The Gender Game by Bella Forest… Release Blitz

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the gender game

The Gender Game by Bella Forrest

Release date: 24 September 2016

Genre: Young Adult Sci fi/Dystopian

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

* For fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent. *

 

A toxic river divides nineteen-year-old Violet Bates’s world by gender.

Women rule the East. Men rule the West.

Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus…

Ever since the death of her mother, Violet’s life has been shadowed by bad luck. Already a prisoner to her own nation, now after two unfortunate incidents resulting in womanslaughter, she has been sentenced to death.


But one decision could save her life.

One decision to enter the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit.
Everything about the patriarchy defies Violet’s identity, but she must sacrifice many things if she wishes to survive the forbidden kingdom… including forbidden love.

 

 

What Early Readers are Saying:


“Bella takes this genre to a new level. Imagine the intrigue of Divergent, the suspense of The Maze Runner and the heart-pounding excitement of The Hunger Games. That is the magic Bella is working with her new novel The Gender Game.”


“The chemistry between the characters is INTENSE. Forbidden romance at its best!”

“You can never predict where Bella Forrest will take a story!”

Intrigue, danger and mystery at every corner.”

“Once I started reading, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop. My heart raced along with Violet’s […] The twists and turns so far in this book have left my mouth hanging agape.”

“Intrigue, espionage, and a strong, smart female at the center of it all. Had me sucked in from the get go.”

 

 

Pre-order links:

Ebook (pre-order now to lock in the lower launch price): http://GetBook.at/TGG

Paperback: http://GetBook.at/TGGp

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31131467-the-gender-game

 

 

About the Author:

 

 

Best known for writing fantasy, Bella Forrest is a lover of romance and mystery-infused stories with twists you won’t see coming. She has sold over five million books since her first novel was published in 2012.

 

Follow her on Twitter: @ashadeofvampire

Check out her website: www.bellaforrest.net

 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cblt1c7Kgf4

The Cabin by Natasha Preston…Review

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new young adult thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar, a New York TimesBestseller, andAwake

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They think they’re invincible.

They think they can do and say whatever they want.

They think there are no consequences.

They’ve left me no choice.

It’s time for them to pay for their sins.

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can’t wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead—murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn’t telling the truth. And Mackenzie’s first mistake? Assuming the killing is over…

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2c2MCGJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bQSNyZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bQSVyE

BAM: http://bit.ly/2c2NDOS

my-review

So I have to admit that I am bit torn on this book.  And it could be because I was just not in the right mindset to read this book or because I also knew this book was written under a different name and this was just the book being redone with more added to it.  Regardless, it wasn’t terrible.

I enjoy Natasha’s writing style.  She’s got a way that hooks you into the story and keeps you glued to the pages.  Even if you don’t care for any of the characters or their actions.  Or the fact that the majority of the book doesn’t take place in a cabin (tad letdown on that).  But her writing is one that will always capture me.

This book is told from Mackenzie’s POV as she is the one who ends up doing her own investigation into the murder for her friends.  And instead of protecting her friends, she finds herself having to protect herself from them.  Because you know one of them has to be guilty.

I enjoyed the pace and flow of the book with the twists along the way.  The reason for only a 3 star rating is because I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the ending just killed me.  I didn’t like it – which really hurt the book for me.

Overall, it’s not a bad read.  It just wasn’t my cuppa.  If the synopsis catches your attention, I would definitely recommend giving it a go.  It could have been just bad timing for me.  Natasha has written some superb books (Cellar and Awake) so I will still continue reading her books.

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3LovesRLB

 

excerpt pic

Saturday, August 8
I cracked my eyes open and they were immediately stung by the evil morning light. It didn’t help that the room was a bright yellow. Groaning, I ran my hands over my face. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. My head throbbed, and every time I swallowed, I felt as if I were downing sawdust. To make matters worse, this time Blake wasn’t waking me up. My hangovers weren’t usually this bad. Last night, I had drunk a lot, but nowhere near enough to feel as awful as I did. When had I become such a humongous lightweight? Blake lay on his side, with one arm and one leg thrown over me. He looked peaceful. Whatever weighed on his mind during the day didn’t trouble him while he slept.
Biting my lip, I watched him sleep, feeling a bit like a creeper. I had never had a one–night stand, so my experience with the morning after was nonexistent. I knew the general idea was to leave ASAP, but in this situation, that was impossible. We were spending the weekend in the same secluded place, and it’s not like I had my own car.
Oh God. I had a one–night stand! I tried to calm myself. It’s fine. You’re an adult, remember? Adults do this all the time. But I didn’t. Why had I allowed myself to sleep with Blake when I hadn’t even known him twenty–four hours?
Shut up, it’s fine. You’re allowed to be into a guy, to have a good time.
I had to get a grip. There was nothing I could do to change what had happened. But neither of us needed to freak out or make this awkward—-and by neither of us, I meant me. We were attracted to each other and acted on it. We were both into it, both consenting adults. It’d be fine. Besides, I felt too ill to worry much anyway.
Pushing myself up, I flopped and fell back against the mattress. My heavy stomach rolled. Oh God. I had no energy. I needed water, aspirin, and to throw up the remaining alcohol that was still sloshing around in my system.
Never again. Never ever, ever, ever again.
My movements woke Blake. He removed his hand from my stomach and rubbed his face. “I feel like death,” he groaned.
Blushing because of the situation we were in, I replied, “Join the club.”
He smiled at me. “How do you not look like hell in the morning? I mean, you’ve got that stunning, post–sex glow that’s turning me on.”
Seriously? “How can you feel like crap and still want sex?”
He replied, “Have you ever seen yourself, Mackenzie?”
His comment made me bite my lip. I didn’t think I was that pretty, but I kind of loved how he saw me. Everyone wanted someone to think they were special, and my ex never had. Blake made me feel sexy and appreciated, which was nice, even if I broke my own rules.
“I…” I what? What did I want to say?
Chuckling quietly, he shoved himself up and reached for his jeans. “I need food and strong coffee. Do you know what everyone has planned for today?”
Following his lead, I grabbed my clothes and started to get dressed. I flicked my gaze at him to make sure he wasn’t looking at me. He was. “We’re going down to the lake to swim. Aaron wants to feed everyone barbecue food all day; then we’re making a bonfire in the evening.”
Blake stilled. “You’re making a fire in the middle of the forest?”
“A small bonfire. We’re not setting trees alight.”
“At least not purposefully,” he muttered. “I’m overseeing that.”
“Oversee away. I’m sure Aaron would love the help.”
“It’s not Aaron I want to hang out with.”
Holy…
I bit my lip. “Well, good.”
He lifted an eyebrow while staring into my eyes. “Yes, it is.”
If he kept looking at me like that, I was going to explode. I already felt too hot.

Just Friends by Monica Murphy…Release Day Blitz & Review

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Just Friends by Monica Murphy

Release Date: September 13th, 2016
Genre: New Adult Romance

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Synopsis:

It’s the end of summer. Just before I start senior year with my two best friends in the whole world. Dustin and Emily are everything to me. We’ve been inseparable since middle school, and when we’re together, nothing can go wrong.

But things aren’t always what they seem. Em’s turned into a drunken mess who parties too much. Dustin and I have hooked up a few times―and now he’s ready to take our relationship to the next level. Yet I’m not sure I want things to change. I’m scared if I take it any further with Dustin, our friendship will be ruined forever. Then there’s Ryan. The new guy. He’s hot. He flirts way too much. And Em has totally set her sights on him.

So when my best friend betrays me in the worst possible way, guess who’s there to help me pick up the pieces of my broken heart? Ryan. But he’s so confusing. Annoying. Sweet. Sexy. I want to trust him, yet he makes it so hard. What I really want is for everything to go back to the way it was before.

Before I found out that best friends make the worst kind of enemies.

Add to Goodreads

my-review

 

So be prepared to be annoyed, aggravated and wanting to bitch-slap these three best friends.  However, you are also going to find yourself so sucked into their lives that you want to know what happens next with them.

Olivia, Emily and Dustin are all best friends.  Olivia goes away every summer to stay with her father.  However, this time around when she returns, things are slightly different.  Em  Dustin are now hanging with the popular crowd with Em getting high and drunk constantly and fooling around with the new guy, Ryan.  And Dustin is acting a little more jealous because he and Olivia did some things before she left to stay with her father. 

Then the fallout- Olivia finds out she’s not the only one who had been fooling around with Dustin.  And while Ryan is messing around with Em, he’s obnoxiously flirting with Olivia.  Yea – it’s just one huge effing disaster waiting to blow up.

Then along comes Amanda who befriends Olivia.  Amanda is probably my favorite character in this book because she just doesn’t play games.  Everyone else just drives me nuts.  But I can walk away.  It’s like watching a damn car accident.  You know it’s not going to end well, but you just can’t stop watching everything play out.

I may not care for some of these characters but this book had me glued to my seat, waiting to see what happens next.  I am going to need lots of wine to get through this next book!

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Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bHAn2k
iBooks: http://apple.co/2aeSduM
B&N: http://bit.ly/2bIDYNr
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bNGXUX
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bIEISO
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2bhsEbM
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2byYFg7

About the Author:

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Connect with Monica:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2c9ViiI
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bRP5bR
Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/IW5U0y

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What Lies in the Darkness by Jessica Sorensen…Spotlight & Review

What Lies in the Darkness 

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In the mostly wealthy town of Shadow Cove, nothing is what it seems…

When Makayla’s older brother, Sawyer, is found dead, the police rule his death a suicide. But her father, a reporter for the local paper, believes Sawyer was murdered and begins his own investigation to prove it.

Eight months later, he vanishes without a trace, and Mak is left trying to live a normal life in a town that ridicules her family. And it doesn’t help that every time she gets too stressed, she starts seeing the ghost of her brother.

All Mak wants is a little bit of normalcy, so when an opportunity arises to participate in the local skateboarding charity event, Mak grabs onto the chance to do something she used to enjoy doing.

In order to pay the pricey entry fee, Mak decides to call a number on a reward poster for a lost laptop, figuring she’ll be able to make use of the mystery-solving skills she picked up from her father.
With the help of her three best friends, she begins searching for the missing laptop. But what starts out as a simple case, ends up turning into a mystery full of twists and turns that show a darker side of Shadow Cove.

Follow the four friends as they discover the secret societies and deadly games hidden in the glamorous side of Shadow Cove.

A YA Mystery series with a splash of paranormal.

BUY LINKS

http://amzn.to/2cL1tsZ

my-review

So I have now started this review about 10 times and still have no idea how to start it.   Jessica Sorensen is just awesome – that is all I can say.  She whips out books like clockwork and they are so damn good.

What Lies in the Darkness is an amazing YA suspense and thrilling read.  I actually thought of Veronica Mars while reading this – just this has a slight paranormal vibe going on along with a tad bit more intensity to it. 

Mak and her four best friends are all so different yet the same.  They come from different backgrounds but none of them want to fit into the crowd – they are ok with being the outcasts.  And it’s because of that, they all find themselves delving deeper into a mystery they never expected.

The girls want to get revenge on the school’s biggest tormentor.  But what they end up doing, is walking into a very deeply rooted mystery of their down.  Mak is being threatened with her life but refuses to give up.  Will she up like her brother and father?  Who’s behind everything?  Who’s willing to standby and help her?

Jessica has really packed a lot into this first book.  There’s a lot of mystery surrounding a few characters and that just adds to the suspense of this all.  How do they all fit into the story?  What part do they play?  The book moves at a quick pace and Jessica keeps us on our toes with the ever twisting events.

I can’t wait to see what she brings us in the next book.

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4LovesRLB

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
You can find more information about Jessica and her books at www.jessicasorensen.com

 

Wake the Hollow by Gaby Triana…Blog Tour & Review

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wake the hollowWake the Hollow by Gaby Triana

Published by Entangled Teen

Published on August 2nd, 2016

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114202-wake-the-hollow?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Hollow-Gaby-Triana/dp/1633753514

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wake-the-hollow-gaby-triana/1122537705;jsessionid=F6351BD4AD3F7E943D40755521F0E640.prodny_store02-atgap07?ean=9781633753518

Entangled: http://entangledpublishing.com/wake-the-hollow/

Forget the ghosts, Mica. It’s real, live people you should fear.

Tragedy has brought Micaela Burgos back to her hometown of Sleepy Hollow. It’s been six years since she chose to live with her father in Miami instead of her eccentric mother. And now her mother is dead.

This town will suck you in and not let go.

Sleepy Hollow may be famous for its fabled headless horseman, but the town is real. So are its prejudices and hatred, targeting Mica’s family as outsiders. But ghostly voices carry on the wind, whispering that her mother’s death was based on hate…not an accident at all. With the help of two very different guys—who pull at her heart in very different ways—Micaela must awaken the hidden secret of Sleepy Hollow…before she meets her mother’s fate.

Find the answers.

Unless, of course, the answers find you first.

my-review

Wake the Hollow is a great YA suspense novel with a touch of romance involved.  I loved Triana’s take on this legendary work – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I can’t say enough about this book.  First off, Trianadoes a fabulous job of giving you details about Irving, all his works plus his personal details to give more depth to this story.  Even if you aren’t a fan of Irving, this book will have you wanting to look things up on google and wanting to learn more about everything that is Irving related.

Back to the book – I loved how Triana wove in her own modern ideas into this tale and make it more intriguing to read about these tales.  Mica has returned home only to discover as she stays there longer, she is starting to act like her mother did.  She hears voices, sees apparitions and can’t seem to explain why it’s all happening to her. 

“Forget the ghosts, Mica. It’s real, live people you should fear.”

Triana does a great job of keeping you in suspense throughout this book.  There are many people involved and you only have hunches as to who could be behind what.  Triana does a great job of retelling the Sleepy Holly story wit her own twists to it along with the added mystery of Mica’s mother and their family history. It’s a very crafty story line. 

“All these, however, were mere terrors of the night, phantoms of the mind that walk in darkness.”

I would really recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good YA suspense story or anyone that enjoys The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Readers will find themselves engrossed in the story quickly and enjoying the modern twist on this legendary tale.

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5LovesRLB

Trailer:

About the Author:

Gaby Triana

GABY TRIANA is the award-winning author of six YA novels—Wake the Hollow (Aug. 2016, Entangled), Summer of Yesterday, Riding the Universe, The Temptress Four, Cubanita, and Backstage Pass, as well as thirteen ghostwritten novels for best-selling authors. Originally a 4th grade teacher with a Master of Science in Elementary Education and ten years teaching experience, Gaby earned Teacher of the Year in 2000, wrote her first novel, Freddie and the Biltmore Ghost, then left teaching to launch a full-time writing career. She went on to publish young adult novels with HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, win an IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback Award, and Hispanic Magazine’s Good Reads of 2008. She spends her time obsessing about Halloween, Christmas, and Disney World, as well as hosting parties, designing mugs, making whimsical cakes, and winning costume contests. When she’s not writing, she might also be watching Jurassic Park movies with her boys, posting excessive food pics on social media, or helping run the Florida region of the SCBWI. Gaby lives in Miami with her three sons, Michael, Noah, and Murphy. She has one dog, Chloe, and two cats—Miss Daisy, and the reformed thug, shooting survivor, Bowie.

Visit her at www.gabytriana.com and @GabyTriana on Twitter.

Read Below for an excerpt from the book:

Chapter One

“A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere…” — Washington Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Follow me, please. The woman’s smoky silhouette hovers over me again.

Leave me alone. I cover my eyes, though I can still see her swirling shape through my fingers.

She floats closer, wringing her misty hands. You mustn’t ignore me, Micaela. You must come with me.

Stop, I won’t go with you! I hate that I can never see her face clearly. Why won’t she leave me alone? Wake up!

A long screech rips me from the hazy dream. My eyes fly open, and my hands grip the first thing ahead of me for balance. Seats. Plastic. Brakes hiss to a stop. A drunk old man asleep in a window seat opposite mine stirs. Where am I? The Metro-North train…that’s right. We’ve pulled into Tarrytown station. 11:28 p.m. I almost slept through my stop.

Hurrying, I stand to gather my bags, try to shake off the haunting image of the faceless woman. But her voice rings through my brain fog one last time…need to face the inevitable

She got that right.

As difficult as this is for me, I have to do it. For my mom. And my sanity.

The train doors slide open, and I stumble through them onto the platform. The sweet smell of the river mingled with cold, fresh air hits me. I’m transported six years back, waiting for my southbound train to the city, for my plane out of this forsaken place to go live with Dad in Miami. Don’t think about it, I remind myself. Just do what you came to do, then get back home.

The valley hasn’t changed much in six years. The station is still the same old cabin from when I was twelve. Boxy, old houses still sit across the street, and behind me, power lines still ruin the view of the Hudson’s palisades.

Lumbering into the station with all my stuff, I see the building is empty except for a woman using the ticket machine, in a hurry so she won’t miss the train. Her little girl has a teddy bear in the crook of one arm and a jacket in the other, all while trying to play a video game on her handheld. “Let’s go, baby.” The mother tugs her child by the elbow clutching the teddy bear. The bear drops to the ground without the girl noticing, and the two move on.

I reach down to grab it, my bags slipping off my shoulders and hitting the ground. “Ma’am.” I run over and hand the mother the little girl’s bear.

“Oh, thank you so much! She would’ve freaked.” The mom smiles at me.

The little girl takes her bear, gives me a shy glance with big brown eyes, and together, they hurry across the platform, jumping onto the train just in time.

The doors slide closed. The train slips into the night.

She almost left her bear.

The very memory I told myself to avoid at all costs comes barreling in—my last day here six years ago. The station’s honey wood paneling, the lines on my mother’s face, how she looked so worn. She’d held a tissue to her stiff lips.

Then the worst part—I’d pushed Sofia, the doll she’d made me when I was little, into her hands. “Take care of her for me,” I’d said, though I knew she wouldn’t. Just like she hadn’t taken care of me.

Her gaze had gripped me, hazel eyes welling up, burning through pain. “Selfish, like your father,” she’d said. “Go. You two deserve each other.” Then she’d turned and left.

I remember standing there shaking, not knowing what to do, what to think, whether I was making a mistake by leaving. But I needed to go. I needed a parent. Sorrow crushing me, I stepped onto the train, and when I reached my father’s arms three thousand miles later, I cried for days.

Yet, despite it all, I’m here. Because she asked me to come. Because I want to make things right with her.

Because I need closure before I can move on with my life.

I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and head outside to find Abraham Derant, my best friend from Sleepy Hollow Past. He’ll probably be the only person happy to see me back. We reconnected online recently, where I had the chance to browse through his selfies and discover that everyone now calls him “Bram,” which makes me laugh, because he always hated his name. But it suits him, too. He’s changed a lot since we were twelve—now he’s big and brawny and athletic—a fact that knots my stomach. I can’t start anything romantic with him, though. One, he’ll always be just Abraham—the boy who grew up with me at Sunnyside, the historic home in town where both our moms worked. He did always try too hard, joke too much…plus he didn’t bathe every day. So, yeah.

And two, I won’t be staying long anyway.

Get in, get out, go home.

All around me, trees rustle in the feisty October breeze. I close my eyes and take in the sounds, breathing deeply. When I reopen them, I spot headlights coming down the hill, then a car turns out of my view and heads into the adjacent parking lot. Nerves flutter in my stomach. In a minute, Abraham—Bram—will be live in front of me again after all these years.

Around the corner of the station, a car door slams shut, and heavy boots step onto the wooden walkway leading to the building. I get my friendliest smile ready. “Hey, you.”

The sound stops. No one appears. But I heard someone. I know I did. “Hello?”

With my bags, I trudge to the other side of the station where the parking lot is. There’s an old blue Eclipse, ticking as its engine cools off in the chilly night, but no Bram. Maybe I should’ve asked what car he’d be driving. I call him, but it goes straight to voicemail—Greetings, I’m being held captive by an army of Amazons. Don’t try to find me. Beep…

“Hey. I’m at the station. Call me.” I hang up, about to text him, when another text comes in from Nina, my dad’s assistant, telling me the townhouse key won’t be available until tomorrow, so I should check into a Days Inn instead.

“Ugh.” Hell no. I’ll ask Bram if I can stay with him before I stay in some cheap motel by myself.

I’m a few letters into my reply when I hear it— “Lela.” A whisper.

Nobody calls me that anymore. Only Mami—my mom. Sometimes Bram did, a long time ago. To everyone else, I’ve always been Micaela or Mica. The chill in the air deepens. I pocket my phone and hug my bags tightly to fight off the cold. Suddenly, I hear something even weirder than the whisper—the clop of a horse’s hoof.

But why would… I smirk. Sleepy Hollow, boots, horseman. Okay, I get it.

“Cut it out, I know it’s you,” I tell the emptiness. It’s a small town. In small towns, people make up their own entertainment. And Bram Derant has always been king of entertainment around here. “Where are you?”

I head to the shadowy recesses behind the station, bracing for his surprise attack, but I don’t see him. Then, in on the breeze comes mumbling near my ear. I can’t understand what it’s saying. I swallow softly. The voices are back, torturing me again. Jesus, I’ve been here less than five minutes, and already, this town is haunting me.

“Bram?” I call out, even though I know it wasn’t him.

Nothing. Just wind, crickets, and tinkling chimes from somewhere nearby.

“Fine, I’m leaving, then.” I spin and hurry across the road toward Route 9. I still know my way around and will walk to Bram’s apartment if I have to, I don’t care. I think I hear soft footsteps behind me, but when I glance over my shoulder at the army of shadows I’m leaving behind, there’s no one.

Faster up the hill, away from the riverbank, I walk in the middle of the street. Visibility is higher here, away from stalkers in bushes and other hiding places. Wow. I’m really thinking like the city girl I’ve become. No one ever gets attacked in Sleepy Hollow in real life.

The smell of lavender, my mother’s favorite, fills my senses. I stop in my tracks. Mami? My ears strain to hear. On the street, a crumpled gum wrapper rocks in the wind. Moths dance beneath the dim street lamp, and assorted pumpkins sit on front porches like families gathered in the dark, telling ghost stories.

“Come out already!” I cry aloud.

In the distance, a dog howls a sad reply.

Then, from a side street, a low voice emerges. “Micaela Burgos, as bossy as ever.”

Even in the dark, I make out his wide smile, as mischievous as the day he sat in the corner of Ms. Sanstet’s Pre-K class for putting sand in my shoes. His hair has darkened since I last saw him, short on the sides, long on top. “God, you scared me.” My hand presses against my chest. Because he startled me, or because I’m seeing him again after six years? Not sure.

“Sorry. But finally, you’re here!” He pumps his fist in the air and emerges from the shadows into the cone of light cast from a nearby lamppost. I’m hit with the full picture I can’t quite get from his pics online. Wearing jeans and a black sweater, keys in hand, Bram makes his way down the street. He’s super gorgeous with wide shoulders, over six feet tall, and sigh, this will be tough.

“Thank you, thank you. My flight got in late, then I had to wait to take the next train, and…”

His dark brown eyes soak me in underneath heavy brows. He shakes his head.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.

“Nothing, you just…” He blinks a few times. That rascal smile.

I cock my head. “I just what?”

“You don’t look twelve anymore.” He laughs, letting out a low whistle. “Holy shit, Mica. You are one fine woman.”

I grin in spite of myself. Apparently, someone learned to flirt while I was away. “Uh, thanks.”

“You’re so welcome. And what’s this?” He gestures to my clothes and purse. His eyes land on the tag hanging from it. “MK? Code for Micaela?”

“Wow, really?” I shake my head. “Michael Kors?”

“Forgive me, Miss Burgos. I keep forgetting you’re a Miami girl now.” He glances down at his clothes. “And me in my Gap jeans and ten-dollar sweater.”

“Stop, you look fine.” Way more than fine. Hot. Pick-me-up-and-carry-me-straight-into-hell hot. But no. God, no. I can’t tell him that. I shouldn’t even think that. He’s good ol’ Abraham from back in the day, nothing more, nothing less. “You look…uh…great!” I say instead. “Just like your thousands of selfies.”

“Oh? I post too many, do I?” He clucks his tongue and makes silly duck lips. “As if you don’t post pics every day from your gleaming white mansion.”

Is that all I’m going to be while I’m here? The holes-in-her-Payless-shoes-turned-rich-girl? “Not a mansion. Just a house.”

“It’s nicer than where I live.” He raises an eyebrow, the funny-faced kid I remember poking through.

Ugh,I should’ve left the bag at home. Then again, it feels strangely satisfying being able to show that we’ve come such a long way. “Anyway…” I try not to feel his resentful jab. “Come help me with these bags already.”

His eyes chastise me.

“Please?”

“Hmm, I was waiting for the magic word.” Bram grabs my bags out of my tired hands, but instead of carrying them off to his car, he places them at his feet. Suddenly, his arms are enveloping me, my cheek against his broad chest. Bone-crushing, heartbeat-skipping, a nice…really nice hug. And hey, how about that? He bathes now.

God, he smells good. Like the woods by my old house after an autumn storm.

Still, it takes me a moment to melt into him. I’ve pushed this corner of the world out of my mind for so long, tried forgetting the pain, that I almost can’t give in. But some things are worth remembering. I allow my arms to wrap around him and lean into his solid body.

“There you go,” he whispers. Do not cry, I tell myself. Do not. “Sorry, Mica.”

“No, don’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay.” His clean scent is laced with underlying familiarity. Another memory—us at Kingsland Point Park, by the lighthouse, the day I left. He’d told me he loved me, a pretty bold move for a twelve-year-old. It shocked me at the time. I’d pushed him away gently, not ready to feel that way, but now…

I pull back, reeling, pressing my sleeve against my eyes. “Were you the one sneaking around back there, scaring the crap out of me?”

“Me? I sneak not.” He lifts my bags again and hoists them onto his new muscle-man shoulders.

“Over there?” I point toward the station. “You weren’t going, Lellaaaa?”

“Nope, I just got here. They close the pickup/drop-off area after eleven, so I parked over there.” He points down a street. “Voices still torturing you, Mica?”

He always loved teasing me about my peculiar “talent.” I guess he still doesn’t believe I can hear them, whoever they belong to. “You’re in a blue Eclipse?”

“Black Accord. Mom’s old car. Everything okay?”

Black Accord? But then…who was walking around? I could’ve sworn… I rub my eyes and suck in a deep breath. After the sleepless nights I’ve had over the last month, it’s not hard to believe I might’ve imagined it all. “Fine. I’m just exhausted. Hey, is it okay if I stay with you tonight? Change of plans. My townhouse key isn’t ready for pickup.”

“Of course, Princess, you know you can. You’ll get to see our amazing palace. Let’s get thee off to bed! Your chariot awaits.” He struts off toward his car.

Princess. I say nothing about his new nickname for me, but he knows he’s hit a nerve.

He cocks an eyebrow back at me. “It was just a joke, Mica. I know you can take the girl out of Sleepy Hollow but not Sleepy Hollow out of the girl. Face it. This town is, and always will be, your home.” He pops the trunk and tosses my heavy bags inside like they’re filled with nothing but feathers. Then he rounds the car to open the passenger door for me. Before I have the chance to sit down, he kisses my cheek. “So welcome home.”

I give him a half smile then stare out at the quiet, sleeping town. Home. I don’t have the heart to tell him I stopped thinking of this place as home a long time ago. But if anyone can make me think of Sleepy Hollow that way again, it’d be Bram.

Especially now that Mami is dead.

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The Tour:

August 29th

PBC – Promo Post

Never Too Many To Read – Review

August 30th

Kimber Leigh Writes – Guest Post

Book Wish – Review

August 31st

A Literary Potion – Review

YaReads – Author Interview

September 1st

A Leisure Moment – Character Interview

Books,Dreams,Life – Promo Post

September 2nd

The Book Beacon – Review

The Hermit Librarian – Review

September 3rd

Literary Meanderings – Promo Post

Ginger Night Owl – Review

September 4th

Bookish Escapes – Review

Pandora’s Books – Promo Post

September 5th

Daydreaming Books – Review

Roxy’s Book Reviews – Promo Post

September 6th

Smart Girls in the YA Stacks – Review

Reader Girls – Review

The Book Cellar – Promo Post

September 7th

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

Just One More Chapter – Promo Post

Book Lovers Life – Promo Post

September 8th

RoloPoloBookBlog – Promo Post

Bookish Wanderlove – Review

September 9th

With Love For Books – Review

Elizabeth Delana Rosa – Promo Post

Read Love Blog – Review

Folded Corners and Smudged Screens

September 10th

The Broke Book Bank – Review

Angel Erin’s Book Obsession – Review

September 11th

books are love – Review

Dana’s YA Bookpile – Guest Post

The Replacement Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts….Release Day Blitz & Review

The Replacement Crush teaser and bday image

True love can’t be strategized.

After book blogger Vivian Galdi’s longtime crush pretends their secret summer kissing sessions never happened, Vivian creates a list of safecrushes, determined to protect her heart.

But nerd-hot Dallas, the sweet new guy in town, sends the mission and Vivian’s zing meter into chaos. While designing software for the bookstore where Vivian works, Dallas wages a counter-mission.

Operation Replacement Crush is in full effect. And Dallas is determined to take her heart off the shelf.

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my-review

So I decided to take a chance on a new YA author (new to me) and was pleasantly surprised but what I got.

This is a very sweet and funny read.  Vivian is a book blogger and works in a bookstore with her mom (perfect!).  But after her heart is crushed by the boy she’s been messing around with during the summer, she’s determined to never allow that to happen again.

Dallas is the new guy in town and is hired by Viv’s mom to help with the computer system.  There’s an instant attraction between them but Viv is persistent and not allowing her heart to be broken again and keeps her distant.

While there were so moments that had me roll my eyes because her mission became a bit boring, overall I enjoyed this book.  It was funny and innocent and the characters made me laugh at their interactions.  While the whole scenario may not be realistic, it allows the reader to have a great laugh and enjoy a nice read.

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Don’t miss @LBrownRoberts’ latest: The Replacement Crush is out today! http://bit.ly/TRC_LBRoberts
Other Things Going On:
 
Lisa on The Librarian: Check out Lisa’s interview with Tabatha Pope’s online radio show, The Librarian, on demand.
The Replacement Crush Blog TourIf you love McNerds, then don’t miss the blog tour for The Replacement Crush with Chapter by Chapter, running from Sept. 5th to Sept.23rd! Be sure to follow along.
The Replacement Crush Online Book Launch: RSVP today to attend the online book launch for The Replacement Crush with Lisa Brown Roberts and Reading Transforms. It’s on Sept. 8th at 7 pm EDT!
Live in the Denver, CO Area?: Don’t miss Lisa Brown Roberts’ book launch at B&N in Glencoe, CO at the following address: 960 S Colorado Blvd Glendale, CO 80246. Lisa will be wearing her Star Trek uniform and have a life size Spock for some great photo opportunities, and part of the proceeds of the event will go toward a local high school choir for their upcoming music festival road trip to San Antonio! This event is on Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 7 pm EDT
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Daring the Bad Boy by Monica Murphy…Blog Tour & Review

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Daring the Bad BoyDaring the Bad Boy by Monica Murphy

Published by Entangled Crush

Published on August 22nd, 2016

Genre: YA contemporary/romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30332862-daring-the-bad-boy?ac=1&from_search=true

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daring-the-bad-boy-monica-murphy/1124207006?type=eBook

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Bad-Boy-Monica-Murphy-ebook/dp/B01JGMCCGM

Entangled Teen: http://entangledpublishing.com/daring-the-bad-boy/

Truth or Dare was never this much fun…

 

Annie McFarland is sick of being a shy nobody. A session at summer camp seems like the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself—gain some confidence, kiss a boy, be whoever she wants to be. A few days in, she’s already set her sights on über-hottie Kyle. Too bad her fear of water keeps her away from the lake, where Kyle is always hanging out.

 

Jacob Fazio is at Camp Pine Ridge after one too many screw-ups. Junior counseling seems like punishment enough, but the rigid no-fraternizing-with-campers rules harsh his chill. When a night of Truth or Dare gets him roped into teaching Annie how to swim, she begs him to also teach her how to snag Kyle.

 

Late-night swim sessions turn into late-night kissing sessions…but there’s more on the line than just their hearts. If they get caught, Jake’s headed straight to juvie, but Annie’s more than ready to dare him to reveal the truth.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drinking, sexual situations, adult language, and an intense bad boy hero who will melt your heart.

 

my-review

This is a very sweet and cute YA romance.  And I read it quite quickly. 

This story is based around summer camp – ghost stories, arts and crafts, lake activities, etc.  Along with the forbidden romances.  All very cutsie. 

I enjoyed the overall story of this book.  Monica does a great job keeping this book moving at the right pace.  The characters are young and the drama that goes down is perfect at their age.  However, my biggest issue is that sometimes, not all the time, their mannerisms and they want they talked was almost too young – like 13/14 instead of 16/17. 

Monica does a great job of building the scene and visualizing all the camp ground activities.  The interactions are entertaining and will make you feel young again.  Awww…young love.

But overall, its a good read for young readers or for anyone who wants a storyline that is not full of angst and has that young love vibe.  It’s a refreshing and quick read.

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About the Author:

Monica

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is a traditionally published author with Bantam/Random House and Harper Collins/Avon, as well as an independently published author. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance. She is also USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives with her family in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere, along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through many angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy

Twitter: @MsMonicaMurphy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicamurphyauthor/

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

Newsletter: http://monicamurphyauthor.us6.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=f1ced7b830&id=f985eea9cd

 

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Read Below for an excerpt from Daring the Bad Boy:

Annie

“Don’t forget to pack extras of everything,” Mom stressed, her voice high, her entire demeanor anxious. She really didn’t want me to leave, though she was the one who’d suggested I go to camp in the first place. And I guess I can’t blame her, since I am her only child, but it’s just for a few weeks—I had to be wait-listed, and when a spot opened up for the second session, I begged my parents to let me go.

But with the way she’s fretting over my leaving, I realize she needs to cut the umbilical cord sometime. At least I’ll be outside getting fresh air, not stuck in the air-conditioned house with my nose in a book. That’s how I usually spend my summers.

Well, no more.

Not that there’s anything wrong with reading, but…it was my escape, my safe place. I’m tired of living in someone else’s imaginary world—I want to live in my world for once. But it’s hard making a new impression on people you’ve known your entire school life, some of them since preschool.

To them I’m quiet little Annie McFarland. The girl who cried so hard on the first day of kindergarten that she blew a bubble of snot out her nose. The girl who was so petrified to perform in the third-grade Christmas play that her knees literally knocked together and everyone could hear them. The girl who had a major crush on Wade Johnson in sixth grade and wrote him a heartfelt Valentine’s Day poem—and he shared it with all his friends.

I endured their teasing for the rest of the school year. Sixth grade was definitely not my favorite year.

Yeah. I could go on and on.

I’d just finished my sophomore year, and while everyone was busy pairing off, being social, actually doing something with their lives, I was stuck. Stuck in my quiet shell, stuck with the nerd-girl label, stuck as the teacher’s pet. I hated it.

More than anything, I was beyond ready for a change.

“Extra T-shirts, extra shorts.” Mom ticked off the items with her fingers, her gaze meeting mine. “Extra, um, feminine products.”

My cheeks went hot. “I’ve already packed extra everything.” I waved a hand at my open but mostly stuffed duffel bag.

“Okay, good. Good. Wouldn’t want you to run out of necessities. Though I fully plan on sending you care packages. And there’s parents’ weekend, too, so I can always bring you whatever you might need.” Mom was rambling. A sure sign she was upset.

“Mom.” I went to her and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “I don’t leave for another twenty-four hours. It’s not time to cry yet.”

“I’ll just miss you.” She brushed a stray hair away from my forehead, her gaze soft. “You’ve never left us like this before, for this long. A whole month, hundreds of miles away. With strangers.” She stressed the last word.

That was my favorite part of the plan. Being with strangers, people who don’t know the real me. I could totally reinvent myself. Be whoever I wanted to be. I could demand they call me Ann, tell them I’m the most popular girl at my school, and win the attention of all the hot boys within hours of my arrival.

Though I doubted any of that would really happen. Just because I’m with people who don’t know me doesn’t mean my real self won’t make an immediate appearance. It’s hard for me to open up to new people. Plus, I really don’t like it when someone calls me Ann—I think Annie’s a much cuter name. And I’ve never gotten the attention of a hot boy in my entire life. Well, I have—hello, Wade Johnson—but that was unwanted attention. That I’m great at.

I’d like to change that particularly annoying trait of mine.

Okay, I’m not drop-dead gorgeous with a bubbly, flirtatious personality, not by a long shot. I’m not a hideous troll, either, but come on. Hot guys have never noticed me—unless they’re six and I’m blowing snot bubbles out my nose. Or I write really bad poetry that makes adolescent boys howl with laughter. And that’s not the way I want boys to notice me.

“I’ll be fine,” I reassured Mom, offering her a smile in return, which somehow only seemed to upset her more. Her chin got all wobbly, and she yanked me into her arms, holding me close. I let her smother me with Mom love for a few minutes before I disentangled myself from her embrace. “Seriously, it’s going to be okay. I’ll write you and Dad as much as I can.”

“Which shouldn’t be very much at all. I want you to meet new people and try new things. You need to stay busy and have fun. Don’t worry about us.” She wagged her finger at me before her hand dropped to her side. “I know you feel a little stifled here, so this will be good for you.”

Mom understood. She always had. We moved here when I was two, back to Dad’s hometown; he felt right at home because he was home. Mom, on the other hand, was still considered an outsider, and they’d always treated her that way. So she knew what it was like, to feel like you didn’t fit in. She understood my problems at school, when Dad always blew them off. Not that he was mean about it. He just didn’t get it.

“It’s going to be great,” I told Mom with a genuine smile. My heart did a funny little flip in the center of my chest and I breathed deeply, telling myself everything really would be great.

Going to camp was going to change my life.

***

Jake

One month earlier

“You’re going. I know this is a last-minute decision and you’re probably pissed that you have to leave tomorrow, but too damn bad, Jacob. You’re out of here.” Dad’s voice was firm, simmering with anger. His eyes blazed with barely withheld fury as he glared at me. He was super pissed, but what else was new? “And that’s final. No arguments, no defiance, no threats that you’ll run away. The second you leave this house without my permission, I’m calling the cops. And they will lock you up. Thanks to your latest mishap, that’s guaranteed.”

I stared at him, my arms crossed in front of my chest, my jaw clenched so tight I felt like I could crush my teeth into powder. My uncle’s summer camp held good memories. Back when I was a kid and had no cares in the world, and my main priorities had been swimming in the lake and hanging out with friends.

But those days were a long time ago.

Now I didn’t want to go back. There was no point. I was a different person. Not just older, but freaking wiser.

Well. Maybe not wiser. I kept fucking up, like I couldn’t help myself. That latest mishap Dad was talking about? Stealing hubcaps off fancy cars in the middle of the night with my so-called friends. We’d been drinking. I’d been dared. The moment the cops showed up, they all bailed on me. Every last one of them, and I was royally busted. They booked me like a real criminal, taking my photo, getting my fingerprints. I’d nearly pissed my pants I was so scared.

Never let them see it, though. Just kept my mouth shut and glared at everyone. When Dad showed up to bail me out, I almost went weak with relief. I believed I was home free—until he got me into the car and proceeded to yell the entire drive home.

That was the first clue that I’d have to finally pay for my sins.

Dad went with me to my court appearance and asked to speak to the judge. I thought he would plead my case. Tell the scowling middle-aged woman with glasses perched on the tip of her nose that I really was a good kid. I just needed another chance.

Nope. Dad chucked me so far under the bus, I still have tire marks across my stomach. He told the judge I was a screwup, a failure, a disappointment, and that he was afraid for my future. He then promised her if she gave me community service, he’d make sure I did my time by working at my uncle’s summer camp under strict supervision.

She’d agreed.

And now here I am, going to camp and having to work with a bunch of asshole kids who’ll give me nothing but crap over the next two months. The only thing that was giving me hope? The possibility there would be plenty of pretty counselors with a bad-boy fetish. I’ll be willing to fulfill whatever fantasy they have, as long as we can do it on the down low. My uncle gets one whiff of me doing something wrong, and I’m a dead man. I’ll end up in juvenile hall or, worse, in freaking jail. My dad’ll make sure I pay for my mistakes.

“Fine,” I muttered, dropping my head so I didn’t have to look him in the eye. Seeing the disappointment there, all the anger and frustration, I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’ll go.”

His deep sigh of relief was loud, and hearing it didn’t make me feel any better. We sat in the living room, Dad in his recliner, me on the couch. I let my arms drop to my sides and took a deep breath, glancing around the room. It was small, narrow, no pictures on the wall, no homey touches. A total bachelor pad, Dad had told me when we moved in to the place, like that was going to appeal to fourteen-year-old me.

After Mom died, Dad sold our house—too full of memories, he’d said, his expression pained—and we rented this shitty little two-story condo. A temporary move, he’d reassured me. The place was old but centrally located in single-dom paradise. As in, there were plenty of divorced women who lived in this complex who were hot for my dad.

And it sucked. Mom’s dying had completely messed with my head. But Dad’s moving us away from the only home I’d ever known had pushed me over the edge. The more trouble I got into, the more attention I received. It didn’t matter if it was bad or good; at least someone was looking at me. Acknowledging me. Telling me I mattered.

Sort of.

“Spending the summer with your uncle Bob is just what you need,” Dad said, his expression softening, the anger slowly dissipating because I didn’t protest or get angry. Why fight it? At least at camp, I’d have some freedom.

I’d be working my ass off and under Uncle Bob’s thumb all the time, but what else could I do?

“Though just because you’re surrounded by a bunch of young girls doesn’t mean you should touch any of them.” The pointed look Dad sent my way almost made me want to laugh.

Almost.

“They’re off-limits. Forbidden. The campers, at least. You have to follow your uncle’s rules. The counselors, they’re your peers, but I wouldn’t recommend you messing around with any of them, either. You don’t need the distraction.” He paused. “You mess up once, and you’ll end up in juvie. Understand?”

I nodded. Whatever. I’d mess around with whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I’d freaking need the distraction so I wouldn’t lose my mind having to work for Uncle Bob all summer long.

“You’ll get out of here.” Away from my friends. “You’ll meet new people.” Who aren’t my friends. “You’ll earn a little money and save it up.” So I can buy my own cigarettes or weed or whatever I want and not have to ask for cash from you. “And you might learn a thing or two.”

Yeah, right.

But instead of saying any of that, I nodded like I agreed and stood, finally meeting his gaze. His eyes weren’t blazing with so much frustration anymore, and I felt like I’d jumped over the first hurdle. “I’d better go pack, then,” I told him, and left the room.

Never looked back once, either.


 

The Tour Schedule:

August 29th

Alice’s Book Vault – Promo Post

Just One More Chapter – Promo Post

August 30th

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

The Book Beacon – Promo Post

August 31st

Bookish Escapes – Review

Roxy’s Book Reviews – Promo Post

September 1st

Daydreaming Books – Review

Read Love Blog – Review

September 2nd

Dana’s YA Bookpile – Guest Post

September 3rd

Beanie’s Book Blog – Review

September 4th

PBC – Promo Post

September 5th

The Cozy Little Book Nook – Review

September 6th

Never Too Many To Read – Review

September 7th

We Found Wonderland in Books – Author Interview

September 8th

A Leisure Moment – Review

YaReads – Guest Post

September 9th

RoloPoloBookBlog – Review

Swoony Boys Podcast – Character Interview

September 10th

The Bookish Introvert – Review

September 11th

Adventures in Writing – Review

Novel Knight – Promo Post

The Cabin by Natasha Preston…Spotlight Feature & Giveaway

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There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new young adult thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar, a New York Times Bestseller,and Awake

They think they’re invincible.

They think they can do and say whatever they want.

They think there are no consequences.

They’ve left me no choice.

It’s time for them to pay for their sins.

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can’t wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead—murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn’t telling the truth. And Mackenzie’s first mistake? Assuming the killing is over…

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2c2MCGJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bQSNyZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bQSVyE

BAM: http://bit.ly/2c2NDOS

Cabin(OverviewGraphic) (1)

 

Can you survive The Cabin?

Starting on August 30, we’ll be releasing a series of questions every Tuesday and Thursday at different locations.

Here’s how you play:

1. Take a look at the schedule below.
2. Go to the location on the specified date.
3. Find The Cabin graphic with the question.
4. Solve the question.
5. Head here to submit your answer for that day’s question.
6. Complete all 8 questions and be entered in to win a $500 Visa gift card! We’ll also be drawing a winner each week who will win a Sourcebooks Fire book bundle!
7. Make sure to submit all answers by September 25, 2016.

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Saturday, August 8

I cracked my eyes open and they were immediately stung by the evil morning light. It didn’t help that the room was a bright yellow. Groaning, I ran my hands over my face. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. My head throbbed, and every time I swallowed, I felt as if I were downing sawdust. To make matters worse, this time Blake wasn’t waking me up. My hangovers weren’t usually this bad. Last night, I had drunk a lot, but nowhere near enough to feel as awful as I did. When had I become such a humongous lightweight? Blake lay on his side, with one arm and one leg thrown over me. He looked peaceful. Whatever weighed on his mind during the day didn’t trouble him while he slept.

Biting my lip, I watched him sleep, feeling a bit like a creeper. I had never had a one–night stand, so my experience with the morning after was nonexistent. I knew the general idea was to leave ASAP, but in this situation, that was impossible. We were spending the weekend in the same secluded place, and it’s not like I had my own car.

Oh God. I had a one–night stand! I tried to calm myself. It’s fine. You’re an adult, remember? Adults do this all the time. But I didn’t. Why had I allowed myself to sleep with Blake when I hadn’t even known him twenty–four hours?

Shut up, it’s fine. You’re allowed to be into a guy, to have a good time.

I had to get a grip. There was nothing I could do to change what had happened. But neither of us needed to freak out or make this awkward—-and by neither of us, I meant me. We were attracted to each other and acted on it. We were both into it, both consenting adults. It’d be fine. Besides, I felt too ill to worry much anyway.

Pushing myself up, I flopped and fell back against the mattress. My heavy stomach rolled. Oh God. I had no energy. I needed water, aspirin, and to throw up the remaining alcohol that was still sloshing around in my system.

Never again. Never ever, ever, ever again.

My movements woke Blake. He removed his hand from my stomach and rubbed his face. “I feel like death,” he groaned.

Blushing because of the situation we were in, I replied, “Join the club.”

He smiled at me. “How do you not look like hell in the morning? I mean, you’ve got that stunning, post–sex glow that’s turning me on.”

Seriously? “How can you feel like crap and still want sex?”

He replied, “Have you ever seen yourself, Mackenzie?”

His comment made me bite my lip. I didn’t think I was that pretty, but I kind of loved how he saw me. Everyone wanted someone to think they were special, and my ex never had. Blake made me feel sexy and appreciated, which was nice, even if I broke my own rules.

“I…” I what? What did I want to say?

Chuckling quietly, he shoved himself up and reached for his jeans. “I need food and strong coffee. Do you know what everyone has planned for today?”

Following his lead, I grabbed my clothes and started to get dressed. I flicked my gaze at him to make sure he wasn’t looking at me. He was. “We’re going down to the lake to swim. Aaron wants to feed everyone barbecue food all day; then we’re making a bonfire in the evening.”

Blake stilled. “You’re making a fire in the middle of the forest?”

“A small bonfire. We’re not setting trees alight.”

“At least not purposefully,” he muttered. “I’m overseeing that.”

“Oversee away. I’m sure Aaron would love the help.”

“It’s not Aaron I want to hang out with.”

Holy…

I bit my lip. “Well, good.”

He lifted an eyebrow while staring into my eyes. “Yes, it is.”

If he kept looking at me like that, I was going to explode. I already felt too hot.

 

YA Retellings Blast & Giveaway

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Get Back-to-School Ready with this YA Retellings Blog Blast!

Recently, we asked several Entangled TEEN authors of YA Retellings the following question, “What book or story would you like to see updated for the young adult market?”, and where possible, we’ve shared their responses below with you!

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Gaby Triana’s Wake the Hollow – YA Retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”:

Forget the ghosts, Mica. It’s real, live people you should fear.

Tragedy has brought Micaela Burgos back to her hometown of Sleepy Hollow. It’s been six years since she chose to live with her father in Miami instead of her eccentric mother. And now her mother is dead.

This town will suck you in and not let go.

Sleepy Hollow may be famous for its fabled headless horseman, but the town is real. So are its prejudices and hatred, targeting Mica’s family as outsiders. But ghostly voices carry on the wind, whispering that her mother’s death was based on hate…not an accident at all. With the help of two very different guys—who pull at her heart in very different ways—Micaela must awaken the hidden secret of Sleepy Hollow…before she meets her mother’s fate.

Find the answers.

Unless, of course, the answers find you first.

Gaby’s Answer to What YA Retelling She’d Like to See in 100 Words or Less:

As a huge fan of haunted house stories, I’d love to see a retelling of the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. First published in 1959, this was and still is, one of the finest examples of psychological terror ever known in the horror genre, and because I love stories that scare you with what’s not there rather than what is, I would love to see this interpreted for a teen audience. Are we caught up in Eleanor’s mind, or is a real poltergeist haunting her? “Whatever walked there, walked alone.” Yeah, definitely this one.

Buy Wake the Hollow:

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1

Vivi Barnes, author of Olivia Twisted, which is a YA Retelling of Oliver Twist:

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite―break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

Olivia Decoded:

This isn’t my Jack, who once looked at me like I was his world. The guy who’s occupied the better part of my mind for eight months.

This is Z, criminal hacker with a twisted agenda and an arsenal full of anger.

I’ve spent the past year trying to get my life on track. New school. New friends. New attitude. But old flames die hard, and one look at Jack—the hacker who enlisted me into his life and his hacking ring, stole my heart, and then left me—and every memory, every moment, every feeling comes rushing back. But Jack’s not the only one who’s resurfaced in my life. And if I can’t break through Z’s defenses and reach the old Jack, someone will get hurt…or worse.

Vivi’s Answer to What YA Retelling She’d Like to See in 100 Words or Less:

I first saw the movie To Kill A Mockingbird when I was a teenager, and I believe it played a large part in opening my eyes to the realities and consequences of racism. Considering the state of the world today, I would love to see the story retold as a young adult novel with a Muslim-American Tom Robinson. I think capturing the attention of young adults through literature is one of the most effective ways we can change the world for the better.

Buy Olivia Twisted (Olivia Twisted, #1):

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

Pre-order Olivia Decoded (Olivia Twisted, #2):

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2Cindi Madsen’s All the Broken Pieces – YA Retelling of Frankenstein:

What if your life wasn’t your own?

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?

Cindi’s Answer to What YA Retelling She’d Like to See in 100 Words or Less:

Hmm. What retelling would I love to see? I’m a big fan of the classics, and twists on them. I’ll read just about any Pride & Prejudice retelling. Beauty and the Beast is also a favorite. But I’d love to see a modern retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I think that there could be a lot of possibilities and different ways to go, but I think one with a lot of tension and romance and kissing (my fave), would be amazing! And I just found out Entangled Teen recently acquired a Count of Monte Cristo retelling called STING, by Cindy Wilson! *makes grabby hands*

Buy All The Broken Pieces:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

3

Jenny Trout’s Such Sweet Sorrow – YA Retelling of Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet:

Never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo…

But true love never dies. Though they’re parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he’ll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide.
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father’s crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility—a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure and the chance to avenge his father’s death.

In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants, and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn’t surrender souls without a price…

Buy Such Sweet Sorrow:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

5

A.L. Davroe’s Nexis – YA Retelling of “Cinderella”:

In the domed city of Evanescence, appearance is everything. A Natural Born amongst genetically-altered Aristocrats, all Ella ever wanted was to be like everyone else. Augmented, sparkling, and perfect. Then…the crash. Devastated by her father’s death and struggling with her new physical limitations, Ella is terrified to learn she is not just alone, but little more than a prisoner.

Her only escape is to lose herself in Nexis, the hugely popular virtual reality game her father created. In Nexis she meets Guster, a senior player who guides Ella through the strange and compelling new world she now inhabits. He offers Ella guidance, friendship…and something more. Something that allows her to forget about the “real” world, and makes her feel whole again.

A.L.’s Answer to What YA Retelling She’d Like to See in 100 Words or Less:

I’m a huge fan of retellings of stories that are a little less well know. Even better? Gender swapped stories! That’s a field rich for the harvest and I don’t know why we’re not all jumping on that boat. Although, I hear Channing Tatum is going to be in a gender-swapped version of Splash. That’s gonna be something to see…

Buy Nexis (Tricksters, #1):

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

6Kendra C. Highley’s Finding Perfect – YA Retelling of Pygmalion in reverse:

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains swoony situations, adult language, and a perfectly imperfect hero with an eye for calculus and a heart of gold.

How far will you go for perfection?

For “Perfect Paige” Westfeld, today is “D” Day. As in, she just got one on her calculus test. With her dreams of Stanford, her reputation, and her parents’ expectations at stake, Paige needs to find a way to save face before everything she’s worked for goes up in flames.

Ben Franklin (yes, he’s related) is from the wrong side of town, with the wrong clothes and the wrong kind of life. He also knows an opportunity when he sees one, and he’ll be happy to tutor Paige—if she makes him into the kind of guy her best friend, the hottest girl in school, will date.

It’s the perfect arrangement. And Paige is determined not even the inconvenient—and utterly imperfect—attraction simmering between her and Ben will ruin it…

Kendra’s Answer to What YA Retelling She’d Like to See in 100 Words or Less:

I’d love the see Samson and Delilah told as an epic love story between two enemies, in a dystopian where magic is real (think An Ember in the Ashes). Samson, an eighteen-year- old with unusual strength has been helping his country’s army fight off an invasion by Delilah’s countrymen. Delilah, a renowned beauty, is blackmailed into starting a relationship with Samson to spy for her country in exchange from saving her sister from slavers. Against all odds, they fall in love, but Delilah still has to betray Samson. The twist would be that she frees him from his captors in the end, and they escape together.

Buy Finding Perfect (Finding Perfect, #1):

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

7

Alyxandra Harvey’s Red – YA Retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood”:

Bad girls burn hot…

Red is the color of Kia Alcott’s hair.

It’s her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble. And it’s the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.

When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It’s an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.

Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.

But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn’t stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…

Buy Red:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

8

Emily McKay’s How Willa Got Her Groove Back – YA Retelling of Pride & Prejudice:

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains an unbelievably hot bad boy, an unbelievably famous actress, and all the drama that comes with adding both to your family. Oh, and a forbidden flirtation with a soon-to-be stepbrother

When your life feels like a bad movie, rewrite the script.

When Willa Schofer’s father comes home from a business trip with an über-famous new fiancée, Willa’s senior year blows up in paparazzi-fueled flames. Overnight, she has a new house, a new car, and a new soon-to-be stepbrother—the unbelievably hot, unbelievably arrogant, Finn McCain. Thank god he’s constantly pushing her buttons, or she might do something irresponsible. Like fall for the jerk.

Just when Willa’s decided to avoid him for, oh, ever, Finn lands in the center of her senior project team. Seriously—how hard is it to shake a guy? At least her work on the project snagged the attention of the (second) hottest guy in school. He might only be into her because of her famous stepmom, and he’s not quite as exciting as a certain annoying housemate, but at least she’s allowed to crush on the guy.

Because crushing on your annoying stepbrother? So not cool.

Willa and Finn Book 2 coming November 14, 2016

Buy How Willa Got Her Groove Back (Creative HeArts, #2; Willa and Finn, #1):

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Entangled Publishing

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Now It’s Your Turn!

What YA Retelling are you dying to read, but – as far as you know – hasn’t been written yet? Let us know in the comments section!

Phoenix by Addison Kline….Blog Tour & Review

 

 
Title : Phoenix 
Author: Addison Kline 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
Book 1 of the Phoenix Saga – The Phoenix
 
“Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Or so the book of Corinthians tells us. 
 
Alanna Anderson does not agree with this sentiment. At the tender age of thirteen, Alanna believes that she has learned all she needs to know about love. Love is fleeting. Love is callous. Love is a lie. Growing up in the rough streets of South End, Pennsylvania, Alanna Anderson knows a thing or two about guarding her heart. Although there is a boy that vies for her attention, Alanna has no interest. She surrounds herself with the people she loves best, and immerses herself in her music and her love of literature. But one winter day, two boys forever changed Alanna’s life. One cemented Alanna’s belief that love was cruel. Another sought to prove her wrong.
 
Cris Serrano is new to town. Moving to the United States from Portugal, he is stepping into a world he in unfamiliar with. He is not fearful, though. Stepping forth with confidence, Cris is excited for what this new experience will hold, leaving behind a past he’d rather forget. Upon his first day at Henshaw Elementary, Cris meets Alanna Anderson and sparks fly. Their connection is one that will forever rewrite the map of their destinies – two supernovas colliding amidst a darkened sky. Not everyone believes that Alanna and Cris belong together, though. 
 
Damien Foley has loved Alanna Anderson from the day he first set eyes upon her. Though she ignores his advances, Damien has hope that Alanna will open her heart to him. But when Cris Serrano comes to town, everything changes. Alanna gazes at Cris the way Damien wishes she would look at him. Watching her fall in love in Cris was more than Damien’s mind could take. As Alanna and Cris are enveloped in the joy of young love, a storm is brewing. With Damien’s attraction to Alanna only intensifying with each unrequited sentiment, an obsession was born. 
 
Young love does not come easy in this gritty, romantic suspense novel. In the Phoenix Saga, they love hard, they fight hard, and the stakes are high as teens struggle to step over the echelon of adulthood.

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will always be books out there that will touch a deep part of you and The Phoenix is one of those books.  I love the meaning behind this book and the story Addison delivered.

The Phoenix is told in third person POV, which is sometimes a bit hard for me to get into.  But with this book and having so many characters and needing to view things from all the different ways, it’s the only way for this book to work.  And Addison wrote it very well. My only small gripe is that sometimes that language didn’t fit the age of the character and made it  slightly harder to believe their ages.  Aside from that -a beautiful story.

This story surrounds Alanna and her friends.  I won’t go into details as to what happens because I feel that takes away from the excitement and wonderment of the story.  What these young kinds go through will baffle you.  But what will amaze you is the strong depth their friendship goes to.  They stand side by side and have each others’ backs through good and bad.  They’re family.

I have quite a lot of quotes from this book that I absolutely love and will keep with me forever.  But one in particular is poem that Alanna wrote.   It’s a bit long, but says so much more.

“A year of tumult.  An age of irritation.  Heart’s bitter contempt, a high security prison.  A prior love turned exceptional fiend.  An extraordinary façade.  You’re not all what you seemed.  Deceit in your mind.  Venom on your tongue.  The maddening ache of anger.  A howl building in my lungs.  Stop this masquerade.  Discard your mask!  Your two faces have fulfilled their task!  I believe in the myth.  I trusted in a lie. Be gone! Bury this deceit to die!

A kaleidoscope mind.  A battleground heart.  Run for cover.  Too late – torn apart.  An era of disillusion.  A moment of doubt.  A flicker of truth; your misdeeds I must surmount.  I throw my hands up to the wind.  What’s left to say?  There’s nothing left to give.  Took my security.  Fractured my soul.  Pillaged and plundered til there was nothing left at all!  But wait…what’s this?  A faintly beating heart. Mangled and bloody, but still holds a charge.  Fighting against the current, a tremendous wave.  Your violence and insanity…..It’s my own life I must save.  Birdcage, release me!  Break these bonds that hold me.  Captor, forget me.  Set me soul free!  Forget the words on your tongue.  Rid my face from your brain.  My life belongs to me….It was never yours to claim!”

Addison has way with words that gut a person.  They make you think, they make you feel, they come alive on the pages.  I loved this story!  I look forward to reading more from Addison.

 
 

Addison Kline is an International Best-Selling Author who resides in Pennsylvania with her family. When she is not writing, she is immersing herself in music, reading to her heart’s content, traveling with her family, or binging on her favorite shows on Netflix that include Wentworth, Bloodlines and Sons of Anarchy.

Addison is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and while she loves to write in a variety of genres, Addison always says “mystery is her game.” Some of her other favorite sub-genres to write include romantic suspense, psychological thrillers, crime and mafia thrillers.

Some of Addison’s greatest influences to date include Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Harper Lee, Gillian Flynn, Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen & James Patterson.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wake the Hollow by Gaby Triana…Release Day Blitz & Review

Wake The Hollow Release Day Blitz!

Forget the ghosts, Mica. It’s real, live people you should fear.

Tragedy has brought Micaela Burgos back to her hometown of Sleepy Hollow. It’s been six years since she chose to live with her father in Miami instead of her eccentric mother. And now her mother is dead.

This town will suck you in and not let go.

Sleepy Hollow may be famous for its fabled headless horseman, but the town is real. So are its prejudices and hatred, targeting Mica’s family as outsiders. But ghostly voices carry on the wind, whispering that her mother’s death was based on hate…not an accident at all. With the help of two very different guys—who pull at her heart in very different ways—Micaela must awaken the hidden secret of Sleepy Hollow…before she meets her mother’s fate.

Find the answers.

Unless, of course, the answers find you first.

Wake the Hollow

BUY LINK:

http://amzn.to/2aueSQC

WtH6

review

Wake the Hollow is a great YA suspense novel with a touch of romance involved. I loved Triana’s take on this legendary work – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I can’t say enough about this book. First off, Trianadoes a fabulous job of giving you details about Irving, all his works plus his personal details to give more depth to this story. Even if you aren’t a fan of Irving, this book will have you wanting to look things up on google and wanting to learn more about everything that is Irving related.

Back to the book – I loved how Triana wove in her own modern ideas into this tale and make it more intriguing to read about these tales. Mica has returned home only to discover as she stays there longer, she is starting to act like her mother did. She hears voices, sees apparitions and can’t seem to explain why it’s all happening to her.

“Forget the ghosts, Mica. It’s real, live people you should fear.” 

Triana does a great job of keeping you in suspense throughout this book. There are many people involved and you only have hunches as to who could be behind what. Triana does a great job of retelling the Sleepy Holly story wit her own twists to it along with the added mystery of Mica’s mother and their family history. It’s a very crafty story line.

“All these, however, were mere terrors of the night, phantoms of the mind that walk in darkness.”

I would really recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good YA suspense story or anyone that enjoys The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Readers will find themselves engrossed in the story quickly and enjoying the modern twist on this legendary tale.

5LovesRLB

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Wake The Hollow3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author

GABY TRIANA is the award-winning author of six YAnovels—Wake the Hollow (Aug. 2016, Entangled), Summer of Yesterday, Riding the Universe, The Temptress Four, Cubanita, and Backstage Pass, as well as thirteen ghostwritten novels for best-selling authors. Originally a 4th grade teacher with a Master of Science in Elementary Education and ten years teaching experience, Gaby earned Teacher of the Year in 2000, wrote her first novel, Freddie and the BiltmoreGhost, then left teaching to launch a full-time writing career. She went on to publish young adult novels with HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, win an IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback Award, and Hispanic Magazine’s Good Reads of 2008. She spends her time obsessing about Halloween, Christmas, and Disney World, as well as hosting parties, designing mugs, making whimsical cakes, and winning costume contests. When she’s not writing, she might also be watching Jurassic Park movies with her boys, posting excessive food pics on social media, or helping run the Florida region of the SCBWI. Gaby lives in Miami with her three sons, Michael, Noah, and Murphy. She has one dog, Chloe, and two cats—Miss Daisy, and the reformed thug, shooting survivor, Bowie.

Visit her at www.gabytriana.com and @GabyTriana on Twitter.