Blog Tour/Giveaway and Character Interview: Of Neptune by Anna Banks + Toraf Interview!!!

Today we have the pleasure of hosting the Blog Tour for Of Neptune by Anna Banks.  We love this series so much, and we were so excited to get to interview Toraf, our favorite comedic merman!

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever

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And now.....let's get to that interview!!!!

1.)  Toraf, we at the YA Sisterhood love your sense of humor.  How has it helped you with a certain mermaid girl (who we are all jealous of)?

Mermaid girl? Oh you mean Rayna. I don’t know. Sometimes she calls me immature and she never laughs at my jokes unless I’m making fun of Galen. Mostly she doesn’t like me. Sometimes she does.

2.)  If you could go anywhere on land, where would you go?

I would go where the real Tartessos used to be so that I can imagine the huge waves that pulled it into the sea. Plus, there’s got to be some keepsakes still hiding under the sand there that Rayna would like for her human treasure collection. Or something valuable Galen could sell for me so I can get one of those car things that he has. When I learn how to drive.

3.) Tell us a secret no one else knows about you. :)

Okay look. I’ve been teaching myself how to drive while Galen’s asleep. I’ve only hit three things so far and one of them wasn’t even alive.

4.) What's your greatest fear?

I always have nightmares that Rayna will unseal us. And there’s this one lionfish that I tormented when I was just a fingerling. I always have dreams that he found me again only he’s bigger and…I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

5.)  Ok, last quick question...to make us swoon.  What's the most romantic thing you've ever done?

One time Rayna was looking for some pretty shells to put on her…on her…I think you call them breasts…She searched for days and days and couldn’t find any that fit quite right and then I found some. I knew they would fit right away because of the way they felt in my hand—uh, they seemed to the perfect shape, I meant. So I brought them to her. She was really surprised at first—she actually didn’t say anything. Then she got mad for some reason and snatched them out of my hand. But I knew she liked them because she wore them the next day. 

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Author Links/Info

• Learn more about Of Poseidon.
• Learn more about Of Triton.
• Learn more about Girls Day Out.
• Join in on social media with #OfNeptune.
• Add Of Neptune to your to-read list on Goodreads.
• See Anna Banks on the Spring 2014 Fierce Reads tour!
• Visit Anna’s website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

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Death Sworn Blog Tour Review: Review and Giveaway

Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

Available Now

Published by Harper Teen

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Unique setting, yummy alpha male, but slow paced at times

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

It seems that High Fantasy is the new big thing in ya literature lately, so, like many other readers, I have jumped on the bandwagon.  I will admit, I’m not usually a huge fan of high fantasy, but there are some worlds that really catch my eye.  Leah’s world (at least the part of it we see) is unique and suspenseful, and while it lacked in the romance (cries), it was still a fun and quick read.

I liked that the story dives right in from the first sentence, no dull and drawn out world building.  Now many of you might complain about this, but so many high fantasies just seem to drone on and on and on about the world and the setting.  Leah doesn’t waste her time with this and jumps right in to the good stuff.  Now, at the same time, I do wish we could have seen a little more of the world.  The entire book takes place inside a mountain.  It’s dank, dark, and deliciously scary—but at the same time, I wanted to see a little bit more.

Ileni is our main character, and while she didn’t bug me, she didn’t really wow me either.  I liked her confidence and her determination to not let the all the assassin students get the best of her.  She stands her ground and even though her magic is fading, she manages to hold her own.   Then we have Soren, supposedly the best of the assassins.  He comes off as ill-tempered, but there is just something sexy about his alpha tendencies.  If only there was more romance!!!  This is my major complaint with ALL high fantasies—romance takes a back seat.  Romance is my absolute favorite part of ya, so I seem to have a difficult time with the lack thereof.

Most of the book is written in 3^rd person limited, where we just see Ileni’s pov.  However, we get brief glimpses into the “Master.”  Let’s just say, those brief glimpses will make you want to rear back and knee him straight in his magic place.  He’s just so cruel, and he makes it a point that everyone in the cave sees him as the ultimate power.  As far as villains go, he’s pretty good.

Overall, this is an interesting read, although lacking in a few key places.  Still, if you are a high fantasy fan, you should definitely check it out.

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Tour Schedule and Buy Links:

Week One:

2/24/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Original Content

2/25/2014- Mundie Moms-Original Content

2/26/2014- Bookish- Original content

2/27/2014- Fiktshun- Original Content

2/28/2014- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads-Review or Original Content

Week Two:

3/3/2014- Supernatural Snark- Original content

3/4/2014- Page Turners - Original Content

3/5/2014- Tales of a Ravenous Reader- Original content

3/6/2014- YA Sisterhood- Review

3/7/2014- A Backwards Story- Original content      

DEATH SWORN

Author: Leah Cypess

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Pages: 352

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

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Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner

Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner

eARC received from Carolrhoda Lab via Netgalley

Available Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Fantastic, Fun, and Full of Adventure

Ever since she escaped the city within the Wall, Lark Ainsley's wanted one thing: to find her brother Basil. She's always believed he would be the one to put an end to the constant fear and flight. And now, hidden underground in the chaotically magical city of Lethe, Lark feels closer to him than ever.

But Lethe is a city cowering in fear of its founder, the mysterious Prometheus, and of his private police force. To get the truth about what happened to Basil, Lark has no choice but to face Prometheus.

Facing her fears has become second nature to Lark. Facing the truth is another matter.

Lark never asked to be anyone's savior. She certainly never wanted to be anyone's weapon. She might not have a choice.

I really do love this series. Even though I have read so many paranormal dystopian novels, this one feels completely different from anything that I have read before.  There is just something completely magical about it that sucks me straight into the world. 

This one starts just a little bit after Skylark leaves off, and Lark is out searching for Basil.  Megan didn’t leave any time to waste, as the action begins straight off for Lark and Tansy.  Even though it’s the creepiest part, I am fascinated by the “shadow people.”  I’m still a bit lost about how the lack of magic turns them into empty cannibals, but it still fascinates me, especially when they seem so normal at times.  Anyone could be a “shadow person,” and that intrigue really drives the tension in the story.

I did have a bit of a hard time remembering everything that happened at the end of the last book, so I do wish that Megan had put in a few more reminders to clear my memory.  I couldn’t remember exactly why Lark left without anyone’s help, and I had somehow forgotten that she wasn’t a renewable.  She’s a drainer, of sort, and the institute is responsible for her ability to drain the magic out of other living beings.  It took me a few chapters in before I realized this again, so I think a few reminders would have helped me get into the book faster.

One of the things I was worried about before starting was whether or not Oren was going to come back.  I figured he would, but I didn’t want to have to wait more than half the book for him to show up like you do in so many other novels.  Megan didn’t disappoint as Oren makes an appearance in the first few chapters!!! YAY!!!!  And he’s just as wild and mysterious as ever—gotta love him for that.  Oren doesn’t speak much, but there is still something about him that just steals my heart.  I think it’s his leap first, look later attitude when it comes to protecting Lark.  That instinct is just so heartwarming for me!

Be ready for some great new discoveries in this book in the city of Lethe.  I was completely drawn in to this underground city, and I was fascinated with the society that had been built.  Sinister and secretive, the city gives more questions than answers. 

Overall, this is a great second novel.  It is slow at times, but I actually enjoyed the pace.  It was rhythmic, and just seemed to work well with the plot.  Now, I just have to sit around and wait for Book 3—come quick, please!!!

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And, of course...you need the password, right?

YA Sisterhood Blog Tour Password:  Renewable

 

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Giveaway Time!!!!! 

 US/Canada residents can win a signed copy of Skylark AND Shadowlark.

International residents can win (unsigned) copies of Skylark AND Shadowlark sent via Book Depository.

The winner will also win either a query critique (if an aspiring author) OR a pre-order copy of These Broken Stars (her new series co-written with Amie Kaufman). 

 

 

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Running On Empty by Colette Ballard

I am so happy that Spencer Hill is now getting imprints!!!!  I am a huge fan of YA, but I also love contemporary romance and NA; so when Spencer Hill announced the new imprints, I was very excited.  And now, its time to reveal the first cover for the new contemporary romance imprint, Tulip Romance!!!

So...check it out!!!!

What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky return to Texas. Her return means more than facing her ugly past, she must also face the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.

"Raw, romantic, and suspenseful!" ~  Katie McGarry, author of Dare You To

 

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And now, it's time for the giveaway!!!  It's US only.

 

 

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Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood Review and Giveaway

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

ARC received from Penguin

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Beautiful, Infuriating, and Chilling

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

This is by far my favorite series that centers around witches.  I love how Jessica weaves magic into a world full of prejudice and fear—a world rife to explode at any moment.  Fans of Born Wicked will find themselves on the edge of their seats—watching and waiting for the oracle to come forth, for love to be discovered, and for a war to begin.

My favorite aspect of this series is the setting.  I love the picturesque setting of quaint towns on the brink of a new century coupled with the tension and paranoia that bubbles through those very streets.  I’ve always been fascinated with historical tragedies such as the witch trials and Salem, and Jessica does very well in showing how a small spark of fear can catch hold and become an inferno.  The terror and suspicion is evident in every action, every word, and every character. 

I still love Cate as a main character, and what I love even more is that Jessica doesn’t hold true to the ya stereotype that the main character is the most important one.  It makes it so that the story is told from a different point of view in a sense.  I thought this made Cate even stronger character because everyone has been looking to her for guidance, so she knows the pressure of what is expected.  SPOILER:  We get a very strong hint as to who the prophesied witch is at the end of Born Wicked, and I got frustrated that the beginning of this book acted like the final scene in BW never happened.  It was like everyone (including Cate) didn’t have any clue as to who the prophesied witch actually was.  It kind of made me feel like Cate was a bit daft in the head.

Maura was just as infuriating as ever, which is a good and bad thing.  It was great because you know an author has written a character well if you wish that you could grab the girl’s hair and pull as hard as you can just so she can get a small glimpse of the pain she causes.  But, then it’s a bad thing because I truly loathe her.  She’s nieve, obnoxious, reckless, prideful, and just plain mean.  One might say she suffers from the “quintessential middle child syndrome” but I think that’s a bunch of quackery because I’m a middle child and I’m not a crazy, hateful (insert bad word).

Finn was just as delightful as ever, and I found myself disappointed that he wasn’t in more scenes—especially since his scenes are so yummy!  I loved the protective side of Finn; and on more than one occasion I just wanted Cate to run away with him and forget about the rest of the world.  But of course Finn is too honorable for that (I keep wanting to say Flynn because my son is watching Tangled!). 

The pacing of the book was up and down for me.  I felt like everyone was constantly on the edge of a cliff, teetering and almost falling over.  The problem was they were there for the entire book, and it got to the point where I just wanted something big to happen to start the impending war.  Something big does happen, but it’s not until the last 3 pages.  I wanted more action, more magic.

Overall, this was a great sequel, even though it did, at times, fall into the 2^nd book slump.  But the bang of an ending makes up for it, and I am so ready for their world to implode.  Allegiances have been declared, deceit has been unmasked, and the war has started.

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

 

Hey everyone!  Today we have the pleasure of hosting the Spies and Prejudice Blog Tour!  We sisters love Talia, and if you haven't read any of her books, you are completely missing out!!!! So, check it out, and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!!!

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Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

ARC received from Egmont USA

Release Date:  6-11-2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Flirty, Fun, and Fiery

Oh how I just love Talia Vance!  The first book I read and loved by her was Silver, a paranormal, mythology-based young adult book; so when I saw (months and months ago) that she was writing a contemporary spy novel, I swore to myself I would get a copy as soon as possible.  I am so glad that I kept that promise!  Talia once again blew me away!

This book will truly establish Talia Vance as a versatile and fantastic writer.  Spies and Prejudice is completely different from her debut novel, but it will still grab ahold of your heart strings and give them a nice, tight tug.  I just loved Strawberry Fields—ha, literally laughed out loud at that—who goes by Berry.  She’s strong and confident and doesn’t give a crap about what anybody else thinks.  If a guy gets too obnoxious or handsy, she just rears back and kicks him in his special place—or pepper sprays him, whatever works in that moment.  She’s this awesome tough chick whose witty repartee will leave you fighting to catch your breath.

I loved the spy aspect and the gadgets in this book.  I have only read one other ya spy book (Also Known As), so I’m pretty new to this side of the ya genre, but I will say, I am definitely going to have to read more.  I found myself fascinated by all the James Bond stuff that Mare creates!  It literally had me wanting to go on the internet and buy a bunch of spy toys just so I could feel all tough and duplicitous.  I may have to make my 2 year old’s birthday theme “I Spy” this year just so that I can buy some cool techno gadgets!

So…now for the guys!  Because we all know I read these books for the guys.  Who doesn’t?  There are two guys that line up for Berry’s affections—Tanner and Drew.  Tanner is the arrogant and conceited hottie that just grates on Berry’s nerves (and heart), and I was really drawn to the “Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy love/hate” aspect of their relationship.  It might be cliché, but I love when characters go from hate to love.  It always means there are going to be plenty of laughs followed by plenty of oohhs and ahhhs.  It’s a cliché for a reason, people!!  It works, and Talia wrote it perfectly.  I did wish we could see a little bit more into his background and motivations, so I’m hoping Talia decides to write a follow up to this one with a bit more attention on the beautiful jerk.

Then there’s Drew.  He’s genuine and caring, and he seems to really understand Berry.  She opens up to him when she feels like she can’t to other people.  I liked how Drew played foil to Tanner.  Where Tanner was hard, Drew was soft; where Tanner was delicious, Drew was the understated hottie.  They worked well playing off each other, and I found that it added some drama and tension to the story.  I do wish we could have gotten a bit more info on Drew, too.  I knew he was cute and ripped, but I had a hard time picturing him in my head.  Had there been a bit more description, I think I would have seen him better.

Overall, I really enjoyed the action and mystery in this book.  The characters were so realistic, and Berry’s mistakes, pain, and expectations really resonated within me.  I kind of felt like the ending was bit rushed, but that’s the romantic in me.  I wanted to see a big, passionate, “I love, love, love you,” scene like we get in Pride and Prejudice.  Still, I rushed through the pages, not being able to get enough of Talia’s quirky main character and brooding mystery boy.

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Website: http://taliavance.com/

Blog: http://taliavance.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TaliaVance

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575398.Talia_Vance

 

Coded Links:

Website/Blog/Twitter/Goodreads

Giveaway:  3 Winners Will Receive a copy of Spies and Prejudice and a T-shirt

2 Winners will Receive a T-shirt



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Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington

Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington

eARC received from Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Release Date:  On Shelves NOW!

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Exhilarating, Excruciating, and Exceptional

Let me just say, I love Jessica Shirvington.  This series is turning into one of my absolute favorites, and I am giddy with excitement for the new CW show based on this series!  After that ending from book 2, “Care for a trade, lover?,”  I was on edge because I just had to know what was going to happen next.  So, as often happens, I started building up these huge expectations for Emblaze.  And I’m happy to say, that it did not disappoint!  This is the best book so far!

One of the things I love about this series is it doesn’t waste any time jumping into the action.  So many books waste time reminding us of every little detail of the past book, and that really bugs me.  I like being reminded of some things, but the bigger stuff?  No need to remind us.  Jessica doesn’t waste your time with this, instead, she jumps straight into Exile vs. Grigori action.  There is never a dull moment, and so many of the scenes are filled to the brim with powerful emotion.  I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

So, if you’ve read my other reviews/teasers, then you know I’m a Team Phoenix fan.  Don’t judge me—I like the bad boys that are in dire need of redemption.  (I mean, come on, I’m Team Cole, Team Darkling, so it goes without saying, I’m Team Phoenix).  And we get SO MUCH Phoenix in this one that I felt like I was on Cloud 9.  I loved seeing inside his head, knowing the pain and loneliness that consumes him from the inside out.  It made him seem more human, even when his actions were cruel and demonic.  So many people might argue that he is truly evil, but I think, more than anything, he is suffering, and as a result, he lashes out at those he loves.  It happens.  How many of us have said something we regret to a loved one?  Now, Phoenix takes this much further than words, but I think everyone will understand him a bit more after seeing that he is truly broken.

Now even though I’m Team Phoenix, I still love Lincoln, and I won’t be disappointed when/if Violet ends up with him.  That’s another think I love about this book—both guys make me happy!  I usually have a strong negative reaction towards one of the guys when there is a love triangle involved, but here?  I like them both, and will be happy no matter what ending, unless somebody dies.  Then I’ll die of misery.  But if you’re a Lincoln fan, be ready for some angst.  Some heart-pounding, soul-ripping angst.  Violet and Lincoln’s love is epic, and this book really shows us the struggle they must undergo in deciding whether love is worth the risk.

Violet remains one of my favorite heroines.  She’s strong, but not the “I just woke up one day and was a bad ass” strong.  She still has to work on her powers, and there are definitely things about her powers and her past (not to mention her future) that are up in the air.  Still, she doesn’t let that bring her down.  She stands strong and fights the exiles head on without ever wavering.  She’s not whiney, even when she has every reason to be, and I really like this no pity side of her.  If she were to sit around moping, I would definitely get annoyed.

And

That

Ending!

Oh my gosh—I did not see it coming!  But don’t fret, it’s not one of those “Is he/she alive or dead” type of cliffhangers.  It’s more of a jaw dropping, “what the heck just happened?” cliffhanger.  It won’t let you upset or frustrated, only curious and thrilled for the next installment.

I highly recommend this series to paranormal romance lovers.  Jessica’s world is magical, where the characters are covered in either lies or love; and where the truth is the most heartbreaking thing of all.

 

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Blog Tour: Wait For You by J. Lynn

WAIT FOR YOU
by J Lynn (aka Jennifer L. Armentrout)
Received from: The Author
Reviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany
The Sisters Say: Witty, Wonderful and we're 100% Wooed!

NOTE: This book is NOT YA. It is considered "New Adult" and is appropriate for readers over the age of 18.

From Goodreads:

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…


We sisters pledged our love and allegiance to JLA long ago. She is the master of writing swoon-worthy boys, and she's done it again with Cam in WAIT FOR YOU.

I think I like other romances and couples, and then I read a JLA-romance, and am like "Holy Crazypants Batman! What was I thinking? THIS is a romance!" WAIT FOR YOU made me flail and giggle like a schoolgirl in love.

And let's be honest.... I don't even flail and giggle over romance in real life... only for swoon-worthy fictional guys like Cam. :)The romance in this book is realistic. It moves at a believable pace, and will draw you in completely.

But this book has depth beyond the romance. First, there are the secondary characters. Avery's friends are hilarious and likable. They remind me of my own friends, which went a long way to helping me connect to Avery and her world. They also made the overall collegiate feeling very genuine.

And lastly, there is Avery. Her story is so tragic, and I applaud JLA for not shying away from difficult issues in this book. While this book does follow a rather cliche New Adult structure about a heroine with a broken past who needs to be "healed" through love, it feels fresh because JLA makes some bold choices, including a really interesting twist.

If you are a fan of New Adult books and want something with both angst and humor, you should definitely give this a shot! It hit both the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists on its first week! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Buy it at Amazon. 
Buy it at Barnes and Noble. 

And because we're part of the blog tour, we have an extra special giveaway for you! Sexypants Cam has an awesome pet in this book, and we've got a bracelet to giveaway in its honor. :)

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Don't forget to check out the rest of the Blog Tour! Each blog has it's own unique giveaway! 

The YA Sisterhood is turning 2!!!!!! Happy Blogoversary to Us!

Wow!  2 Years!

I joined my two sisters at this blog right around this time last year, and it has been one heck of a ride since then!  I have become absolutely obsessed with books, and I don't see that going away any time soon.  I am one of those who constantly search goodreads for new books (that come out way in the future), and then stalks it for the first reviews to start coming out.  And I have this blog to thank for my ruined time management skills. :)

This year has been so fantastic!  We had the 2nd Annual YA Crush Tourney, which although it had a rocky start, ending up being legen---wait for it---dary!  We had over 500,000 votes cast throughout the tournament, and we were all giddy when Adrian won. 

And...the biggest deal of all?  We hit 2 MILLION HITS this year!!!  What a milestone.  We never imagined how amazing this blog would do, and we are all so happy to see it doing so well.  Plus, the friends we have made through blogging are amazing, and we love talking books and boys with them.

So, to celebrate our 2nd Blogoversary, we are going to be doing a few giveaways.  There isn't a set schedule to when they are going to post, so be sure to check back often to see if another one has started! 

Here are a few of the books/arcs we will be giving away:

If We Kiss and Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail
Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan
Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Belonging by Karen Ann Hopkins
How To Lead A Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller
Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

It's possible we will be adding more!!!

Lastly, we just want to say a big THANK YOU to all our followers and friends who have commented, voted, and supported us with this blog!!!!

Stitch by Samantha Durante: Guest Post and Giveaway

Hey everyone!!!  Today we are so excited to give you some insight into Samantha Durante's process for writing the sequel to Stitch!!!!  Hope you enjoy, and don't forget to enter the giveaway for an e-copy of Stitch!

The Glory of the Sequel by Samantha Durante

 

Sequels have a bad rap… particularly if they’re part two of a trilogy.  They’re known for being boring, slow, “filler” between an explosive beginning and the glorious climax of the end.  Not to mention there are the expectations to live up to, the high hopes of readers who loved the first book and waited eagerly for the second – only, more often than not, to be let down.

 

For all of these reasons, a part of me was dreading writing Shudder, the sequel to Stitch and part two of the Stitch Trilogy.  After all, Stitch was my first book – a grand new adventure – so I didn’t know what to expect when writing the next one.  And from what I could gather, it seemed like a lot of great authors really didn’t relish the experience of writing “Book 2.”

 

So I put off developing the plot for a few months while marketing Stitch, and that gave plenty of time for worries to swarm my head.  Would I be able to innovate enough to shock readers again after the huge twist in Stitch?  Could I come up with a storyline that was more than “filler” between Books 1 and 3?  Would I still be as enthusiastic about the world I’d created in this series to bring the same excitement to my work?

 

And it wasn’t until I finally took the plunge and started writing again that I discovered the answer to these questions: a resounding yes, yes, and YES.  Whew!  That was a relief.

 

You see, the thing I’ve decided I love about writing a sequel is that so MUCH of the work is done already – now I just get to play.  In Book 1, the world was built – so now I just have to fill in all the fun little details that make it real.  The characters came to life in the previous book – so now I just have to let them lead the story.  And after reading the last one, the reader already *knows* all the background – that means I can jump right into the action!  (And the romance! wink wink ;-)

 

And perhaps this is partially just the nature of the book I’ve written.  In Stitch, both the characters and the readers don’t know what’s really going on for more than half the book.  There are hints, of course, but it was difficult to really get the story going until everyone was up to speed, and I didn’t want to rush that part of the story.  Stitch lulls you into a sense of comfort, into a familiar place and storyline that you think you might have seen elsewhere – and just when you think you’re starting to figure it out, it dumps everything on its head.  That was something I’d rarely experienced as a reader, so it was a big part of the appeal for me as a writer – and I didn’t want to sacrifice the surprise by revealing the twist too soon.

 

So as a result, the beginning half of Stitch is admittedly slow.  The book really hits it groove as the twist is revealed and we move into the climax, and the last 30% or so of the story moves FAST – most readers have told me that from that point on, they simply couldn’t put it down.  But then, unfortunately, the first part of the story comes to an end.

 

The good thing is that this has allowed me to pick up Book 2 exactly where we left off.  Without giving away too much, in the first 10 chapters of Shudder there’s a blizzard, an execution, multiple attacks from unknown superhuman creatures, a steamy romance scene, exploration of a post-apocalyptic suburb, introductions of two mystery characters, the surprise comeback of a fan favorite from Book 1 (Nikhil), and lots of revelations about the history of this world, the motivations of the antagonists, and how the characters came to be involved in the plot.  In short, the story is MOVING – and I’m loving it.

 

It’s really an amazing thing to be able to dive right in and give readers exactly what they want without hesitation.  And to me, this is what sequels will always be about.  Not “filler,” but fulfillment – bringing the characters and the plot and the setting full circle and creating an authentic experience for the reader.

 

So faithful readers, I’m plugging away at Book 2, and I think you’ll be happy with the result.  Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to do about Book 3…

 

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Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer and Giveaway (Scarlet Audiobook)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

ARC received from Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)

Release Date: 2-5-2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Shocking, Salacious, and Seriously Awesome!

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

So, I read Cinder and Scarlet in the last few weeks, and while Cinder was good, it didn’t blow me away.  BUT Scarlet did!  It more than blew me away—It smacked me in the face with its awesomeness!!!  From Chapter 1, I was reeled into this futuristic world, and for the entire 450 pages, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.  Scarlet is mesmerizing—be prepared to enter a world dripping with malice, encounter characters laced with deceit, and discover love breaking its bonds.

Like I said in my Cinder review, I really like the world that Marissa has created.  It’s futuristic, yet it retains many similarities to our own world, so it’s easy to relate.  But the technology is what sets us apart—and this future is intricate and captivating.  I love seeing the different advances that have taken place and how they have affect society as a whole.  The androids and cyborgs create a different dimension that separates Marissa’s world from other dystopian novels.  I look forward to the next two books in the series, as they take place in separate parts of this new world.

I really liked that this book focused on Scarlet.  At first, I was kind of wary because she was completely new character, and I didn’t know how it was going to fit in with Cinder’s story, but the two plot lines merged fantastically.  The story is told in alternating perspectives, so we get to see Scarlet as she travels down her road in search for her grandmother, and on the other end, we also get to watch as Cinder travels down her own road of self-discovery.  I will admit, I enjoyed Scarlet’s story much better.  Scarlet was strong-willed and determined, but still all too human.  She falls prey to human vulnerabilities, and I liked seeing how others had to come to her aid.  She was strong, but needed help at times, and that made her open herself up to new relationships.

I absolutely loved Wolf because he’s my YA type!  Troubled and broken, broody with secrets.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—that’s the best YA guy in my opinion.  I love knowing there are secrets behind their actions because I love mystery in a guy, and there is definitely mystery surrounding Wolf.  He’s strong and over-protective, domineering and a jerk-face at times, but that just adds to the tension that he creates with Scarlet. 

In Cinder, I though the plot twists were extremely obvious, and while I still saw most of the twists in Scarlet coming, they weren’t laid out as openly.  You kind of had to stretch to see them.  Still, I’m hoping for a little less predictability in the future.

If you’re a fan of Kai (which I’m not a huge fan of), then you might be disappointed in this book.  He only shows up a handful of times, and those times are really not very lengthy.  I was perfectly fine with this because he is a bit too goody-goody, nice guy for me. 

Lastly, I will say that the blurb isn’t written the best.  It makes it sound like Scarlet and Wolf are meeting up with Cinder and that most of the book will follow them together.  This wasn’t even close to the case.  They run into each other very late in the book—the rest of the time they are on their own. 

Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I would highly recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds. 

Scarlet + Wolf = Jaw-dropping, edge of your seat fun!

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Review: Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and GIVEAWAY!

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Published by:  EgmontUSA

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Assassins.  Romance.  Conspiracy.  Need I say more?

There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

Assassins.  One of my favorite topics in YA!  We’ve been seeing more and more books focusing around assassins in the YA genre, and I love that each one of them is unique in their own way.  In Jennifer’s book, nobodies make good assassins because they lack “energy,” which in turn, keeps them from making any lasting mark on anyone.  Even further, they are almost invisible to everyone and everything around them.  So, of course—perfect assassins.

This book started out with a bang when Nix and Claire see each other in a very intense situation.  From there, it does slow down a bit, which was a bit depressing because that beginning was amazing.  However, it didn’t slow down so much that I was bored or frustrated.  I still kept flipping those pages at a quick pace because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.  So, push through the parts that drag because it’s definitely worth the read.

I loved the world that Jennifer created, mainly because I love conspiracies.  JFK, Bermuda Triangle, Roswell—they fascinate me, and the organization that Jennifer has created in her book is just like a giant government conspiracy.  They have tons and tons of power, and they use that power to manipulate politics to help them.  If something doesn’t go their way, enter Nix, seemingly invisible super-assassin.  Nobody knows people like Nix and Claire exist, and that makes it all the more intriguing!

I really like Claire as a main character.  I felt so sorry for her, seeing the pain and loneliness that she suffered, but she didn’t let it bring her down.  On multiple occasions she would start to feel sorry for herself and then straighten up and tell herself, “No pity.”  I loved her strength to persevere through that pain, and then when Nix finds her, the world seems to open up.  Immediately, they are drawn to each other, and no matter how hard Nix pushes against her, she pushes right back.  She takes ahold of this gift of friendship and love, and she doesn’t let it go.  It was great to watch her become even stronger in the face of danger.

I really liked Nix, too, because—I mean, hello, assassin!  He was one of those guys that can kill you with one punch, so power—he has tons of it (which I love).  He did bug me at times because he did let himself fall to pity whereas Claire resisted it.  But, those moments didn’t last long.  I liked that he was willing to give his life for those that he cared about, even after the organization had brainwashed him into thinking that he would never be loved in return.  I kind of wish we would have seen more kick butt and less somberness, though.

The only thing that really bugged me was the dragging pace, like I said before.  The book was long, 400 pages, and I think it could have easily been in the 300-325 range had they cut out some of the slower moments.  Those moments felt a bit repetitive, so I really think they could have easily been cut out.

Overall, it was a fun and interesting read and I’m looking forward to what’s next. I enjoyed the world and characters that Jennifer created. I would recommend this to actions fans, with a warning that you might have to push through some parts to get to the goods.

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Links:

Jenn's Website:  http://jenniferlynnbarnes.tumblr.com/

Videos with Jenn talking about Every Other Day: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd_tw6QiyVk&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eEuN3puSxo&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=16

Other Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyBa8wA-qEA&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEUU10wG7I&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXQ5qg00sxo&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKzxdDBDMs&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t6Ygam9QG4&list=UUonTZvoLSOMOx4ok-IyJPeQ&index=13

 

Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble = http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobody-jennifer-lynn-barnes/1110503726

Amazon = http://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Jennifer-Lynn-Barnes/dp/1606843214

Indiebound = http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781606843215

 

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