GIVEAWAY

Blitz+Guest Post+Giveaway: Let's Get Lost

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Title: Let's Get Lost
Author: Adi Alsaid
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Available Now!
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Indie Bound || Harlequin.com

Summary from Goodreads:
Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Early Praise

“Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels.” – School Library Journal

“Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss.  ” – Justine Magazine

“Moving and poignant.”  - Glitter Magazine

“An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut.” – Kirkus

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." ―YABooksCentral.com

“This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.” –Booklist


About the Author

Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer. He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.  

Author Links:
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His First Big Trip Alone to Israel

My sister likes to say that before I came back from my trip to Israel, she’d never heard me speak. That’s probably an exaggeration, but not an extreme one. When I boarded the plane to Israel on the eve of my eighteenth birthday, I was a shy kid, reserved, talkative only with my closest friends.

My brother puts it a different way: “Before, you couldn’t decide if you cared or not. Then you decided you didn’t.” He said this when we shared an apartment in college, when I was doing things like taking spontaneous road trips to Baker, California just to have lunch, or founding a student organization at UNLV called Students for the Advancement of Silliness. I brought my first girlfriend to the top floor of a library and rained down thirty notecards with book quotations on them. I wrote editorials in the school newspaper about choosing to be happier.

Let me be clear about this: I didn’t notice it happening. In Israel, I read a lot. I walked around a lot. Though fluent in Hebrew, I didn’t speak a lot, because outside of my grandmother and some cousins, I didn’t know anyone. I could have made friends on the basketball courts where I played, or the bar full of American expats and travelers from all over the world, but I didn’t. By the end I was having more and more conversations with people there, because I’d learned that if I didn’t I could go days without saying a word. But that didn’t feel like growth; it just felt like loneliness, which wasn’t anything new. I had fun in Israel, and though I’d imagined something life-changing (I brought a notebook, thinking that maybe I’d write a book while there), I left thinking it hadn’t happened. The first day I returned to Mexico and had coffee with a friend, within twenty minutes, she said, “You’ve changed.”

It’s not like I went to Israel and came back a new person. I was simply more myself. The layer of shyness that usually hid parts of me from the world was washed away by the Mediterranean, or burned away from my skin from the suntan I gained on the beaches of Tel Aviv. I broke out of my proverbial shell, deciding, as my brother pointed out, that I no longer cared to reside within it.

Here’s what I’m trying to get at, and why Leila’s travels in Let’s Get Lost serve as the perfect backdrop to five coming-of-age stories: Travel leads to self-discovery. You grow, even if you don’t notice it happening. Especially if you do it at the age I did, the age the characters in the book are, the world seeps into your cracks and pulls you further out.

Giveaway

1 signed hard cover copy of Let’s Get Lost
1 Let’s Get Lost luggage tag
1 Harlequin TEEN notebook
1 Let’s Get Lost sachel
1 Harlequin TEEN tote bag
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Book Blitz Organized by:


Blitz+Giveaway: Oceanborn

Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Check out the blog tour HERE

HAPPY RELEASE DAY OCEANBORN!
Author Amalie Howard has a message for you... 




Title: Oceanborn (Aquarathi #2)
Author: Amalie Howard
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The coronation is over.

But the battle has just begun.

Nerissa Marin has won her crown. But can she keep it? Already, her ties to the human realm are driving a wedge between Nerissa and her people. When word arrives that her part-human prince consort, Lo, has been poisoned, she makes the difficult choice to leave Waterfell and return landside. As the royal courts debate her decision, even more disturbing rumors surface: a plot is rising against her, led by someone she least expects.

On land, Nerissa learns another shocking truth: Lo does not remember who she is. As her choice to try to save him threatens her hold on her crown, changing loyalties and uncertainty test her courage in ways she could never have imagined. Nerissa will have one last chance to prove herself as a queen... and save the undersea kingdom she loves.


Order your copy of book one, WATERFELL
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Get your copy of OCEANBORN TODAY!
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SEAMONSTER by Amalie Howard (Aquarathi #1.5)
Available on AMAZON for only $.99

About the Author

Website || Twitter || Facebook || Goodreads
AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 22 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, PW, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was an Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in New York with her husband and three children. Visit her at www.amaliehoward.com.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bout of Books 11

Monday, July 28, 2014
Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Time Devoted to Reading

It's my first year in college, and I'm already feeling the stress and pressure of all the workload. Ohmycrap. So many upcoming exams and projects and paper, and org activities, and I really hope that I can balance everything out. I miss reading, though, so I hope I'll be able to read at least an hour everyday. This would really mean a lot to me. :<

Goals

• Read a book everyday.
• Finish 2-3 books.
• Review almost all books read.

Books to Read 

12033455 15749186 51737


Updates

Monday
Number of books read today: 1
Number of pages read today: 133
Total number of books read: 1
Books: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Tuesday
Number of books read today: 1
Number of pages read today: 241
Total number of books read: 1
Books: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

YAY! I was able to finish one book. I kind of pulled an all-nighter for this, but it was super worth it! <3 Off to my next book!

Wednesday
Number of books read today: 0
Number of pages read today: 0
Total number of books read: 1
Books:

I wasn't able to read anything for today. /sad :(

Thursday
Number of books read today: 2
Number of pages read today: 385 + 200
Total number of books read: 3
Books: Fifty Shades of Grey & Fifty Shades Darker by EL James

So, this isn't really in my list. Plus, it's my first time reading an adult genre book. I really have no plans to read this, but I can't help but be curious every time I see people post things and see them get excited over the upcoming movie. So, yeah. Okay, I read it. :))

Friday
Number of books read today: 1
Number of pages read today: 332
Total number of books read: 3
Books: Fifty Shades Darker by EL James

Even though I didn't like the first book (I'm sorry!!!!) I decided to try the second book, thinking that maybe I'll like it better, but sorryyyy! I still don't like it. :< I'm still thinking if I'm going to write a review for this or not. :o Off to my next book! Can't decide if I'm going to read Eleanor and Park or I've Got Your Number. =))

Saturday
Number of books read today:
Number of pages read today:
Total number of books read:
Books:

Sunday
Number of books read today:
Number of pages read today:
Total number of books read:
Books:

Joint Review: After Hello

Sunday, July 27, 2014
13599163Title: After Hello
Author: Lisa Mangum
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had? 

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City. 

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.

When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum explores what happens after hello.

Our Thoughts

I am speechless. I think I won’t be able to read any new books any time soon. I’ve always wanted to read this for more than a year already, but I kept on putting it off because I was afraid on what I’ll be getting. I got a copy of this for a couple of months already, and I don’t know why I suddenly got the urge to read it now. So I did.

And it was a great thing to do. It totally fits with everything that is happening in my life right now, and it made me rethink a lot of things. With all the quotable quotes that can be found in this novel, it made me reflect back on the things I have done, on the things I am doing, and on the things that I plan to do. In essence, there wasn’t much in the story. It was inspiring and beautiful in a way that two damaged, different, and young people meet in a busy city like New York. It was a day that seemed normal to most people, but not to Sam and Sara.

Normally, I hate insta-love, and this one seemed like it. I also don’t really believe in concepts like fate. But this one? I was surprisingly okay with the both of it. For me, what Sam and Sara had wasn’t just some insta-love or love at first sight. It was a deep connection that is envied by many. After all, how many can find someone that can make them feel like they know each other since forever? The concept of fate was so beautiful, that it was like as if there was some unseen force that pushed the two of them together.

Not to mention, it’s a dual POV! I got to hear Sam and Sara’s thoughts, which was amazing. This whole novel was just jaw-dropping. From the beginning to the end, I was hooked. That ending? Especially that ending. It was bittersweet, but it was perfect. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It seemed the most realistic ending, which made it perfect.

Right now, my thoughts are all over the place, and I cannot even fathom how I’ll be able to pick up another book. After Hello is just entirely, absolutely, utterly, perfectly, completely beautiful. I have no words for it. Throughout the entire time I was reading this, all I can think of was: THIS IS SUPER DUPER ULTRA MEGA HYPER SOOOOO DAMN AWESOME. Please please please, if you haven’t read this book, GO READ IT NOW. I totally recommend this to everyone because it’s such a wonderful story about the important things in life.

I first heard about this book from my friend, who couldn’t stop gushing about it at school. I honestly got excited about reading it because of how much she was praising it, but I was never really able to get my hands on a copy, and after a while, I just kind of forgot about it. About a week ago, though, my amazing friend (ahem) Pau lent me her copy, and now here I am, about two hundred pages later.

I’ll start with the characters. Sara and Sam are two people who are clearly damaged by their pasts, and I like that the novel focuses on this instead of glossing over it. I find it unbelievable that two people who’ve known each other for mere hours can already open up so much, but I suppose that kind of connection was crucial to get the story going. It’s nice that they were able to learn more about themselves through their experience together, no matter how short it was.

The plot is hardly complicated, but I find its simplicity suitable. Although the ending is a bit sad, I agree with Pauline that it’s pretty realistic, and I’d prefer that over the usual happy ever after any day. The characters didn’t just magically get over their years’ worth of issues in a single day; they will always be damaged in a way, but they understand this now.

A story about love, sacrifice, and letting go, After Hello teaches its readers that, in the words of Sam, "happiness is always there. That's why we have to keep looking for it. Because we can't always see it. Because it doesn't always find us.”

Our Rating


Mini Review: Soul Oath

Thursday, July 24, 2014
17617509Title: Soul Oath (Everlast #2)
Author: Juliana Haygert
Publication Date: November 25, 2013
Genres: New Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis from Goodreads:
**contains spoilers**
It’s been three months since Nadine last heard from Victor, Micah or Ceris, allowing her to concentrate on her own life. But until Victor and Micah find the scepters that will restore them as true gods, their human bodies will require her healing touch and it’s only a matter of time until they wreak havoc on her life again. 

As if to prove that, Victor shows up at the hospital dragging along with him a swarm of demons. Nadine is forced to flee to safety. Despite her attempts to keep her loved ones protected, the demons find her, and they bring her to Imha, the goddess of Chaos.

Now, confronted by her greatest fear, Nadine finds a new motivation. Vengeance. And when seeking revenge, no risk is too great, including her own life.

My Thoughts

Ohmyglob. This was even more intense than Destiny Gift. There were a lot of things that happened that broke my heart. I cried buckets of tears, and I just couldn’t stop. I just want to lie down on my bed and wallow in my tears.

At this book, it was apparent that GOOOO MICAH! Okay, he’s just SWOONY. And the way he cares and loves and protects Nadine. Omg. I am in love. The entire book, I’m just so sad and crying or being thrilled with all that is happening. There were a lot of things that shot my heart (yes, I’m so dramatic) and I really really just want to put down the book and stop reading. But there was this force that drives me to keep on reading because I want to know how everything will turn out.

Even though I love how Soul Oath revolves entirely around the mythological world, I kinda missed Raisa and Olivia, though. All the normality in life, and all that. I’m keeping this short because I really don’t know what to say, except that it blew me away even though there were really some parts that I had foreseen which kind of lessened the impact that the event would have given me.

Right now, all I’m thinking is that, I WANT MORE MICAH. I hope I’ll be able to have a copy of Cup of Life soon! (I heard it’s in Micah’s POV mwahaha) And I’m so excited for the third book; I can’t wait to know how everything will end!

My Rating



Blitz+Guest Post+Giveaway: Let's Get Lost

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Title: Let's Get Lost
Author: Adi Alsaid
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.


Early Praise
“Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels.” – School Library Journal

“Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss.  ” – Justine Magazine

“Moving and poignant.”  - Glitter Magazine

“An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut.” – Kirkus

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." ―YABooksCentral.com

“This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.” –Booklist


About the Author

Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer. He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.  

Author Links:
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What Inspires Adi to Write


I think people will never tire of asking this question of authors because we never tire of the answer, which, as far as I know, always has been and always will be: Everything.

If life in its entirety did not inspire us to write, we wouldn’t be writers. Obviously, we don’t walk around constantly inspired by every little thing around us, because that would make us go insane. But the reason that stories keep getting churned out, published or unpublished, it’s because writers can find inspiration anywhere, in any little detail of life, at any time, whether we like it or not.

The difference, of course, is how that inspiration gets turned into a story, what each writer connects to and finds worthy of writing about. In the little Q&A that included in a flap in the amazing-looking ARC of Let’s Get Lost, I said that what usually does it for me is people. To delve a little further, I think most of my writing is inspired by the need to explore the connections between people.

The muse itself, whatever catalyst sets me off exploring those connections in a story, well that can be absolutely anything. A little scene from daily life, a reaction to another story. An overheard line of dialogue, a dream, thin air. A bush, or a guy walking past a bush, or the guy’s bushy beard, or the thought of a world without bushes or beards or guys and how the people in that world would interact with one another, and maybe of just one teen living within that world.

There’s a story in everything, it only requires an author to come along and think so.

Giveaway

1 signed hard cover copy of Let’s Get Lost
1 Let’s Get Lost luggage tag
1 Harlequin TEEN notebook
1 Let’s Get Lost sachel
1 Harlequin TEEN tote bag
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Review: Destiny Gift

Monday, July 21, 2014
16217699Title: Destiny Gift (Everlast #1)
Author: Juliana Haygert
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Genres: New Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness. 

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

My Thoughts

**Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for this review opportunity. This in no way affected my thoughts for this novel.

Okay, I forgot what the synopsis for this was about, and I just dived right into it so I totally wasn't expecting this one to involve mythology, and that's what made me love it more. Even though it wasn't Greek Mythology, this one is awesome and pretty much like it except for the names and all. I was immediately sucked in to the story. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, what Nadine's visions mean, and what things will unfold. I didn't just like the plot itself, I fell in love with the characters.

Right from the start, I admired Nadine's selflessness. For her to do things not because it's what she wants, but because it's what's needed to help her family. For all the things that was happening to her, she found the time not only to be worried for herself, but also worried for others. Whenever she had moments wherein she'd freak out, I'd find myself freaking out too. I was with her throughout the entire time: whether she had been bursting of love, or going crazy, or being frustrated and sad. It was hell of a roller coaster to be in her story. Her ability to remain steadfast and strong despite her world slowly crumbling down around her is truly admirable.

I found Victor at first despicable because he was just so cold-hearted and seemed to only use Nadine. I was basically raging whenever he appeared to be showing little to no care towards Nadine. However, as the story progressed, I realized that there was more to him than being that kind of person, and I fell in love with him. He was caring and thoughtful beneath all those cold layers. I actually couldn't make up my mind until now on who I want Nadine to end up with, Victor or Micah? Micah was more upfront with his feelings and attraction towards Nadine than Victor. Micah was so ready to sacrifice just for Nadine and also cares deeply for her.

All in all, there were a lot of heartache and pains, especially towards the latter part of the story where the revelations come out one by one. As the truth unfolded, I could just feel my heart breaking into two. I CRY.

There were a few things that got predictable, though. Nevertheless, Destiny Gift is such an astounding story about making choices and following our hearts. It was so much bigger than just being about love and life. I truly recommend reading this, especially if you're a fan of mythology! Please go read this NOW!

My Rating