Blog Tour & Giveaway: STONE COLD TOUCH by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch (Dark Elements Book #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Harlequin Teen

Out Now

Reviewed by: AmyG (big sis)

Sister's Say: Decisions are Painful!

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

After the ending of white hot kiss left us gutted and bleeding all over our books, Stone Cold Kiss jumps in to kill us a little more only to patch us back up then rip the wound right back open. Layla (not to mention myself) is left with a broken heart after Roth sacrificed himself for her, and Zayne is there to pick up the pieces in Stone Cold Touch. SCT is definitely Zayne's time to shine, and he uses every opportunity he's given. He's sweet, protective and very Aiden-ish.  There is a lot of Layla/Zayne time, so all you Zayne fans out there are going to be thrilled!

However, this book isn't just all lovey dovey Zayne time. Some crazy things start happening, and once again it's all tied to Layla. Things get so bad that loyalties are tested and relationships are stretched to the breaking point. No one comes out unscathed.

The silver lining in all of this is that ROTH comes back! It's a rough homecoming though because time has kept moving and now Zayne has made his intentions clear.  And, my heart broke again. More and more bad things start happening though, so no time to cry.

Roth, Zayne and Layla must all team up together to stop this new evil that is threatening the world. The climax of this book left me with my jaw in the floor. It's crazy, wild, unpredictable and completely knocked me off my feet! I was literally screaming in my living room by myself while reading it.

JLA is a freakin Jedi-mind master! Just when you think you have this whole love triangle thing figured out she throws you a huge curveball and all the cards are laid on the table. I'm not going to lie, I still love Roth and am firmly planted in his camp. But she made that choice hard! There are several times in SCT that I questioned my loyalty, but then Roth would step up in big ways and tank me right back.  I do think we might see a lot of people jumping ship to a different team, both ways! I don't envy Layla her decision.  I think the ending of this book marks a huge crossroads. I remember this quote from North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headly, and I think it fits where this story is going perfectly!

"There must be a few times in life when you stand at a precipice of a decision. When you know there will forever be a Before and an After...I knew there would be no turning back if I designated this moment as my own Prime Meridian from which everything else would be measured." -North of Beautiful

So this next step is it. This is Layla's Prime Merdian, the point that she will look back on and always mark as her Before and After. It gives me chills to even think about it. I can't wait for everyone else to read this book! It's an amazing story that that just proves that Jennifer Armentrout is the real deal!

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GIVEAWAY

As most if you know, JLA is putting the decision in our hands who Layla should choose in EVERY LAST BREATH.  Follow this link to find out more info and to vote: http://thedarkelementsseries.com/

But, to go along with this, I wanted to do something a little fun to go along with this tour stop. You know the whole make a list thing of pros & cons when you are trying to make a tough decision? I was thinking we could do that to help Layla and all those in between decide whose team they should join. In the comments, let's make a pros list for each guy. No need to do the cons because in pretty sure there are none for each guy.:) So tell us, why should Layla pick Roth or Zayne!

Anyone who comments will be entered to win a SIGNED COPY OF STONE COLD TOUCH! I'll leave the giveaway open until voting closes between Roth and Zayne which is November 11. Good luck! US/Canada only giveaway.

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Blog Tour Schedule:

October 22

Vilma’s Book Blog-Video Review

October 23

Kimberlyfaye Reads-Quote Teasers

October 24

Stuck in Books-Character Interview w/ Roth & Zayne

October 25

Paranormal Book Club-Review

October 26

The Irish Banana Review-DreamCast & Review

October 27

Mundie Moms-Character Interview w/ Layla

October 28

YA Sisterhood-Review

October 29

Emilie’s Book World-Character Interview w/ Roth, Zayne & Layla

A Bookish Escape-Review

October 30

Vi3tiBabe-Author Interview

October 31

Jenuine Cupcakes-Baking with Roth & Zayne

Reading Teen-Review

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iTunes

And don’t forget the previous books in The Dark Elements Series…

BITTER SWEET LOVE

WHITE HOT KISS

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Series Website: http://www.thedarkelementsseries.com

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout

STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17455815-stone-cold-touch?from_search=true

Series Love: The Iron Fey AND a call for reading suggestions!

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Published by Harlequin Teen

Available Now

The Sisters Say:  Ash, Puck--no more is needed

Okay, so this is one of those series that I had heard was really good, but for some reason I just kept putting it off.  Then, earlier this week, I got the urge to try out The Iron King.  And now, as many a times happens, I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner!!!  I absolutely adore this series--Julie Kagawa has created (or modernized) some of the most amazing characters, introduced us to a Faery world of fantasy and nightmares, and taken us on some quests that shall never be forgotten.

So, instead of doing a review for all the books (especially since most everyone I know or blog with has already read them), I just wanted to do a shout out to an amazing series. If you have not read this one, I highly recommend it! Now, I'm off to read the Spin-Off series, The Call of the Forgotten.  I heard that there will be appearances from some of Julie's great characters, and I can't wait to see them again already!

But first, I just wanted to ask what some of your favorite series are?  I am in the mood to read some series that have been around a while (or atleast the first 2 books are already out), and I need some suggestions!  

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Published by Harlequin Teen
On Shelves November 26, 2013
Reviewed by:  YA Sisterhood's Mom

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Much awaited! Much elated! Katie McGarry shows once again why she is a favorite. Hot guys and hot cars--but this time our female protagonist, Rachel, is just a savvy on cars as the hot tattooed hero, Isaiah! I love that she is smarter than most guys when it comes to cars and how to fix them.

But both are racing for time in more than just their cars. Isaiah is running from the foster system and a mom with a record. Rachel  is running from a family that expects her to live for her dead sister, who died before she was even born. Now they are both running from the local leader of the illegal street racing ring.

Meshed among all this hot paced excitement is a characterization that totally enthralls you. The novel may be fiction, but the panic is real and you will definitely feel that you are living through the lives of the characters.  There is no way out and you'll keep turning those pages as frantically as the characters move, only to crash into another problem.

Did I mention that Rachel has four hot brothers? Each one has his own faults, but they all stand strong in protection of Rachel. Definitely hoping McGarry creates a story for each of them!

McGarry created some sweet scenes!  Especially the texting between Rach and Isaiah, but three will absolutely have you oohing and ahhhing. Isaiah turns a migraine into something more romantic than the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet. Passing his ASE certification leads to one of the most precious lines in the book. And finally, for fear of spoilage, I cannot reveal the last, but let's just say that the climax is such an antithesis, melding complete terror into an ultimate love scene.

Some favorite lines that will make you melt for Isaiah:

"People don't attach themselves to me, Rachel."

"It's strange, my entire life I've had doors closed on me and now that one's open, I'm not sure how to enter."

Katie McGarry--definitely at the heart of YA!

Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

ARC received from author—Thank you!

Release Date:  July 30, 2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Delectable and Inventive—a romance worthy of the term “epic”

Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT

“Just remember—you caught his eye before he cut yours,” she whispered through a smile, “And that was no mistake.”  --ARC, page 367

Dawn Metcalf has invented a world that lies parallel to our own—a world with monsters, a world where names are everything, and a world where black eyed boys steal away your heart.  Her world is full of things lurking in the shadows, things that go bump in the night—but they aren’t all terrible.  Some are frighteningly beautiful and enchanting—like they stepped right out of magic and myth and dreams.  If only her world of monsters and magic were real, I would find myself lurking about in the shadows hoping for a glimpse of something remarkable to whisk me through a door in space into a world of adventure.

I was first drawn to this book because the cover is absolutely gorgeous.  Seriously beautiful!  And then after reading the blurb, I was intrigued by Joy having to pretend to belong to this terrifying boy—both body and soul.  It was enticing and scary at the same time, and Dawn did not let me down.  As I said before, her world-building was exotic.  I loved seeing how The Twixt worked and meeting all the creatures that inhabit the realm next to ours.  There were times, though, where I did get a bit confused.  Mainly, with the signaturaes (I probably spelled that wrong).  I wanted a bit more information about what they do—what happens to a human who is claimed?  I’m hoping this becomes more clear in the next book.

I really liked Joy—right away I felt like I could connect to her.  She was struggling with her own life problems, and the all of a sudden she is thrust onto a dangerous path.  I could see her viewing this strange new world as something to distract her from her own—something that made her own shadows a bit more bright.  I liked that she used her pain from her own life to give her courage to explore her new boundaries.  It was like she thought, “What the heck?” and then jumped head first down the rabbit hole.  I liked this recklessness because (you can think me a nerd) I’ve often wondered what I would do if presented with something out of this world.  Would I seize the opportunity or cower and back down?

I really loved the ruthlessness and innocence of Ink.  You would think that those two adjectives couldn’t describe one person, but they do.  Ink knows very little about the human world, choosing to do his job and only that.  But then he makes a mistake that thrusts him into a relationship with no way out.  I loved watching him stumble over himself as he tried to act normal.  It was refreshing and sweet.  At the same time, if anyone crossed him, they would pay for it in blood.  I liked that he didn’t let his sweetness in some instances to make him into a coward in others.  He was strong and emotionless at times, and that made him very alpha male-ish!

This was such a great read, and while it might have started out a bit slow; after a few chapters, I was completely hooked.  Now, I am dying to find out what happens next in The Twixt!  Dawn’s world was rich with myth and blood and love and tragedy—and I can’t wait to find out which of those are permanent, indelible in The Twixt.

“’And now you need to come with me,’ Ink said. ‘To show that I have not taken your heart.’  She stopped, her veins warming, her pulse thumping.  ‘What if you have?’  Ink drew a fine line of fire in the air and spoke softly over his shoulder.  ‘Well, then, fair is fair.’”

Waiting on Wednesday: Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is INDELIBLE by Dawn Metcalf.  INDELIBLE releases on July 30, 2013 from Harlequin Teen.

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Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT

 

 

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This one sounds absolutely amazing to me!  First off, I absolutely adore the cover.  I love all the symbolism behind a rose, and I just know that there will be great secrets in the symbols of this book.  This world sounds different than anything I've read in YA, so I'm really looking forward to figuring out what "THE TWIXT" is, and what the world of an "indelible ink" is like.  It sounds beautiful and terrible at the same time, and I am dying to get my hands on it!

 

Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

ARC received from Harlequin Teen

Release Date:  2-26-2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Traumatic, Tempting and Thrilling

 Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

(If you have NOT read the first two in this series, do not read the review, as it contains spoilers from the first 2 books).

The end is near, the war has come

And all are caught beneath Cronus’s thumb

The Council fights back, but is it in vain?

Will they fall under Calliope’s reign?

 

Or will love manage to beat back the dark

To light a beacon, to create a spark?

Til the end they will fight, both Henry and Kate

Will they live or die?  What is their fate?

 

Reading the last book in a trilogy that you’ve enjoyed always brings forth all sorts of emotions—happiness because there is no more waiting, no more cliffhangers; and sadness because you will miss those characters that you’ve known for the past few years.  I had put off reading this one for a few weeks because I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye.  This was my first Hades/Persephone retelling, and I’ve always been partial to it because it introduced me to something new and different than what you learn in school.  It made it personal and real, even though it was in the paranormal genre.  It made a connection, and for that, I will always love this series.

This one starts 9 months after Goddess Interrupted left off, and it jumps straight into the heartbreak and action.  I liked that we didn’t have to read about the 9 months of Kate’s imprisonment and the pregnancy because I just don’t know if I would have been able to watch her go through that much pain and suffering.  Still, prepare yourself for some heartache!

This final book didn’t lack in the action.  There was constantly a battle raging, whether it was internal or external.  I didn’t find in lulls in the plot or anything that made me want to rush through, which is great because I hate it when books add too many details.  It was actually shorter than I expected (the ARC was only 300 pages), and I’m thinking some things were added to the final copy because it ended up 380ish pages.    

My favorite part of this book, of course, is Henry (Hades).  I like thinking about him the way that Aimee Carter writes him—broody yet loving, hard yet caring.  Add that to his dark power and he is by far the most interesting god in my opinion.  He has dominion over the dead, so there is something heartbreaking and poetic about his views on life.  It begins and it ends—that’s the way life is, and I really love how Henry is so poised in the face of death.  Power drips off him in waves, and he is one of the most powerful of the Olympians, yet that power hasn’t corrupted him like it did Walter (Zeus).  He was much more open in his feelings in this one, which is great, because he did get a bit annoying at times in the first two books when he wouldn’t just say how he felt.   That insecure Henry is gone, replaced by a loving and revenge-bent greek god.

Kate is much stronger in this book, although she still has that annoying think before you act habit that makes me want to knock her upside the head.  James (Hermes) even mentions it multiple times---her martyr complex he calls it.  She really bugs me how she doesn’t open up to her family for help.  Instead, she concocts a plan and runs straight into it without thinking about the consequences, which is infuriating!!  So if you were one of those readers that got annoyed with Kate before, just know it’s not going to go away in this one.

I do wish the romance would have been more profound.  If the world were about to end, I wouldn't just be sitting around being scared to be "loving," I would pounce on it every chance I got.  But, of course, Kate made an excuse.  Bad Kate.

Loss, love, hate, and revenge all collide in this final book causing a cacophony of emotions to swell up and pour out.  This was a fitting (albeit sad) ending to such a great story, and I will definitely miss these characters.  But as Henry says, “the time has come to fight,” and fight they will.

If you want to read our review of The Goddess Test click here
If you want to read our review of Goddess Interrupted click here
 

Teaser Tuesday: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

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The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Published by Harlequin Teen

Release Date:  2-26-2013

 

 

"'But the time has come to fight not just for the lives of those you love, but for your own as well,' he said, 'If only so you do not hurt those same people by leaving them the way you're so afraid they will leave you.'" (said by Henry) ARC, pg 156

 

"He kissed me again and hand a finger above the waistband of my jeans, leaving searing heat wherever he touched me." ARC, g 155

 

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I know so many people think that the Hades/Persephone myth is overdone, but I disagree.  I love this myth, and I really love when someone modernizes it because it's full of romance, pain, betrayal, and sizzling attraction.  I am really enjoying this one so far, even though Kate can be annoying.  Henry makes up for all the (insert your choice of noun) that comes out of Kate's mouth and/or actions.  I will admit, I am going to miss Henry when this book is over.  (I wish someone would write an NA or Adult version of the Hades/Persephone myth!)

 

 

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter
ARC received from Harlequin via Edelweiss
Release Date: 7-31-2012
Reviewed by: Jennifer McCoy at YA Sisterhood

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimée Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness….

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal….

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another….

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others#151;but never knew true loss before….

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope….

After reading The Goddess Legacy, I find myself somewhat disappointed especially since I absolutely love the first two books in this series. I love Aimee’s characters, and I find her spin on the Hades/Persephone myth intriguing. While the novellas did give me insight into each of the Gods, I didn’t find myself really enjoying their stories that much, which is upsetting as I was really looking forward to these!

I will say that the novellas helped me understand the actions of some of the Gods in the books, especially Calliope. Her novella really shows her the pain and anguish that she has dealt with for millennia and why how her circumstances turned her into a monster. You really start to feel sorry for her because of the terrible things that happen to her, but it’s hard to bridge that with the terrible person that is ruining Henry and Kate’s lives in the actual novels.

Persephone’s novella was also telling, but I have to admit I dislike her quite a bit after reading it. It seemed the novella was trying to get us to understand her dilemma and why she acted in the way she did, but I truthfully just thought she was petty and selfish. I actually somewhat like Persephone in the books, but after these, I kind of want to smack her.

The only novella I think I really enjoyed (besides the small glimpse at Henry which was so short I don’t think it should even have been considered a novella) was Ava’s (Aphrodite). I really enjoyed seeing how she ended up with Hephaestus. I also enjoyed seeing Ares in her novella because we really don’t see much of him in the books and I have always been curious.

Henry’s was the novella I was looking forward to because he is so closed off in the books and you just don’t know what he is thinking or feeling. I was hoping for some insight into why he loves Persephone so much and why he has a hard time showing Kate how he feels. But, his novella was so short, mainly showing us what we already knew in the books, so I was really disappointed.

Overall, it was neat to get some insight into why the Gods act the way they do, seeing their misery and pain manifested into their stories; however, I just felt like I was having to force myself to read through the novellas. Nothing really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Review, Q & A and Giveaway

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Harlequin Teen
On shelves now!
Reviewed by: AmyG (big sis)
Sisters Say: A Perfectly, Poignant Piece
Received from Harlequin Teen for an honest review.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

I honestly do not read a whole lot of YA contemporary books.  I do not mind contemporary romance, but honestly the YA variety usually ends with me ugly crying in the corner.  I'm a busy mom of 3 kids, and my kids attend a school in which they go to school 2 days a week and we homeschool the others.  So, needless to say, I have very little time, and the books I want to read are usually for happy, escapism purposes.   However, when people ask me for suggestions, I find myself recommending contemporary YA books especially if they are looking for something meaningful.  And, meaningful is something that Pushing the Limits definitely is!

Noah and Echo have both been dealt a tragic hand at life.  Honestly, I don't know how anyone would come back from either circumstance, and at times through the novel, Noah and Echo think the same. Both characters go on a journey and where that took them left me reeling.  Reeling from the the fear, anger, joy, and pride I felt for both Echo and Noah.  I think everyone that has a love for teenagers hopes and prays that all young adults would be able to defy the odds and defeat their circumstances just like Noah and Echo.

Pushing the Limits really does take you through the entire gamut of emotions.  Ms. McGarry perfectly portrays the fickleness of teenage friendships and relationships.  I could indentify with every person in the novel one way or another.  She captures the raw emotions of those teenage years perfectly, and I think anyone that has been a teen once upon a time or is currently in throes of those years will relate and enjoy this book.  I felt so much for Echo and Noah that I wanted to step inside the book and just fix everything for them, so they wouldn't have to suffer anymore pain!  However, I trusted Katie McGarry to take me to the end of the rollercoaster, and I was not disappointed when the ride was finished.

Pushing the Limits is a story of hope.  Hope that no matter what happens, everyone's life is important.  We have no idea what the person next to us is facing, and life would be much more true and admirable if we were all more willing to love one another.

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A Q&A With Katie McGarry

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?

A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and she remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Writing has given Katie an excuse to pursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazing opportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car at ninety-six miles per hour and experience boxing and mixed martial arts. Katie loves to visit schools and talk to teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out of reach.

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Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

ARC received by Harlequin Teen via Netgalley

Release Date: 5-22-2012

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Daunting, Delightful, and Delicious!

I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Samantha is not the only one struck with an insatiable hunger!  Read Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen, and I am sure you will find yourself hungering for more!  Dark Kiss is delectable—so tasty, I devoured it in one sitting! 

Yes, this is another book in the angel/demon category, but, even with the aspects that resembled other books, I still really enjoyed it.  The only thing that bothered me is the very déjà vu feeling I got because much of the plot line resembled the old WB drama, Charmed.  (I mean there’s a Source (of evil) and the Hollow (which sucks good and evil inside it)—both of which are very similar to the television show).

I know quite a few people are burned out on the whole angels and demon scenes; so, I’m going to try to convince you WHY you should read this book.

1.) You don’t have to spend half the book watching the main characters try to figure out who and what they truly are—that’s the biggest thing that bugs me with some paranormal books.  It’s so obvious to us as the reader that at times you just want to rear back and slug someone while screaming, “Seriously?   They have wings….must be an angel or demon!”  It’s not like this with Dark Kiss…right from the start, Samantha figures out who Bishop (we’ll call him Cutie #1) is and who Kraven is (we’ll call him Cutie #2).

2.) There is plenty of action!  There wasn’t any down time where the characters were moping in self-pity because “woe is me….the world is ending and I don’t know what to do.”  Instead, the characters are straight forward with what needs to be done, and they don’t sit around—they get straight to work.  There was never a dull moment!

3.) The hottie guys!  Bishop, angel, has been sent to, quite literally, save the world.  However, when he falls from Heaven into our world, something goes wrong and he ends up a little disjointed.  Enter Samantha who’s touch can open Bishop’s mind and make him sane again.  Not only that, but they have an intense pull towards each other.  This pull is what creates the romance in the book.  Now, I do wish there was more romance because I’m a sucker for it, but I’m hoping that we will see more of that in the second book.

4.) Then we have Kraven, demon, who has also been sent to save the world.  He’s dark, sarcastic, and all to willing to kill whatever gets in his way.  Let’s say Bishop’s the light that Sam is drawn to, but who can resist Kraven, the dark?  I really enjoyed him, and I have a feeling we are going to see quite a bit more from him in the second book.  Can we predict love triangle? 

5.) The ending is satisfying.  While there is plenty still up in the air and much to still be resolved in future books, the ending does not leave you screaming and pulling your hair out.  I don’t know about you, but I really don’t enjoy cliffhanger endings.  It frustrates me that I have to wait a year in some cases to find out if someone lives or dies.  I like when things are wrapped up (somewhat), so I can have some closure but still look forward to the next book.

So…don’t be put off by the fact that it’s another angel book.  It’s refreshing in its own way, and the guys are swoon-worthy.  I think you’ll find Dark Kiss to be a tasty read, so get sucked into Michelle’s world—you never know what you’ll find!

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

ARC received from Harlequin Teen via Netgalley

Release Date:  3-27-2012

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Enchanting, Enthralling, Entertaining

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

I started reading The Goddess Test yesterday and the moment I was done, I went straight for my ARC of Goddess Interrupted.  I was excited to see how Kate and Henry’s romance was going to continue to unfold.  While the action in the novel was great, and I loved getting to see deeper into the psyche of the Gods, I was somewhat disappointed in the romance between Henry and Kate.  There was so much angst that at times I wanted to jump straight into the book (if only I had magical powers) and slap them both in the face and scream, “Come on!  Get it together and kiss already!  Quit wallowing in self-pity!”  However, no matter how many times I wished for Harry Potter powers, I found none, so I just continued to grumble to myself.

That doesn’t mean that I did not enjoy the book.  On the contrary, I cannot wait until the next book comes out; I just hope that Aimee Carter will give my heart a break and inundate me with some great kissy romance scenes. 

So what did I like?

Even though the romance aspect was very tense, I still liked Henry.  What can I say?  I’m a sucker for a broken, broody guy whose eyes flash with love every so often.  No matter how cold and distant he gets, I’d still rule the Underworld with him!

The evil in this book is so extreme that I am still reeling.  Calliope—grrrr!  That’s all I can come up with!  She’s beyond evil—full of hatred and misery and determined to take everyone down with her.  That’s what makes the action so overwhelmingly great…I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see when she was going to attack again.  (There are no spoilers here…you see Calliope’s plan in the first 2 pages).

But Calliope is not the only evil that Kate must face—even worse…she has to face Persephone.  Not that Persephone is evil, but let’s face it; having to enlist the help of the woman your husband is still in love with would make anyone a little furious.  I really enjoyed the insight into Persephone and Henry’s relationship.  It made me understand (somewhat) why Henry acts the way he does—cold and distant.  Though I still wish that Aimee Carter would have given the angst a break, I did enjoy seeing how Henry’s past relationship starts to define his present one.

What did I dislike?

Again…the angst.  We see very little emotion from Henry (I know, he’s Hades, he has to be cold).  I would have liked to see him cave to his emotion, even once to give another layer to his character.

Not that I disliked the ending…it’s more that I dislike having to wait to find out what happens!  This cliffhanger ending will make you want to scream even louder than the infamous Soprano ending!  To me, there is nothing worse than not knowing!  But I guess in the world of young adult, I must get used to the cliffhanger-break-my-heart-and-stomp-on-it endings.  I’ll just say this—I need an ARC of the next one, please!!!!!!

So….

I did fall in love with Aimee Carter’s world.  She gives us and entirely new idea of heaven and hell.  She creates a world where lies, betrayal, hatred, and envy are overwhelming and can only be combated by truth, loyalty, and love—things so few are willing to give.  Take a trip to Aimee Carter’s Underworld, and like me, you might not want to return. 

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

ARC received from Harlequin Teen via Net Galley

Release Date:  3-27-2012

The Sisters Say:  A breathtaking blow by blow of bewitchment and beguiling romance!

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.
Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

If you liked Spellbound, you are going to LOVE Spellcaster!  I couldn’t put it down!  Cara Lynn Shultz definitely upped her game with more magic, more mystery, and more mahem!  (Not to mention more make-out scenes)!!!

I really loved to see the characters develop even more in this installment—especially Angelique!  She is so much fun to read about—so much attitude that she had me laughing out loud at times.  But then we also get to see a more sensitive side of her that we didn’t see in Spellbound.  We also meet her cousin, Randi, a fellow witch who has some enjoyable moments as well. 

Emma definitely undergoes some changes through this novel, too.  That confidence that we begin to see at the end of Spellbound really takes off, which I love (because who doesn’t love a kick butt heroine), but I also like that her struggles were realistic (if you take out the fantasy part…hehe).  I mean, it’s not like she snaps her fingers and all of a sudden she’s one of the Charmed ones.  She has to work on her spells, and it’s really captivating to see her ups and downs as she struggles with this new aspect of her life.

And then…the best part—Brendan.  We see so much more of him in Spellcaster.  He’s just as overprotective in this installment, and it makes me love him so much more!  Just like Emma, it’s great (and heart breaking) to see him struggle with the idea that all the danger Emma finds herself in is his fault.  He’s the guy that every girl wants—compassionate, completely devoted, and overprotective to a fault—not to mention that he’s stunningly handsome.  I absolutely adore him and can’t wait for more!  The scenes between Emma and Brendan are a little more hot and heavy (but I still wish Cara Lynn Shultz would dive in with the details), but still PG, with one scene that hints at some PG-13 related content, but it’s still not extremely specific.

I actually really enjoyed the villain in this book, too—truly evil with a vendetta that, if you’re like me, might cause your heart to speed up (and for you to look behind your shoulder when walking anywhere alone).   I won’t tell you any more, but I will say—I didn’t see this villain coming!  Oh…and Kristin?  She’s still there with a vengeance…but trust me…you’ll want to read this to see what Emma has in store for her!

What bugs me?  I wish Cara Lynn Shultz would add an umbrella conflict to the series—a storyline that reaches from book to book, instead of just focusing on a different conflict for each book.

Overall, Spellcaster is a must read for those of you who enjoy paranormal romance novels.  The action was fun and exciting with no dull moments!  It comes out Tuesday…so go get it!