Five Year Blogoversary

My blog is officially five years old! It's out of its toddler years and would start kindergarten this fall! The celebration today is twofold, there's my reminiscing on the years gone by and my giveaway for you! Because why receive presents when you can give them away instead!

First, a trip down memory lane... (This was going to include pictures, but my computer is being fickle)

I started blogging when I was just 11 years old, a baby in the world of book blogging. My dad helped me set it up one day, and that was that.

In March 2012, I went to my first YA book event. I saw Ally Carter and Rachel Hawkins at Quail Ridge Books and Music.

In July 2013 I got my first physical ARC! I won Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly in a giveaway, and it was a cool feeling to have it in my hands!

In September 2013, I got to meet my hero, Sarah J. Maas! Crown of Midnight had just come out, and my hair happened to match Throne of Glass!

In January 2014, I cosplayed as Cinder from Cinder by Marissa Meyer for a school event. And by cosplayed, I mean spray painted my hand and foot.

In February 2014, I got to go see the amazing Kasie West, Megan Miranda, Megan Shepherd, and Robin Constantine speak at Quail Ridge! It was so cool to meet these amazing authors, who have all become favorites!

Later in 2014, I got to meet many of my favorite authors, such as Jessica Spotswood, Jen McConnell, Kiera Cass, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Sandy Hall, Joy N. Hensley, Lauren Kate, Robin LaFevers, Stephanie Perkins, David Levithan, Ryan Graudin, and my childhood favorite Margaret Peterson Haddix!

In 2014 I also went to my first conference! I went to LeakyCon (which became GeekyCon at the end) and got to meet some of my favorite performers and authors!

At the end of the year, I created my first book tree, and they've gotten more extravagant ever since!

In 2015, I got to meet so many cool authors! I met Gayle Forman, Renee Ahdieh, Victoria Aveyard, Cynthia Hand, Sarah Dessen, CJ Redwine, Katie McGarry, Marissa Meyer, Rachel Harris, Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, Veronica Roth, Leigh Bardugo, Josephine Angelini, Richelle Mead, and Alexandra Bracken!

That year, I went to three big events. In June, I went to UtopYA Con, and got to meet some of the amazing authors above, as well as learn about a bunch of new ones! In July, I went to GeekyCon and had a ton of fun at one of the best nerd conferences out there! In November, I had a boatload of fun at YALLFest! There were so many cool authors there, and it was a blast to go!

2015 was also the year I joined Teenreads. I'm still part of it, and write reviews and posts as often as I can!

In 2016, I got to meet authors such as Meredith Russo, Felicia Day, Sabaa Tahir, Victoria Schwab, Kerri Maniscalco, Nicola Yoon, and Marie Lu!

That year, I went to GeekyCon for a final time. It was wonderful conference, and I'm sad it has ended. I also attended ALA that summer, and it was a wonderful experience! I also attended Bookmarks festival for the first time, and it was a blast!

So far in 2017, I have gotten to meet so many amazing people! I've gotten to meet some amazing folks like Alwyn Hamilton, Leslie Livingston, Samantha Shannon, Becky Albertalli, Jennifer E. Smith, Brigid Kemmerer, Sophie Jordan, P.C. and Kristin Cast, CC Hunter, and my hero Jennifer L. Armentrout! I know I'll be meeting many more in the months to come, and I can't wait!

It's been an amazing five years, and I can't wait for five more!

Giveaway:

Enter to win your choice of a book from this stack (US)

Surprise Fantasy Books (US)

Random Swag (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And while you're here, check out the giveaway I'm running on Twitter!

Three Year Blogoversary Day One!!!!! Featuring Christina Benjamin!

It's that time of year again! This totally snuck up on me! I can't believe I've been blogging for THREE whole years. It's amazing!

I wouldn't have started this blog if it weren't for my dad. He knows how much I love to read, and so one day, in mid-August, he helped me set up a blog. I had a basic theme and some crappy reviews, but I was off. When I started, I had no idea where I'd be now. For one, I didn't know what ARCs were when I started.

Now, I'm reviewing books months before they come out (though I am pretty slow about it). I get to join awesome Street Teams and blog tours. Heck, I've gotten to meet SO MANY authors. I've gone to three book conferences (LeakyCon, GeekyCon, and UtopYA Con). I've met a ton of awesome bloggers (Nori, Sheriden, Nova, and Nikki to name a few). I've gotten involved with multiple local indies, starting book clubs, joining book clubs, and attending events! I've run giveaways, gotten swag, and so much more. This experience really is amazing.

But you don't want to hear me ramble. So, for you today, I have an interview with Christina Benjamin, author of The Geneva Project! I actually met Christina at UtopYA Con and can attest to the fact that she is amazing.

Once you've read the interview and description, and are thoroughly intrigued, you can go here and download the first eight chapters!

Interview:

1. What helped to inspire the Geneva Project series?

I loved reading YA fantasy and was totally addicted to Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games. It happened that I finished all the books in those series during the same year and I was thoroughly depressed without the characters and worlds I’d spent so much time in, so that’s what drove me to write my own series. I thought that way the characters and worlds would belong to me and wouldn’t have to end. I had no idea that I was going to share the book I wrote with the world. It really just started as something fun for me to do.

2. Would you like to go to a tropical island like Hullabee (without the crazy people of course) or stay at home with a book? 

Yes! Absolutely. To me, Hullabee Island is a mix of Santorini, Greece and Hawaii. Somewhere with white sand beaches, cliffs, rainforests and volcanoes. I love that the island is full of mythical creatures and legends too. It’s fun to let your imagination run while when you explore new places. Check out my pinterest page where I’ve pinned photos of places that inspired scenery for Hullabee Island. https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorCBenjamin/

3. Any advice to young and aspiring writers?

Start now and never give up. Also, don’t be too critical of your work. The important thing is to get the words down. And write what you love. Don’t write what you think others want to hear. I find the words flow better when the inspiration comes from your heart. (or your crazy dreams, lol) Or both in my case.

4. For fans of the book, what are some similar books that you'd recommend?

Harry Potter – because of the magic, friendship and coming-of-age
Percy Jackson – for the Myths & Legends
Hunger Games & Divergent – for the female heroine/dystopian fantasy

5. Are any of the characters inspired by people in your life?

The animal characters are! I have a dog named Vin that inspired the marmouse Niv. And two cats named Hank and Ari that inspired the tarcats, Khan and Ria. I love using anagrams when naming things that have special meaning to me. My animals are so sweet and always sit with my while I write so I thought I should give them some love by writing them into the books.

Synopsis:

Trapped on a flood-ravaged island full of orphans, natives and wealthy citizens of the prosperous city Lux, a young girl named Geneva finds herself enslaved at an orphanage with no future and a past she can’t remember. That all changes when she meets someone who promises her that there’s more in store for her than she ever could have imagined. Her once dull life rapidly spirals out of control as she starts to acquire new magical powers that may be the key to unlocking an ancient legend along with her true identity. But first she must master these powers, all while trying to keep them secret from her friends and the evil head mistress at the orphanage. Before she knows it, Geneva is in over her head and has inadvertently wrapped her friends into her web of magic and lies. Now all of their lives will be in jeopardy once the head mistress of the orphanage finds out Geneva’s plan to prove that the legend of Lux may not be a legend at all!

Who will Geneva trust and how far will she go to save her friends and discover her true identity?

You Can Find it At:

The Regulator Bookshop

Facebook

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Young adult book author Christina Benjamin grew up in the small town of La Plume, Pennsylvania, where at an early age her playful imagination led her to love the art of storytelling. She started writing short stories in grade school and continued practicing her craft all the way through college, attending the University of Central Florida to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Writing.

After spending some time writing for blogs and websites, she was inspired to get back to her true love of telling stories, and dove headfirst into The Geneva Project, her first novel.

Christina now lives in Central Florida with her husband, son, dog and cats and spends her free time writing the second book of The Geneva Project series.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

But wait, there's more! I have multiple giveaways for you (and might add another soon, so check back!)

Giveaway:

First, we have the UtopYA Con prize pack! All of these prizes will go to one lucky, US winner! And an eBook of The Geneva Project: Truth by Christina Benjamin will go to another winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contemporary Giveaway! Here, you can choose one contemporary book out of this selection, and will also get a ton of swag! I couldn't find a Twitter account for Leslie Connor, sorry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm only gonna do these for now, but check back in tomorrow/later this week, I might add in more giveaways!

Thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the internet! You have no idea how much this means to me that you take time out of your day to read my posts, etc. Keep an eye out for a survey soon as well! You might even win a prize! *tackle hugs everyone*

Blogoversary Day 13: Interview With Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the swoon-worthy Jennifer L. Armentrout!

Interview:

1. What made you want to be a writer? I've always wanted to be a writer.

I used to write during all of my classes in school, especially algebra. It's just something that I've always enjoyed doing.

2. Describe White Hot Kiss in five words.

Hot gargoyle and sexy demon.

3. Can you tell us anything about Stone Cold Touch?

I think that everything becomes more complicated for Layla in a lot of different ways in Stone Cold Touch.

4. What are some fall releases that you are looking forward to?

I'm excited about Compulsion by Martina Boone. I loved it and I can't wait for others to read it. I'm also looking forward to Heir of Fire by Sarah Maas.

5. Any advice for aspiring authors?

I always tell aspiring authors to write what you want to write and not what you think you need to write.

Author Bio:

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

You Can Find Her At:

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Synopsis:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world

You Can Find it At:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Goodreads

Giveaway:

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogoversary Day 12: Interview With Jen McConnel

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the godly Jen McConnel!

Interview:

1. What's your daily writing schedule like?

Kind of a mess, actually! It depends on my teaching schedule; if I’m on campus all day, I tend to sneak in some brainstorming while my students are writing, but if I’m home for the day, I’ve got a bit more of a rhythm. I like to write in sprints, and I work best between 10 am and 3 pm, so depending on where I am in a project, I’ll probably spend an hour or two sprinting, and then maybe two hours revising something else. I also play on the Internet A LOT, and I’m trying to break that habit. It’s so hard, though!

2. What's your favorite writing snack?

Chocolate, disguised by nuts as trail mix. :) Oh, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee!

3. Describe Daughter of Chaos in five words.

Dark, witchy, headstrong, chaotic, and myth-y!

4. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing?

I’m lucky enough to be able to work at both my passions; I’m a teacher, and I love it. I used to teach middle school (so awesome), and now I teach community college (equally awesome)! Someday, I’d like to teach literature or creative writing classes, either for the community, or maybe at a university level.

5. What fall releases are you looking forward to?

I can’t wait for Kristen Lippert-Martin's TABULA RASA , Sara Raasch's SNOW LIKE ASHES, and, even though it’s a December book, so not really fall, my amazing CP Jaye Robin Brown’s debut NO PLACE TO FALL will be out soon, too! There are SO many awesome books coming out, and my TBR is HUGE!

6. What helped to inspire Daughter of Chaos, as well as the merging of mythology and witches?

I’ve always loved mythology and magic, but the idea for DAUGHTER actually came at me from nowhere. I was still teaching middle school when I started the book, and I would occasionally schedule creative writing days. My students and I were using prompts, and the prompt that popped Hecate and Darlena onto the page was “she was a funny looking old woman, but...”When I looked up, I’d written pages and pages of this story about a snarky witch confronting a goddess, and the ideas just kept coming from there!

7. Will there be a sequel to Daughter of Chaos, and if so, do you have any release info?

Yes! DAUGHTER is the first in a trilogy, and GODS OF CHAOS, the second book, is scheduled for release in March 2015 from Month9Books. (I’m actually editing this one as we speak, and I can’t wait for you to meet some of the new characters!)

8. What do you do when you're not writing?

This summer, I went back to school for my MFA in Children’s Literature, so I’ve been re-learning how to be a student. It’s tough! :) I also love to be outside (unless it’s raining), and I practice and teach yoga, too. It’s a busy, blissful life!

9. What's your biggest goal in life?

To be happy. So far, so good!

10. Any advice to aspiring authors?

I’ve said it before, but I still believe it: drop the aspiring, and write. You’re the only one who can tell your stories, and if that’s what you’re burning to do, do it! Take classes, make friends, share your work, but above all, WRITE!

Happy blogoversary, lady! Thanks so much for inviting me to celebrate with you!

Author Bio:

Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).

She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.

A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches college writing composition and yoga.

Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.

You Can Find Her At:

Pinterest

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Nothing is more terrifying than the witch who wields red magic.

There comes a time in every witch's life when she must choose her path. Darlena's friends have already chosen, so why is it so hard for her to make up her mind? Now, Darlena is out of time. Under pressure from Hecate, the Queen of all witches, Darlena makes a rash decision to choose Red magic, a path no witch in her right mind would dare take. As a Red witch, she will be responsible for chaos and mayhem, drawing her deep into darkness. Will the power of Red magic prove too much for Darlena, or will she learn to control it before it's too late?

You Can Find it At:
Month9Books

Goodreads
IndieBound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Giveaway:

1 eCopy of Daughter of Chaos (US)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogoversary Day 11: Today's the Day!

Today's the day everyone! Today is Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews second blogoversary! We still have a few more events coming up, but I would like to thank all the authors and bloggers that helped to make this event possible! This time last year, the blog was fairly tiny. Heck, I posted the blogoversary post a day late!

So grab your party hats, here's some cake, dance like crazy, and let's get this party started!

I have made so many friends in this community, and I would like to take a second to thank Sara V. Zook, Nova @ Out of Time, Wendy Higgins, Alison Kemper, Chloe Jacobs, Jessica @ Fly to Fiction, Nikki @ Fiction Freak, and SO SO SO many more! I couldn't have done it without you!

I the next year, I hope to get another blogger. She's very excited, and *might* start soon. We're not sure yet. The school year gets busy for both of us, but we hope that between the two of us, we might get more posts done.

This year has been a huge success. The blog has had:

Almost 60k page views

144 GFC followers

348 posts

943 Twitter followers

436 Facebook likes

48 Instagram followers

Received more ARCs than I can count (mostly thanks to The Regulator Bookshop)

Met tons of authors

Plus so much more!

This year has been loads of fun. There have been times when I've forgotten to post for a week. Others where I post every day. A few highlights of the year were meeting authors such as Kasie West, Kiera Cass, and Megan Miranda. I attending my first conference! LeakyCon was so much fun, and there are tons of pictures on the Facebook page!

This fall, only more fun things await. I'm going to get to meet Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Marie Lu, Robin LaFevers, and Lauren Kate, just to name a few! I run and am part of a bunch of book clubs and various local indies and at the library! Plus, there are a ton of exciting fall releases. Here are a few to get you as pumped as I am.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (August 14, 2014), final book in the Anna and the French Kiss trilogy

Sister's Fate by Jessica Spotswood (August 14, 2014), final book in the Born Wicked trilogy

Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas (September 2, 2014), third book in the Throne of Glass series

Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini (September 2, 2014), first book in the Worldwalker trilogy

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken (September 15, 2014), final book in The Darkest Minds trilogy

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan (September 23, 2014), final book in the Lynburn Legacy

The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (September 30, 2014), third book in the Alice in Zombieland series

The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris (September 30, 2014), first in series

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout (October 21, 2014), sequel to White Hot Kiss

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Steifvater (October 28, 2014), third book in the Raven Cycle

Eternal by C.C. Hunter (October 28, 2014), second book in the Shadow Falls: After Dark series

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (November 4, 2014), final book in Mara Dyer trilogy

Here are just a few of the tons of books coming out this fall! Make sure to keep an eye on the blog for various blog tours, etc!

Giveaway:

I'm giving away a ton of stuff this time around! If this is your first time checking out the celebration, make sure to check out the other posts, because many of them have international giveaways!

Unhinged by A.G. Howard (US)
A.G. Howard Swag (INT)
The Selection by Kiera Cass (US, Signed)
With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent (US)
The Caller by Juliet Mariellier (US, ARC)
Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti (US)
Science Jam by Glenn Murphy (INT)
Various Swag (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogoversary Day Ten: Interview With Holli Anderson

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the fiery Holli Anderson!

Interview:

1. What is your favorite part of being an author?

I think my favorite part is just getting lost in a story. The first draft of a book is the most fun because I'm just letting the story tell itself, knowing that I can come back later and fix things. It's so much fun when my characters take off and do something I wasn't planning on them doing!

2. What's your daily writing routine like?

My life is so hectic that I don't really have a daily routine--I wish I did! I work as an Emergency Department Director which takes up 40-50 hours per week of my time. I am not a morning person, so I can't write in the mornings. I try to fit in some writing in the evenings either at home or I go straight from work to the local library and plug away there on my laptop--less distractions than home. I write during long car trips and during wrestling tournaments while waiting for my son's turn. I just fit writing in wherever I can.

3. What's your favorite writing snack?

Anything salty-- like almonds or potato chips. And, water or Diet Dr. Pepper.

4. Describe your most recent book in five words.

My most recently published book, FIVE: Out of the Pit, in five words: An intense fight against evil.

5. Any advice to aspiring authors?

Just keep writing. As scary as it can be, let other people read your writing and don't get upset over suggestions and critiques--that's how you get better, and remember, you don't have to take every bit of advice you're given, but you should at least listen with an open mind.

Go to some writer's conferences and workshops--I've learned so much from fellow writers, plus we're fun people to hang out with!

Synopsis:

Five teenagers who’ve recently discovered they have magical powers and are living in the Seattle underground feel it’s their responsibility to protect unsuspecting humans from otherworldly foes. Things are going well until Johnathan, their unofficial leader and the boy sixteen year old Paige is in love with, is bitten by a changeling – the venomous saliva causing him to metamorphose into a ravening beast with each full moon. Paige vows that, no matter the cost, she will find a way to cure Johnathan of the evil that has embedded itself in his soul.

Johnathan’s monthly transformation and daily personality roller coaster isn’t the only problem they have to deal with. The Five are also gearing up to face their toughest and most dangerous enemy yet—a powerful and ruthless Warlock who will go to any means, including high school, to build his Dark Army.

You Can Find it At:

Goodreads

Amazon
Barnes and NobleGo Hastings

Author Bio:

Holli Anderson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing—which has nothing to do with writing, except maybe by adding some pretty descriptive injury and vomit scenes to her books. She discovered her joy of writing during a very trying period in her life when escaping into make-believe saved her. She enjoys reading any book she gets her hands on, but has a particular love for anything fantasy.

Along with her husband, Steve, and their four sons, she lives in Grantsville, Utah—the same small town in which she grew up.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Blog

Giveaway:

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogoversary Day Nine: Interview With Jodi Meadows

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the majestic Jodi Meadows!

Interview:

1. What would you do if you were stuck in Ana's shoes for a day?

Make Sam play music for me. And maybe make out with him, if it wasn't weird. (Nope, not weird at ALL!)

2. What's your favorite writing snack? 

Cookies! Chocolate chip.

3. What fall books are you looking forward to this year? 

I've already read it, but DELIVERANCE by CJ Redwine! I can't wait to have that series complete on my bookcase. Also ECHOES OF US by Kat Zhang. There are a ton others, but if I tried to list them all, we'd be here all day.

4. What are your favorite and least favorite parts of being a writer?

Being able to make up stories for a living is really awesome! But doing the taxes is awful.

5. Describe Incarnate in five words!

Ana is new. Everything sucks.

Author Bio:

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut.

*A Kippy is a cat.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Twitter

Tumblr

Etsy

Facebook

Goodreads

Google Plus

Pinterest

Synopsis:

NEWSOUL

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL

Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART

Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

You Can Find the Book:

IndieBound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Books-A-Million

Indigo

Powell's

Goodreads

Giveaway:

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogoversary Day Eight: Guest Post With Mily from The YA Nightstand

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the blogorific Mily from The YA Nightstand!

Guest Post:

A Shared Love For Books

By Mily 

Why do you love blogging? It’s a simple question really and yet there are so many answers I don’t even know where to start! So, I guess the logical place to begin would be to tell you who I am.

My names Mily, pronounced Emily without the E not Miley like the Cyrus. I have had a serious addition to books for the last 10 years or so and it’s only got worse as the years go on. During the day I’m a textile student with a sweet tooth and a book in her bag, but at night I’m a blogger through and through. I mainly read YA books, although I do dabbled with other genres and I love to write. It’s why I started The YA’s Nightstand actually. You see, I was writing a book – still am – and I couldn’t for the life of my write the ending! Usually I’d stop, thinking I’m taking a couple of weeks out but then that always turns into another unfinished manuscript. So this time I decided I needed to keep writing, and I decided that the best way to do that was with a blog. And that’s what I did.

That was 6 months ago.

What they don’t tell you about book blogging is how amazing the community can be. I think that’s one of my favourite things about being a blogger, the community and being able to connect with people over a shared love for books. I have friends in the real world too but we don’t have the same taste in books so being about to talk about your fandoms with other people without them judging your fangirl ways is a nice change. I’m not say my friends aren’t great, they are, I just don’t think they truly understand how much Four and I are meant to be together like the blogging community. ;)

Then there are the books themselves! I started out by writing reviews of the books on my shelves as most bloggers do. What I DIDN’T know was that when you’re a book blogger publishers, author, lovely PR people actually send you books. FOR FREE! Which was a rather lovely surprise! I feel truly honoured to be able to read these books that I get sent before they’re even on the shelves and help spread the word about up and coming books to my followers.

I love that I’m able to share my love of books and hopefully help people pick out they’re next favourite read. I love the fact that I get to share my love of YA literature. Whether you’re a Potterhead, a Tribute, a Shadow Hunter or Divergent, I love you all and thank you for letting me be a part of your world(s)!

PS. For the record, I’m a Hufflepuff Amity with kick-ass District 8 sewing skills.

Bio:

Twenty-one year old creative nerd. Textiles student. Fabric enthusiast. Book reader. Food eater.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway:

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

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Blogoversary Day Seven: Guest Post With Aimee L. Salter

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome, the unbreakable, Aimee Salter!

Guest Post:

Please welcome Aimee, with a guest post about one of HER favorite books!

Happy Blog-o-versary Tween2Teen! Here’s my nomination for BEST BOOK EVER:

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay won't be to everyone's taste. But for this reader it was so close to perfect a knat could starve on the difference.

I'm not going to summarize the plot because, frankly, I suck at that. But, I will say that if you're a fan (or writer) of raw, contemporary YA, then The Sea of Tranquility is a Code Red Must Read. Buy it now. Then start reading it and try to stop. I dare you.

But I don't want to spend today expounding on TSoT (though, trust me, it's tempting). What I do want to do is get my analysis down on why I enjoyed it so thoroughly.

Element of Awesome #1 - Characters We Haven't Seen Before

This is pretty straight forward, but worth noting. As a reader, these characters are very, very real to me. Not just because I loved them, but because the writer achieved what I believe is the perfect balance between recognizable traits, and a unique blend with depth. I haven't seen Josh or Sunshine before. Even Drew, who seems cookie cutter on first appearance, demonstrates actual depth (more on this later).

Element of Awesome #2 - There Are Surprises
The character I mentioned above, Drew, is the primary example of this, but the book is full of them: People or plot points that you think you can anticipate. BUT YOU CAN'T (trust me on this).

Drew walks on to the page in typical Man-whore style -- and lives up to that trope the first few times we meet him. But by the end of the book I just want to squeeze him and sit on a couch with him and bask in the brilliance of who he is. And he isn't even the hero of the tale!

Element of Awesome #3 - Technical Brilliance
There's no way around it, Katja Millay has a turn of phrase, a wit and a vocabulary (on both ends of the mannerly scale) that provide a shiny vehicle for this story. And maybe this is what sets TSoT apart from other stories that have grabbed me by the shoulders and shaken me until I finished the last page: The writing is stellar. It's clever. It's funny. It's emotional. There's no telling. No explanations. No over-emphasis of important points, no faux ex machina. My OCD internal editor didn't even cough.

Element of Awesome #4 - The Plot Vehicles Didn't Rev Their Engines
Let's face it, in every story there are elements of the plot that just can't occur unless some other circumstance is in place. In YA it's usually the marginalization or removal of adult authority figures.

Katja does that too, but in such a way that the removal of those figures drives the entire book. The motives and circumstances of this story aren't just convenient, they're critical. Literally, the story couldn't occur unless these unique circumstances were in place.

And last, but not least: Element of Awesome #5 - Emotion

I'm not sure I can explain this, but I'm going to try.

At one point, about halfway through the book, when the characters were firmly ensconced in my heart, and I was wholly invested in their lives, a very quiet, very unobtrusive paragraph opened a new chapter.

Six or seven lines. Nothing dramatic.

And I wept. Literally.

It wasn't because the author had thrown down a literary gauntlet and pulled the tears from my eyes. It wasn't because a massive, emotional reveal had just occurred. It was because she'd used the pages before that moment to make the characters so real to me, that when one of them told me an anticipated event had occurred, I cried for how I knew the character must feel. My emotions were so completely engaged, I reacted to this character just as I would have a true, dear friend.

I was moved.

Frankly, I don't have a clue how to replicate this impact. It is the part of this book that blows my mind into the next solar system. But I have a feeling it has something to do with depicting your characters in such a way that they look, sound, and act like real people. Like people I could run into on the street any day of the week.

So that's it... those are the things I learned from reading this incredible book, then thinking about it for five days straight afterward.

Like I said, the story itself may not be your cup of tea. But if you're a big reader, or someone who’s writing YA, I'd seriously consider it a MUST READ.

This book rules.

Katja Millay is my new hero(ine).

Synopsis:

Every Ugly Word follows 17 year old Ashley who is relentlessly bullied at her high school and by her own mother, and his helplessly in love with her best friend, Matt, who is bullied by his father.

She seeks help by looking to her future self, “Older Me” who supports her through it all and teaches her to love herself. But is she really seeking “Older Me” or is she looking within herself for the answers?

When Ashley looks in the mirror she can see and talk to her future self. “Older Me” has been her support system through her relentless tormentor’s bullying, her unstable mother at home, and her forlorn love for her longtime best friend. But when Ashley discovers “Older Me’s” betrayal, she is targeted in the worst way and impends her last chance with Matt. She’s done with hearing every ugly word.


Author Bio:

 Aimee L. Salter is the author of Every Ugly Word, the story of a high school junior learning to copy with the effects of severe bullying – and who can talk to her future self in the mirror. (Alloy Entertainment, July 2014) Available now. 

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads




Giveaway:

Second blogoversary giveaway extravaganza!

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Blogoversary Day Six: Interview, Excerpt, and Giveaway With Rachel Harris

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the queen of flirt, Rachel Harris!

Interview:

1. What's your favorite part of being an author? Your least favorite?

Favorite part by far is the fans. Going to conferences and signings to meet them, chatting via email and social media, it totally makes my day. I'm a bookaholic myself, so I love getting to share that with other readers, and seeing them excited about something *I* wrote is just incredible. My least favorite would probably be the balance struggle. I'm a homeschool mom, so it's a constant battle trying to get in ALL THE THINGS during a day. I usually tell people that between writing, homeschooling, marketing, housecleaning, family time, and general health, I can juggle two or maybe three awesome...the rest tend to crash around me lol. Then I reevaluate, make adjustments, and pick two or three other ones to juggle the next week. But it's a great life :)

2. What's your favorite thing to do when not writing?

Read :) If I'm not reading, then it's playing games with my family. We are really into a board game kick right now

3. What fall releases are you most looking forward to this year?

Assuming we are not talking about my own (Which I DESPERATELY want!) , yes? (*grin*) Honestly, I never seem to know when books are releasing anymore, which kind of makes it fun for me . . . all of a sudden, an author I love releases a book and I'm like "SCORE!" I do have some fabulous friends releasing books, several of these I've gotten early looks at, and they are sooooo good --> Make It Right by Megan Erickson for sure, Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh, Breaks by Amy Evans, Make it Real by Sabrina Elkins...oh, and Stone Cold Touch by JLA :) *Plans how to steal Rachel's copy of Stone Cold Touch*

4. What's your favorite writing snack?

Peanut M&Ms!! But since I can't have that EVERY time I write, y go-to is normally popping open another Diet Mt. Dew, or maybe some raisins. (Nom, nom, nom!)

5. Any advice to aspiring authors?

I have two tips that I always give when doing talks. I add others, depending on what the topic is, but these two are my number one favorites:

Tip #1: Read often and widely. Read within your favorite genre so you know what is out there, especially if you want to write in it, and see what the expectations are. Then expand your world by pulling inspiration from way outside your genre.

· Write YA contemporary? Maybe try reading adult and/or historicals.

· Write historical? Give fantasy and suspense a shot.

· You never know what will inspire you...or even where your voice truly is...until you try.

Tip #2: But don't stop at reading, either. Pay attention.

· What made you smile at that passage? What had you skimming those pages? What spoke to you, what did you hate, what had you fuming at your book yet determined to find out what happens?

· These are all clues to helping you find your unique voice and style.

Excerpt:

The Fine Art of Pretending

• ALY •

ALY’S HOUSE, 5:45 p.m.

I sit at my vanity, staring at the free gift-with-purchase bag stuffed with makeup, and try to remember which products Kara used yesterday. The idea of a beauty regime is as foreign to me as losing a volleyball match, but desperate times call for desperate measures. After applying the coral blush to the “apples” of my cheeks (another new term for my vocabulary), I grab the berry-stained lip gloss I’m almost certain is right. I unscrew the cap, pump the wand, and raise it to my mouth.

A sudden rap on the door makes the wand skitter across my cheek, leaving a zigzag stripe of Blackberry Bloom in its wake.

“Lovely,” I mutter, yanking a handful of tissues out of a crochet-covered box. Regardless of how often I’ve watched Gabi and Kara do this, obviously makeup application skills cannot be obtained through osmosis. I toss the balled-up Kleenex into the waste bin and bellow, “Come in, Kaitie!”

Instead of my younger sister, Brandon lets himself in, a notebook with sketched-out game plans tucked under his arm. When he spots me in the corner, he does a double-take, eyebrows shooting up over his jade-colored eyes. “I see Kara got to you. Should I even ask why?”

Well, at least he noticed.

In reply, I walk to the huge mirror over my bed that acts as a massive picture frame for my ultimate Wall of Shame. My feet sink into the plush yellow comforter, and I point to the latest entry.

“Exhibit A,” I tell him. “Junior Prom.”

Brandon hops up beside me, leans in to inspect the picture, and nods. “I don’t get it.”

I exhale and stare at the picture taken three months ago—two weeks after Adam and I had broken up. Adam was my first boyfriend. My only boyfriend. And up until our breakup, I assumed things were going great. We’d been going out for four months, and I’d foolishly thought he could be the one. Maybe not the forever one, but the one for a good while. The one to see me as desirable.

The one to break my curse.

“When I added this picture the other night,” I say, “I had an epiphany.”

Brandon scratches the back of his neck and squints. “An epiphany?”

“Yes, an epiphany. Look again. Do you not notice a demoralizing theme to the dance pictures?” I pause for him to inspect the evidence and sigh when he shrugs. “All my dates are friends, Brandon. Every Homecoming, Winter Formal, and Spring Fling picture shows me with a bunch of girlfriends, an ex-boyfriend pity date, or a just-a-friend guy date. Starting with you.”

 

Synopsis:

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

Author Bio:

I write humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door who occasionally stumble through life (and relationships), and the protective men who cherish them. Vibrant settings, humor, and strong relationships are a staple of my books. And kissing. Lots of kissing.

I love to read for the escape it provides, and that’s what I strive to give each of my readers with the stories I tell. A chance to get away from the everyday routines and the stress of dirty dishes, Mount Laundry, and rising bills. An opportunity to smile, laugh, swoon, and cry while you try on someone else’s skin for a few hours.

What else should you know about me? Well, I’m an unashamed fangirl and love supporting my fellow authors. I’m a homeschool mom who spends her days giggling, hugging, and learning with her children. I watch way too much reality television and Netflix with my husband. And when it comes to my readers, I tend to slobber all over them.

Fact: Bookish people are the best people in the world.

You Can Find Her At:
Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Tumblr

Giveaway:

Wanna Flirt Swag
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Blogoversary Day Five: Interview & Giveaway With Sara V. Zook

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the angelic Sara V. Zook!

Interview:

1. Can you give us any details on the sequel to Evanescent?

There is going to be more Saint and you're going to really see his personality shine through. The book will start off right where book 1 ends, so that will give you clues as to how it goes backward into the past.

2. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing?

I thought about going to school to become a journalist before I got into creative writing in college. Maybe I'd be out interviewing people and getting real life stories instead.

3. What's your favorite part about writing?

Creating a character in my head, seeing them come to life while writing about them and then having them surprise me with one of their characteristics. It makes you feel crazy having your own made up creation playing tricks on you or taunting you, but it's awesome.

4. What's your favorite writing snack?

Chips and salsa!

5. What's next for you?

I'm working on two, and I think I'm going to have them come out around the same time this fall. I'm working on Reminiscence, book 2 in the Sempiternal Series and another one, my first NA.

6. What fall releases are you most looking forward to this year?

I'm looking forward to reading Bella Forrest's Book 7 of A Shade of Vampire. (Me too!)

7. What's your daily writing routine like?

I wish I had one. When I get a quiet moment from my 3 kids and someone isn't calling out "mommy, mommy," that's when I write. Sometimes when I have a great idea and I need to get it down, I'll lock myself in my closet for a few minutes before someone finds me.

8. If you were in one of your character's shoes, what would you do?

If I was Sarenah, I'd fly off with Draco and try to find some peace and quiet away from all the crazies chasing after them!

9. Describe each (or a few) of your novels each in five words!

Unique, twisty, relatable, suspenseful, didn't-expect-that (I made that last one into a single word hehe).

10. Any advice to aspiring authors?

Keep writing and don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. I had a few people in my life laugh at what I wanted to do. There is always someone out there that will want to read your stories, so keep at it!

Synopsis:

A moment is all it takes. Even the strength of a devoted warrior angel is no match to the pull of love … or is it lust? Sarenah isn’t sure. She needs to see him again. The brief intensity between them was too powerful. It eats away at her mind, but why? The elements of the world seem to be telling her something isn’t right. There’s a secret no one wants Sarenah to know. Why can’t she remember things such as becoming an angel? What happened to her past? The protection of the light is about to cease, but her heart and mind repeat one word incessantly, one she cannot ignore … Draco.

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Facebook

Author Bio:

Sara V. Zook is a paranormal/fantasy writer. She is the author of the Strange in Skin Trilogy and Clipped. She lives in Pennsylvania with her 3 small children and husband.

You Can Find Sara At:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Goodreads



Giveaway:

eCopies of Strange in Skin, Evanescent, and A Magic Within by Sara V. Zook

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Blogoversary Day Four: Interview & Giveaway With S.T. Bende

Hello everyone! I have decided to do something a little different this year for the blog's second blogoversary! This year, each day I will have a post or two from authors and bloggers that I ADORE! Many of them will have giveaways specific to the post, as well as the overall giveaway! The big giveaway has tons of prizes, from swag to signed copies of books!

Please welcome the spectacular S.T. Bende!

Interview:

1. What's your favorite part of being an author?

When a reader tells me one of my stories made them smile, or that they fell for one of my characters the same way I did, it absolutely makes my day. Authors fall in love with our imaginary friends as we write them, and when someone out there feels the same way about our characters... it's just awesome!!

2. What's your daily writing schedule like?

My writing time starts in the evening, when everything's quiet. Right now I'm editing the third full Elsker Saga novel, TRO. I sit down with a cup of tea and McVities Caramel Digestives (the best cookies ever), and work my way through my editor's notes until I pass out. My process is a little different when I'm in the beginning stages of a story. All of my books are rooted in Norse mythology, so when I'm drafting a book I spend a lot of time doing research. I re-read the Prose Edda, and comb through textbooks on the Scandinavian myths, and flag things I think might work in a modern setting. That's actually my favorite part of the writing process. I might have to start a new story just so I have an excuse to do some more research. :)

3. If you weren't an author, what would you be doing?

I am a wicked good baker. I could totally run a bakery in a tiny little town like Bibury (where The Elsker Saga's Norse God of Winter, Ull, keeps a cottage). I'd make people smile with cookies, cakes, and Norsk waffles.

4. What type of books to you enjoy to read?

I love happy ever afters -- in everything from Young Adult to Chick Lit. But the Harry Potter books and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing are some of my all time favorite reads.

5. Any advice to aspiring authors?

Write what you love -- not what you think you should write, or what you think will sell. If you love your story, your passion will shine through.

Synopsis:

You don't win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way. Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn't exactly what she was expecting. He's an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia's crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

You Can Find it At:

Amazon

Author Bio:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food.

You Can Find Her At:

Blog

ST Bende on Twitter

Ull Myhr on Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

To feature or review Elsker, contact ST at stbende(at)gmail(dot) . Thank you for your consideration!!

Giveaway:

2 eCopies of Elsker by S.T. Bende (INT)(Any format)

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Giveaway extravaganza!

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