The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber

Title: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (The Evapo-ration of Sofi Snow #1)
Author: Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 6th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi's dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth's corporations rule in place of governments and the human-oid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi's the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she's convinced he's been taken to the ice-planet.

Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.

For Miguel, Earth's charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambas-sador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight's bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he's a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.

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The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is a fast paced Sci-fi that combines Aliens, Gaming and Mystery. What could be better than that. Once you start reading it’s hard to stop.

Sometimes you will find that Sci-fi stories have moments where they drag. It’s often because there are a lot of things that need to be explained and be part of the book in order to get you to the end game. The Evaporation of Sofi Snow never has that lag time. Every minute is interesting and is constantly moving. The first scenes revolve around a game arena and even though I enjoy gaming. I don’t always enjoy reading a game scene in a book. I think the fact that there are two POVs makes it very interesting. It keeps the story moving because you don’t have to try to guess the other main characters thoughts.

I loved Sofi! She is a great character because she is a no nonsense girl. Plus she is a master hacker! I love any girl character that knows her way around the net and give arrogant boys a run for their money. She always has her headphones with her to clear her thoughts by listening to music. She also has a very strong bond with her brother Shiloh. Who she has made it her life mission to protect.

We have Miguel who is also a great character and counterpart to Sofi. He has to wear his mask as he plays politics. He has a deeper goal in mind for the Delonese (aliens) but that is something that is uncovered as we move through the book.

Although Sofi and Miguel have had a past relationship and still care for eachother. The book really doesn’t focus on romance that much. There is a little but it doesn’t take away from the main story which is discovering more about the Delonese and what happened to Shiloh.

I don’t want to give anything away about the plot so I won’t even talk about it. It has a lot to deal with politics as the world is run by corporations. Ya scary right. It also has a lot to do with the Aliens (Delonese) and what does doing right for the greater good really mean. I thought there were a few things explored that can get you thinking.

Crap that ending!! I need the second book as soon as possible and I can’t wait to read it. This is definitely a book you want to pick up and if you are a little more hesitant with Sci-Fi. The pacing of this book is perfect for you. It’s a good one to try the genre out with.

Just a side note. Mary Weber also wrote the Storm Siren series, which is another series I love.


Okay so when I was making the playlist for this book I kind of struggled. Sofi listens to something called Funk Pop and I have no idea what that is. So I tried looking it up and finding songs that might go with it. Even trying to find radio stations for it. So I ended up mixing up some songs that I found interesting that might play in Sofi's ear. Maybe not. Definitely ones I felt like went with the story. The first song on the list I don't know what they are saying but I really liked the beat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Weber is the multiple-award-winning author of the bestselling young adult Storm Siren Trilogy, and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series (all by HarperCollins). An avid high school, middle school, and conference speaker, Mary's passion is helping others find their voice amid a world that often feels too loud. When she's not plotting adventures involving tough girls who fre-quently take over the world, Mary sings 80's hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Comic-Con, and the ocean.

Mary's debut, Storm Siren, was featured in the Scholastic School Book Fairs, and her novels have been endorsed by bestselling authors Marissa Meyer, Jay Asher, Wendy Higgins, CJ Redwine, and Jonathan Maberry.

You can also find Mary's fun interviews in the paperback of Marissa Meyer's NYT bestselling, CRESS, and in Jay Asher's 13 REASONS WHY movie tie-in edition. Most recently, you can see her and her family as extras in the NETFLIX Original Series, 13 REASONS WHY.

She gets nerdy at @maryweber.com, FACEBOOK @MaryWeberAuthor, IN-STAGRAM @MaryWeberAuthor, TWITTER @mchristineweber, and GOOD-READS. Come say hi!!

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Flashtide by Jenny Moyer

Title: Flashtide (Flashfall #2)
Author: Jenny Moyer
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Release Date: November 14th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Orion has survived the tunnels of Outpost Five, filled with mutant creatures and dangers around every bend. She has traversed the cordons, exposed to the radiation of the flash curtain and hunted by forces that want her stopped, dead or alive. Now, with Dram by her side, she has made it to the safety of the mountain provinces, where free Conjurors live and practice their craft of manipulating matter.

But Orion's story is far from over.

With the effects of the flashfall spreading and the might of the protected city of Alara looming, Orion must travel into the hands of her enemies once again. Heart-pounding action and adventure await in this sequel to Flashfall.

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I was so excited to dive into Flashtide. I had absolutely loved Flashfall and was desperate to know more about Orion and Dram. I was not disappointed.

One of my absolute favorite parts of this story is the relationship between Orion and Dram. They have developed their relationship through different experiences. First bonded as miners/subpars, friends and finally falling in love. My favorite thing about them is that they are a partnership. They have a very deep understanding of each other and the decisions they make and can also trust in those decisions. If you they have to be separated they know that they will always find a way back together. Neither of them are perfect but I love that they understand that. One of the things that I felt was important in this book was that they weren’t changing each other but each one of them changed. They had to learn to deal with what that meant for their relationship and it would either change with them or stay the same. They are definitely one of my favorite couples I’ve ever read.

The plot was great. There are so many components to this world. Despite that I got it, I did have moments where I would be confused for second. Wait this is bad but that’s bad. No wait. It was good though that was a part of the story. There were two things that I was wondering if maybe they had been cut down from an original edit because it felt like there could have been more to it. It was a hard story because it felt like I just wanted them to escape to somewhere and be happy but they feel this duty to complete what they started. Which was good, just put my heart through a couple loops.

There are some additional characters and I like how each time Orion comes across someone new. Living in a different situation, she’s learning. I think everyone we meet brings their own perspective and helps really shape the whole world. You really have a full understanding of the society and the world.

I really enjoyed this sequel to Flashfall. It had all the things needed to follow up the story and bring it around to the conclusion. It was so great to be back with the characters and I hope more people will pick this up. This is a really great Sci-Fi Dystopia.

Flashtide Playlist

Jenny is the author of the YA sci-fi/fantasy FLASHFALL, and its sequel, FLASHTIDE. (Holt/Macmillan 11-14-17) She lives with her filmmaker husband and their three boys in Iowa. Watch the epic, live action book trailer for the novel that Booklist calls "A cinematic page-turner."

Find out more at http://www.jennymoyer.com and connect with Jenny on Twitter and Facebook.

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Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman

Title: Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2)
Author: Nicole Castroman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 11th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Pirates, Adventure

Nicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant se-quel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Black-beard.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most cele-brated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capi-tal offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life, but he believes it worth the risk in or-der to save his crew from the attacking Spanish ships.

Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying hands.

Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love, loyalty and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have ever imagined.

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Blacksouls is still not the swashbuckling event you expect from a pirate story. This is still an origin story. There is a lot more politics instead of high seas adventure but it doesn’t make it any less interesting.

So many things. Blacksouls took my heart in a vice and squeezed. So many things happen in this part of the story that are emotionally trying. There are also very sweet moments too. I loved the addition of some new characters. Like Alistair, Beth, Benjamin, Cara and Coyle. Of course let’s talk about how kick but Reva is as well. Anne is searching for her biological family but she finds that family is not always about blood.

I loved loved Teach and Anne’s relationship. They are such a solid couple and that is so comforting. I was happy not have any drama with them doubting each other or things along those lines. You know they are going to find the other even if they have to go through gut wrenching experiences to do it.

So many interesting things happening on the political front. When I was a kid there was priate game I used to play as a kid. I wish I could remember what it was because nobody ever seems to know what I’m talking about. It reminds me of that though. Marrying the governor's daughter or going on secret missions. How piracy ties into political motivations of the different settlements. There is also more about the slave trade and the position it puts Anne in at times.

I love how this origin story is coming together. Piece by piece we are seeing what will someday truly make Teach, Blackbeard.

I thought this was a great continuation of the first book. Like I said it can hurt your heart at times but it is also has those moments that are sweet. Of course I still love Nicole’s writing and I felt the book had good pacing. If you enjoyed the first book, I think you will enjoy this one as well.

Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend...she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.

At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.

She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.

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The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris #BookReview #Excerpt #Playlist #Giveaway @rachelharrisbks

One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

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The Natural History of Us introduces us to a couple of very adorable characters. Who we get to see grow from Freshmen to Senior year. It’s amazing how the plot takes us on this young love journey. Rachel Harris makes me applaud her because this book is a home run! (that’s a little book related baseball humor)

I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything is so cute in this book it kills me. Yes yes there is drama but my heart stayed happy with the cuteness. I loved all the young Peyton/Justin interactions and all the older Peyton/Justin interactions. Even though they are the same people you can see the maturity level change. It’s so great. So great.

Oddly enough I do know someone who had Peyton’s condition. (I feel like I say this everytime I write a review about an illness) I remember when he told me his story I was surprised. I had never heard of it before and can’t even imagine how terrifying it is. That is not what gave me the bond with Peyton. It’s her need to go to school after dealing with her illness. It actually made my eyes water a little. When I was diagnosed with my chronic disease in college. I was very sick, but I knew I was going to have it forever and I refused to take a semester off. I needed to go to school to feel somewhat normal. It’s very hard to explain but I felt like Rachel captured that feeling with Peyton perfectly. It’s the you control the disease and not let the disease control attitude Peyton has that makes me embrace her. She is such a strong and wonderful character. I think I have to say she is my favorite lead from Rachel’s YA.

Justin, my boy Justin. I developed quite the soft spot for him in The Fine Art of Pretending. I’m glad it was rewarded with a swoon worthy boy in The Natural History of Us. He’s so charming and even though he has that kind of arrogant swagger he makes up for it with the way that when invest his heart. He invest his whole heart, forever. He hasn’t had the easiest go of it but we see how his relationships in high school have really shaped him into the person he comes out to be at graduation.

Okay I have to say that I also like the Cade and Peyton relationship. Not because I want Peyton with Cade, of course I don’t. It’s that feeling of needing to stay with someone because they have helped you through a hard time. That even though you moved into the friendzone you feel like you owe them something and because you care about them you stay. It’s a very difficult rut to get out of and I’m glad it was brushed upon here.

Hooray for the homeschool shoutout. I’m so glad it was in the book.

This is such a great feel good, make you smile, contemporary YA. It really just gives you warm fuzzies. Who doesn’t like warm fuzzies. So just read it. Psst there is also a pretty awesome coach in the book.

Some reviews are harder to write because you don’t just have love for the book but because the author is an amazing person. I know that every component of this book Rachel really put thought into from making sure she understood the disease she was portraying to knowing about Rodeos. She kicked stuff around Flirt Squad to make sure and that is incredibly awesome. Sometimes you are on a street team and you don’t really feel a part of something. The Flirt Squad is an amazing group people and Rachel started that by being active in it. I loved that I have read her books from the beginning and have really seen her develop as an author. (I loved all of them of course). All the books that Rachel writes always have me smiling the whole way through and I have resting bitch face so this is an accomplishment!

“Hold out your hand.” At the expression on his face, I rolled my eyes. “Just do it.” Cautiously, as if I was going to put out a cobra or something, he uncurled his fingers and lifted his palm. I dropped a small silver coin in the center. “For luck.”

Wonder warred with confusion in his gorgeous brown eyes and my heart melted. 

“On this side there’s a horseshoe,” I said, my cheeks warming with a blush. “You know, the universal symbol for luck… and a small reminder of me.”

I bit my lip, hoping he didn’t think that was too corny—or that it revealed too much.

I flipped the coin over, exposing the other side, and my fingers slid across his rough skin. My breath caught. When I lifted my eyes, I found him watching me with so much intensity, so much heat, that an actual shiver rolled through me. Just like in my favorite books.  

Huh. So that was what smoldering looked like. Good to know.

I swallowed hard and noticed him do the same, and nothing could hold back my smile. Justin glanced down and laughed. “Kick some ass!” he read, skimming his fingernail over my initials.

“I figured…” I cleared my throat. “I thought you could hide it in your sock or something,” I said, unable to tell if he liked the gift or not. He just kept staring at it. “If it’s dumb, you don’t have to—”

“No.”

He’d said it so quietly I almost wasn’t sure he’d spoken at all. But then he closed his hand around the coin and raised his head. Time ceased to exist as Justin’s eyes trailed across my face. I held my breath waiting and a sweet smile crossed his face.

“Damn.” He shook his head softly. “You’ve done it now.”

“What?” I asked, hoping whatever it was that it was a good thing. “What did I do?”  

Justin merely shook his head again and smiled. “Wait for me after the game.” Shifting his gaze to the old concession stand, he took a step back and said, “Over there, okay?”

When I nodded, excitement lodging in my throat, making it impossible to speak, he winked and then took off to join his teammates. As I watched his cute butt in those uniform pants run across the field, a giddy grin found my lips.  

I also decided to create a playlist of my own for the book.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

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A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1)
by Brittany Cavallaro
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: March 1st 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Retellings, Fiction, Romance, Thriller

The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense.

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A Study in Charlotte is an intriguing take on the Sherlock and Holmes stories. We’ve seen the legendary tale retold in so many different ways that it can be difficult to stand out. This story is well written and gives the characters new life. I grew up on Sherlock Holmes because my mom is a huge fan. I still often listen to the radio show versions of the series when it is on.

James and Charlotte are products of a legacy. As the great-great-great grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson they are plagued with expectations of who they should be. When they find themselves exiled to the same American boarding school. When a fellow student ends up dead and the murderer seems to be using the old Sherlock Holmes novels as a playbook. James and Charlotte find themselves in an uneasy partnership, forced to repeat history. Is their foe a decedent of a past villain or a copycat playing a new sick game.

I particularly liked that the role of Holmes is taken on by Charlotte who is a girl. I feel like so often when I see a retelling it’s considering a change up to have Watson as the girl. Charlotte has the characteristics that make her logical to the extent she comes across emotionless. She is calculating, witty and brilliant. We get to see a slightly softer side to her when it comes to Jamie though.

Jamie goes through stages. In the beginning of the book he’s kind of just drifting through life, sent off to this school in America. Which he is bitter about and has a fantasy of what Charlotte is supposed to be like. As he gets to know her better not only is his fantasy shattered but he seems to come alive.

The plot is full of mystery and twist and turns. Mysteries inside mysteries at some points. There were points that I felt things were moving a little more sluggish than I would have liked but I still found it enjoyable. I liked the witty banter between Jamie and Charlotte as they were learning to feel the other out. The story is well written and I wonder how much plotting goes into something like this. It really took on the Holmes and Watson style. It’s just a really fun read. I loved how the original tales are mixed in.

If you enjoy mysteries and especially Sherlock Holmes in particular, I think you find this retelling enjoyable.

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Brittany Cavallaro is a poet, fiction writer, and old school Sherlockian. She is the author of the poetry collection Girl-King (University of Akron) and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. She earned her BA in literature from Middlebury College and her MFA in poetry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she's a PhD candidate in English literature at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she teaches creative writing, detective fiction, and lots of other things. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, cat, and collection of deerstalker caps. Find her at her website, brittanycavallaro.com, or on Twitter @skippingstones.

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Bluescreen by Dan Wells #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

Bluescreen (Mirador #1)
by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: February 16th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Action, Teen

Los Angeles in 2050 is a city of open doors, as long as you have the right connections. That connection is a djinni—a smart device implanted right in a person’s head. In a world where virtually everyone is online twenty-four hours a day, this connection is like oxygen—and a world like that presents plenty of opportunities for someone who knows how to manipulate it.

Marisa Carneseca is one of those people. She might spend her days in Mirador, the small, vibrant LA neighborhood where her family owns a restaurant, but she lives on the net—going to school, playing games, hanging out, or doing things of more questionable legality with her friends Sahara and Anja. And it’s Anja who first gets her hands on Bluescreen—a virtual drug that plugs right into a person’s djinni and delivers a massive, non-chemical, completely safe high. But in this city, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, and Mari and her friends soon find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that is much bigger than they ever suspected.

Dan Wells, author of the New York Times bestselling Partials Sequence, returns with a stunning new vision of the near future—a breathless cyber-thriller where privacy is the world’s most rare resource and nothing, not even the thoughts in our heads, is safe.

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My interest in Bluescreen was not only because I love any book that has tech but also because I’ve seen Dan Wells at a signing before. I remember him saying that he wants to know why a dystopic world became dystopic. The backstory of it. It sounds like a weird thing to make an impression but the thought in my head was that this is someone who really thinks about all the angles of what they are writing. Bluescreen did not disappoint.

In the beginning I was little confused but I think that was mainly because of the mix of tech and Spanish was overwhelming for me. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t taken a Spanish class in my life (I took French) so I was pretty clueless on the words. As soon as we hit the coding of Bluescreen though my brain woke up and everything else fell into its proper place in my head. I really loved all the tech and how it had a good mix of being simple and complex at the same time. You are not going to be totally lost if you are not an IT pro. Books like this also scare the crap outta me though. You could see this as something that is perfectly possible. Dan Wells’s takes being dependent on technology to the next level. This story has so many components that I don’t want to go into the nitty gritty of each one because that’s the fun of reading but I loved how everything comes together in the end.

Marisa is the main character but her band of friend’s function more as a team. I loved that feeling of having more than one character in the spotlight. Lots of times in thrillers like these you can’t trust anyone because you never know who is going to betray you. I loved that Marisa friend’s had her back and she could rely on them for help. She also exudes confidence in her tech skills but being so connected she loses sight of some of the important things in her life, like her siblings. So we see her character develop in that respect.

The plot is fast paced and keeps you on your toes. You are always looking for the next puzzle piece of how things fit together. I thought the inclusion of gangs and turf was interesting too. This is a neighborhood who has pride in who they are. Even if I was sometimes confused by the Spanish I really liked the inclusion of it. It made the characters feel more three dimensional rather than flat on the page.

I really enjoyed Bluescreen. I think if you are a tech or Sci-Fi lover this is a great book to read. You can get your fix on both things in a setting that’s scarily realistic.

I was going to try to add some Spanish song but when I would like how one sounded I would look up the lyric translation and think well that doesn't make sense.

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Dan Wells is a thriller and science fiction writer. Born in Utah, he spent his early years reading and writing. He is he author of the Partials series (Partials, Isolation, Fragments, and Ruins), the John Cleaver series (I Am Not a Serial Killer, Mr. Monster, and I Don't Want To Kill You), and a few others (The Hollow City, A Night of Blacker Darkness, etc). He was a Campbell nomine for best new writer, and has won a Hugo award for his work on the podcast Writing Excuses; the podcast is also a multiple winner of the Parsec Award.

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Rise of the Wolf by Jennifer A. Nielsen #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the Thief #2)
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: January 26th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Fiction, Mythology, Magic, Adventure, Action, Juvenile

Nic may have escaped enslavement in the mines outside of Rome, but his troubles are far from over. The Praetor War--the battle to destroy Rome from within--is in full force, and Nic is caught in the crossfire. The secretive Praetors are determined to unlock a powerful amulet--one sure to bring the empire to its knees. Worse, the Praetors believe Nic holds the key to finding this amulet, and they will stop at nothing to steal it, even if that means harming the people Nic holds most dear.

When the Praetors capture Nic's mother, Nic knows he must do anything to save her. He challenges the Praetors to a chariot race. If he wins, they will release his mother. But if he loses, he must hand over a magic that will certainly destroy Rome and end his own life. Can Nic once again harness his magic and gather the strength to defeat his enemies? Or will he lose his mother and bear witness to Rome's destruction?

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Rise of the Wolf is the second book in a series that I wish I read sooner.Jennifer Nielsen’s writing has this way of really sucking me into the story. Her descriptions of the places, the chariot races, the villains and the main characters really manages to transport me into Rome and the story.

I’m not used to reading books with a male MC anymore. Not unless it’s part of a dual pov so it was actually really different to be in Nic’s perspective. I really like him as a character though. He might be reckless and impulsive at times but he is also stubborn and defiant. He owns his mess ups and is loyal to his friends and family. He doesn’t always have an easy time expressing his feelings.

I would never have thought from Mark of the Thief that I would grow to like Radulf. He still seemed evil but there are little instances that made me start to wonder. I know he’s a villain but if I had to pick a villain to root for. He would be the one. The series happens over a tumultuous time for Rome. Where the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I also find myself wanting to like Radulf because of the way he worked his way up in the ranks and broke free from is slavery.

When I was a kid I loved the chariot race in the movie Ben-Hur, I do realize how weird that makes me. So when I got to the chariot racing part of Rise of the Wolf I couldn’t help but be sucked in. Chariot races are brutal and scary and not usually my kind of thing. I felt like Jennifer does a really great job with the descriptions of not only the main event but the practices as well.

I love the mixture of the Roman empire and the Gods. Historical mixed in with the mystical. The world that is created is lush and interesting.

So much happens that I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book. I need to know where this going!!! Rise of the Wolf followed in the same action packed vein of Mark of the Thief. There is no sophomore slump here, the plot keeps rolling.

I can’t wait for the next action packed installment.

So for the playlist I decided to go with classical music. For some reason it just felt more appropiate.

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Jennifer lives at the base of a very tall mountain in Northern Utah with her husband, three children, and a naughty puppy. She loves the smell of rainy days, hot chocolate, and old books, preferably all at once. She is a former speech teacher, theater director, and enjoyed a brief but disastrous career as a door-to-door pollster. In her spare time, Jennifer tends to panic, wondering what she has forgotten to do that has allowed her any spare time.

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Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

Kingdom of Ashes (A Wicked Thing #2)
by Rhiannon Thomas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 23rd 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Romance, Magic, Fiction, Teen

Asleep for a hundred years, awoken by a kiss, Aurora’s life was supposed to be a fairytale. But since discovering that loyalty to the crown and loyalty to her country are two very different things, Aurora knows she can only dream of happily ever after. Once the enchanted princess, savior of her people, she is now branded a traitor.

Aurora is determined to free her home from the king’s tyrannical rule, even if it means traveling across the sea to the kingdom of the handsome and devious Prince Finnegan—someone who seems to know far more about her magic than he should. However, Finnegan’s kingdom has perils of its own, and any help he gives Aurora will come at a price.

As Aurora and Finnegan work together to harness her power—something so fiery and dangerous that is as likely to destroy those close to Aurora as it is to save them—she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the curse that was placed on her over a century before…and uncover the truth about the destiny she was always meant to fulfill.

Brimming with captivating fantasy and life-threatening danger, the sequel to A Wicked Thing takes Sleeping Beauty on an adventure unlike any she’s ever had before.

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Kingdom of Ashes takes us on the road of Aurora’s escape after A Wicked Thing. She finds herself needing allies if she is going to survive and maybe even overthrow King John. Which leads her to Vanhelm and country destroyed by dragons. I really like the direction this sequel took and found myself loving the interactions of Aurora and Finnegan.

Dragons! Dragons are a big part of Kingdom of Ashes because Aurora is now taking refuge in Vanhelm. A kingdom that has been decimated by dragons. She finds that she is both fascinated and connected to these creatures. Finnegan is hoping she could be his kingdom's savior. Celestine the witch even seems to have some kind of stake in the dragons. They are a destructive force much like Aurora can be on accident sometimes.

I loved Finnegan. I know he was my first choice of the three guys in A Wicked Thing and I’m glad he is really the only guy in Kingdom of Ashes. We get glimpses of Tristan and Rodric but the book is really Finnegan and Aurora’s story. I loved the way their relationship grows and if you are a fan of the slow burn than this is definitely for you. Finnegan is the prince that everyone finds to be a fool, but he is very smart. He finds a way to help his kingdom without his mother’s interference, well as little interference as possible.

Aurora has definitely changed and is not so much the naive girl she was before. She knows what she needs to do and not because anyone tells her. It’s because she wants to, She is still finding herself but doing a much better job since she doesn’t have an evil king pressuring here.

Aurora also experiences a different type of ruling by spending time with Finnegan’s mother. She also meets Finnegan's Sister who is the one that seems really to be groomed to rule.

Nettle and Aurora form a strong bond and it was nice to see. I like when the mc has a real friend that is outside the love interest. I still wonder why Nettle likes doing Aurora’s hair so much though.

I liked Kingdom of Ashes and I think I enjoyed it more than A Wicked Thing. I think it was the absence of the three guys and the dragons. Who doesn’t like dragons.

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Rhiannon Thomas is a recent graduate from Princeton University, where she studied English and Japanese, and smuggled bubble tea into the library on a regular basis. She now lives in York, England.

As well as reading and writing YA fiction, she runs the blog FeministFiction.com, where she discusses TV, books, and all kinds of fannish things from a feminist perspective.

I don't hang out on Goodreads much, so if you want to contact me, please swing by my personal website or message me on Twitter.

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After the Woods by Kim Savage #BookReview #Playlist #Giveaway

After the Woods
by Kim Savage
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: February 23rd 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Realistic Fiction, Suspense, Horror

Would you risk your life to save your best friend?

Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.

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After the Woods was one of the books that, after I put it down and stepped away from it, I wondered who the real sociopath was. The book definitely takes you through a thrilling and creeptastic journey. I couldn’t help having the heebee jeebees from it but also wanting to know why. Why certain things played out the way they did. I kind of figured things out in the beginning-ish because the clues are there but I didn’t really understand how it came together until reading the whole book.

I really liked Julia and how brave she is after the incident. She has people who want her to put it behind her but she is on a quest for the truth. It’s the only way she kind closure for herself. Her friend Liv, who was the person Julia saved, acts like she shouldn’t bother.

There are definitely some twisted characters in this story and it made it intriguing. The minute I picked it up I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know the answers that Julia seeks as well. The puzzle pieces just weren’t fitting together right and like her, I wanted to know why.

This is definitely a suspenseful mystery so I don’t want to give anything away. The side characters definitely give the story it’s strength and intrigue. Both the bad and the good ones. Liv, her best friend seems to want Julia to just put it in the past. Shane Cuthbert is an odd choice for Liv’s boyfriend. Paula Papademetriou the reporter who just wants to….help? Liv’s mom who just wants her daughter to succeed no matter what i takes. Of course then there is Kellan who has a connection with the police.

There is a romance but it is sweet and very light. It’s not the main focus of the story, it doesn’t take over the story. Julia’s number one goal is to find out what happened to her and why.

If you are looking a for something thrilling and creeptastic, you should pick up After the Woods. You will probably read it in one day day and than stare at it for another.

I had a traveling arc for this tour which is such a fun idea. I got it earlier on so there wasn't as many notes in it but I did enjoy adding my own notes to different parts of the book. It's like reading with someone even though they are not there with you. I hope to see more traveling arc tours. 

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Kim Savage is the author of AFTER THE WOODS, a debut psychological thriller for young adults coming on Feb 23, 2016 with Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan. Her second thriller for young adults comes from FSG is 2017. Before writing fiction, she worked as business journalist, pitching stories along the lines of “Stigmatized Properties: When Murder Kills Property Values”. You get the idea.

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Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman #BookReview #Playlist

Blackhearts
by Nicole Castroman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 9th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Romance, Pirates, Fantasy, Adventure

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

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Blackhearts wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but not in a bad way. It’s on origin story so nobody is singing, yo ho ho and a bottle of Rum. The story actually takes place not only on land but at wealthy estates. It does have a large amount of romance in it.

Nothing like a saucy fierce leading lady to endear me to a book. I loved Anne and the way she wasn’t going to be pushed around. She is the daughter of the prosperous merchant and a slave from the West Indies. She had a good life with her mother and father until her father dies and her half brother throws them out. So Anne might be forced to work as a maid but she has this inner strength of knowing her true worth and that she does not belong anywhere that doesn’t treat her with respect.

Teach is trying to find his way out from under his Father’s thumb. The relationship between the two of them is interesting because I think that they really do care about each other. Teach just has a different opinion about what will make him happy. He seems to go along with things but underneath is trying to find a way to escape. He doesn’t outright stand up to his father the way Anne does. She is really the stronger of the two. I kept thinking what could happen to make Teach a hardened pirate, Anne I could see it without a doubt. It was interesting to see Teach develop.

I liked the historical fiction aspect of the book. Not much is known of Blackbeard's life before piracy but you see the known details woven in. Convenient he had a ship called the Queen Anne’s Revenge, it made me smile to think of it in a different way.

This had the definite makings of an epic romance. There are no crazy love triangles or misunderstandings. It’s just a sweet story of two people who are fighting against a current to be something more than they are.

I really liked Blackhearts, although it wasn’t what I was expecting as far as the pirate aspect goes. It’s a very sweet romance with one really awesome leading lady.

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Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend...she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.

At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.

She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.

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