolf father is crazy, and her obstreperous mother is both. Worst of all, Rue’s beginning to suspect what they all really are… is frightened.

When the Custard is ordered to Egypt, transporting some highly unusual passengers, Rue’s problems go from personal to impossible. Can she get Percy to stop sulking? Will she find the true cause of Primrose’s lovesickness? And what is Quesnel hiding in the boiler room?


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

Check out the first book!

Prudence (The Custard Protocol, #1)
Prudence

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz, #4)
Title: The Shattered Lens
Series: Alcatraz #4
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Starscape (Tor)
Release Date: 7/19/16

The Shattered Lens is the fourth action-packed fantasy adventure in the Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series for young readers by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. These fast-paced and funny novels are now available in deluxe hardcover editions illustrated by Hayley Lazo.

Alcatraz Smedry is up against a whole army of Evil Librarians with only his friend Bastille, a few pairs of glasses, and an unlimited supply of exploding teddy bears to help him. This time, even Alcatraz's extraordinary talent for breaking things may not be enough to defeat the army of Evil Librarians and their giant librarian robots.

“An excellent choice to read aloud to the whole family. It's funny, exciting, and briskly paced.” —Nancy Pearl on NPR'S Morning Edition


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository


Check out the first three books in the series!

Alcatraz vs. the Evil LibrariansThe Scrivener’s BonesThe Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz, #3)

Book 1: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

Book 2: The Scrivener's Bones
Goodreads Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia

Monday, July 18, 2016

Review: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl (Melissa Keil)

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon GirlThe Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl

Title: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl
Series: standalone
Author: Melissa Keil (site)
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing / Hardie Grant Egmont
Release Date: April 1, 2016 / September 4, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Told: First Person (Alba), Present Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (language, crude references, sensuality, underage drinking)
Format Read: Pbk & Hbk (purchased & publisher)
Find OnGoodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Alba loves her life just as it is. She loves living behind the bakery and waking up in a cloud of sugar and cinnamon. She loves drawing comics and watching bad TV with her friends. The only problem is shes overlooked a few teeny details. Like, the guy she thought long gone has unexpectedly reappeared. And the boy who has been her best friend since forever has suddenly gone off the rails. Even her latest comic book creation is misbehaving. Also, the world might be ending-- which is proving to be awkward. As doomsday enthusiasts flock to idyllic Eden Valley, Albas life is thrown into chaos. Whatever happens next, its the end of the world as she knows it. But when it comes to figuring out her heart, Armageddon might turn out to be the least of her problems.

*          *          *

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Peachtree!


In a Sentence: A crudeish but sweet teen contemporary about best friends, the end of the world, and life after graduation.

Newly graduated from high school, Alba is excited to begin the next chapter of her life... Or is she? With her close group of friends making plans for their separate futures, Alba realizes that the life she lives and loves is about to drastically change. As she struggles to wrap her mind around this, a little-known cable TV "prognosticator" predicts The End of Days - and declares Alba's small town humanity's only point of salvation. Now with her quiet albeit currently in turmoil life flooded with hippies and crazies, she must work through her own personal end of the world and face her fears by confronting her past and finding the strength in herself to pursue her future.

This is a great story about graduation and what comes next. It can be scary, uncharted territory for many teens, and as one of those teens Alba was highly relatable as she struggled between wanting everything to stay the same and expanding her world to see what it had to offer. Luckily Alba had an amazing group of friends to encourage her, and although they were rather crude at times (in Eddie's case, all the time) they were supportive and understanding even as they began to pull away, moving on to new futures of their own. Add to the great cast of characters an easy writing style, charming small town setting, wacky end-of-the-world situation that included way too many naked people, and a sweet romance that had me grinning through the last few chapters, and this was a fun slice-of-life story about letting go of your fears and embracing the known and unknown to enjoy both while you can.

Illustrations: The US hardcover has chapterly illustrations by Mike Lawrence, which added even more playfulness to the story as they foreshadowed the chapter's mood - and most were pulled directly from the text itself, which was really fun. If you enjoy novels with a bit of art, definitely grab the American edition.

Conclusion: While there was a little too much language and innuendos for my personal taste, this was a fun and reflective story with a really sweet romance. Especially recommend for comic-loving graduates.


Scribble Rating
3 of 5 Scribbles


Friday, July 15, 2016

Prudence Read-Along, An End


And so concludes the PRUDENCE READ-ALONG, hosted here on Skye's Scribblings and the Goodreads Gail Carriger Fan Group! Thank you to everyone who participated, I hope you enjoyed the read and discussion. If you missed any of my read-along posts or reviews, or want to check them out again, I've collected all the links below.

I would also like to majorly thank author Gail Carriger for the Q&As and giveaway ARCs, and publisher Orbit for the Imprudence hardcover! The giveaways end midnight Saturday, so get in your last-minute entries ASAP! And please note concerning the blog giveaway to be sure to enter what you want to win into the Rafflecopter. Good luck! :)

Lastly, if you enjoyed Prudence, remember the sequel, Imprudence, releases July 19th! In her last Read-Along Q&A, Ms. Carriger said we can look forward to "a major reveal about one well-loved character's past, totally unexpected dark family secrets, seriously unsettling power transitions, and some shocking lessons concerning the French language," so be sure to pick up a copy and continue the adventures of the Spotted Custard crew!


THE POSTS


AUTHOR GIVEAWAY


In honor of the Read-Along, Ms Gail has generously donated two signed Prudence ARCs!! As these would be a special addition to any Carriger fan collection, this giveaway will be open to Gail Carriger Fan Group Members only. (US addresses only though, apologies International fans!) Want an ARC for your collection? Just be or become a Fan Group member and join the read-along discussion!

BLOG GIVEAWAY
Imprudence (The Custard Protocol, #2)

And don't forget I'm also holding a giveaway here on Skye's Scribblings for a Carriger button set procured from Gail Carriger's Zazzle merchandise account, and a hardcover of Book 2, Imprudence! To enter, spread the word about the read-along and join the discussion either below or on the Gail Carriger Fan Group!

(Important Giveaways Note: A single discussion post link can be entered into both giveaway forms - you don't have to do more than one post (unless you want to, of course! ;).


The #FridayReads Review (7/15/16)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (PBK)
The Harry Potter binge plugs on! Currently over 70% through the fourth book and thoroughly enjoying it, no surprise. Finally feeling some serious HP burnout, though - will definitely be reading something non-HP before tackling the fifth book.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Barakamon, Volume 01
Barakamon vol. 1 by Satsuki Yoshino (PBK)
4 Stars. Different, fun, and highly amusing. Already have vol. 2 on hold!


>> READING NEXT <<
Shadow Run (Kaitan Chronicles, #1)
Shadow Run by Strickland & Miller (ARC)
Ever since this giveaway win arrived I can't stop thinking about it, and I'm desperately in need of a sci-fi fix!


So what are you reading this week?

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Release Spotlight: Rebel Magisters (Shanna Swendson)


Today sees the release of Rebel Magisters, the sequel to Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson! I really enjoyed the first book (see my review here) and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel for some time. If you haven't yet, given these books a look!

Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics, #2)

Title: Rebel Magisters
Series: Rebel Mechanics #2
Author: Shanna Swendson
Release Date: 7/12/16

Tea, Love ... and Revolution!

The Rebel Mechanics aren’t the only group plotting revolution against the magical British Empire. There are rebel magisters, as well, and Verity Newton and her magister employer, Lord Henry, know that the only way for the revolution to succeed is if both groups work together. A diplomatic mission seems like the perfect opportunity for them to meet with rebels in other colonies and gather support—right under the governor’s nose.

From drawing rooms, ballrooms, and the harbor in Boston to the streets of Charleston, Verity and Henry find themselves up against stubborn factions of both magisters and Mechanics and increasingly aware that they can only really count on each other as their relationship deepens. It may take a real crisis to unite the rebel movements and rally them to the cause—but could such a crisis also tear them apart?


Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes


Haven't yet heard of the series? 
Check out the first book (I highly recommend it)!

Rebel Mechanics (Rebel Mechanics, #1)
  Book One: Rebel Mechanics
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo My Review


Monday, July 11, 2016

Review: The Lost Compass (Joel Ross)

The Lost Compass (The Fog Diver, #2)
Title: The Lost Compass
Series: The Fog Diver, Book 2
Author: Joel Ross (site)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 24, 2016
Genre: Middle Grade Dystopian Action-Adventure
Told: mostly First Person (Chess), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Middle Grade (some violence and scary situations)
Format Read: ARC (author/publisher)
Find OnGoodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

In the high-stakes sequel to The Fog Diver, thirteen-year-old Chess and his crew must stop the deadly and mysterious Fog from enveloping the city of Port Oro and destroying their world.

Chess and his crew—Hazel, Swedish, and Bea—may have escaped the slums, but they cannot escape the Fog that threatens to swallow the entire mountaintop city of Port Oro.

Only one thing can stop the fog: an ancient machine known as the Compass. Only one person can find it: Chess. With the help of his crew, Chess faces dangerous encounters, brutal battles, and deadly driftsharks to unearth the hidden instrument. It’s a race against time to save this high-altitude sanctuary.

With adventure at every turn, peril behind every corner, and a few determined slum kids who are up to the task, Joel Ross presents a fantastic world in this fast-paced follow-up to
The Fog Diver.
*          *          *

Review copy provided for an honest review. Thank you, Joel & HarperCollins!


Series: This is the second and final book in the Fog Diver duology. You can read my review of the first book, The Fog Diver, here.

In a Sentence: Another adventurous read with a fun cast, thrilling climax, and strong series end.

Chess and crew have finally made it to Port Oro, and although they are wary at first it is everything they dreamed of and more. But with Lord Kodoc still determined to get his hands on Chess and the legendary Compass that controls the deadly Fog, the safety of Port Oro can only be maintained if Chess helps the Subassembly find the Compass first. When Chess acquires the legendary map to the rumored location of the Compass things seem to be looking up, but after Lord Kodoc obtains the map as well the crew must race him to the Compass or lose everyone they hold dear.

The first third of the book was a bit subdued with lots of exploration and little action, but it was the calm before a storm of tense action and surprising twists I did not see coming. The climax was a thrilling ride of frying pan to fire to the whole world burning that had me on the edge of my seat, and the end left me wanting more even as the duology wrapped up well.

The crew continued to be the fun and eclectic group I'd come to love in the first book, and although their conversations were so quick at times I had difficulty keeping everyone straight there was never a dull moment or lack of wit with them. Chess's insecurity and slight cowardice also carried over, but with a new situation and responsibilities he discovered some real strength and power in himself when it counted. Tech-whisperer Bea remains my favorite, although brutish and mouthy Loretta is tied with Captain Hazel for second favorite, and conspiracy theorist Swedish grew on me even more.

Conclusion: While it began a little quiet, the action and twists and climax were intense, and the strong end was satisfying even as it left me wishing for at least one more book. Definitely recommend this duology for readers who enjoy thrilling adventure and great casts of witty young characters.


Scribble Rating
3.5 of 5 Scribbles


Saturday, July 9, 2016

LIES I LIVE BY (Lauren Sabel) Blog Tour + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Lies I Live By blog tour, hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club! Check out this awesome summer release from Katherine Tegen Books, and enter to win a signed hardcover copy or Amazon gift card at the end!


Lies I Live By

Title: Lies I Live By
Author: Lauren Sabel
Release Date: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Summary

Romance, intrigue, and action collide in this psychic twist on the classic spy novel.

Callie Sinclair is literally out of her mind; as the government’s youngest psychic spy, she finds valuable information for top-secret missions. Her work keeps her headaches at bay, but it means she must lie to everyone she loves, including her longtime boyfriend, Charlie.

When a new psychic arrives at the office, Callie can’t help but flirt; Jasper already knows her in a way Charlie never will.

But as her love life gets more complicated, so do her visions. People halfway around the world seem to be in danger...and people in her own backyard, too. If Callie can’t find a way to alter future events, she could lose the people she loves—and her mind. Literally.

Lauren Sabel’s enthralling, romantic novel captures the thrill of exploring a unique power in a dangerous world.


READ AN EXCERPT HERE

THE AUTHOR
Originally from the Rocky Mountains, Lauren Sabel has returned to the cool mountain air of Boulder, Colorado after living in several wonderful cities that she will always love and continue to visit year after year.

Lauren loves her husband, her family, her friends, and stories that end happily. (Unfortunately, hers never do.) She also loves digging into her mind and revealing tiny gems she didn’t know were there.

Lauren learned to mind dig while getting her MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa, a Buddhist college in Boulder, Colorado. Before Naropa, Lauren studied film in Rome, where she developed her love of crypts and other beautiful creepy things. She also worked in the film industry in New York and San Francisco, focusing mainly on film festivals, as she can never pass up a good party. In San Francisco she worked for Chronicle Books, where she was inducted into the fascinating world of book publishing.

For the past eight years, Lauren has been teaching college students the joys of creative writing, whether they like it or not.

In 2008, Lauren was published in Undiscovered Voices, an anthology of the best new writers for children in the U.K., where she was living at the time. Then life got very exciting very quickly. She signed with Jodi Reamer Esq. at The Writer’s House Agency in New York, and they made magic happen, and that magic is named Katherine Tegen. (aka: Katherine Tegen Publishing, Harper Collins).

At that time, I was obsessed with reading books about the remote viewers who helped the US government during the Cold War. My book LIES I LIVE BY came out of how that research blended with my imagination. Callie, the 17 year old psychic spy, burst out of me with a voice of her own, and 18 months later, she was ready.

LIES I LIVE BY came out May 2016 with Katherine Tegen Books.


THE GIVEAWAY

1st Prize: Win (1) signed hardcopy of LIES I LIVE BY by Lauren Sabel (US ONLY)
2nd Prize: Win a $30 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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Be sure to check out the rest of the tour HERE!