Blog Tour : Review of Captivate by Vanessa Garden

Welcome to my stop on the Captivate Blog Tour being hosted by Harlequin Teen Australia.  Today I have the great pleasure of reviewing this debut novel by Aussie author Vanessa Garden.  

For more information about the tour and to see what other stops there are to visit check out the tour page at Harlequin Teen Australia

I hope you have enjoyed the stops on this tour so far and enjoy my one today.  So read on..

The Novel

 

Title: Captivate (Submerged Sun #1)
Author: Vanessa Garden
Published: 1 January 2014 by Harlequin Teen Australia
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****
In a glittering underwater world, nothing is as it seems...
For the past twelve months since her parents’ death, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun has harboured a dark secret — a secret that has strained the close relationship she once shared with her older sister, Lauren. In an effort to repair this broken bond, Miranda’s grandparents whisk the siblings away on a secluded beach holiday. Except before Miranda gets a chance to confess her life-changing secret, she’s dragged underwater by a mysterious stranger while taking a midnight swim.
Awakening days later, Miranda discovers that she’s being held captive in a glittering underwater city by an arrogant young man named Marko...the King of this underwater civilisation.
Nineteen-year-old Marko intends to marry Miranda in order to keep his crown from falling into the sinister clutches of his half-brother, Damir. There’s only one problem. Miranda is desperate to return home to right things with her sister and she wants nothing to do with Marko. Trying to secure her freedom, Miranda quickly forms an alliance with Robbie — Marko’s personal guard. However, she soon discovers that even underwater, people are hiding dangerous secrets...

Find it on Goodreads

The Review 

So this book was not at all as I expected it would be. Having only given the blurb a brief look and retained that it took place under water, I envisioned mermaids and a Disney's Little Princess type world. What I actually got was an underwater world as opposed to a cartoon one with characters and a story that was much more real and alive than the Disney one I had envisioned.


Miranda is an insecure 17 year old, still shattered by her past... the death of her parents and the secret she has been hiding and this played true throughout the novel. We don't start with a self confident know it all, convinced of her own amazingness but a rather a girl that believes herself broken and closed off as a result of things that have happened to her and decisions she has made.  It was nice to see her open up through out the course of this novel.


The story itself is quite original and the back story of Marin fascinating.  So much so that I hope we get to find out more about it in subsequent books.  I loved the underwater world of Marin that Ms Garden creates.


The story however creeps up on you.  When I started this novel, I was actually supposed to be reading something else but thought I would sneak in a quick peek.  Little did I know that my 'quick peek' would take me all the way to the end of the novel and I read on to find out what would happen to Miranda and Robbie and Marko.


I also loved how Ms Garden finishes novel.  With the direction this story took, I wasn't sure how it would all play out but I was satisfied with where Ms garden took us in the end and I will be eagerly awaiting the next book to see what happens next.


I also loved the chemistry between the characters, both Miranda and Marko and Miranda and Robbie.  It felt real and genuine which made it all the more enjoyable to read.


Over all this was an extremely enjoyable story to read from a promising new Australian author.  With an easy flow, this book will suck you straight in at the beginning, bob you along the waves of the story then place back on the beach satisfied that you have read a wonderful tale.


I give this book 4 stars and look forward to book two :-)


Sapphired Dragon xx

Teaser Tuesday #64: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too muchaway! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is The Iron Traitor (Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa and my two lines are from location 890 of 3954:

He went up the stairs, and I continued to my room, shutting the door behind me.Well, that was about as awful as I thought it would be.

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. 

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link  to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Double Cover Reveal & Giveaway: LEGEND OF ME & THE WINTER PEOPLE byRebekah Purdy

Today Rebekah Purdy and Entangled Teen are revealing the covers for LEGEND OF ME, releasing in early 2014. And THE WINTER PEOPLE, releasing July 1, 2014! Check out the gorgeous covers, exclusive excerpts, and enter to win an eARC of each!

On to the reveals!

About the Book LEGEND OF ME Author: Rebekah Purdy

Release Date: Early 2014 Publisher: Entangled Teen Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Brielle has grown up hearing tales of a beast that kills humans, leaving behind only a scattering of bones and limbs. Or so the village elders say. She thinks it’s just their way of keeping children in line, though it doesn’t explain her grisly premonitions of blood, claws, and severed heads.
When Lord Kenrick, Knight of the Crowhurst Order, shows up asking questions about the legendary monster and Brielle finds a mangled body in the woods, she begins to wonder if the grim stories are true. Her attraction to the handsome knight grows as she spends time with him searching for clues to the creature’s existence, and she becomes even more determined to help him discover the beast’s location.

But as her seventeenth birthday approaches, her nightmares worsen. If Brielle doesn’t figure out the connection between Kenrick, the monster, and visions of a ghostly woman in the woods soon, more people could die. Including those closest to her…

Exclusive Excerpt!

Brambles scratched my legs, snagging my skirt. Gnarled trees bent in gruesome forms, while thick shadows splayed out beneath them. A heavy gloom settled over the woodland as wisps of fog slithered like snakes against the ground. I shivered.

Don’t think. I picked an animal trail to follow, stepping over dead branches and forest debris. Blood pounded in my ears and the hair on the back of my neck prickled. I twisted around to glance behind me.

Nothing there. Only the trees. Urgency gripped hold of me and I picked up my pace once more. As I scrambled through the thicket, an overwhelming scent of rotten meat made me gag. I covered my mouth with my hand and stopped running when a bright red piece of fabric caught my eye. With hesitant steps, I moved toward it.

“Oh God.” I stumbled. There, sticking out from beneath a barberry bush was a severed arm, its finger pointed at me in accusation. My breath came in gasps as I scanned the rest of the clearing.

My foot nudged against somethingband I looked down in horror to find the head of Liam Gatekeeper staring up at me.

I screamed, backing away as fast as I could. All around me were pieces of his body scattered like breadcrumbs. I shielded my eyes with my hands, until I bumped into something else.

With another scream, I whipped around only to find myself faced with an oak tree covered in dried blood and deep claw marks. My vision darkened and I prayed I wouldn’t faint, that I wouldn’t be stuck in the woods. Because somewhere out here, a monster lurked.

If I didn’t believe it before, I did now. The beast was real.

About the Book
THE WINTER PEOPLE
Author: Rebekah Purdy
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1622663682
Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.

Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. 

Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must be left at the back of the property.

 


Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.

Exclusive Excerpt!

The sky darkened with ominous storm clouds. Giant flakes fell onto my face, sticking to my eyelashes and cheeks. Snow blew unhindered across the yard into what looked like small  tornadoes.

Oh God. It’s happening again. The frigid air. The creaking of the treetops beneath the wind. Even the way the snow blew across the yard.

I only had one more feeder. Just needed to toss the seeds in then I could leave. Be safe.

The pond water rippled, while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes.

What had the shrink told me to do?

Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit!

Panic stole my thoughts. I backed away from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.

Then, I bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not
something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around to face my captor.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from falling.

My gaze followed those long fingers, up black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I’m gawking. But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair shot with strands of blue, his face pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath an unzipped jacket.

His mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm.

“You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?” Bravo, that’s right, scare him off with your bitchiness.

He chuckled. And it sounded like the low song of the chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”

My name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly.

“You know my grandma?” I fidgeted with the bucket still in hand.

He gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve known her for years. But I haven’t seen you since you were a child.”

Warning bells went off in my mind, but I pushed them aside. If he knew my grandma, then he must be okay. “Funny, I don’t remember you at all.”

“Don’t you, Salome?” Strands of my hair blew about my face. He reached a hand out as if to touch them then stopped, dropping his arms back to his side.

“No. Grandma’s never mentioned you.”

He gave me another cocky grin. “Well then, maybe we should be reacquainted.”

“Or maybe not.” I snorted. “I’m not sure how you got on the property, Grandma keeps all the gates locked.”

He produced an antique-looking skeleton key. “She gave me this. Like I said, Doris has known me for a long time.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, it’s just my grandma never mentioned I’d have visitors.” In fact, I wondered why she didn’t ask this guy to watch her house instead of me.

The arrogance left his face and he stared at me. “Perhaps, we can try this again.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m Nevin.”

About Rebekah: 


Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). She’s lived there most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army.  At which time she got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.
She works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and some time travel.
She also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch. When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, she had 2 and  have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.
And she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4dogs, 3 cats,  and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked her into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. 
Other than writing some of her other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and traveling.She belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it they all write YA!
REPPED by Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel.And that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.
Website /Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 eARC of LEGEND OF ME International

1 eARC of THE WINTER PEOPLE International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Guest Post by Vivi Barnes, Author of Olivia Twisted

Welcome to the last stop, my stop, on the Olivia Twisted Blog Tour.  I am extremely excited to have Olivia Twisted author Vivi Barnes here today to do a guest post talking about the kids who live at Monroe street with Z and helping us all to get to know them a little better.  Read on also for details of the giveway (US Only) that has been organised by author and blog tour organisers as well as other bits and pieces to do with this awesome new release.

Now to hand the floor over the Ms Vivi Barnes as she tells about about the Kids of Monroe Street.

In OLIVIA TWISTED, Z and Sam begin “twisting” Liv to their way of life. She’s “unattached” (meaning no family ties) and computer-savvy, both of which makes her the perfect recruit for the gang of hackers living at Monroe Street.

Here’s an introduction to a few of the kids living and working at the Monroe Street Home for Boys and Girls, headed up by Nancy:

Z: One of the oldest kids at Monroe Street, he started up the “online division” when Nancy took him in years before. He’s always felt indebted to Nancy and the home for rescuing him from the path of trouble he was headed toward—fighting, creating malicious programs, etc. Which is interesting, because though Z is committing crime through online theft, he doesn’t see it as anything more than playing Robin Hood—robbing the rich to help the needy (the needy being the Monroe Street kids). He might come across as arrogant and cocky, but it’s a result of a hard life coupled with distrust of people in general. 

Sam: Sam is Z’s partner in crime and bubbly sidekick, though she doesn’t consider herself second to anyone. She doesn’t take much seriously—except for whatever concerns their grim boss, Bill Sykes. Sam’s motivations might not always be honest, but her easygoing, friendly personality makes it hard not to love her.

Jen: Jen is Z’s ex-girlfriend who still lives and works at Monroe Street. Talk about awkward. She hasn’t quite gotten over the guy who stole her heart then broke up with her, and when Z brings Liv to the house, she isn’t exactly receptive. When Bill reprimands Z for the mistakes Jen’s making on some accounts, Z believes she’s screwing up on purpose just to get him back.

Micah: Fun-loving and silly but incredibly talented, Micah is one of the brains of Monroe Street. He lives for a challenge and can create write programs to break through any system. He’s the type of person everyone automatically trusts. Just don’t leave your computer alone with him.

Cameron: He can get through almost any kind of locked door or window, not something used too often at Monroe Street though sometimes it comes in handy. Cameron is tall and built like a linebacker but very sensitive. He has a crush on Sam, but Sam unfortunately doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. She thinks he’s too paranoid about getting caught.

Title: OLIVIA TWISTED
Author: Vivi Barnes
Pub. Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 352
Find it: Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Goodreads
Olivia
He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.
At least at this moment, I don’t care.
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…
Z
I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.
It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.
Except that she’s not.
Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

About Vivi:

Originally from East Texas (the accent comes out more often than not), Vivi now lives in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, FL with her very understanding husband and three kids. She’s an extrovert with awkward blogging tendencies. Her debut novel, OLIVIA TWISTED, comes out November 5, 2013 from Entangled Teen!

You can connect with Vivi on Facebook,Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest. Or visit the official Olivia Twisted site at www.oliviatwisted.com.

She’s represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.

Website

OLIVIA TWISTED TRAILER

A huge thanks to Vivi Barnes for stopping by and giving us the scoop about the Kids at Monroe Street. And thanks also to Rockstar Book Tours for allowing me to be part of the tour! Now read on to see how you can win an awesome t-shirt

Giveaway Details:

Grand Prize: Signed copy of Olivia Twisted and an Olivia Twisted T-shirt US Only

Second and Third Prizes: 2 $10 iTunes Gift Cards US Only



a Rafflecopter giveaway





Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/28/2013- Fiktshun- Guest Post

10/29/2013- Book Briefs- Review

10/30/2013- The Cover Contessa- Guest Post

10/31/2013- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review

11/1/2013- Happy Booker- Interview

Week Two:

11/4/2013- Larissa's World- Review

11/5/2013- Kindle and Me- Guest Post

11/6/2013- A Bookish Escape- Review

11/7/2013- Reading with ABC- Interview

11/8/2013- Realm of the Sapphired Dragon- Guest Post

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Review of arbitrate by Megan Thomason

Tour Schedule

Welcome to my tour stop on the arbitrate Blog Tour!  arbitrate is the next book in the daynight series by Megan Thomason and on today's stop I review it.  Keep reading on to find out some information about Arbitrate and then to see what I thought of Ms Thomason's newest release.  Not to mention an absolutely awesome giveaway! I hope you enjoy my stop today!

arbitrate:It's one year later. And everything has changed.
Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.
Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.
Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.
Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.
Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason’s third installment in the award-winningdaynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Amazon

Praise for arbitrate:

"There are a lot of books I finish and feel happy, this one I finished and my head is swirling, in a totally awesome way! Not only does it have a great story with characters that you like (and some you just hate as they are the enemy) but the book also gets you thinking, thinking about the implication of effects of different actions and courses in life. This story has action, fighting, plots and plans, romance, love triangles, family, betrayal - has it all." --Emily Barton, Emmy Mom One Day at a Time blog, 5 stars

"You have hit this one out of the park." --ARC Reviewer

"For the record, I LOVED Kira's choice!! And the whole thing just blew me away! Very, very well done!! Now when can I get my hands on generate?! Can't wait " --ARC Reviewer

"Read my ARC of Arbitrate and consider my mind blown! I started it the minute it was sent and couldn't put it down." --ARC Reviewer

My Review:

Having read and enjoyed both of Ms thomason's earlier stories in this series: daynight and Clean Slate Complex, when I was asked to be in this blog tour I jumped at the chance to be involved as I couldn't wait to read arbitrate and find out what happened next to the characters from both of the above mentioned stories. And in fact, just knowing that arbitrate was going to bring together characters from both stories made me even more excited to read it.

I was not to be disappointed.  If anything I think arbitrate might be better than daynight.  There is so much going on in this story and Ms Thomason's expertly weaves all the different threads so that they entwine just where they need to in order to keep you in the story and moving forward to a conclusion which leaves you breathless and wanting more. 

I loved that we got to see the story from the perspective of the three main daynight characters Kira, Blake and Ethan.  This added more dimension to the story and gave us much more insight into these characters as a whole.  It was interesting that from the beginning of this story to the end, I found my opinion and perspective on all three characters ( as well as some other characters) changed immensely and this was a good thing.  These characters came across as a lot more human in this story as they fall victim to both circumstance as well as their own flaws and make their journey through the story.

As mentioned before, there was a lot going on in this story.  We jumped from past to present,  and one point of view to another as well as the sheer number of story lines that were running throughout this book.  There is so much information that we get given through out this novel that in any less capable hands, it would have been easy to get lost.  However Ms Thomason handles this comfortably, presenting the information we need when we need it so that instead of getting lost, we get immersed inside the world that Ms Thomason has built and caught in the current which speeds up and builds momentum all the way to the end.

While this is predominantly a sequel to daynight, I found having read Clean Slate Complex definitely helped as it rounded out the characters of Alexa and Joshua a lot more which affected the way I viewed certain events in the book.  

I am so glad I got to read this story as I think this series is quite different to a lot of other stories out there at the moment. I also took a couple of hours to think about the book before starting to write this review and I have found that even though this particular instalment is over, my brain is still their in the world eagerly wait ting to see what comes next for these characters, a sure sign that I loved this book and cannot wait to read Generate!

I give this 4 stars

Sapphired Dragon xx

daynight

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving--forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother's death, Blake's been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner--Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan's forced to do his SCI elite family's bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is an award-winning, bestselling novel and first in thedaynight series.



Praise for daynight:

2012 Book of the Year Award Finalist-Young Adult Fiction, ForeWord Reviews

"Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story" —Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

"Thomason's description of Thera's totalitarianism will make fans of Brave New World shiver... SCI, her fantasy corporation, has disturbing parallels to actual companies and regimes that claim to do good while harming people... The author deftly appeals to both romance-loving teens as well as those intrigued by young adults fighting the establishment.”—ForeWord Clarion Review, 4 stars



Author Megan Thomason

Bestselling, award-winning author Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone--over 600 in the last year--or attending to the needs of her family. Megan's fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/24/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves #13

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

Not a huge weeks for books this week but very excited about the ones I did receive.

Review (E-books - Thanks to PenguinTeen Australia & Suasponte via netgalley and thanks to Penguin USA via edelweiss ):

Can't believe this is the last book in the Morganville Vampires Series.  So as this has been one of the most enjoyable and fun series I have ever read.  Not sure I want it to end.

Daylighters (Morganville Vampires #15) by Rachel Caine
Goodreads  | Book Depository

While Morganville, Texas, is often a troubled town, Claire Danvers and her friends are looking forward to coming home. But the Morganville they return to isn’t the one they know; it’s become a different place—a deadly one…

Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they’ve ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated—vampires from humans—they realize that the changes definitely aren’t for the better.

It seems that an organization called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they’ve never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation—even for the vampires themselves—the truth is far more sinister and deadly.

Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end…

My love affair with time travel novels continues with this novella I received this week. It's described as a retelling of A Christmas Carol as well as inspired by a real-life ghost story.  Given we just had halloween, sounds like my perfect read right now.  Can't wait :-)

1816 Candles (Time After Time #1) by Amanda Brice
Goodreads  | Amazon

A chance encounter during a costume ball at a historic tavern sends high school senior Lauren Harper back in time to early Virginia. Now she’s experiencing the actual events of the “Legend of the Female Stranger” ghost story she's attempted to avoid growing up in Old Town Alexandria. Can she solve the mystery of this ghost, find her way back home…and deal with her own emotions when she falls in love with a guy who lived 200 years before her?

A retelling of A Christmas Carol inspired by a real-life ghost story, 1816 CANDLES is a young adult time travel novella of approximately 19,000 words, or 75 pages.

I received another Rachel Caine title also this week.

Prince of Shadows  by Rachel Caine
Goodreads  | Book Depository

A standalone built around the character of Benvolio, from Romeo and Juliet. The novel will be told from the point of view of Benvolio, who is Romeo’s cousin and, in Shakespeare’s play, attempts to get the lovelorn Montague interested in other girls after it’s discovered that Juliet is a member of the clan his family despises: the Capulets. Caine’s novel, her agent said, explores a scenario in which Romeo and Juliet are not the only couple to fall into dire romantic straits and is “a tale of intrigue, betrayal, hatred, and tragedy,” about “lovers lost, and lovers found.” (From Publisher's Weekly)

Purchased :

One of my pre-orders arrived this week also.  Yet another book i can't wait to squeeze in to my reading schedule. Also got an awesome book mark with it!

Altered (Crewel World #2) by Gennifer Albin
Goodreads  | Book Depository

Life. Possibility. Choice.
All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.

But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.

In this thrilling sequel to Crewel, Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.

Also had this arrive this week.  My almost 20 month old may still yet be too young for Elf on the Shelf but I thought we would start the tradition this year anyway :-)

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Book blast and Giveaway: Arbitrate by Megan Thomason

arbitrate:

It's one year later. And everything has changed.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason’s third installment in the award-winningdaynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Amazon

Praise for arbitrate:

"There are a lot of books I finish and feel happy, this one I finished and my head is swirling, in a totally awesome way! Not only does it have a great story with characters that you like (and some you just hate as they are the enemy) but the book also gets you thinking, thinking about the implication of effects of different actions and courses in life. This story has action, fighting, plots and plans, romance, love triangles, family, betrayal - has it all." --Emily Barton, Emmy Mom One Day at a Time blog, 5 stars

"You have hit this one out of the park." --ARC Reviewer

"For the record, I LOVED Kira's choice!! And the whole thing just blew me away! Very, very well done!! Now when can I get my hands on generate?! Can't wait " --ARC Reviewer

"Read my ARC of Arbitrate and consider my mind blown! I started it the minute it was sent and couldn't put it down." --ARC Reviewer

daynight

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving--forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother's death, Blake's been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner--Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan's forced to do his SCI elite family's bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is an award-winning, bestselling novel and first in thedaynight series.

Download a FREE copy of daynight

Available for FREE on Amazon

October 29th, 30th & 31st

Praise for daynight:

2012 Book of the Year Award Finalist-Young Adult Fiction, ForeWord Reviews

"Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story" —Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

"Thomason's description of Thera's totalitarianism will make fans of Brave New World shiver... SCI, her fantasy corporation, has disturbing parallels to actual companies and regimes that claim to do good while harming people... The author deftly appeals to both romance-loving teens as well as those intrigued by young adults fighting the establishment.”—ForeWord Clarion Review, 4 stars





arbitrate Excerpt:

“I’m angry at all of them. Every SCI leader. In fact Joshua gave me a list of those who are Earth-side. It makes for a great to-do list.” They all deserve to pay.
I’m done talking. It’s time for some action.
One thousand one.
One thousand two.
One thousand three.
That’s all it takes to even out my breathing and steady my hand.
I shift the crosshairs on my target ever so slightly—from his heart to his hand—and pull the trigger.
My father would be proud that all his training paid off. Oh, who am I kidding? He’d find something to criticize about my work here. Sad that even though he’s gone I can hear him saying, “If you’d hit a little to the left you’d have taken out a higher concentration of nerves.”

Tour Schedule

Author Megan Thomason

Bestselling, award-winning author Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone--over 600 in the last year--or attending to the needs of her family. Megan's fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/18/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway - Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan

Welcome to today's stop on the Soul Possessed blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Today's stop features my review of Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan.

Title: SOUL POSSESSED
Author: Katlyn Duncan
Release Date: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Carina UK
Series: Book 2, The Life After Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal
ISBN: 9781472044556

Life after Life
Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson.  But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?
When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

GOODREADS | AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

iTUNES US | iTUNES UK | iTUNES AU

About Katlyn Duncan

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive
imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.
Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST | TUMBLR

Review: 

Rating: ****


Wow! What  a story. While I enjoyed the first book Soul Taken, Soul Possessed takes this story to a whole new level. In this book, the stakes have been raised, extra layers have been added to a story that will keep you glued to its pages till you get to the cliff hanger conclusion.


Sometimes book twos in a trilogy or longer series can be more of a set up/filler type book that's more about getting you to the point in the story where the thrilling conclusion can happen rather than being a story on its own as well as art of an overall arc.  Fortunately this is not the case with Soul Possessed.  If anything, the story for me got better and better as I got further into it and the more I read, the more i wanted to know what would happen next.


Firstly, I love Ms Duncan's take on the after life and I liked that we got more a view of both the after itself and the workings of it in this book.  I also liked that we got to know more about  other characters more in particular Ally and Cooper.


I also think I like Maggie more in this book.  She seems more real and I guess more human in a way.


What I most love however is the story line.  There are more layers added and threads weaved in this book and we find out not everything is completely is as straightforward as first thought.  There is more action, more drama and more emotion in this book and the place it ends... just completely unexpected but brilliant nonetheless.


I am enjoying this series immensely and cannot wait to see what happens next.


A definite recommended read and a definite ****


Sapphired Dragon xx

The Giveaway

There is a tourwide giveaway for an Amazon eGiftCard valued at $15 USD. It is open Internationally to anyone who is able to accept an Amazon GC.

There is also a tourwide giveaway for a set of Kindle eBook copies of SOUL TAKEN and SOUL POSSESSED to one winner.

The giveaway ends on Monday, November 11th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour Schedule:

Week One

Oct. 21^st – The Happy Booker – Review SOUL
Oct. 22^nd – Realm of the Sapphired Dragon – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 23^rd – Dark Novella – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 24^th – IrisjeXx – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 24^th – Booker Like a Hooker – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 25^th – Magical Urban Fantasy Reads – Guest Post

Week Two

Oct. 28^th – Two Chicks On Books – Playlist Guest Post
Oct. 29^th – Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 30^th – Curling Up With A Good Book – Interview
Oct. 31^st – Addicted Readers – Guest Post
Nov. 1^st – Paranormal Book Club – Interview

Week Three

Nov. 4^th – Chasm of Books – Guest Post
Nov. 5^th – Lost in Ever After – Review SOUL TAKEN
Nov. 6^th – Left to Write –Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED + Interview
Nov. 7^th – Book2Buzz – Interview
Nov. 7^th – Endless Reading – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Nov. 8^th – Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED + Guest Post

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Welcome to Monday.  For once, quite liking this Monday as it is a long weekend and so instead of working I get to enjoy reading some of the many books I have received in the last couple of weeks.  So today it is more than appropriate to say  It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? This is a weekly meme hosted by A Book Journey where we talk about the books that we are reading and have read this week.

Been very good with my review book reading this week.  I have a number of blog tours coming up that I needed to prepare for so those books have taken priority this week. Started the week by finishing off Phantom Eyes, (Witch Eyes #3) by Scott Tracey. This was the third and final book in the series and I really need to write the review for it this week.  Next up was Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan which I am reading as part of the the blog tour for book 2, Soul Possessed.

Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Book 1 in The Life After trilogy from Carina UK.

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!

After reading Soul Taken, I quickly read Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes as I needed to supply some possible guest post topics for my stop in the blog tour and so I wanted to get a feel for the book in order to come up with as relevant guest post topics as possible.  It was also a really good excuse to read it earlier than I had intended :-P  I won't be reviewing it for my stop on the blog tour but I will be reviewing it a little later on so keep your eyes peeled.

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Olivia

He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.

At least at this moment, I don’t care.

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…

Z

I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.

It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.

Except that she’s not.

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

Next up I read Soul Possessed as I will be reviewing this for my blog stop tomorrow so wanted to read it ASAP.

Soul Possessed (The Life After #2) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson. But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?

When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

Book 2 in The Life After trilogy.

I bought some new books this week, one of which I have been dying to read forever but just not gotten round to buying it.  Because apparently that can actually happen. The book I am talking about is Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel Vincent.  I loved books 1 and 2 and after reading this one almost as soon as I got it, not surprisingly, I loved this one also but was sad that this is the last book in the unbound world.

Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel VincentGoodreads  | Book Depository
The Tower Syndicate will fall...
The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.
If he can figure out how...
Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....
And if they can survive
Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

I am trying to sneak in Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #8) by J R Ward in at the moment.  This is my guilty pleasures read.  This series is hugely long but so much fun to read so I like to sneak a book from the series here and there into my reading schedule where time and mood permit.

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Bortherhood #8) by J. R. WardGoodreads  | Book Depository
In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.
Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

However while I am enjoying Lover Mine, I have been reading it quite slowly so may have to put it down briefly to read Arbitrate (daynight #2) by Megan Thomason, also for a blog tour in November.  I participated in the blog tour for book 1, Daynight, at the beginning of the year and so am extremely excited to be part of the Arbitrate Blog Tour as this is another series that is different and that I have enjoyed immensely as a result.

Arbitrate (Daynight #2) by Megan Thomason
Goodreads
The release date for arbitrate has been set for October 29, 2013.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. And they’re handing out more “second chances” than ever before. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason's third installment in the award-winning daynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Last but not least i really need to read the Alice in Zombieland and Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter, which are due for review this month. I have put them off a couple of times now so its definitely time to read them.  It's one of those series where I know I will enjoy it once I get started.  I am just having a little trouble actually getting started i.e. actually picking up the book and starting to read at page 1 as I have yet to get that far even.

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

It's Monday! What are YOU reading?  Don't forget to let me know in the comments.

Have a great week!