Book Spotlight: The Unseen by J.L. Bryan

Title: The Unseen

Author: J.L. Bryan

Publication date: October 31st, 2013

Review: Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander

Title: Stirring Up Trouble

Series: Stirring Up Trouble Trilogy #1

Short story in this same world: Camp Cauldron

Author: Juli Alexander

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: Jan. 2012

Published by: Juli Alexander

Source: The author via Netgalley (Thank you!)

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Zoe Miller is a 15-year-old witch with a talent for potions. She's working hard to find a substitute for toad slime. Since fat-free margarine has been found to be a substitute for dead man's toe, she's hopeful that she'll find one.

Then there's all the so-called normal stuff. Like high school, her annoyingly selfish "friend" Anya, and her crush on Anya's ex-boyfriend Jake.

Now, Zoe's dad is dating Jake's mom, and things are getting more and more complicated. If only Zoe could brew a potion or two and set everything straight. Zoe can't. If she brews a self-serving potion, bad things will happen to her appearance. Like a crooked nose, giant wart, green skin, rotting teeth--the whole ugly witch stereotype.

Zoe's tired of fate interfering so cruelly in her life. Can you really blame her for putting her potions to not-so-good use and stirring up trouble?

My rating: ★★★★★
This book... I just loved it SO much! There are so many great things about it that I just need to tell you!!

Review: Dial 'M' for Morna (The Dead Kid Detective Agency #2) by Evan Munday

Title: Dial 'M' for Morna

Series: The Dead Kid Detective Agency #2

Previous book in this series: The Dead Kid Detective Agency

Author: Evan Munday

Genre: Middle Grade, paranormal

Publication date: October 1st, 2013

Published by: ECW Press

Source: The publishers via Netgalley (thank you!)

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

As the Dead Kid Detective Agency embarks on its second (mis)adventure, October Schwartz and her five deadest friends are back, turning over metaphoric rocks and finding the centipedes underneath. In this latest volume, set against a backdrop of yuletide pandemonium, they discover dark supernatural forces at work in Sticksville and sleuth their way through a mystery involving a blizzard of suffragettes, ice skating disasters, anti-Asian sentiment, and the Titanic. Although the holiday season has descended upon the town like an eggnog rainstorm, October has no time for candy canes or mistletoe. She’s busy dealing with an oddly pleasant new history teacher, her two living friends’ new roles as high school radio DJs, and mysteries to be solved before the year end. October and her ghost friends are hot on the trail of those responsible for Morna MacIsaac’s death in 1914—or as hot as one can be on a 100-year-old trail—when Yumi becomes the target of a sinister harassment campaign at school. Solving dual concurrent mysteries at once won’t be easy, but the intrepid heroine in black eyeliner loves a challenge.

My rating: ★★★★☆
In "Dial 'M' For Morna," we've got a double mystery for The Dead Kid Detective Agency! First we try to find out who killed Morna. Second, October, Yumi, and Stacey are victims of a hate crime, and the question is... Who dunit? And oh my gods, there is a connection between both mysteries, believe it or not! It really surprised me.

Review: The Narrowing Path (Bowe Bellanger #1) by David J. Normoyle

Title: The Narrowing Path

Series: Bowe Bellanger #1

Author: David J. Normoyle

Genre: YA, high fantasy

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Fiction Addiction

Source: From author for review (thanks!)

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Only the strongest, smartest and most ruthless will survive.

Every six years, the world draws nearer to the sun. In Arcandis, those who want to live must claim the limited places in the Refuge, a series of underground caverns cooled by the sea.

The teenage boys of noble birth are sent out into the city to demonstrate their wits and strength. Some prove themselves in combat, others display their empire building skills, still others attempt to kill off their rivals. Out of over a hundred, only six will be selected by the leaders of the great families and allowed a place in the Refuge. The rest will perish, one way or another.

Not only is thirteen-year-old Bowe younger and weaker than most of the other boys, he has no family to support him. He is expected to die on the very first day of the narrowing path. Instead he begins a journey no one could have anticipated.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This action-packed dystopian was about boys proving to society their worth by surviving the cruel world they are thrown into. And when I say cruel I mean CRUEL! Brutal stuff, I tell ya. The people in this world, the royals, are just ruthless without an ounce of compassion whatsoever, killing anyone they desire/think is in their way. Man...

Review: Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2) by Ripley Patton

Title: Ghost Hold

Series: The PSS Chronicles #2

Previous book in this series: Ghost Hand

Author: Ripley Patton

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 2013

Published by: Ripley Patton

Source: For review from author

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Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Olivia Black is back.

Only this time she's not the one in need of rescue.

Samantha James, rich, popular, and an award-winning composer at age seventeen, is the next target on the CAMFers' list. In order to convince Samantha to come with them, Olivia and Passion must pose as cousins, blend into the most affluent high school in Indianapolis, and infiltrate a mysterious cult known as The Hold.

Olivia doesn't expect it to be easy, even with the PSS guys backing them up. But what she discovers over the course of the mission will call into question everything she ever believed about herself, her family, and especially about Marcus, the guy she is undoubtedly falling in love with.

My rating: ★★★★☆
So, in Ghost Hold, Olivia and the rest of the crew head out to rescue the next person on the CAMFERs list, and holy shi- *ahem* ;) Ripley really played with my feels in this one! I still cannot get over that ending! I don't know what to think anymore!

Review: Demigods and Monsters edited by Rick Riordan

Title: Demigods and Monsters

Contributors: Leah Wilson, Elizabeth M. Rees, Nigel Rodgers, Ellen Steiber, Elizabeth Wein, Kathy Appelt, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Cameron Dokey, Sarah Beth Durst, Jenny Han, Carolyn MacCullough, Sophie Masson, Hilary Wagner, Paul Collins.

Editor: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: July 2013 (Revised Edition)

Published by: Smart Pop

Source: From publishers via Netgalley (thanks!)

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

The #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson series-including The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth-features a twelve-year-old dyslexic boy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, the target of mythical Greek monsters and the center of a prophecy that could change the balance of power in the world forever. In Demigods and Monsters, YA authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, to add insight and even more fun to Riordan's page-turner series. Its fresh, funny essays include:

• The pros and cons of having a god as a parent • Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have • What it takes to be one of Artemis's Hunters • How to tell a monster when you see one • Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myths can still help us deal with the scary things in our own lives • Why so many monsters go into retail-and why they're never selling anything a demigod really wants

The book also includes an introduction by Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan, that gives further insight into the series and its creation, and a glossary of ancient Greek myth, with plenty of information on the places, monsters, gods and heroes that appear in the series.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Okay so I LOVE Percy Jackson and anything Rick Riordan writes because, well, he is just awesome like that. So when I saw this I knew I had to have it!

Saturday Book Swag Giveaway! (#4)

Hey everyone! So, I decided to post these giveaways every other Saturday (and yes, I realize I posted this one very late Saturday night), so there will be lots of chances to win! Again, here is what is up for grabs:

Some of them are SIGNED!

Lots to choose from! This time I don't have separate swag packs, I'll just make you a...

Surprise pack!

Of course, if you see something you like from the picture above, let me know in the comments! This will make it SO much easier for me to build your swag pack ;) And yes, I realize it's not really a surprise with your input ;) Onto the giveaway!

The Rules and Other-Important-Stuff-You-Should-Probably-Read:

• This giveaway is International.
• The winner(s) will be notified by e-mail on Nov. 1st and will have 48 hours to claim the prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. (So please, when you sign in to the Rafflecopter form, use an e-mail you check often and double check that it is correct.)
• Must be 13 or older to enter or have parent's permission.
• 1 entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted and participant will be disqualified from this giveaway. The only exception is the "once a day" entries.
• All entries will be verified. If any are falsified, all entries for that participant will be deleted, and the participant will be disqualified from this giveaway.
• Giveaway details are subject to change without notice.
• Lili Lost in a Book is not responsible for any lost items in the mail.
• Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Some of the featured Books:

Blog Tour - Review: My Sister's Reaper (Reaper's Rite #1) by Dorothy Dreyer

Title: My Sister's Reaper

Series: Reaper's Rite #1

Author: Dorothy Dreyer

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: May 2013

Published by: Month9Books

Source: For review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.

When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.

My rating: ★★★★★
Man, this book... SO AWESOME! The magic, the myths, the romance... I loved it all!

Cover Reveal: Valkyrie Series (Book #1-3) by T.G. Ayer

$50 Book Blast: My Sister's Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer

Welcome the My Sister's Reaper Book Blast! First of all, I've already read this books, and... it was AWESOME! You've got to check it out!

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.

When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Author Dorothy Dreyer:

I'm a Philippine-born American living in Germany with my husband and two teens.

I write young adult books that usually have some element of magic or the supernatural in them. I also like to read those kinds of books. Aside from reading, I like movies, chocolate, take-out, coffee, traveling, and having fun with my friends and family. I've also been known to make a pretty sweet cupcake.

I tend to sing sometimes, too, so keep me away from your Karaoke bars.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway!

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/18/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND don't miss the Blog Tour! My stop is exactly two week form today where I will share my 5 star review of this awesome book!

See schedule here!

Cover Reveal: Defector (Variants #2) by Susanne Winnacker

Hey everyone! Today I have a cover reveal for you all (thanks to Xpresso Tours!), Susanne Winnacker's Imposter sequel, Defector! Enjoy!

Ehh :D What do you think??

Title: Defector

Series: Variants #2

Author: Susanne Winnacker

Published by: Razorbill

Publication date: June 26, 2014

Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis for Defector not currently available.

Synopsis for book 1 – Impostor:

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

AUTHOR BIO: Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog and three bunnies in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals.

When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes.

Her YA thriller IMPOSTOR will be published on May 28, 2013. It has been optioned for TV by Warner Brothers!

You can find Susanne here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads