Lili Lost in a Book: October 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Blog Tour- Review + Giveaway: The Summer of Shambles (Ondine #1) by Ebony McKenna

Title: The Summer of Shambles

Series: Ondine #1

Author: Ebony McKenna

Genre: YA, fantasy

Publication date: June 21, 2013

Published by: Egmont, Hardie Grant, Bookbaby

Source: For review from author via Xpresso Book Tours

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Apple ibooks | Kindle | Kobo | Nook

Blurb:

Dive into this wonderfully witty young adult series from author Ebony McKenna, set in the far off European country of Brugel.

15-year-old Ondine is struggling to fit in at Psychic Summercamp and doubts she possesses any of her family’s magical abilities. She resolves to leave, determined to follow her own path and be a normal teenager. Whatever normal is in a place like Brugel.

On the way home Ondine is shocked when her pet ferret Shambles starts talking – in a cheeky Scottish accent no less! He is in fact a young man trapped in a witch’s curse. When he briefly transforms into his human self, Ondine is smitten. If only she can break the spell for good, Shambles can be handsomely human on a full-time basis.

During the summer, these two misfits uncover a plot to assassinate a member of the royal family and discover a secret treasure that has remained hidden for decades. This attracts the attention of the arrogant Lord Vincent, and Ondine can’t help being drawn in by his bad-boy charm.

With so many demands on Ondine’s attentions – and affections – normal has never seemed so far away.

The Summer of Shambles is the first in the four-part ONDINE series. Fans of The Princess Bride or the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series will love this delightfully quirky fairytale.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This was a really fun story. When I first heard about it, reminded me about a short story by Michelle Rowen called "Familiar," which is actually what caught my attention. I loved that short story about a young witch with a familiar who actually turns out to be a swoon-worthy boy, and this story was very similar! That concept is just very intriguing to me and a lot of fun, too!

Book Blitz- Excerpt + Giveaway: Ghost Heart (The PSS Chronicles #3) by Ripley Patton

Ghost Heart (The PSS Chronicles #3)
By Ripley Patton
Genre: Paranormal Thriller, YA
Release Date: October 14, 2014

Blurb: In the aftermath of a brutal tragedy, Jason and Passion are on the run. Marcus is lost beyond reach, and The Hold is in shambles. If that weren't enough, Olivia Black has been taken by the CAMFers to be used as Dr. Fineman's personal lab rat in his merciless quest to uncover the mysteries of Psyche Sans Soma once and for all. But only if he can break her.

They are scattered.
They are devastated.
They are ruined.

Their only hope is Olivia's stubborn determination to thwart her captors and unlock the secrets of her ghost hand before Dr. Fineman can. Will she finally find the strength within herself to embrace the full power of her PSS?

And will it even matter if Marcus has already betrayed her?

You can find Ghost Heart here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Ghost Heart Excerpt - Passion's POV

"Passion, we're going to have to break cover," Jason said, talking loudly so I could hear him over the roar of the river. "I'll go first and scout out a clear path. Then I'll come back for you, but it could take a while. Just be patient and stay hidden."

"Okay," I said.

"Once we're past this bend in the river, we should be able to move faster," he said, crawling away from me and scrambling through the brush out onto the open rocks. Then, he stood and moved cautiously around several large boulders, his gun in hand, never giving me a backward glance.

It took a moment for it to sink in; I was utterly alone in the wilderness. I glanced around, the stillness expanding away from me in all directions. Now there was nothing to distract me from the panic rising in me like a feral animal determined to scratch its way out. What if Jason didn't come back? What if he'd left me here for the CAMFers to find so I wouldn't slow him down?

No, he would come back. He had to. He was all I had left. I just needed to focus and stop freaking out.

I waited, ten or fifteen minutes maybe. Something rustled in the brush above my head. It was a red-winged black bird perched on a branch, peering down at me with beady eyes as if to say, "What are you doing here, human? This is not your place."

A gunshot pierced the air, and I jumped up, my hand feeling for the knife in my pocket, the black bird fluttering into the sky.

The sound reverberated, echoing up and down the river canyon. I couldn't tell which way it had come from. Had it been Jason's .22 or a CAMFer's gun?

I waited, my body braced for more shots, but none came. What did that mean? Could the CAMFers take Jason down with one shot? Surely he'd have gotten one off too? What if they'd shot him? What if I was truly on my own now? I took a deep breath, ready to call out for him. Screw the CAMFers. Screw everyone. Anything would be better than dying in the woods alone.

And then I heard voices, male voices, coming closer, and I ducked down into my little brush hole just before a troop of armed men came around the bend from the direction Jason had gone. There were eight of them, four clumped close together in the middle. When they got to the boulders, they spread out a little, and I could see what they were guarding so carefully.

It was Jason.

The group stopped, and one of them shoved him face-first against a large, flat rock while another handcuffed his wrists behind him. I didn't see Jason's gun, but obviously, he didn't have it anymore. They made him stand and searched him. When they were frisking his pant legs, there was a discussion between the two who had bound him and another one, maybe the leader, but I couldn't hear it because the wind had shifted toward the river.

One of the men crouched down in front of Jason and grabbed the bottom of his right pant leg.

Jason kicked, clipping the crouching man in the chin with his boot, sending him sprawling backward onto the rocks.

Immediately, four of them were on Jason, pinning him down spread-eagle, yelling at him with their black guns drawn.

I clutched my knife, the handle digging painfully into my palm. What was he thinking? They were going to kill him for sure now.

The guy who was down staggered to his feet, shaking his head and clutching his jaw. The leader put a hand on his shoulder, asking him something, and when he nodded, they both moved toward Jason, blocking my view of him altogether.

What were they doing? I had to stop them. If I gave myself up, if I stepped out of the woods, it might defuse the situation.

I stood up and took a tentative step forward.

From that angle, I could see Jason's face, his eyes instantly connecting with mine. He was the only one facing me. All the men were focused on him.

"No," he shouted, as the leader grabbed at his ankle and yanked up the cuff of his pants, revealing the glowing blue pulse of his PSS leg. I'd never seen it before, even in all the weeks we'd camped together on the way to Indy. Jason hid his leg the way I hid my scars, and for much the same reason.

His eye bored into mine over the shoulder of the men holding him. His "no" hadn't been for them. It had been for me. I nodded at him and stepped back into hiding, my body sinking soundlessly down the same way my heart was sinking in my chest.

What would they do now? Kill him or extract him? And what could I do but watch? If I gave myself up, they'd simply do the same to me.

Previous books in the series:

Ghost Hand (The PSS Chronicles #1) By Ripley Patton

Blurb: Seventeen-year-old Olivia Black has a rare birth defect known as Psyche Sans Soma, or PSS. Instead of a right hand made of flesh and blood, she was born with a hand made of ethereal energy.

How does Olivia handle being the girl with the ghost hand? Well, she's a little bit morbid and a whole lot snarky.

Her mother thinks her obsession with death, black clothing, and the local cemetery is a bid for attention. But when Marcus, the new guy in Olivia's calculus class, stares at her like she's a freak, Olivia doesn't like it. And when her hand goes rogue, doing things she never imagined possible, Olivia finds herself running for her life with Marcus from a group of men bent on taking the power of her hand for their own nefarious purposes.

You can find Ghost Hand here: Goodreads | Amazon (FREE) | Kobo (FREE)

Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2) By Ripley Patton

Blurb: 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.

You can find Ghost Hold here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About the Author: Ripley Patton lives in Portland, Oregon with one cat, two teenagers, and a man who wants to live on a boat. She is an award-winning short story writer and author of The PSS Chronicles, a young adult paranormal thriller series.

Ripley doesn't smoke, or drink, or cuss as much as her characters. Her only real vices are writing, eating M&Ms, and watching reality television.

You can find Ripley here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Google +

Prizes you can win:

-A set of signed cover posters (US only)

-A $10 Amazon gift card (international)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out this book and let me know what you think!

Friday, October 17, 2014

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels

Series: Strange Angels #1

Author: Lili St. Crow

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2009

Published by: Razorbill

Source: Owned paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

My rating: ★★★☆☆

My father went way-out wack after my mom died and now he travels around hunting things that go bump in the night... --Dru

Basically this:

But now Dru's dad is also dead... err, undead.

[gif] "Nothing says family quite like the whole family being dead." -Sam -- 8x01 We Need To Talk About Kevin

Does this sound familiar to anyone else?? It's basically Supernatural, in book form! I was shocked to see so many similarities between the show and this book. It was crazy!

Blog Tour: God's Play by H.D. Lynn

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

God’s Play by H.D. Lynn

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release : September 18, 2014

Goodreads | Amazon

Blurb: Sixteen-year old Toby was trained by a family of hunters to kill shape-shifters — but he has a unique weapon in his arsenal. With a touch of his hand, Toby can lift the magical protection shape-shifters use to disguise themselves as human. It’s an unusual skill for a hunter, and he prefers to kill monsters the old-fashioned way: with a blade.

Because of his special skill, Toby suspects he may be a monster himself. His suspicions deepen when William, a jackal-headed shape-shifter, saves him from an ambush where Toby’s the only survivor. And Toby doubts William helped him for purely altruistic reasons. With his list of allies running thin, Toby must reconcile his hatred of shifters and the damning truth that one saved his life. It’ll take both of them to track down the monster who ordered the ambush.

And Toby needs his unlikely alley because he has a vicious enemy — the infamous Circe, who has a vendetta to settle against the hunters. Toby has to unravel the mystery of his dual nature. And he has to do it on the run — before Circe finds him and twists him to her own ends.

About The Author: H.D. Lynn is like Harry Potter in one way: she’s currently renting an apartment with a bedroom under her building’s stairs. Other than this, she explores fantasy worlds through storytelling like anyone else. She loves books with a mix of humor, adventure, and horror, and especially enjoys the urban fantasy genre. GOD’S PLAY is her first published novel.
When not writing, she enjoys hiking, climbing, and running. She’s a voracious reader, and has found listening to audiobooks while backpacking to be a perfect mix of two of her favorite things. She currently lives in Connecticut, but finds herself on the road often.

Find H.D. Lynn Online: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Check out this book and let me know what you think!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Review: Intrigue (Night Muse #1) by Stacey Rychener

Title: Intrigue

Series: Night Muse #1

Author: Stacey Rychener

Genre: YA, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: December 2011

Published by: Stacey Rychener

Source: Amazon Freebie

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Amid the 80,000 abandoned buildings in Detroit, a battle shrouded in secrecy is brewing. The Greek Olympian, Ares, runs the city as his own personal Coliseum while Apollo and Hermes struggle to shield teens from his deadly hobbies. Ares endless supply of gladiators is all the more accessible because the abandoned buildings of Detroit have become the flame for moths of ravers, vandals, scavengers, and urban explorers. The key to the entire conflict, Calliope, is just hoping for a fresh start now that her lifelong crush has finally noticed her. Although hoping for a fresh start in Detroit, is like saying you’re going to Las Vegas in search of true love. She soon catches the notice of one of the Immortals that recognizes her for what she is: a Night Muse. A Muse is a human that carries the soul of an Olympian within her, which gives the god immense power. Until Calliope reaches adulthood and awakens as a Bright Muse, there is no way to determine who her soul mate is. The Immortals start to draw Calliope and the people she loves into a deadly chess match. With her best friend’s life at stake, Calliope must seize control of her destiny and eliminate the deadly threat herself.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
Calli is seemingly your average, normal girl... but she's not, really. You see, Calli is short for Calliope, as in one of the nine Greek Muses! Calli is a Muse, she just doesn't know it yet. However, there was a very different take on the mythology in this book, so the Muses aren't like the traditional Muses in Ancient Greece. I love Greek mythology and I'm all for different/unique takes on it, but this one just didn't do it for me. I mean, the gods are portrayed as freakin' vampyres! (Yes, that's vampires with a 'y.') Oh, that and (without giving too much away) the whole thing about the gods and their souls being separated, and the reincarnation-type thing... it just didn't work! It didn't make any sense to me!

Review: Fate's Exchange (Twisted Fate #1) by Sasha Leigh

Title: Fate's Exchange

Series: Twisted Fate #1

Author: Sasha Leigh

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: August 2014

Published by: Sasha Leigh

Source: E-book from author for review

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Death wants her. Fate has already claimed her. Angels protect her.

When Alyssa Frank dies in an attack by rival students, she discovers that not only is there life after death, but that second chances exist. Sent back to relive the week leading up to her death, Alyssa must navigate a sea of right and wrong to find a way to change her circumstances before it's too late. But Death always meets its quota, and Alyssa is number one on its list. Every choice counts.

With new love brewing and friendships on the line, what happens when chances run out?

My rating: ★★★★☆
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected! I mean, it was practically Mystery Spot (that's an episode of Supernatural, btw ;)) but in book form! Basically, this happened...

This is one of those episodes I can watch over and over again.

Alyssa just keeps dying and dying and living the same week over and over. The Fates (as in the Greek mythology Fates) know something about Aly's future that no one else knows about, not even Aly herself. Enter David, some sort of (gorgeous!) guardian angel sent to watch over Aly. The romance was a little slow starting and kind of cheesy once it got going. But overall, I gotta say that I really liked David! He was very sweet!