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Review: One by Leigh Ann Kopans

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 05•13

one leigh ann kopans Series: One Universe, #1
Publish Date: May 29th, 2013
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – One part X-Men, three parts awesome!

About the book: When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak. It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover. If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin’s mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub’s internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it’s more important to fly solo, or to save everything – and everyone – she loves. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Alright guys, you’re going to have to read One by Leigh Ann Kopans. It’s such a good story! This is an indie title from debut author Leigh Ann Kopans, and if the present alone hasn’t grabbed your interest then just wait for the buzz to hit you, if it hasn’t already. People are talking about this book and for good reason.

Merrin Grey wants to be something more. She was born with the potential to be a Super but when onlyone ability manifested, she eventually had to admit her limitations. Or did she? Even after being sent to a high school for normals, this girl keeps trying to reach her full potential. Meanwhile, there’s interesting developments coming up around her, both scientifically and politically. There are a lot of different levels to this story, and I enjoyed every one of them.

The world Leigh Ann Kopans created for the One Universe could almost be called realistic superheroes. Some people developed special abilities, most didn’t, and getting back to some sort of normal society hasn’t been a smooth ride for anyone. I love stories like these, where it’s not all about what these people can do, but what their abilities mean on a grander scale. It always makes for an interesting read, and One is no exception.

The ending did get a little muttled and confusing for me as there were a lot of things happening at once, mixed with important details that probably could have been thrown in a little earlier in the book. All the same, I AM SO EXCITED for Two, which comes out later this year. Highly recommended!

Purchase One
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @Barnes & Noble @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@Seeing Night Book Reviews
@Into the Hall of Books
@Fiction Fare

Posted in Fantasy Books, Young Adult Books , indie | No Comments »

Blog Tour: Copper Girl by Jennifer Allis Provost

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 03•13

copper girl

Sara had always been careful.
She never spoke of magic, never associated with those suspected of handling magic, never thought of magic, and never, ever, let anyone see her mark. After all, the last thing she wanted was to end up missing, like her father and brother.
Then, a silver elf pushed his way into Sara’s dream, and her life became anything but ordinary.

Add Copper Girl on Goodreads

Purchase Copper Girl
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Visit Jennifer Allis Provost Online
@Her Website @Twitter

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , spencer hill press | No Comments »

Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 01•13

all our yesterdays

Publish Date: September 3rd, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 – Possibly the best YA time travel book I’ve ever read!

About the Book: “You have to kill him.” Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Ooo boy, what a book! All Our Yesterdays is a standalone time travel novel of epic proportions. It follows the timelines of two different characters Marina and Em, and then things get really interesting as the two storylines start to come together and you realize there’s no way both stories can have a happy ending. “Brilliantly plotted” is a phrase that’s getting thrown around a lot with this book, and while it sounds a little cheesy, it’s not wrong.

From beginning to end this book is tense, ambitious and riviting. The stakes are high, and the relationships are meaningful and the writing is so, so good! While time travel obviously is a big element of the book, there isn’t a lot of sci fi. There were some really interesting (and unexpected) political aspects to the story as well.

For me, the best part of the book was the various characters as well as how past/present versions were incorporated. There’s so little I can say here without giving anything away though, and you should definitely experience this story for yourself. All Our Yesterdays comes out in September, and you should definitely pick up a copy!

Purchase All Our Yesterdays
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@My Friends Are Fiction
@Read-A-Lot
@Realm of Fiction

Posted in Other Books, Young Adult Books , cristin terrill, sci-fi, time travel | No Comments »

A Boat Made of Bone Kickstarter

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 30•13

Happy Sunday everyone! I just wanted to take a quick minute out of everyones day to tell you all about a fantastic Kickstarter project currently in the works from author Nicole Grotepas! Nicole is a member of the Patchwork Press NetGalley Co-Op and she’s looking for help funding her next novel, A Boat Made of Bone (how awesome is that title?!). There are a lot of fun perks for helping out, so I highly recommend you check out the Kickstarter campaign.

Kat Miller has been having recurring dreams about the same man . . . a dead man. Will Marks, to be exact, a celebrity who died long before Kat had any reason to pay attention to celebrities.

While the night-world she enjoys with Will beckons, her waking world has suddenly gotten intriguing. Ty Watts–a guy with looks that could set a thousand housewives free–just walked into her life and he’s got a smile that hides a secret.

But is Ty a distraction or a savior?

Kat’s dreams threaten to take over. She must negotiate the edge of reality, solve the mystery of her nightly rendezvous with Will and either set him free or lose herself forever in the seductively dangerous world he inhabits.

A Boat Made of Bone is a love story that spans worlds, generations, and reaches beyond death into the realm of fantasy.

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , nicole grotepas | No Comments »

Cover Reveal: A Grimm Legacy by Janna Jennings

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 27•13

janna jennings

Cover reveal day for Janna Jennings, an awesome awesome Patchwork Press author.

The woods of Elorium appear ordinary, at least until elves appear and the birds start talking. Four teenagers, whisked out of their own world, find themselves as the reluctant guests of the strange and secretive millionaire, Mr. Jackson—a man who knows the secrets of their families’ histories as well as the way back home. But nothing comes without a price.

Mr. Jackson’s mother is dying and the only cure is in the hands of a giant barricaded on a floating island. Unable to retrieve it himself, Mr. Jackson strikes a deal with the teens: steal the antidote and in return receive the key back to their world.

Caught in Grimm’s fairy tales with characters short on whimsy and bent towards treachery, the teens begin a race against time. Without any other way home, they are forced into fairy tale roles that may not lead to a happily ever after.

Add A Grimm Legacy on Goodreads – Follow Janna on Twitter – Follow Janna Online

Cover Designer, Ravven – http://www.ravven.com/

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , janna jennings | No Comments »

Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 24•13

the testing

Series: The Testing, #1
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publish Date: June 4th, 2013
Source: Review Copy
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Started out as “just okay”, but quickly hit its stride. A must read!

About the book: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Well, that’s two for two. So far, my BEA reads this far have been absolutely fantastic. I had heard a little buzz about The Testing, so when I heard Joelle Charbonneau (doesn’t she have a fantastic name?!) was signing at BEA, I had no choice but to show up, and I’m so glad I did.

Now, to be fair, it’s nearly impossible not to compare this book to The Hunger Games, as the underlying concept is the same–but I don’t think that’s a point against the book. If you’re looking for a book with the same feeling as THG, this should be your first stop. The Testing has some pretty brutal moments throughout, based around the whims of a futuristic society. Initially, some of the BIG moments didn’t really have the emotional impact that they could have, but the further I got into the story, the more it grabbed me. And there were even a few developments that I definitely didn’t see coming!

I really enjoyed how Joelle Charbonneau developed her characters–there were quite a few to remember once The Testing started, but the way Cia interaccted with her competition made them all standout in just the right way. Cia herself was exactly what she needed to be to carry this story, both strong and unsure. I’m dying to see how the events of The Testing carry through for her to the next book.

I already have an ARC of book two sitting on my bookshelf, and I am absolutely dying to read it. I need to know what happens next! Right now. I’m trying to hold off on reading it because then the wait until book three (I’m assuming this series will have more than two books) would be unbearable. A day later and I’m still obsessing about this book though, so I give myself about two weeks before I crack and pickup Independent Study.

Purchase The Testing
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Bloody Bookaholic
@Ink Skies
@Fantastical Writings

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , BEA, joelle charbonneau | 1 Comment »

Review: In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 21•13

in the after

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publish Date: June 25th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Synopsis: They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you’ve ever seen.
And They won’t stop chasing you…until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more. -Goodreads

Review: In The After grabs you from the very first page, and manages to keep you on the edge of your seat (or curled up under your blanket in fear) from beginning to end. This book was everything I was looking for and more, seriously… I loved it. Demitria Lunetta did a great job of balancing suspense, sci-fi and character elements all while keeping the reader engaged with Amy’s perspective. There are even some dystopian elements throughout, so there’s something for everyone here.

The big bag race is mostly just referred to as Them. They showed up one day and started devouring the human race, with no thought of world domination beyond their own hunger–you can definitely draw some zombie comparisons here (love!), but they manage to be a whole new kind of scary that keeps you holding your breath any time Amy encountered one of Them. They can’t see very well, but have great hearing, so you can be standing right beside one and be a-okay, so long as you don’t even breathe. Hence the supportive breath-holding. *shudder*

Besides Them, Amy has only been sharing her world with one other person–Baby. Amy found Baby as a toddler, and has raised her in the years since the initial attack. The two of them rely on each other 100%, even communicating silently through sign language in order to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Baby is a pretty good kid but has her mood swings like any other. I actually really enjoyed seeing Baby evolve as Amy’s sister, and then eventually try to figure out how to interact with other people.

I cannot recommend this book enough. In The After is a fantastic YA/sci-fi blend that will leave you feeling both satisfied and desperate for more.

Purchase In the After:
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@IB Book Blogging
@Winter Haven Books
@The Reading Nook Reviews

Posted in Young Adult Books , demitria lunetta, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi | No Comments »

Top 10 Summer TBR 2013

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 18•13

SUMMER READING! It’s that time, and boy are there a lot of great books to read. My must read TBR actually has 22 books right now (not even counting the rereads of earlier titles I want to do before finally picking up the sequels) thanks to BEA. These are the ones I’m most excited about, the ones I’ve been putting off for toooo long and the ones I have “that feeling” about. What are you going to be reading this summer?

Posted in Reading , top 10 | 2 Comments »

Blog Tour: Ignite by Erica Crouch

Written By: Kellie - Jun• 14•13

Ignite, by Erica Crouch

My writing partner, Erica Crouch, is currently in the midst of celebrating her first ever book launch. She worked so immensely hard on getting this first book out and it is FANTASTIC. You should all go out and get it riggghhhtt now. You can also hop over to my author blog to read my “Ode to a Great Writing Partner” if you need more convincing. So, first I’m going to tell you a little bit about the book, then as a special feature for Ignite‘s release tour, I’m going to give you the inside scoop on the other fantastic projects Erica is currently working on.

ignite cover About the book: Penemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed.

As Hell prepares for war – spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army – the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice.

With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark.

Ignite on Goodreads
Amazon – Kobo – Barnes & Noble
Erica on Goodreads – Her Website – Twitter – Facebook

The Sneak Peak

So, what’s next from Erica Crouch? I can tell you! Not only is she currently working on both a novella and a sequel for Ignite (both of which are entirely epic so far), but she has quite a few other projects in the work that fall right across the board in terms of genre. They’re all YA/NA, but range from sci-fi, to horror, to historical. And again, that’s in addition to the paranormal romance Ignite series. I really don’t know how she does it.

The following information is “top secret” and all currently in progress. You didn’t hear this from me! ;)

None of the details are set in stone, but this should give you a sense of what’s coming and the vast, crazy worlds that reside in the mind of Erica Crouch.

Codename: 1930s
A historical romance set during The Great Depression, featuring a wealthy boy, and a girl who has lost it all. Erica mixes beautiful artwork and delapidated buildings with absolutely stunning writing.

“Alice ducked around the inky boy as she made her way through the morning crowd of men rushing to work and finely dressed women pining for their attention. They preened like daisies in the summer, leaning towards the men like they were the sun. All the better. The skirts were just the distraction Alice needed to wiggle her fingers in the coat pockets of the bug-eyed men and pull out their wallets. It was harder to pick pockets in the cold because people tightened their coats and capes to themselves against the frigid air. It was difficult, but not impossible.”

A completely different experience from reading Ignite, and quite possibly the project I’m most excited about. Although…

Codename: Undying
A new-adult dystopian novel that asks “how much would you give up to live forever?” Set in the future, with all kinds of crazy advances and technology that will definitely get you thinking about the endless possibilities that lie ahead for humanity. Again, the writing style is totally different and completely riviting.

Codename: MIRRORS
Horror- High School – Mirrors – Mary
Need I say more?

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , erica crouch, patchwork press | 2 Comments »

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