Thursday, April 28, 2016

Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!!


Hello there guys!!

Welcome to my stop of the Blog Tour for Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey, hosted & organized by Xpresso Book Tours!

As part of my stop I'll have my review of this delightful historical fiction debut and a giveaway, so make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for that.

But before you get to read my ramblings and enter to win a copy of the book (US only), let me give you a lil bit more info about both book and author!



Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey

Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: April 19th 2016
Genres: Historical, Young Adult


Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25836440-love-lies-spies





About the author:

She has lived on three continents, had a monkey in her yard and a scorpion under her sink, dwelt among castles and canals, enjoyed the jazz of Beale St and attempted to speak French.

Cindy loves history, mystery and… a chocolate Labrador called Chester. Love, Lies and Spies is her debut novel.




REVIEW

What an absolutely delightful book! It was exactly what I needed to improve my mood! Lady Beetles! Victorian propierty be damned!

Juliana is a young lady that is getting ready for her debut and first season in London with her aunt, cousin and a poor but very influential nobility family. That sounds like a pretty standard beginning for historical fiction, but our main character Juliana is anything but standard or typical. She must go to London and for that she must endure the season attendance, but getting married is so NOT her objective!

I loved how she was trying her best to ensure she'd be able to accomplish her objective (that no one else was privy to, not even her cousin) but at the same time she didn't stay silent when she didn't agree with something or when she felt that she had to make a stand, even propierty would have demanded she stayed meekly quiet.

Spencer was also not exactly your regular young man with an easy life and money to spend, and he had to be rather peculiar to hide his real intentions and purposes and to complete his mission. He finds himself mixed up with Juliana and her family and hosts and although he doesn't entirely lose track of his mission, things do get a bit more muddled now and then!

Aside from the quite unusual romance, mostly because it's not really Victorian era style, since both characters are very dedicated to their pursuits and missions and marriage really is not in their minds, and the fact that they're both in denial about the change of feeling until very close to the end. There are another two plot lines: Juliana and her research of Lady Beetles and Spencer's mission for the government. Although Spencer's mission seems to take more space on the narrative, Juliana's was her main motivation for her actions, which means it was also ever present.

The writing, the pacing, the interactions between the characters, the build up for the romance... the best way I can describe this book and the first word that comes to mind is delightful! It was cute, it was interesting, it had me turning pages fast and wanting to keep on reading, made me smile, made me laugh and completely improved my rather sullen mood at the time!

A wonderful debut, very much deserving of 4 stars! Really looking forward to more stories like this one from the author!



GIVEAWAY

US/CAN only



Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The Rose And The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh Release Day Blitz!!





I'm so very excited to take part today of the Release Day Blitz for The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh organized by Rockstar Book Tours!

I adored the first book, The Wrath & The Dawn, and I just cannot wait till I can get my hands on this gorgeous sequel (I'm getting a signed copy from a bookstore event late May, so extra wait for me!).

If you've been living under a rock somewhere, there more information about the book and the author in this post as well as an awesome giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Wrath & The Dawn, a hardcover of The Rose & The Dagger and an awesome candle from The Melting Library's Etsy Store! It's US only and if you want to enter, read on till the end of the post!








Title: THE ROSE & THE DAGGER
Author: Renée Ahdieh

Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks 

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever.

Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.



Praise for The Rose and the Dagger:

“Above all there is the shattering, triumphant catharsis of love… In a story about stories, love is ‘the power to speak without words.’ Thrillingly full of feeling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Fiery romance, a spirited heroine, shifting loyalties… With more than a few heartrending twists and turns.”—Booklist 



Excerpt:


















About Renée:

Renée lives in North Carolina (Go Heels!) with her husband Victor and their dog Mushu. Her YA fantasy novel, THE
WRATH AND THE DAWN, will be published on May 12th, 2015. In her spare time, she likes to cook, dance salsa, and wreak havoc on the lives of her characters.

She’s also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as an active member of theScience Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
.






GIVEAWAY


1 winner will receive a paperback of THE WRATH &  THE DAWN, a hardcover of THE ROSE
& THE DAGGER, and a His Calipha candle from The Melting Library's Etsy Store
US Only.





Ends on May 3rd at Midnight EST!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 7, 2016

COVER REVEAL: Unknown by Wendy Higgins!!!

Hellooooo guys!!

I'm beyond excited to share with you the cover for a new book from one of my favourite authors!!

Wendy Higgins has a new book coming out very soon and today I can show you the utterly gorgeous coveeer!




Ready to see the precious??




Are you??




Scroll my pretties, scroll!!










UNKNOWN by Wendy Higgins
Apocalyptic Sci-Fi NA Romance
Coming August 16, 2016


Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technological communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have.

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28821675-unknown




About the author:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology The Great Hunt, and her independently published Irish fantasy, See Me. She is a former high school English teacher who now writes full time, and lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her veterinarian husband, daughter, son, and doggie Rue.

Wendy earned a bachelor's in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford University 








Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead Release Day Blitz!!





I am so excited to be part of the Release Day Blitz for The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead today! I still haven't got my hands on it but I cannot wait till I can read it because I keep reading glowing reviews from my trusted bloggy friends!


This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed copy of the book and a $25 Sephora Gift Card courtesy of Richelle, Penguin Teen, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.


About The Book:


THE GLITTERING COURT by Richelle Mead

Pub. Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook


The Selection meets Reign in this dazzling trilogy of interwoven novels about three girls on a quest for freedom and true love from #1 internationally bestselling
author Richelle Mead.


"Brilliant and original, Mead’s new series starts off with a bang and will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end."


—School Library Journal




For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life they’ve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the
Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, prosperous new land across the sea.

After a chance meeting with the dazzling Cedric Thorn, Adelaide poses as a servant to join the crop of impoverished girls he promises to transform into proper ladies. But her familiarity with upper class life comes with a price: she must hide her identity from her new friends, mysterious refugee Mira and
fiery former laundress Tamsin, and most importantly, from Cedric himself—even though she’s falling in love with him. 

Everything begins to crumble when Cedric discovers Adelaide’s ruse, and she catches the eye of a powerful young governor, who wants her for a wife. She didn’t leave the gilded cage of her old life behind just to become someone else's property. But nothing is as daunting—or as wonderful—as the potent, forbidden attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. One that, if acted on, would make them both outcasts in a wild, dangerous, uncharted world, and possibly lead them to their deaths.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27272506-the-glittering-court






Exclusive Excerpt:











About the author: 

Richelle Mead has written over twenty-five novels for teens and adults. She is the author of the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series and its spinoff series, Bloodlines. Her recent standalone novel, Soundless, draws upon Chinese mythology and history, and her forthcoming series, The Glittering Court, follows the adventures of girls destined for arranged marriages in a fantasy world inspired by colonial America.

A lifelong reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses to wear on tour. She is a self-professed coffee addict, works in her pajamas, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington, where she is hard at work on her next novel.




GIVEAWAY

1 winner will receive a hardcover of THE GLITTERING COURT & a $25 Sephora Gift Card.
US Only.
Ends on April 15th at Midnight EST!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, April 2, 2016

The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler Book Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello there!!

Happy Saturday guys! Today I'm very pleased to be part of the Book Blitz for The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler, organized by the lovely Hannah of The Irish Banana Tours!

I'll be sharing an excerpt of the book and there will also be a rafflecopter at the end of the post, so don't forget about that!

But first, let me give you some info about the book and the author!


The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler

King Severn Argentine’s fearsome reputation precedes him: usurper of the throne, killer of rightful heirs, ruthless punisher of traitors. Attempting to depose him, the Duke of Kiskaddon gambles…and loses. Now the duke must atone by handing over his young son, Owen, as the king’s hostage. And should his loyalty falter again, the boy will pay with his life.

Seeking allies and eluding Severn’s spies, Owen learns to survive in the court of Kingfountain. But when new evidence of his father’s betrayal threatens to seal his fate, Owen must win the vengeful king’s favor by proving his worth—through extraordinary means. And only one person can aid his desperate cause: a mysterious woman, dwelling in secrecy, who truly wields power over life, death, and destiny.





 “Wheeler (the Covenant of Muirwood series) [takes]a long, deep look into a young character and his circumscribed world—an unusual move for a first book in a series…the emotional range and insight he convincingly portrays in his child hero make for a political drama that can entice adult and teen audiences alike.”
– Publishers Weekly


From Jeff Wheeler, the author of the acclaimed Muirwood Trilogies and Landmoore series, comes a groundbreaking new foray into the world of fantasy. THE QUEEN’S POISONER (47North; Hardcover & Paperback; April 1, 2016; $14.95/$10.70) is the debut novel of The Kingfountain Series and promises readers total immersion in a beautiful and deadly new world in which a young boy must accept an impossible destiny.

Says Jason Kirk, 47North editor, of Jeff’s writing: “He weaves immersive worlds that forgo the explicit brutality of some popular fantasy sagas in favor of a deft touch that’s as welcoming as it is rife with conniving, trickery, heartbreak, and beautiful, memorable magic. .. I’m sorely tempted to say more, but I wouldn’t dare rob other readers of the exhilarating experience of getting lost in Jeff Wheeler’s worlds on their own.”




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29103028-the-queen-s-poisoner?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true





 Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to become a full-time author. He is, most importantly, a husband and father, and a devout member of his church. He is occasionally spotted roaming among the oak trees and granite boulders in the hills of California or in any number of the state’s majestic redwood groves. He is the author of The Covenant of Muirwood Trilogy, The Legends of Muirwood Trilogy, the Whispers from Mirrowen Trilogy, and the Landmoor Series

Website | Twitter










EXCERPT

Chapter 17


A sound whispered from the corridor behind him. It was a footfall. Not the sound of a boot in the corridor beyond the wall. The sound of someone approaching within the tunnel. It was coming from behind him.


The queasiness blossomed inside Owen and a cold sweat started on his brow. Going back was no longer an option. The tunnel was narrow and there was no place to hide, so Owen hurried forward, hoping to find an escape into the main palace corridor. It would be infinitely better to be punished for wandering the hall at night than to be caught in the Espion corridor. His little heart started to hammer wildly in his chest and the blackness in front of him became even darker somehow.


He heard the footfalls again, coming closer.


The boy was starting to panic. Ankarette had warned him this could happen. She had told him it was dangerous to wander the tunnels alone and that he needed to be very cautious and always listen for sounds that were out of place. Such as the footfalls behind him. 


The narrow pinch of the corridor suddenly filled in ahead of Owen, the walls closing like an arrowhead. It ended abruptly and finally. It was a dead-end.




GIVEAWAY


Click HERE to enter the rafflepcoter to win 1 out of 5 copies!