Review: Malice by Pintip Dunn

Title: Malice

Author: Pintip Dunn

Genre: YA, sci-fi, mystery thriller

Publication date: February 4th 2020

Published by: Entangled Teen

Source: ARC via Netgalley for Blog Tour

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Synopsis:

What I know: a boy in my school will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.

What I don’t know: who he is.

In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I’ll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I’m starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice they’ve lost all hope in humanity? Well, I’ll just have to find a way—because now they’ve drawn a target on the only boy I’ve ever loved...

My rating: ★★★★★
This book was incredible! As soon as I read the synopsis I knew it was something I needed in my brain asap! The premise was just really intriguing to me: Our main character Alice is basically trying to find out who in her school is going to release a virus that will decimate 2/3 of the world's population. There was also an unexpected sci-fi twist I wasn’t expecting at all, and I loved it! I don’t even want to say what it is because I went into this not knowing and I was pleasantly surprised. So, since the synopsis doesn’t mention it, I won't either 😉 I will tell you this though, the sci-fi aspect was very cool! And when we find out exactly what’s going on, I was mind-blown! 🤯 It was just really intriguing and really well done! And then the virus itself... damn 😬 To unleash a virus like that is just insane! What it does to humanity is awful and it’s definitely something you wouldn’t be able to survive. And it all comes down to one girl to save the world: Alice.

Blog Tour - Review, Nail Art, & Giveaway: The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams

Title: The Babysitters Coven

Series: The Babysitters Coven #1

Author: Kate Williams

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 17th 2019

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: eARC from publisher for blog tour

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | B&N | Kobo | Google Books

Read an excerpt HERE!

Synopsis:

Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil.

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it's kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she's good at it.

And lately Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let's just say she owes some people a new tree.

Enter Cassandra Heaven. She's Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria food. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme's babysitters club?

The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra's mother left her: "Find the babysitters. Love, Mom."

Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they're about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.

My rating: ★★★★★
As soon as I came across this book and read the synopsis I knew I needed to have it in my brain asap! I mean, magical, protective, babysitters? Umm, yes please! And it did not disappoint! It was so much fun!

Blog Tour - Review & Giveaway: Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Kill the Queen

Series: Crown of Shards #1

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: October 2nd 2018

Published by: Harper Voyager

Source: E-ARC for review from publisher

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | B-a-M | iBooks | Google Play

Synopsis:

The thrilling first novel in the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when an unlikely member of the royal family suddenly becomes a contender in a clash for the crown...

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of combat, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself... and kill the queen.

My rating: ★★★★★
So, I actually don’t read very much epic fantasy—I don’t have anything against it, I just prefer my urban fantasies. Lol. But I gave this one a shot cause I adore Jennifer Estep’s work! Literally everything I have read by her I have loved! I’ve actually been binge reading her Elemental Assassin series lately, but I took a tiny break from that to read this, and I loved it! Honestly, I’m not even surprised. Lol. I always say I will read anything she writes cause I know I will love it no matter what it is, and this book just proved my point. Lol.

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Spell Book & Scandal by Jen McConnel

Title: Spell Book & Scandal

Series: Spell Book & Scandal #1

Author: Jen McConnel

Genre: YA, paranormal, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 31st, 2017

Published by: Jen McConnel

Source: For review from Xpresso Book Tours

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis:

Shelby King is tired of living in her sister’s shadow. Just because Christina is the most powerful caster in school doesn’t mean Shelby’s any good at magic; she’s a scribe, like her mom, and everyone expects her to write spells for her sister, the way her mom always has for her dad. But Shelby’s spells fail spectacularly, and by the time she’s a sophomore, Christina won’t touch them with a ten-foot-pole; their parents aren’t much better. Shelby is fed up, and she decides to show the world she doesn’t care if she isn’t as good as her stuck-up sister, or as talented as their powerful parents. In fact, she decides it’s time to break all the rules, magical and otherwise, and she starts sneaking out to meet Jeremiah Smallwood, the second-best caster in school at illegal pop-up spell battles around town. She may not be able to scribe for him, but she doesn’t mind letting him think that she could; Shelby’s been half in love with Miah as long as she can remember, but he’s never paid attention to her until now, and she’s not going to risk her chances worrying about a pesky thing like the truth. But when Christina rats her out to their parents, Shelby can’t control her anger, and words come pouring out of her that she can’t take back even if she wanted to, threatening Christina’s future…and Shelby’s own chances with Jeremiah. It’ll take more magic than Shelby’s ever dreamed of to set things right, but no scribe has that much magic…right?

My rating: ★★★★☆
Shelby is not that great with magic. Like, every time someone tries out a spell she has written, it backfires spectacularly. At this point, Shelby has pretty much given up at magic. Especially when she is being overshadowed by her super talented, perfect older sister, Christina. And it doesn’t help that Christina is a total...

She is so awful toward Shelby—always insulting and belittling her. She is just the worst! But then things start to change for Shelby. She’s done with all these magical malfunctions and decides that she doesn’t care anymore.

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: The Girl Who Saved Ghosts (The Unbelievables #2) by K.C. Tansley

Title: The Girl Who Saved Ghosts

Series: The Unbelievables #2

Previous book in this series: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts

Author: K.C. Tansley

Genre: YA, paranormal, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 17th, 2017

Published by: Beckett Publishing Group

Source: Review copy from publisher

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Synopsis:

She tried to ignore them. Now she might risk everything to save them.

After a summer spent in a haunted castle—a summer in which she traveled through time to solve a murder mystery—Kat is looking forward to a totally normal senior year at McTernan Academy. Then the ghost of a little girl appears and begs Kat for help, and more unquiet apparitions follow. All of them are terrified by the Dark One, and it soon becomes clear that that this evil force wants Kat dead.

Searching for help, Kat leaves school for the ancestral home she’s only just discovered. Her friend Evan, whose family is joined to her own by an arcane history, accompanies her. With the assistance of her eccentric great aunts and a loyal family ghost, Kat soon learns that she and Evan can only fix the present by traveling into the past.

As Kat and Evan make their way through nineteenth-century Vienna, the Dark One stalks them, and Kat must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to save a ghost.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I remember really enjoying the sequel to this book, so I was very excited to read this book! And I was not disappointed! Overall, I very much enjoyed it!

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Blackheath by Gabriella Lepore

Title: Blackheath

Series: Blackheath #1

Author: Gabriella Lepore

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: December 2015

Published by: Of Tomes Publishing

Source: For review from Xpresso Book Tours

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Maggie Ellmes is dogged by a case of chronic bad luck. She figures that’s just her lot in life—that is, until the psychic at Blackheath’s annual carnival reveals that Maggie’s problems are caused by more than just ordinary misfortune; she’s actually been cursed.

Desperate to shake the hex, Maggie has no choice but to seek out the help of Joel Tomlins, a rebellious classmate who’s descended from Blackheath’s most powerful line of witches. After breaking all of his coven’s conventions to help her, Joel discovers that the curse isn’t as bad as Maggie fears. In fact, it’s much, much worse.

My rating: ★★★★★
I love witchy, magical books, so this was right up my alley. And Blackheath--words cannot describe how much I loved this book!

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

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!

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!

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway

Title: Call Me Grim

Author: Elizabeth Holloway

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 9, 2014

Published by: Month9Books

Source: E-ARC for review

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | The Book Depository | iBooks

Synopsis:

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake — and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn’t shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron’s the local Grim Reaper… and he only saved Libbi’s life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark… but only if she accepts Aaron’s job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

My rating: ★★★★☆
When I first came across this book and saw that it was about reapers, I knew I had to read it! Call me morbid (see what I did there? lol), but I LOVE reapers! And this book did not disappoint! It was awesome!

Blog Tour- Guest Post: The Legacy by Melissa Delport

Hello my lovelies :) Today I have a very special post outlining the characters of Melissa Delport's The Legacy! Chek it out! This book sounds pretty awesome! ;)

Blog Tour- Guest Post + Giveaway: Eve Hallows and the Book of Shivers (The Nightmare Series #3) by Robert Gray

Hi everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Book of Shivers blog tour! Today I have a very special guest post for you from Eve Hallows herself! Seriously love that girl :) And make sure you enter the giveaway at the end! Enjoy!

Blurb:

So far, Eve's summer vacation has been uneventful, but when her grandparents—traveling all the way from the monster world known as Gravesville—appear at her doorstep, she learns that the URNS Director has gone missing. Worse, a new director, bent on destroying humans, has taken over URNS.

Eve and her family are no longer safe in the human world, and as they race to escape this new threat, Eve stumbles into a trap, which forces her back to Gravesville along with her family and friends. But once there, everything goes adorably wrong, and her best chance to get out of this mess is to seek out The Book of Shivers and the elusive author Sedrick Creach—the only creature who knows the secrets of the Nightmare Books. Unfortunately for Eve, searching for Sedrick and the next book in the series will reveal uncomfortable details about her own murky past.

Once again, Eve and her friends find themselves on an incredible adventure—one that involves underground battles with bloodthirsty creatures, a lightning-fueled train, and some unexpected new allies.

Hilarious and bone-chilling, this third book continues the story of an unlikely hero trying to save not one, but two worlds... This time around, though, Eve's not sure she can even save herself.

Find Eve Hallows and the Book of Shivers here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway- Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series by Nikki Jefford

Hi guys! Welcome to my stop on the Aurora Sky Blog Tour! You know, I've known Nikki for a while now, and I realized that I have never interviewed her in the whole time I have known her! So, today on my stop, I have an interview plus an awesome giveaway!

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Death is but a Dream (Elysium Legacies #1) by Erin Hayes

I am so happy to be part of this blog tour! First of all, this book was AMAZING! Second of all, GREEK MYTHOLOGY! I heart it! And third, we have an epic giveaway for you guys! make sure you enter! :)

Title: Death is but a Dream

Series: Elysium Legacies #1

Author: Erin Hayes

Genre: Adult, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: Fall 2013

Published by: Erin Hayes

Source: To review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis:

Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.

My rating: ★★★★★
Holy Hades, this book was amazing! I'm sorry, I just had to say that ;) lol

Blog Tour- Interview + Giveaway: My Ex From Hell by Tellulah Darling

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour! Today I've got for you and awesome interview with Tellulah Darling AND a giveaway! Let's get started!

My Ex From Hell by Tellulah Darling
(The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1)
Publication date: April 1st 2013
Genre: Young Adult

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:
a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Romeo and Juliet had it easy.

You can find the book on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

(Also, you can find my 4-star review of My Ex From Hell here, where I gush about this awesome book!)

About the author:

Tellulah Darling
noun
1. YA Novelist
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter and instructor
3. Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

Author links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Lili: Tell us 3 random things about yourself.

Tellulah:

1. I manage to be both a hopeless romantic and a horrible cynic at the same time, which means I’m not always sure whether to cheer or heckle.
2. I tap dance.
3. I would describe myself as a geek rather than a nerd. I think that nerds are smarter but I have better social skills.

Lili: Describe your novel in a Tweet (140 characters or less).

Tellulah: 16 yr old gets kiss from bad boy at midnight & learns she's Persephone Goddess of Spring & savior of humanity in war btwn Zeus & Hades YIKES

Lili: What led you to write My Ex From Hell?

Tellulah: I’ve always loved the idea of retelling/reshaping classic myths and fairy tales. Playing with them in different contexts. When I started to think about doing that myself, it was Persephone that really spoke to me. I didn’t want to retell the original or simply move the same story to modern day. I wanted her past mostly (with the addition of Kai) as is, and then make it firmly a human struggling to be a goddess. Sophie suddenly has to deal with all these expectations of herself on a global scale. It’s hard enough figuring out who we are as teens, so revealing a goddess identity just threw her into an entirely new pressure cooker. And because I love romantic comedy so much, this whole series, in my head at least, really is a rom-com first and foremost.

Lili: What was your favorite part about writing My Ex From Hell?

Tellulah: The friendships between Sophie, Hannah, and Theo. I’ve read a lot of YA where the protagonist doesn’t really have friends and that works well for those stories. But when I think back to my teen years, my friendships were so important to me. And I knew they were for Sophie as well. I just love the three of them.

Lili: What does your protagonist, Sophie, think of you? Would she want to hang out with you, the author… her creator?

Tellulah: Gawd, no! Maybe by the end of the series, Sophie would consider hanging out with an old person (i.e. someone over 30) but for now, her world is that of her peers. Not that I blame her. Her home life is pretty non-existent and her friends are her family. As for me, personally, I’m sure Sophie wouldn’t think I’m half as clever as I think I am. There would be a lot of eye rolling.

Lili: Can you tell us about any upcoming books?

Tellulah: Well, My Date from Hell comes out on October 31 and I’m hosting the Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney on my site tellulahdarling.com starting Sept. 16 to help launch it. Which should be a lot of fun. The final book in the trilogy My Life From Hell comes out next year. And after that? My next series is going to be a fantasy romantic comedy that is for older YA readers. More like my first book Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls.

Lili: I, personally, am a HUGE fan of Greek mythology! One of my favorite gods is Apollo, the god of medicine and healing (among other things), which would make sense since I’m a nursing student. But what I want to know is who YOUR favorite Greek god/goddess is? Is it someone from your book?

Tellulah: Great question! I think in terms of my classical understanding of the Greeks, it would be Eros because while he embodies love, he is also mischievous and sly. Plus he gets a happily-ever-after with Psyche. But for gods where I’ve made up their personality, it is most definitely what I’ve done with Hephaestus in book two of the series!

Lili: And lastly, if you had a superpower, what would it be and why?

Tellulah: Invisibility because I’m so nosy. I would love to be able to spy and eavesdrop on people to my heart’s content. Which is really shallow given that I could have chosen healing or the ability to make world peace, but I’m a writer so there you go. J

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

• This giveaway is INT.
• The e-books will be provided by the author.
• The winner will be notified by e-mail on Oct. 14th 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.)
• Prize will be mailed out on Oct. 21st
• 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.
• Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for stopping by and good luck to everyone who enters the giveaway! Make sure you check out the rest of the tour for more awesome content of My Ex From Hell! And a special thank you to Tellulah Darling for being on my blog today! :)

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Rogue (Croak #3) by Gina Damico

I got some more Gina Damico for you guys today! First the Authors Are Rockstars Tour, and now the Rogue Blog Tour, the final book in the Croak series...whoop! I feel so lucky to be part of all this awesomeness and am SO happy to be part of this tour! I've read Croak and absolutely loved it! And am currently reading Scorch, the second book in the series, and am seriously enjoying it! But enough of my blabbing... here you have her, the author of the Croak series!

Hey hey Croak fans! Welcome to my blog tour / photo hunt / Roguestravaganza!

From now until ROGUE's release on September 10th, each stop on the tour will reveal an image that represents a chapter in the book - could refer to setting, plot, an important object, mood, or whatever other diabolical visualizations with which I feel like tormenting my dear readers. Each image also contains a hidden letter...though really, they're not that well hidden. (If you have eyes, you should be able to spot them.) Collect the letters every day, and at the end of the tour I'll hold a contest, the winner of which will receive signed and annotated copies of the complete trilogy. (For a complete description of the contest, tour schedule, and links to the stops you might have missed, check out the blog tour page on my website.)

This photo is for Chapter 18. I will let the image do the talking.

Thanks for having me! Good luck everyone!

Blurb: Teenage Grim Reaper Lex’s power to Damn souls is getting out of control. She's a fugitive, on the run from the maniacal new mayor of Croak and the townspeople who want to see her pay the price for her misdeeds. Uncle Mort rounds up the Junior Grims to flee Croak once again, but this time they're joined by Grotton, the most powerful Grim of all time. Their new mission is clear: fix his mistakes, or the Afterlife will cease to exist, along with all the souls in it.

The gang heads for Necropolis, the labyrinth-like capital city of the Grimsphere. There, they discover that the Grimsphere needs a reboot. To do that, the portals to the Afterlife must be destroyed...but even that may not be enough to fix the damage. Things go from bad to worse, and when at last the fate of the Afterlife and all the souls of the Damned hang in the balance, it falls to Lex and her friends to make one final, impossible choice.

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a Croak prize pack: 3 signed bookmarks, 3 signed bookplates, 3 magnets, and a scythe pendant. Oh my! SO much reaper goodness! AND it's international! Woot!

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

• This giveaway is INT.
• This giveaway is author-hosted.
• The winner will be notified by e-mail on Sept. 20th 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.
• Void where prohibited by law.

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So, what do you think this image represents in Rogue?? Hmmm... Maybe Lex swoops in on an angelic hour glass and saves the day!! Yes! That's it! ;D *snorts* That's just ridiculous! There's no such thing as giant hour glasses with wings ;P

What do you think??

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - Read-A-Long Tour: Chapter 22 Recap + Runes

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the TMI Read-A-Long Tour! I have not read this series in a while, but this Read-A-Long has reminded me why I love this series (and JACE) so much! I am so happy to be part of the tour!

Anyway, I've got a Chapter 22 recap, and I am so glad I got this chapter because OH MY GODS we find out really CRAZY things in this one!

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Uniquely Unwelcome by Brandy Nacole

Being unique isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

After searching all over the world for someone as unique as she is, Racquel finds herself back in her home town where she’s treated like a monster ready to kill. Racquel is one of the most unique beings ever created. Four of the most powerful beings in the Shadow World are intertwined within her, making up her unique DNA. But no matter how unique her bloodline is, she’s considered an outcast by the entire Shadow World.

Once arriving home, Racquel finds that greater evils exist and that the person she cares for most in this world, her half-sister Addie, has been kidnapped along with other Shadow World beings. Racquel finds herself facing horrible odds with those who would rather see her dead than alive.

As her journey continues, Racquel learns more about herself, what she is capable of, and that not every being looks at her as an abomination. Coy, a human captive that Racquel saves from the Vampires, starts showing kindness toward her. Racquel tries putting distance between her and the human boy but as they spend more time together it becomes harder and harder for Racquel to fight the affection she wants and needs.

But will Coy’s friendship and her new found discoveries be enough to help Racquel unravel the strangest mystery that has ever plagued the Shadow World?

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository |

We turn the corner onto a bridge and I finally see it. The clock tower or as everyone else calls it, Big Ben. It’s absolutely stunning, especially at night. The clock towers over London showing its massive height and beauty as it proclaims the time for everyone to see.

As we’re walking across the bridge I notice Coy getting a little winded and sweaty. “You okay?”

“Yeah, but we may have to hail that ride back.” He’s winded but it doesn’t keep him from looking up in awe at Big Ben. I’m worried though, he looks like he’s about to pass out. Honestly what was I thinking? Making him walk forever, knowing he hasn’t had any strenuous exercise his whole life. But from the expression on his face I can tell he thinks it was worth it.

I wish I could get excited over something the way he is right now. See the world in a new way. Erase the memory of the past. I envy Coy for his look of astonishment and wonder. All I ever feel is dread and loneliness. I’m glad that someone has a chance to see the wonder and magic of the world. It does hold some amazing things.

We arrive at the base of the tower and its enormous beauty. The structure is like a huge piece of art work. There are angels and gargoyles all over the towers surface. The clock bell starts to chime, ringing loud for everyone to hear as its bright light shines through the night.

Once the chiming stops, I contemplate on going up for a quick view. But I can’t leave Coy behind. He might get attacked or feel left out. I go to discard the thought when Coy says something that gives me permission to take him with me.

“Wow. This is amazing.” Coy says, “I wish we could see the view from up top.”

I shrug my shoulders, “Okay.” Before he even knows what I’m doing, I have a tight hold on him. My hands are encircled under his arms and around his chest. Locking my hands I give a slight warning, “Hang on tight,” before launching us off the ground.

He tries to protest but it dies as we land on the roof of the adjoining Westminster Palace. Without pause I keep jumping. I grab hold of outcroppings along the tower to keep my momentum. In a matter of seconds I’m up the tower and sitting Coy on the ledge just above the clock.

I couldn’t see his face while we were scaling the tower but looking at him now, I have a pretty good idea of what his face looked like. His face is pale as are his knuckles, from the death grip he has on the railings. His eyes are practically jumping out of their sockets.

“What the hell was that?” He asks as he takes a shaky breath.

“What?” I ask innocently.

“That,” he shouts, waving his hand through the air to emphasize.

“Oh, well you wanted to see the view. That was the only way I could think of getting us up here.” I take a seat on a gargoyle, straddling it like I’m riding a horse, and lean back against the tower.

“A little warning would have been nice. You scared the hell out of me you know.” He still looks a little rattled but seems to calming a bit.

I laugh to myself. I had expected his response but it’s still funny. “Would you have gone?”

“Well-”

“Exactly! I knew you wanted to come up here but if I had asked you probably wouldn’t have been too giddy about it. Now will you quit complaining? It’s over and done. So just enjoy the view,” I say, taking in the view myself.

He doesn’t say anything more and finally looks around him. His expression is the same as it was before when he saw Big Ben on the bridge, awed with all smiles.

It really is beautiful. The moon is reflecting off the water. I don’t know what it is about the moon reflecting on the water but it’s comforting. The street lights below stretch out illuminating the city. From up here there doesn’t seem to be a care in the world. No differences, no fighting, just total blissfulness.

An urge hits me so hard that I don’t think I will be able to hold it back. Without even questioning myself, I stand on top of the gargoyle and look over at Coy. “Will you be okay up here for a few minutes?”

“I guess.” He looks at me cautiously. “What are you going to do?” Without answering him, I jump.

DUN, DUN, DUN!

Brandy Nacole resides in Arkansas where her imagination runs wild. Her obsession is reading but her passion is writing. She put her dream of becoming a writer on the back burner and went to college to become a psychologist. Three years after endless classes in a field she only felt half satisfied with, Brandy picked up her pen once again and wrote the outline to Uniquely Unwelcome. She finished out her degree in psychology, but traded her dream of writing for the degree and put psychology on the back burner.

Whenever she’s not reading or writing, Brandy is spending time with her family and friends, throwing around crazy ideas, teaching, and singing like a rock star at a concert for no one else but herself. She loves plants, but unfortunately is a killer of anything that requires water but can’t voice (scream) their needs.

She is the author of The Shadow World Series and The Spiritual Discord.

There’ll be 5 winners:

• 1st place: (1) signed paperback of Uniquely Unwelcome.
• 2nd and 3rd place: (1) ebook of Uniquely Unwelcome and the sequel Blood Burdens.
• 4th and 5th place: (1) ebook of Broken Faith.

*The giveaway is international*

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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Poor Coy, Racquel scared the crap out of him with her little stunt, lol....and then she jumps. Oy. What's the craziest thing YOU have ever done??

Excerpt + Giveaway: The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

Welcome to my stop on the tour! I've got an excerpt I picked out myself, so I hope you enjoy! Also, there's a giveaway at the end!

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Common Descent (Darwin's Children #3) by Natasha Larry

I've got the cover of the third book in Natasha Larry's Darwin's Children to reveal to you today! Also, don't miss out the giveaway at the end!

Check out the cover: