Velvet by Temple West #BookReviews #Playlist #Giveaway

Velvet
by Temple West
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: May 12th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires

First rule of dealing with hot vampire bodyguards? Don't fall in love.

After losing both her parents before age seventeen, aspiring designer Caitlin Holte feels like her whole world has been turned upside down, and that was before the terrifying encounter with a supernatural force. Then, she learns that her hot bad-boy neighbor, Adrian—who might have just saved her life—is actually a half-demon vampire.

Suddenly Caitlin is stuck with a vampire bodyguard who feels that the best way to protect her is to become her pretend boyfriend. Trouble is, Caitlin is starting to fall in love for real, while Adrian can never love a human. Caitlin trusts Adrian to keep her safe from his demon father, but will he be able to protect her heart?

When I first started reading Velvet, it definitely has a familiar feel. Temple West was able to take this and make it unique. The story takes what you know about vampires and gives them a different spin. I loved this new lore and found the book was easy to get sucked into.

Caitlin was so angry in the beginning and instead of wishing she would cool it, I felt angry with her. She had every right to be, after losing her mother and then being shipped off to a new place to live with a part of her family she doesn’t even know.I felt like you get to really see her grief and I was glad that it wasn't glazed over. You really see her go through stages as she makes new friends and becomes closer with Adrian, she finally starts to open up and let go. I love the fact that she sews and wants to be a fashion designer. So she is kind of a clothes expert.

Adrian is not creepy or stalkery. Well he does have the whole weird eye thing going on but that makes him more fascinating. Despite his choice to be a bit more reclusive he’s not unapproachable. The kids at school know him and if they talk to him he doesn’t send them off. He has that perfect balance of being a loner but not drawing attention to that fact.

I loved Caitlin and Adrian’s interaction with one another. It’s playful and fun. They don’t just have a physical chemistry but they have a great relationship as friends first. I liked how they moved through the stages and you see them actually falling for eachother. Hey and no love triangle which was nice.

I liked the plot too. This version of Vampires is so interesting and very cool. I really liked the change up of the lore. Although how they come into being is kind of creepy. I could see that though instead of biting and turning them. There is a lot more character development then there is big action. I was fine with it and I’m thinking the next book is going to be more of the opposite. (hopefully there is a next book) We get a bunch of pieces to the puzzle but not everything. So the end is one of those cliffhangers where some things are wrapped up but you are having on others. I always find that to be the best kind.

If you enjoyed the Vampire phase but were looking for something fresh. This is definitely the book.

Direct Link

So I think I was going more with tone instead of lyrics with this playlist. 

EXTRAS

Author Video (Why You Should Read Velvet) 

Book Trailer 1

Book Trailer 2

UNOFFICIAL THEME SONG for velvet: "Alone" by Braverhalf

Temple West, debut author of the YA paranormal romance Velvet, is as nerdy in real life as she is on the Twitter. Armed with a very shiny English degree, she spent four months in Oxford holed up at the Radcliffe Camera amongst the hush of ancient books and the rich musk of academia. Returning to Los Angeles, she acquired a concurrent degree in film, mostly as an excuse to write essays about The Princess Bride and Hook. She can sew (poorly), drive stick (please fasten your seatbelt), and mostly lift her feet off the ground while stuttering into first gear on a very small motorcycle. She currently lives in Seattle and is the proud mother to a one-year-old laptop and a vintage Remington typewriter.

       

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Undertow by Michael Buckley #BookReview #Giveaway

Title: UNDERTOW
Author: Michael Buckley
Pub. Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.

Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.

Undertow is a book that took me a little bit by surprise how it managed to keep me rooted to my seat. It did start out a little slow for me. I was sucked in by the first couple of pages but then was kind of waiting for something to happen. When I got about 70 pages in, it took off. I read the rest of the book in one day. I was just so hooked on what was happening. I’ve never seen District 9 and only watched maybe an episode of Starcrossed. So I can’t tell you if it’s like those or not. I can tell you that it really kept my attention and I was fascinated by many different aspects.

I don’t know much about Coney Island. I actually looked it up on tripadvisor out of curiosity of what it’s like now. I could easily see how the setting could change to that of the book. The description really formed in my mind the slum version of Coney Island, with crazy gangs running the streets and it becoming blocked off due to the Alpha being there.

The characters are so interesting including Lyric herself. She describes how she used to be, a total party girl and rule breaker, to how she is now. The girl that blends into the background. Normally you see a main character with a more innocent background and it was neat to see this wild teenager from her past. She says she can’t be that girl anymore but you see that there is still a little bit left in her. She can’t completely stamp it down. Even though she knows what she is and who she is. She hasn’t really found balance and acceptance. That’s what really changes with her.

I love the solid relationships he has with Bex. Even though Bex is not the main character she is still a major player and a true friend. Bex has her own issues that come from living in a more destitute world of the Zone.

Shadow and Lyric’s parents are a constant presence but they were definitely more supporting roles. I liked how much interaction we do actually see with the adults. It’s not like they just run off and let the kids handle things.

Ugh the Arcade thing. It made sense that Arcade doesn’t just walk away but still. The Arcade thing. Also Doyle was interest as well.

I didn’t always have the greatest grasp on what the Alpha looked like in my mind. I could picture some of them like Fathom and Arcade but some the others like Ghost. It was kind of just a rough sketch. I don’t think it had anything to do with how they were described, just me trying to put it together. I liked that they didn’t just magically look human and were proud to keep their cultural differences. I was fascinated by things of how they function in their home. How do they stay in one spot without the current floating them away. When a fish comes out of water it can’t survive. How do they survive. Do their bodies change, like a transformation. We see a little bit more with that towards the end of the book. I would probably down at the shore asking a hundred million questions and they would probably eat me just to get me to shut up.

Undertow takes discrimination head on. They don’t only talk about humans versus the Alphas but also different types. I always wonder what would happen if a book like this really came to life. I think the way people treated the Alphas is horrible but I think some of it is rooted in fear. It’s something that gets the gears in your brain turning.

I really enjoyed the book and I think if you enjoy Invasion stories that show the discrimination aspect of what would happen. This is a great and interesting read. I already want to know what’s going to happen next. I added the second book to my tbr upon finishing.

New York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley was born in Akron, Ohio. He tried his hand as a stand-up comic and lead singer for a punk rock back before attending Ohio University. After graduating with honors he moved to New York City to be an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman which led to stints developing programming for Discovery Networks, MTV, MTV Animation and Klasky Csupo (producers of Nickelodeon’s Rugrats). Today he lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Alison, and their son Finn.

 

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive a prize pack that contains an Undertow beach towel, beach bag, bookmark, a finished book. US Only.

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Tour Schedule

Week One:

4/27/2015- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf- Interview

4/28/2015- Library of a Book Witch- Review

4/29/2015- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Book Trailer Post

4/30/2015- Word Spelunking- Review

5/1/2015- Bewitched Bookworms- Book Excerpt

Week Two:

5/4/2015- For the Love of Words- Review

5/5/2015- Novel Novice - Guest Post

5/6/2015- The O.W.L.- Review

5/7/2015- Mom With A Kindle- Interview

5/8/2015- Literary Meanderings  - Sneak Peek of Book 2 Post

Under the Spotlight by Angie Stanton #GuestPost #Giveaway

After an embarrassing stint on a reality-TV music competition years ago, Riley vowed never to sing again. Now she's behind the scenes, working at the prestigious Sound Sync recording studio, and life is looking up. But then Garrett Jamieson, the oldest brother in the famous Jamieson brothers band, crashes into her world.

Garrett has hit rock bottom, and he is desperate to reinvent himself. After calling in a few favors, he ends up working at Sound Sync to learn the ropes of record producing from the industry's best. And he can't believe his luck when he discovers that Riley has been keeping a secret—she is an amazing singer. By producing her album, he's sure to top the record charts again. But Garrett is forced to use every trick in his arsenal to persuade the sassy girl to record.

Riley refuses to sing—or even entertain the thought of it—and sparks fly as Garrett finally meets his match. But in the heat of the moment, one stolen kiss changes everything. Will Riley be the first person to finally rein Garrett in, or will Garrett succeed in getting Riley back under the spotlight?

  

Reality TV leads to Under the Spotlight.

For years fans of Snapshot and Rock and a Hard Place have been asking for Garrett Jamieson’s story. At first I didn’t want to write it because Garrett is such a polarizing character, and I only wanted to write the book if I could do him justice.

After months of mulling around possible storylines, inspiration struck while watching reality TV. I’m a huge fan of American Idol, the Voice and the now cancelled X Factor. This particular season there was a thirteen-year-old girl who made the top ten. She was amazing with a God-given talent. There’s no way you could be taught to sing like she does. As the weeks went by she felt more pressure from her unemployed parents to win the show and save her family. The more stress she felt, the more she cracked when under the spotlight, and was voted off.

With this nugget of inspiration, I wondered what life might be like for that girl five years later. She’s embarrassed about her failed attempt on the show, the way she sobbed on national TV, and her continuing problems with an unstable mom. That was how the heroine, Riley Parks, was born.

For Garrett, I needed him to hit rock bottom. Later he decides to fix his life by becoming a record producer. While he’s learning the ropes at Sound Sync Studios, he meets Riley and discovers her former life as an amazing singer. Garrett’s determined to cut records with Riley, but all Riley wants to cut, is Garrett out of her life.

Under the Spotlight was a blast to write and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books—she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural America with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, she found that dance didn’t quite work out. Instead, she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history. When not writing, she loves watching natural disaster movies, going to Broadway musicals, and dipping French fries in chocolate shakes.

    

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The Hidden Mountain by Heather Lyons #CoverReveal

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Heather Lyons' THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN! THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN is an Adult Fantasy and the third book in Heather's The Collector's Society Series!

Heather Lyons is known for writing epic, heartfelt love stories often with a fantastical twist. From Young Adult to New Adult to Adult novels -- one commonality in all her books is the touching, and sometimes heartwrenching, romance. And this book is absolutely no different! The Collectors’ Society’s adventures continue in ways you would have never imagined on June 25^th! Join them as you step into this adult fairytale with some of your favorite characters.

Heather worked with Victoria Faye from Whit and Ware for the design of this fabulous cover!

Add THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN on Goodreads!!

About THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN:

After years spent in Wonderland, Alice Reeve learned the impossible was quite possible after all. She thought she left such fantastical realities behind when she finally returned to England.

Now Alice has become a member of the clandestine Collectors’ Society, and the impossible has found her again in the form of an elusive villain set on erasing entire worlds. As she and the rest of the Society race to bring this mysterious murderer to justice, the fight becomes painfully personal.

Lives are being lost. Loved ones are shattered or irrevocably altered. Each step closer Alice gets to the shadowy man she hunts, the more secrets she unravels, only to reveal chilling truths. If she wants to win this war and save millions of lives, Alice must once more embrace the impossible and make the unimaginable, imaginable.

Sometimes, the rabbit hole leads to terrifying places.

Don’t miss the first books in this The Collectors’ Society Series!

THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY

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THE HIDDEN MOUNTAIN

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

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Diamonds are Forever by Michelle Madow #CoverReveal !

I'm so excited to share this cover reveal with you today because I love this series and Michelle Madow!!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas … but that doesn’t matter when you live there. Sisterhood, first crushes and scandalous secrets explode in book three of Michelle Madow’s The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Title: Diamonds are Forever

Author: Michelle Madow

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #3

Format: Print

ISBN: 978-0-37321-152-4

It's cold outside, but the drama is hot!

The Diamond sisters jet to the mountains for spring break, and Savannah's flirt-mance with international pop star Perry Myles continues as her pursuit of stardom succeeds. But is it "meant to be" with Perry, or has the right guy been in front of her eyes this entire time? Meanwhile, Courtney takes the next step with her secret boyfriend—and future stepbrother—Brett…and with Adrian and Rebecca's wedding approaching, they feel more pressure than ever to reveal their relationship. Peyton might be figuring out a direction for her future, but she feels responsible for her bodyguard Jackson being fired, and wonders if the best way to find solace for her guilt is in the arms of someone else. But the biggest bombshell will change everything once again, because Madison's ready to tell the Diamond sisters the truth about the huge secret she's uncovered. And with Oliver, the boy who betrayed her but who could be the love of her life, in the hospital fighting for his own life, she might need the Diamonds more than ever.

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Other Books in the Secret Diamond Sisters Series:

Title: The Secret Diamond Sisters
Author: Michelle Madow
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #1
Format: Print
ISBN: 978-0-37321-109-8

Synopsis:

Three sisters. One billionaire father. What could go wrong?

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

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Title: Diamonds in the Rough
Author: Michelle Madow
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #2
Format: Print
ISBN: 978-0-37321-136-4

All-access doesn't mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

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Praise for The Secret Diamond Sisters:

“Sexy and electrifying ... Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries in a city that never sleeps.” -Booklist

“This quick and entertaining read is filled with glitz and glamour ... get ready for one crazy and fabulous ride.” -RT Book Reviews

“I opened The Secret Diamond Sisters and was transported to Vegas … there was never a dull moment! It’s the helpless romantic's dream.” -LitPick Five Star Book Review Award

“Highly addictive! Hold on tight, because The Secret Diamond Sisters throws you head first into the Vegas fast lane. Three every day teens navigate the slippery slope of wealth, popularity, and too much freedom, along with family drama, cat fights, and more gorgeous guys than should be legal. A fun ride not to be missed!” – Rachel Harris, NYT Bestselling Author

“Michelle Madow has followed in the platinum heel-steps of Cecily Von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl), Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars) and Ally Carter (Heist Society) in what seems like the first season of the Diamond girls’ romantic, shocking and lavish lives.” —Nathan Siegel, Goodreads Reviewer

“Boasting juicier secrets, more extravagant luxury, and higher stakes consequences, Michelle Madow has shown that in her world of decadently sinful Las Vegas nothing is as it seems, and all bets are off.” -Glass of Wine Reviews

Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in The Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's latest YA series, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner, was published in March 2014 by Harlequin Teen. The second book in the series, Diamonds in the Rough, released in November 2014, and the third book, Diamonds are Forever, will be coming out in November 2015. Michelle is active on social media networks and has toured across America to promote her books and encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing.
Michelle lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, shopping, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and loves talking with fans on Facebook (/MichelleMadow), Twitter (@MichelleMadow), and Instagram (@MichelleMadow).

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, join Michelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads

Chantress Fury by Amy Butler Greenfield #Excerpt #Giveaway

Chantress Fury (Chantress Trilogy #3)
by Amy Butler Greenfield
288 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: May 19th, 2015

The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all.

With a song, Lucy can control the wind and the water; she can bring castles and kingdoms to their feet. Since Lucy mastered her powers, King Henry has kept her close as he’s rebuilt England. She’s his best ally—and his workhorse. And now he’s called her to investigate attempted murder: His men claim they were almost killed on the Thames…by a mermaid. All Lucy can glean from the creature they’ve captured is a warning: The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all.

And then the floods begin. Swaths of London are submerged as the people scramble to defend themselves against the water—and the monsters—that are flooding their streets. As mistrust of Lucy's magic grows, the king relies on Nat, Lucy's great love, to guide them through the storm. But Nat is cold and distant to Lucy. He swore his love only a year before, and now he calls her “stranger.”

Lucy is determined to defeat this powerful new magic alone if she must. But then she hears an eerie song within the water…can it mean that she’s not the last Chantress after all?

Sweepingly romantic and crackling with magic, Chantress Fury triumphantly concludes the powerful Chantress trilogy.

     

I looked at the mermaid, and she looked at me—and I gave myself over to listening.

At first I only heard the water in the barrel, and its vexation at being contained.  Round and round it went, an endless circling melody.  But then I caught a glimmer of something else:  A chilling music that told me that something in the barrel felt hunted; something felt afraid.  And it wasn’t the water.

    Frustrated, I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the barrel.  She was right there in front of me, but I couldn’t reach her, and I didn’t dare touch her, not when she was so frightened already.... 

The water in the barrel bobbled.  As it washed over my fingertips, a wave of feeling washed over me, too:  a bath of remorse so strong that it made me pull my hand from the water in shock.

The mermaid was sorry?

With a twist of her fins, she broke the surface again.  Liquid streamed from her hair, and down over her skin.  It took me a few moments to see that it wasn’t just seawater, but tears.

I touched the water again, and again the tide of remorse washed over me—remorse and pain and fear.

She hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone.  I knew that now, without a doubt.  And I knew something else, too:  She was dying.  

The gag wasn’t just cutting into her skin, and it wasn’t just stopping her from singing.  It was suffocating her.  The wadding had wound around her tongue, and now it was trailing down her throat, a little farther with every swallow…

            Her panic felt like mine.  

Chantress (Chantress Trilogy #1)
Published May 7th 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.”

This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.

Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…

Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

Chantress Alchemy (Chantress Trilogy #2)
Published May 6th 2014 by Margaret K McElderry Books

Lucy is the last Chantress, the only remaining girl who can sing magic into the world. Since she defeated the evil Lord Scargrave, England has changed - and not for the better. With crops failing and the people rebelling, Lucy is called urgently back to King Henry's court. His Inner Council is convinced that making gold through alchemy will save England. But a critical element to the alchemical process has been stolen. Lucy is tasked with finding it with her magic... or else. And until she succeeds, the castle is on lockdown.

Court too has changed. Scargrave's brutal Chantress-hunter has become King Henry's closest advisor. Lucy's beloved Nat has fallen out of favor and is shunned by his colleagues. Their romance means trouble for both of them. Worst of all, something goes wrong with Lucy's magic. The palace is a labyrinth, and there’s a monster at its heart - a monster who may have the power to defeat Lucy once and for all.

Amy Butler Greenfield returns to the beguiling world of Chantress for a suspenseful tale of courtly intrigue, music, and magic in Chantress Alchemy.

Amy Butler Greenfield was a grad student in history when she gave into temptation and became a writer. Since then, she has become an award-winning author.

Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later studied history at Williams College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oxford. She now lives with her family in England, where she writes, bakes double-dark-chocolate cake, and plots mischief.

    

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