The Stranger Game by Cylin Busby

Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Source: Publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 288

Amazon  |  Goodreads

The Stranger Game is a dark, suspenseful, and twisty young adult novel—perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and E. Lockhart—about fifteen-year-old Nico Walker, whose sister returns home after a four-year disappearance. 

When Nico Walker's older sister mysteriously disappears, her parents, family, and friends are devastated. But Nico can never admit what she herself feels: relief at finally being free of Sarah's daily cruelties.
Then the best and worst thing happens: four years later, after dozens of false leads, Sarah is found.
But this girl is much changed from the one Nico knew. She's thin and drawn, where Sarah had been golden and athletic; timid and unsure, instead of brash and competitive; and strangest of all, sweet and kind, when she had once been mean and abusive. Sarah's retrograde amnesia has caused her to forget almost everything about her life, from small things like the plots of her favorite books and her tennis game to the more critical—where she's been the last four years and what happened at the park on the fateful day she vanished. Despite the happy ending, the dark details of that day continue to haunt Nico, and it becomes clear that more than one person knows the true story of what happened to Sarah. . . . 

Review: Chasing Truth Blog Tour

Chasing Truth (Eleanor Ames #1) by Julie Cross

Release Date: September 27, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Publish
Format: eARC
Pages: 400
Amazon  |  Goodreads

At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden.

When former con artist Eleanor Ames’s homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions.

Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.

I am a huge fan of Julie Cross'   . . . . series, so I was so stoked that for Chasing Truth. I am such a huge fan of mysteries and couldn't contain my excitement to dive in to this read.

The main character, Eleanor Ames, has had a bit of a troubled life with a colorful past. She's learned she can't depend on anyone, except her sister Harper and her best friend Simon. After homecoming Simon commits suicide. This doesn't make any sense to Eleanor so she starts looking into his suicide but the deeper she gets, the more she realizes that something isn't right.

I really enjoyed Eleanor as a main character, she was snarky in a way that reminded me of Veronica Mars, and I really enjoyed the bond she had with her sister Harper. I admired her determination to not let Simon's death go, even when this meant putting herself in danger. The new guy next door, Miles, was a great addition to this book! His character is hot and there was such amazing chemistry between them.

I had just finished binge watching all 3 seasons of Veronica Mars (can you believe I'd never seen it!) and I didn't quite know what to do with myself. This book is so perfect for fans of Veronica Mars. Seriously guys, this book is for you! Julie Cross did an amazing job with this one, it was suspenseful, and kept me guessing right until the very end. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Don't forget to go HERE to check out other stops on the tour.

 

Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).

She’s also the author of the Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.

She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.

Outside of her reading and writing cred, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Review: Secrets in the Snow

Secrets in the Snow by Michaela MacColl

Release Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Source: Publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 288
Amazon  |  Goodreads


This is the fourth of Michaela MacColl’s Novels of Intrigue and Romance. This one is centered around Jane Austen—one of the world's most beloved authors who lived in a time with particular appeal to historical fiction enthusiasts.

Jane Austen’s family is eager to marry her off. Coming from a family of little means, it is the only way she can be assured of a comfortable future. Jane is much more interested in writing her novels, and finds every suitor lacking in one way or another. That is, until the mysterious Mr. LeFoy arrives on the scene. 

But when her cousin is suspected in aiding the French, England’s enemy, Jane is suddenly sidetracked trying to prove her cousin’s innocence, solving a murder, and ultimately facing a decision that might just cost her true love.

Michaela MacColl has once again intertwined the facts of a beloved author’s real life with a suspenseful fictional tale that will not only have readers on the edges of their seats but also, like Jane, debating right versus wrong, family versus independence, and duty versus love.

I am a big time Jane Austin fan, I blame it on my Mom, she started me young! haha So naturally, I was really eager to read Secrets in the Snow. The main character is a young Jane Austen who finds herself knee deep in a lot more than snow! Jane is caught between a rock and a hard place, the government wants her aid in gathering intel on her cousin, while she is dead set on proving that her beloved cousin isn't a french spy. Ack! She does it all while writing, solving a murder, and ensnaring the mysterious Mr. LeFoy to fall in love with her! I don't know how she does it.

This book was a huge home run for me! I love Jane Austen, literary characters, historical romance, espionage, mysteries, and this had it all! I am so delighted with this book and I found it really fun and entertaining!

French spies, a murder, ... seriously so much awesome in one book! The author stayed true to what you would imagine the spirit of a young Jane Austen to be and I found it really entertaining. I loved this book and I  read it from cover to cover in one day! It was a delicious historical tale full of espionage and intrigue and I think Jane Austen fans will be delighted!

 

Coloring Book Review: Wonderland by Amily Shen

Hi Lovelies!

I've been coloring in coloring books my entire life, literally! As an adult in my late 20's when I'd get invited to a friends house for movie night, it usually involved some snickering because I came with my tote bag full of crayons, coloring books and snacks! I have loved coloring since I was a child, and never stopped!

Several years ago when I first heard about adult coloring books I was super excited. It was like a big IN YOUR FACE to all the people who laughed or made fun of me. I bought my first adult book and I've never looked back. If your like me, this is not a craze, but a passion, a whimsical escape from a hectic day and a wonderful world of solitude.

I've mentioned before that this blog will be evolving, as I too have evolved. One way is with the addition on adult coloring book reviews. Squeee!!! So let's jump right on in to Wonderland by Amily Shen




Wonderland: a Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures

Author: Amily Shen
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Format: Finished Copy
Source: Publisher- for review
Pages: 80





Just like with any book, when it comes to the world of adult coloring, you'll quickly find who your favorite author's or artist's are. I've been a huge fan of Amily Shen for ages. I was always so jealous of everyone who could afford to pay the high prices to have her books exported from Asia. For me, that was just way outside of my price range, so I am absolutely thrilled that her books are starting to be published here in the states! When the chance came to review one of my favorite works of hers, I jumped at it!

 The cover is just so perfect, in my opinion. One of the things that makes Amily Shen my favorite artist is her use of childhood whimsy and fun. That definitely shines through in the cover of her book.

The book itself, like most adult coloring books is paperback with the cover being made of a thicker, more durable material.

You'll see some of the classic character's on the cover like the mad hatter and the cheshire cat!

The dust jacket is completely removable, which I really like. Underneath you'll find more of her whimsical art. On the underside of the dust jacket the background is white , with more art work. I really liked this because it is perfect for those who like to use sharpies to color with. This is the perfect place for those, and I loved that the artist left no wasted space!

The cover itself, once the dust jacket is removed is much the same. The background is this really beautiful peach color with art work done atop in black. Again, for those who love to color in sharpie's I feel like this would be the perfect place to make good use of them!

This is one of the first images I came to in the book, and I just couldn't leave the page black and white. The book is a clever mix of stories from the original Alice in Wonderland with classic art that Amily Shen is known for throughout the pages.

The pages themselves are a really nice thick quality, which is important in the adult coloring world. The pages are printed double sided, which can sometimes be an issue, but with the thicker heavier pages used, it wasn't!

I used an array of colored pencils in this book. From the kind you'd have used in school from brands such as Crayola, and Rose Art ( remember those! Are they even still around?!?) To the higher end like Prisma Color. I also used my stabilo fineliner's to add richness and depth, and draw the eye to certain parts of the artwork that I wanted to stand out. Typically on a thin or cheap quality paper the fineliner's will bleed through the page and become visible on the backside. In really sad instance's they have bled through several pages, but that was not an issue here with this book! It never bled through to the backside, making the double side printed pages no issue at all!

This book was a huge homerun for me and I had a blast getting lost in the pages. I highly recommend picking this one up! Before I go I will leave you with one last imagine.

Review: The Initiation ( Lock and Key #1 )

The Initiation ( Lock and Key #1) by Ridley Pearson

Release Date: September 20, 2016
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 384
Amazon  |  Goodreads



Bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and the Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson reimagines the origins of the epic rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. Set in modern times and focusing on Moriarty's bone-chilling beginnings, this middle grade mystery-adventure series will upend everything you thought you ever knew about Sherlock Holmes—and the true nature of evil.

In the pantheon of literature’s more impressive villains, Sherlock Holmes’s greatest nemesis, James Moriarty, stands alone. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle describes him in the classic tale “The Final Solution,” Moriarty is a genius, a philosopher, and a spider in the center of his web. He is the Napolean of crime—and now, for the first-time ever, New York Times bestselling novelist Ridley Pearson explores the origins of his evil ways.

Our story begins when James and his younger sister, Moria, are unceremoniously sent off to boarding school at Baskerville Academy. It is not a fate either want or welcome—but generations of Moriarty men have graduated from Baskerville’s hallowed halls. And now so too must James. It’s at Baskerville where James is first paired with a rather unexpected roommate—Sherlock Holmes. The two don’t get along almost instantly, but when the school’s heirloom Bible goes missing and cryptic notes with disconcerting clues start finding their way into James’s hands, the two boys decide that they must work together to solve a mystery so fraught with peril, it will change both their lives forever!

It’s another seat-of-your-pants mystery from the bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and The Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson.

I originally picked this up not knowing ANYTHING about it. I had just finished reading some dark dystopians and wanted to break this up with a quick MIDDLE GRADE title.  While I feel like this is more YA than MG...I am head over heels in love with this book!

The Initiation turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be. First of all, I think it was absolute BRILLIANCE on the part of Ridley Pearson to write a re-imagining of the whole Sherlock Holmes story. This story centers on the tumultuous relationship between Holmes and Moriarty, and I personally ate it UP! It was so brilliant to stage this at a boarding school , the Baskerville Academy. Ahhh!! EPIC!

The Moriarty's are a huge deal to the Baskerville Academy and have been attending for over 5 generations.  James and Moria are both sent there by their father and that's when this story truly takes off! James finds himself stuck with the most annoying, arrogant room mate, none other than a young Mister Sherlock Holmes. Squeee!!!

The story is told through the eyes of Moria Moriarty in a modern day setting. This book was absolutely perfect in every way! I am a HUGE Sherlockian , and I have read countless takes on the original beloved classic. I've read everything from the originals, the children of Sherlock, his niece, and all the way to the manga versions and this stood out from them all! 

There is mystery, suspense, secret societies, secret codes, and just so soooo many SECRETS! This book is totally EPIC and I hope that the author continues on with more stories in this style. If your a fan of Sherlock Holmes, and secret societies than this book is PERFECT for you! I highly recommend it!

 

Interview: The Replacement Crush Blog Tour

The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts

presented by Entangled Teen and

hosted by Chapter by Chapter!

This tour will run from September 5-23, 2016.

Hey Guys!

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour today. I had such a blast chatting with Lisa Roberts Brown about her book, The Replacement Crush.

I absolutely love that the main character, Vivian, is a book blogger! Where did your inspiration for this book come from?

I’m so glad you liked Vivian! I wanted to write about a girl who makes no apologies for championing romance novels, but who struggles with romance in real life…someone who doesn’t know quite how to respond when she meets her own real-life hero, and makes some not-so-smart decisions on the road to her happily ever after.

Also, I secretly wish I could be seventeen again and be a book blogger. That world didn’t exist when I was a teenager, but I would’ve been all over it if it had!

Obviously Vivian is an avid reader just like us! What are some of her favorite books and authors? Any summer recommendations from Viv?

Vivian has so many recommendations for you! She loves classics like Jane Austen, but reads plenty of contemporary books, too. In fact, she thought she’d hate Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith but she actually loved it (and the movie). She also loved First and Then by Emma Mills, a Pride and Prejudice retelling.

Vivian likes mysteries, too (because of her author mom). In that genre she recommends Holding Court by K.C. Held, a light-hearted YA mystery with romance, and A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro, a YA Sherlock Holmes retelling that is dark and brilliant and amazing, according to Viv.

Hey Girl, are there any celebrities who would make it onto Viv's Replacement Crush List?


                                                

Well, Viv isn’t as obsessed with celebrities as her friend Jaz, but she definitely has crushes. Dylan O’Brien tops Viv’s list because he reminds her of Dallas.

                                        


Any fail proof summer romance tips for our readers?


Yes! Vivian says to trust your gut…and your heart. If somebody sets off your Enterprise red alert warning system, back away. Better yet, run. On the flip side, if you meet someone amazing but feel shy and unsure of yourself, take a risk. Meet them for coffee, like Viv does with Dallas. You never know what might happen ;).

And finally, are you excited for the new Star Trek movie?

So excited! I’ve already seen it twice. I was so saddened by Anton Yelchin’s tragic death and cried watching him in the movie. He was so talented. 

I thought the movie was fantastic. I’ve loved the whole Chris-Pine-as-Kirk franchise. Just like Viv in THE REPLACEMENT CRUSH, I’m a Trekkie nerd, but I don’t like to dissect and tear apart all the different movies and series like Dallas does. I just love imagining a vast universe full of possibility, of diversity, of exploration…and romance, of course.

Thank you for letting me interview you today!

                                    

I had so much fun! :) Thanks for having me!

That is it for my Blog Tour stop today. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Make sure you check out Chapter by Chapter for more stops on the tour! 

The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts
Publication Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Entangled TEEN



True love can’t be strategized.


After book blogger Vivian Galdi’s longtime crush pretends their secret summer kissing sessions never happened, Vivian creates a list of safe crushes, determined to protect her heart.


But nerd-hot Dallas, the sweet new guy in town, sends the mission and Vivian’s zing meter into chaos. While designing software for the bookstore where Vivian works, Dallas wages a counter-mission.


Operation Replacement Crush is in full effect. And Dallas is determined to take her heart off the shelf.

Lisa Brown Roberts still hasn't recovered from the teenage trauma of nearly tweezing off both eyebrows and having to pencil them in for an entire school year. This and other angst-filled memories inspire her to write YA books about navigating life's painful and funny dramas, and falling in love along the way.


Her almost forever home is Colorado, though she occasionally pines for the days when she lived within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. Her house is full of books, boys, four-legged prima donnas, and lots of laughter.


Author Website: www.lisabrownroberts.com
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/LBrownRoberts
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorLisaBrownRoberts/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8287979.Lisa_Brown_Roberts

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Review: The Cabin

The Cabin by Natasha Preston

Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source:  Publisher
Format:  eARC
Pages:  336
Amazon  |  Goodreads

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar and Awake.

When Mackenzie treks to a secluded cabin in the woods with six friends, she expects a fun weekend of partying, drinking, and hookups. But when they wake to find two of their own dead and covered in blood, it's clear there's a killer among them.

As the police try to unravel the case, Mackenzie launches her own investigation. Before long secrets start to emerge, revealing a sinister web of sins among the original seven friends. The killer is still free. Every one of them is a suspect. And Mackenzie starts to realize that no one is innocent…

I was super duper excited to read The Cabin, the minute I got the email that I was approved for the eARC, I set up camp and dove in. The synopsis sort of had a "And Then There Were None" kind of feel, but in a cabin in the woods and insert teens. I'm totally in! Also on a side note, I love the creepy cover with the rose and the cob webs . . . YASSSSSSSS!

So the book centers around our main character Mackenzie who finds herself in an awkward situation. She really doesn't get along with her best friend's boyfriend, but then again, no one does. In an attempt to bring everyone back together, she agree's to go on a camping trip with her friends, organized by her best friend and Mr. Evil himself. During their first night in the cabin everyone gets drunk and when Mackenzie awakens she is shocked to discover her best friend and her boyfriend murdered in the kitchen. With everyone locked in for the night, that means one of them had to be the murderer!

So I have to admit that throughout the book, I really liked all of the character's minus the one I refer to as Mr. Evil. lol I was convinced that no one there was capable of such a heinous murder, and was really hoping it was an outsider, or was it? Oooo

Anyways...this was a really fast paced story and I enjoyed reading it. The ending felt a little rushed for me but it didn't keep me from enjoying the story.

 

Review: Diplomatic Immunity

Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy.
Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.
Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.

Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.

The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love?

   

 It's crazy to me that I've never read anything from Brodi Ashton before. Crazy! I actually have several of her other books, autographed at that!, but have yet to read them. I was so excited to read this one though. The title really jumped out at me and I was really eager to start reading it. I've been in a reading slump and this sounded a little different than what I had been reading lately.

Diplomatic Immunity was not quite the book I thought it would be going in. For some reason, completely my own fault, I had envisioned this amazing YA action packed thriller full of espionage and international intruigue, basically a Bourne for teens. Which is kind of ridiculous and way, WAY off base considering the synopsis coins it a contemporary romance. haha Seriously . . . what was I thinking?!?!?

Once I got over the initial shock and settled in, I really, really enjoyed it. As contemporary romance's go, this book definately has a unique and interesting spin on it. I really liked that this wasn't your typical, fall in love over the summer story. The story follows our main character Piper, who dreams of becoming a journalist. But her family can't afford to send her to college, so when she wins a scholarship to a super elite Chiswick Academy she jumps on it. She finds herself classmates with the rich and wealthy, as well as kids of political giants with diplomatic immunity. The academy is home to a Bennington Scholarship for journalist students, and if she wins she'll be able to go to the college of her dreams! She just has to write a killer article to get everyone's attention and land the scholarship.

The main character, Piper, is very determined, she knows exactly what she wants and she goes for it! At times I admired that and at times it drove me crazy. And at other timees I was ashamed of her, and the lengths she would go to get what she wanted. Overall I really loved this book, and I can't wait to pick up the other Brodi Ashton books on my shelf.

Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 368
Amazon  |  Goodreads

Top 10 Tuesday: This Old Thing?

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we get to make bookish lists!

This Weeks Topic: 10 Books On Your Shelf Since Before You Started Blogging

Whew! That's a mouthful you guys. Anyways . . . this weeks topic is going to be both embarassing and a little difficult for me. Embarassing because I've been blogging since 2010 and I'm a skosh embarassed to say I've had books on my bookshelf for over 6 years that have still yet to be touched. And difficult because most of my books are still boxed up from recently moving my entire apartment into one bedroom of my parents home.

The Ancient Artifacts

• Jessica Darling series books 1 to 3
• A Spy in the House ( The Agency #1) by Y.S. Lee
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
• The Luxe by Anna Godbersen books 1 to 3

There we have it, surprisingly that wasn't too hard. Sadly . . . I had more than 10 books that have sat unread for 6 + years

This concludes this weeks Top 10 Tuesday. Let me know if you've read any of the books on my list, and make sure you let me know if you participated this week. I'd love to stop by and check out everyone's list!  Until next time . . . 

Happy Reading!

XOXO