BLOG HOP: The Twelve Days of New Adult Giveaway Hop

Hi swooners,

Welcome to The Twelve Days of New Adult Giveaway Hop. This hop is hosted by Stuck In Books

As many of you may already know, I absolutely LOVE New Adult books! So in honor of that, I am giving away one eBook of your choice by author J. Lynn.

Giveaway:

• 1 eBook of any New Adult title from author J. Lynn

• 1 winner will be picked (US ONLY)

• Ends December 12, 2013

• Hosted by Lexi Swoons

Rules:

• To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Contest is open to US entries ONLY

• Winner will be announced on the blog via Rafflecopter

• Winner will be notified via email

• Check out my giveaway policy for more info

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Below is a list of bloggers who ALSO have a giveaway! Dont forget to check them out too!

FEATURE: Book Blast + Giveaway: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi and Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Hi Swooners,

Sorry for the looooong delay in getting this giveaway started. It's been a crazy three weeks for me! Here is my first giveaway for two awesome excerpts I received from YALLFest 2013!!

The first excerpt is for:

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Expected release date: February 4, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

The second excerpt is for:

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Expected release date: April 1, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

Summary from Goodreads:

I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of here.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado-taking you with it-you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still the yellow brick road, though-but even that’s crumbling.

What happened?

Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. they say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm-and I’m the other girl from Kansas.

I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.

I've been trained to fight.

And I have a mission:

Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart.

Steal the scarecrows brain.

Take the Lions courage.

Then and only then-Dorothy must die!

Giveaway:

• 3 excerpts of Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi and Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

• 3 winners will be picked (US ONLY)

• Ends December 14, 2013

• Hosted by Lexi Swoons

Rules:

• To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Contest is open to US entries ONLY

• Winners will be announced on the blog via Rafflecopter

• Winners will be notified via email

• Check out my giveaway policy for more info

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR: Book Blitz and Giveaway for Sworn to Conflict (Courtlight #3) by Terah Edun

SWORN TO CONFLICT, the third book in Terah Edun’s young adult fantasy COURTLIGHT series, will be released this December 6! Not familiar with the series? Check all three books in here and get a chance to win awesome prizes!

Title: Sworn to Conflict (Courtlight #3)

Author: Terah Edun

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013

Ciardis Weathervane fought for the living dead and won. But worse than taking on a mass murderer, was her discovery that she had been deceived by her friends. Now she needs to not only fight a war in the North and survive, but also decide where she stands in the midst of competing sides.

A threat to all she holds dear lies in the North and her heart is not the only thing she might lose. A massive army awaits in the mountain pass, surging closer to the gates of the southern lands. Nothing the Algardis army has done so far has dissuaded their march forward and Ciardis finds out that her powers to enhance are needed now more than ever.

As she faces her greatest fears on the battlefields and her heart is torn between her love of Sebastian and loyalty to her family, Ciardis must choose her fate carefully. For in her path, lies the destiny of the empire.

This third novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Transfer.

For those new with the series (you can catch up now!), here are the blurbs for the first two books.

Title: Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1)

Author: Terah Edun

Date of Publication: April 10, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Purchase from Amazon | B&N

Title: Sworn to Transfer (Courtlight #2)

Author: Terah Edun

Date of Publication: September 17, 2013

Eighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. The Ameles Forest lies unprotected and its inhabitants are dying.

As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.

With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city’s nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she’s given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.

To keep the Companions’ Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she’s faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.

This second novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Raise.

Purchase from Amazon | B&N

About Terah Edun

Terah Edun is a young adult fantasy writer born and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area, who transplanted to the Northeast region for college, and has spent years living abroad in South Sudan and Morocco. She writes the stories that she always loved to read as a young girl.

She prefers tales of adventure, magic, fellowship and courtship – in other words high fantasy. But she’s not adverse to the occasional contemporary fantasy coming her way. Sometimes you’ll see cloaks, daggers, independent and strong girls, independent and strong guys, sweet and soft spoken girls, sweet and soft spoken guys, sparkly magic and irritatingly know-it-all boys. The book she’s currently working on is SWORN TO SECRECY, the fourth in the Courtlight series.

Outside of writing, she’s an international development professional with a penchant for Starbucks.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

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REVIEW: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)  by Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s been months since Aria learned of her mother’s death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It’s a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it’s a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don’t take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry’s control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, can their love survive through the ever night?

Well I have to admit that this book was sooooooooooooo much better than its predecessor, Under the Never Sky. It took me a while to actually get into the first one, while this book just flowed so much better and had me hooked the entire time. Not a dull moment was had!

I think the author did a great job with the characters growth as well. It was such a great feeling to see Aria go from a weak, scared Dweller to a strong, fearless Aud. I think that even though she resisted the outside world in the beginning, she fully embraced it when she learned the truth about what she was.

I think Rossi's best character development was with Perry, though. Seeing his journey to becoming Blood Lord of the Tides was so great to read. It's amazing how his compassion and determination were seen as childish and weak in the beginning, but one incident earns him the respect and trust of the tribe. Meanwhile, he was doing what he had always tried his best to do, which was protect the Tribe. Proving his journey to be genuine and realistically showing that loyalty and trust are earned!

Now Sable, on the other hand, is a total dog! He is just as horrible as I imagined him to be! He seems "not-to-bad" at first. He treats Liv well and seems like he cares about her, but that's all a rouse! He has nothing but malicious intent and we later learn when certain situations involving Liv (and Cinder!) arise.

One issue I had with this book, which I also had with Under the Never Sky, is the lack of world-building. We still have no idea how the world ended up the way that is was, filled with Aether storms and people separated into different status groups (ie: Dwellers and Outsiders)

Another issue I had, which isn't a huge deal, is the cover of this book. I don't normally comment on covers, but this one really bothers me. I know that the guy on the cover is supposed to be Perry, but that's not how I pictured Perry at all! He's way to boyish and clean-cut on the cover...shouldn't he be more rugged and savage looking? Maybe it's just my opinion, but yea...that's not my Perry!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think Veronica Rossi did a great job with this story!

FEATURE: Waiting on Wednesday (#8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hi Swooners :-)

This week my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection is:

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Expected release date: February 4, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair- or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker- unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice .

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

FEATURE: Thoughts on Catching Fire (The Movie)

Morning swooners,

So before I say anything else, I have to let you know that there are SPOILERY WATERS UP AHEAD! READ WITH CAUTION!! 

Now, where was I? Right! I was about to tell you that I was actually able to see Catching Fire this weekend....twice! And after having gone through an emotional three day recuperation period, I find that I am STILL.NOT.OKAY!!

So, finding inspiration from my friends Betsy and Melody over at Bookcrastinators in Wonderland, I have decided to express my feelings about this movie via GIFs because there are truly not enough words in the dictionary to explain my emotions right now...

For those of you that haven't seen the movie...you need to do so ASAP!! For those you of that haven't read the books yet...what are you waiting for??? Special invitations come via screams on this blog and I'm officially screaming at you to GO READ THIS SERIES!!!! (Then we can flail around talking about our feeeeeelingssss)

So here it goes, this is my heart on a platter for you. Do with it what you will, it's emotionally damaged anyway!

While watching the previews, anxiously waiting for the movie to start:

When Feature Presentation came on the screen:

From then on is when I really become an emotional wreck!!!

When Katniss shoots the turkey and has a "meltdown"

Swooning over Gale:

Swooning over Peeta:

When we meet Finnick:

Swooning over Finnick:

When Effie is sad for Peeta and Katniss:

Whenever President Snow is around:

When Cinna is attacked in front of Katniss:

***Realizing that Peeta will NEVER be the same***

When the Dome breaks and they rescue Katniss:

Emotionally distressed after the movie:

So that's me in a nutshell swooners. I still have so many emotions to work through right now, but I know I will get there. When I start thinking about what Mockingjay has in store, my eyes truly tear up. For now though, I will deal with this emotional roller coaster day-by-day.

My advice:

FEATURE: Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hi Swooners :-)

This week my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection is:

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Expected release date: March 4, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’s never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them – and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Hmmm....looks like Ms. Oliver has done it again! This book sounds just as intriguing as her other books are! Can't wait to dig into this!!!

REVIEW: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi

Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky 0.5)  by Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: eBook Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital - and more brutal - than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of Tides forever. 

This was such a great novella to read for me. I absolutely loved getting to know Roar better and finally getting to know Olivia. I read this novella after the first book, Under the Never Sky, so I really didn't know anything about Liv as a person. After reading this novella, I really got to know her and Roar in a new light and I loved seeing them together.

The only bad thing that I can say is that it makes me that much more sad to see them go through everything that's happened. I can tell that they are both strong characters and I know that they will find a way to get through this. For now though, I can only imagine what's in store for them as a couple and for some reason it reminds me of Perry and Aria. I keep thinking of all the struggles that they have faced and will face together in the future and all the struggles that Roar and Liv have faced and will face and it just keeps building all this anticipation and fear for them.

Looks like these characters have a long, bumpy road ahead of them and I can't wait to join them on their journey!!

FEATURE: Teaser Tuesday (3)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists of they like your teasers!

Hi Swooners! Here's my "teaser" for this week...

 “I know why Roar is here,” he said, “Why are you?”

His words were casual, but the look in his eyes was penetrating. Aria glanced at the door, gauging the distance, instinct telling her to leave now.

Sable’s hand shot out and clasped her wrist. With her free hand Aria snatched a knife from the table. She held it facing down, ready for the strike she’d make at his neck. A killing strike. There would only be one shot against someone like him but that wouldn’t help her. She needed him to talk.

Sable smiled and gave a slight shake of his head. His eyes were pale as glass at the center, and ringed with dark blue.

“You don’t need that. I won’t hurt you unless you give me reason to.”

Pg. 217, Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

FEATURE: YALLFEST 2013

Hi Swooners!

So this weekend was a GREAT weekend for me because I got to spend it doing what I love to do, with the people that I love to do it with...The crew and I took a nice (long) road trip to Charleston, South Carolina to go to YALLFest!

There were about 50 authors there and I got all my pretty books signed and even had some time to hit a panel or two. Plus I got to meet Veronica Roth AND get my Divergent copy signed by her which was, in a word, EPIC!

Veronica Roth Signing!

Of course, I didn't forget about my lovely followers, and I was able to score some sweet swag for you! As well as a few signed copies of some GREAT books that I know you're all going to love! I'll post the giveaways up soon, no worries!

Until then, i'll leave you wondering about what kinds of goodies I now have in my possession... 

***MWUAHAHAHAHA***

Quotes (#5)

Hi Swooners! I'm having an "off"day today and thought i'd share some quotes...

"Once you had put the pieces back together, even though you may look intact, you were never quite the same as you'd been before the fall." Jodi Picoult

"Did I really want to stay on this road longer, knowing it was only going to end in devastation?" Becca Fitzpatrick, Crescendo

"Saying his name stabbed my heart, like someone had ripped through my carefully stitched up world and exposed the infected, pulsing red tissue that I thought was healing." Colleen Houck

"I mean, at the end of the day, what the hell does it matter who I end up with if it can't be you?" Tabitha Suzuma, Forbidden

"I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last." Veronica Roth, Allegiant

"She had loved him for such a long time, she thought. How was it that she did not know him at all?" Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

"I was crying a little for the boy I had wanted him to be and the boy he hadn't turned out to be." Gabrielle Zevin, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

"There are all kinds of ways for a relationship to be tested, even broken, some, irrevocably; it's the endings we're unprepared for." Katherine Owen, Not To Us

So yea, in case you couldn't tell, i'm feeling a little sad today. I guess it's just "one of those days" for me. Hope your Thursday went better than mine swooners.

FEATURE: Waiting On Wednesday (#6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hi Swooners :-)

This week my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection is:

Into the Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi

Expected release date: January 28, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it’s time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do- and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won’t even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission- because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their hope for survival, he’s also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most. 

Haven't even finished Through the Ever Night, but I already know this is one of my favorite series EVER!!! Cant wait for this finale to a great story!

REVIEW: Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List  by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Publication Date: August 28, 2007
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

NAOMI AND ELY ARE BEST FRIENDS. Naomi loves and is in love with Ely, and Ely loves Naomi, but prefers to be in love with boys. So they create their “No Kiss List” of people neither of them is allowed to kiss. And this works fine- until Bruce. Bruce is Naomi’s boyfriend, so there’s no reason to put him on the list. But Ely kissed Bruce even though he is boring. The result: a rift of universal proportions and the potential end of “Naomi and Ely: the institution.” Can these best friends come back together again?

I have to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book, which is surprising to me because I honestly didn't expect to enjoy  it as much as I did. I assumed it would be this fluffy teen-pop book full of shallow characters that I would instantly dislike, and it WAS in the beginning. Somewhere along the lines, between the drama and selfish dialogue, it became so much more than just teeny bop drama. There are actually real issues discussed in this book. Real emotions that are brought out by real drama. This book is about friendship at its core and the ins and outs of all relationships in general. "Nothing worth having or feeling is easy, but always worth it." Makes me wish more YA books covered this message more often.

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List tells the story of two NYU freshman who happen to be best friends and who have lived across from each other in the same apartment building since childhood. They both love each other but aren't in love with each other. Well really, as the book says "Naomi loves and is in love with Ely, and Ely loves Naomi, but prefers to be in love with boys." That relationship has always worked for them, that is until Ely kisses Naomi's boyfriend, Bruce The Second. That kiss leads Naomi and Ely on a lonely road trying to figure out how the kiss (and the feelings it yields) affects their relationship.

Something that I absolutely hated about this book is the use of symbols in Naomi's chapters. for some reason the authors chose to have Naomi communicate using symbols for certain words. Like an "eye" for "I" and "ears" for "sound" and so on. I'm not sure what message the authors were trying to convey, but all it really did was annoy me. I STILL don't know what some of those symbols even mean!

Another thing, this book had way too many POV changes! I mean changes between the two main characters, fine! But there were too many characters at play that really had no need to share their POV's. I feel like some of them kind of distracted from the main focus of the story. 

Naomi, as a character, was a destructive, selfish, B! All she really cared about was herself for most of the book. There were a few times when you get to see a totally different side to her, the side that isn't selfish or cruel, the side that makes you really feel sorry for her because you see how hurt she is and how much pain she is in. Those were the moments I really connected with her. 

Ely, as a character, was pretty much the same as Naomi. The only difference is that you can see his hurt more than hers. And because of his new relationship with Bruce The Second, you get to see him in a caring and loving position, something we rarely got a chance to see Naomi in.

Overall, I think the authors did a great job at showing us the emotions of both these characters and giving us a chance to really grow and connect with them. 

Quotes (#4)

Monday blues?? Take that!!!

Morning swooners! Here are some quotes to brighten up your day!

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain

""Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." Neil Gaiman, Coraline

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one." George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

"I suppose i'll have to add the force of gravity to my list of enemies." Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." Walt Disney

*And my absolute favorite quote because it speaks what my hearts wants to say*

"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and i'm still trying to figure out how that could be." Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower