Until Midnight by Melissa Landers Release Day!!

Hello guys!

Today I'm super happy to host Melissa Landers over on my blog to celebrate the release of a free short story in her Alienated series! It's called Until Midnight and it happens between Alienated and Invaded, and it'll tide us up till February! Now it's over to Melissa!


UNTIL MIDNIGHT is here…and it’s FREE!




Happy Holidays, everyone! I’m Melissa Landers, author of the Alienated series, and I have a present for you—a brand new e-short from Disney Hyperion!

UNTIL MIDNIGHT takes place onboard an intergalactic transport, soon after ALIENATED ends and before the sequel INVADED begins. The story details Aelyx and Cara’s last day together before he returns to Earth to mend the alliance and she continues to his home planet. It’s sweet and romantic, and as a bonus, it includes a four-chapter preview of the sequel, which releases February 3rd.


Oh, and did I mention the best part? IT’S FREE!


You can download UNTIL MIDNIGHT from the following e-tailers:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1walSLX
Nook: http://bit.ly/1zshdpx
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1sT4CnM
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1AIb45a
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1v06kVd


*If you live outside the USA, no worries. I’ve uploaded the story to Scribd for you. (The only downside is it doesn’t include the bonus preview chapters, due to technical reasons from the publisher.)

Link: http://www.scribd.com/AuthorMelissaLanders


To celebrate this new release, I’m offering TWO lucky winners an autographed swag pack complete with a personalized bookplate, mini-poster, bookmarks, and stickers—open internationally! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below.

Best of luck, and happy reading!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

BIO: Melissa Landers writes romantic science fiction for teens and the young at heart. To learn more, or just to say hello, visit her at www.melissa-landers.com

Friday Reads: Opposition by Jennifer L Armentrout!!

Hello guys! Happy Friday! Mine is not the start of a weekend off, but at least I'm back on 3 to 10 pm schedule, which means I can sleep in in the mornings!

I'm starting this week's Friday Reads with a review for yet another series finale and an August release. As such it is not one part of any of my various challenges, but one of those "ME" reads!



Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I started the Lux series on a whim, cause although I wasn't drawn to them, I was waiting for the next Covenant book and I thought "Why not?" and damn, I got totally addicted and ended up binge reading the first 3 books! Then the wait for Origin was quite awful cause of that evil cliffhanger and even if the cliffhanger wasn't as bad this time, it's always bad waiting for the final book of a series!

Given that it is the final book of the series some spoilers for previous books might be expected but I promise no spoilers for Opposition itself!

Opposition starts very much where Origin left us, with the Lux's arrival, Daemon disappearance (along with Dee and Dawson) and Katy left to worry and wonder. The beginning was a bit odd while you wait till working out what the heck is going on now. But never fret, things won't stay weird for long, and soon enough Katy and Daemon will be again the amazing team that they are, ready to face whatever comes together.

That is one of the strengths of these books I feel, the great relationship between Daemon and Katy, the chemistry, the banter, and the way they support each other! Daemon wants to protect Kary but also accepts that she is not going to want to be left behind or treated as useless and he actually really appreciates how kick ass she has become. They don't hold each other back and that is always a sign of a healthy relationship.

Daemon still got his sass and smartass attitude, even when it really wouldn't be a great idea to display, but that's the Daemon we all know and can't help but love. Katy has grown a lot and she's got very good at dealing as best as she can with all the crap that has been thrown her way, but she hasn't stopped being her nerdy bookish self, and I absolutely adore that!

Opposition has plenty of action, even if there's also a lot of planning and the final battle ends up being more personal than massive final showdown. There is conflict, heartbreak and also a lot of hope, some old friends from other books and plenty of humour here and there to lighten the tension a little bit.

The epilogue was a nice way to round it up, and even more after you read the extra epilogue that JLA wrote on her blog (the first line of that one made me giggle btw!) and this was a great final book for the series. Who would have thought I'd love a series of aliens in high school, huh? Very deserved 4 stars for this one!



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Waiting On Wednesday #52!!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted at Breaking The Spine  that spotlights those can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-them books that we are eagerly awaiting!

So what book am I awaiting with bated breath this week? Opposition by Jennifer L Armentrout!!

Goodreads Summary:

"Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing."


Why am I eagerly awaiting Opposition? Well, I binge read the entire Lux series at the beginning of last year, a few months before Origin came out, and the wait with the horrible cliffhanger in Opal, till I could get my hands onto Origin was baaaad. There was a cliffhanger in Origin too, but at least not so bad! I cannot wait to see what will happen now that the Luxen are on Earth!!

What are you all (im)patiently waiting this week?

Today is RELEASE DAY for Alienated by Melissa Landers (+ Giveaway)!!

Hello everyone!! Today I'm super excited for very many new books and one of them is Alienated by Melissa Landers! I was very excited to take part in her launch & giveaway promo!

First of all, let me introduce you to the book and to Melissa!

Synopsis:
 
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

 

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.










And here's Melissa's post for today's launch and even a giveaway!!


Hey, fiction lovers. I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA sci-fi romance, ALIENATED, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!


In a nutshell, ALIENATED is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.


What do reviewers have to say?


“The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary YA fiction fans.” –VOYA


“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist


“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout


“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling author of Tempest.


“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.


If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give ALIENATED a try. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eHsLaf
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1dZqtBI
Book Depo (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1hzxOfs
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1dfZHDW


To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!


Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.


Best of luck, and happy reading!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/08007c38/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Mark This Book Monday: ARC Review of Alienated by Melissa Landers!!

For this week's first review for Mark This Book Monday I have an ARC review of a book I can't wait to re-read again as soon as my preorder hardcover arrives, hopefully close to the release date of February 4th!
I won this ARC on a Twitter giveaway that author Ashley Elston did, thank you so much for making it open internationally! A fun bit of trivia, this was my very first paper ARC too!



Alienated by Melissa Landers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I had wanted to read this since I found out about the book on Twitter and read the blurb here, and when I got a chance to read the ARC I was so stoked! You know that feeling of not knowing if that long awaited book will disappoint you? Well, this one didn't!

On Alienated we meet Cara, a high school valedictorian, overachiever extraordinaire that is given the chance of a lifetime to be part of a student exchange, the first student exchange with aliens! The L'eirh made contact with humankind a pair of years back and now they want to stablish better human-L'eirh relationships. Cara will get the responsability of being a human ambassador, but it can also be her ticket to the college of her dreams!

Aelyx is not happy about the exchange, nor are other two fellow students going to France and China, and they have a plan that won't make neither humans nor L'eirhs happy.

At first Cara's attitude and outlook didn't endear her to me too much, and neither did Aelyx attitude, even if he got more of a dispensation being an alien with hidden motives.

But the story and the way the relationship between the characters started developing really got me hooked. I really didn't expect the focus of the book to be so much on showing big issues through the story, issues like unhealthy relationships, xenophobia, bullying, and modern witch hunting! Cara and her family have to face so much hate because of hosting Aelyx, and they never cave in and keep on trying to do the right thing. Cara proves that she is trying to make it easier for Aelyx not just out of a sense of obligation and to get her rewards, but cause it's the right thing (and of course, cause she seems to be building a massive crush on him!).

Aelyx starts with a horrible attitude towards the inferior race of humans, even if he tries to remain civil, but little by little he decides to stop focusing only on the bad and gives a chance to what's good in humankind, in Cara and her family.

The way the romance progresses worked really well for me, and since I have no issues with interspecies/alien romances, I was rooting for it as soon as Aelyx started questioning his attitude towards Cara and his actions following his original plan. There was some very swooning moments in there, and I loved them!

All in all, this is a book about two teens that fall in love despite and probably because of their differences, and a book about how humans (and aliens) can be capable of the best and worst. Some big issues are addressed in this book, but there's still enough lightness to it to make sure it doesn't come along as preachy.

The ending doesn't have a huge cliffhanger, but it sure leaves you waiting eagerly for the sequel!

Very well deserved 4 stars!



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Mark This Book Monday: Origin by Jennifer L Armentrout!!

For the next Mark This Book Monday one of the most awaited books in a series for this year, the one that as soon as it downloaded into my Kindle app, I just had to start reading!


Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Origin is the second to last book in the Lux series and it was so eagerly awaited after the awful cliffhanger from Opal, the previous book!

As always, since this book is part of a series it will be very difficult to avoid spoilers for the previous books, but I will try my best to avoid spoilers and key surprises from this one.

Katy was captured, Daemon is hell bent on getting her back. Daedalus want them both and whatever they have planned is not gonna be something Katy nor Daemon would want to endure.

One of the biggest changes is that we get a dual narrative, from both Katy's and Daemon's point of view. And Daemon's point of view is quite a treat to read: he's cocky, he's emotional, he's funny and he's quite swoony!

Katy continues to grow as a character and continues to show her strenght while dealing to all that Daedalus keep on throwing at her and refusing to bow down and do what they want.

We find out more information about the Luxen, about Daedalus and what they are trying to do and what lengths they'd go to achieve it. And we also get some really shocking and creepy revelations, and yes it involves an explanation of the book title. Power really gets to people's head, and there's nothing like some groups thinking they have the right to whatever they see fit in the name of what they think it's a worthy cause.

This book is full of action, running, plotting and unexpected twists and treasons. There's also plenty of steam, swoony-ness, snarky and witty comments and also what I'd call the Easter Egg mention of the Sweet Evil series by Wendy Higgins that made really laugh out loud while reading!

The ending was also quite a shocker, even if it is not the heartwrenching mess that the ending of Opal was, this is also a "you've got to be kidding me! Woah!" sort of an ending!

Very well deserved 4 stars!!



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Friday Reads: Earth Star by Janet Edwards!

Seems that all my Friday Reads so far are the second book in either a series or a trilogy! Luckily this one also did a good job on following up a great first book!


Earth Star by Janet  Edwards

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Earth Star is the sequel to Earth Girl and it starts right where Earth Girl left us: Jarra has received the Earth Star & the Artemis medals from the military, everyone knows she's a Handicapped (or an "ape" to use the pejorative term) and she has to face her classmates after lying to them. She's got Fian supporting her even without the approval of his family and she's got her love for History and archeology.

Once they're trying to get back to the routine of classes after moving to a different site dig called Eden in Africa, for Jarra with some unpleasant surprises in the shape of bullying from some of her classmates, there are some news that throw everything they think they know for a loop! Jarra and Fian are called up by the military under the utmost secrecy to be part of the Alien Contact program that has been activated.

What does that mean? Well, it's a military protocol established for the moment when humanity in their reach for the stars happen onto intelligent & civilized alien life... except that they haven't found it out there... alien civilization has come to Earth in the shape of an unmanned sphere!

This is at the same time thrilling and scary and Jarra once again finds herself in the thick of it! She's even made part of the military along with Fian and she finds herself providing key information and getting thrown into a command position in the madness of it all.

Jarra is still adjusting to being ok with who she is and appreciating the fact that she's good at what she does and that her being an "ape" still doesn't give others the right to judge her. She's gone from being angry at the world to not wanting to make a fuss about other people's disrespect and clear hatred of her just for having a different immune system.

Earth Star continues to show us how close minded humans can be and how easily we make divisions between the "us" and the "others" for the silliest of reasons. If you find it difficult to believe the fact that a deficient immune system would turn those humans into pariahs and having so many other consider them subhumans, just look back and look now and see how there are still people that think a different skin tone makes someone less than them. Now, take this one stage further and think, if we can do that to fellow humans with a difference, what would we not to do really different beings, like aliens?

I love how this book manages to present us with some serious issues and questions and at the same time add some realistic and well needed levity, like having your prudish Deltan lecturer be a rock'n'roll drum player!

Jarra is doing so much growing up in this book, on dealing with who she is, finding out more about her family, her relationship with Fian... She is still learning to trust Fian and to not expect him to run when things get complicated, and she's quite lucky to have such a stubborn and loyal guy that won't let her throw away their relationship for fear of making things difficult for him. Fian also has to deal with some issues himself, but he's an all around solid character.

The plot progresses without major twists but instead keeps on building up the the climax of a cliffhanger ending and leaves us hanging till the next book is released!

Earth Star doesn't suffer from the middle book syndrome, instead it gives the overall plot of the series a new twist and rises the stakes up a notch! Very well deserved 4 stars!



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