COVER REVEAL: Hunted (Sinners #2) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki + GIVEAWAY!

Today Abi Ketner, Missy Kalicicki and Month9Books are revealing the cover for HUNTED, book 2 in the Sinners Series releasing in July 5, 2015! Check out the smoking hot cover and enter the giveaway to win a signed copy of BRANDED!

On to the reveal! 

Title: HUNTED

Author: Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Publisher: Month9Books

Pub. Date: July 5, 2015

Find it: Goodreads

It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed. Under a new ruler, things were supposed to change. Get better. 

Now, Wilson is in charge. But, can he really be trusted? Can anyone?

Lexi and Cole soon find out, as life takes an unexpected turn for the worse. In this ever-changing world, you must hunt or be hunted.

Many more lives will be lost.

Many more dreams will be crushed.

Many more fears will be realized.

When Cole is once again faced with losing Lexi at the hands of a monster, one capture will change everything.

Forever. 

HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

What readers are saying about BRANDED…

"Branded was a riveting and exciting dystopian read that will have you at the edge of your seat. I could not put it down and was entranced by this dark and unique world!" -Ben Alderson, Booktuber at BenjaminofTomes

"Fast paced and fun, BRANDED has something everyone will love. Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki have created a unique dystopian romance that's sure to stand out in today's market!" -Lindsay Cummings, Author of The Murder Complex

"Branded is a fast paced, heart pounding and swoon worthy read that will make you fall in love with this dark and twisted world." -Sasha Alsberg, Booktuber at ABookUtopia

Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at:

#abiandmissy 

#Sinnersfandom 

#Sinnersseries 

#Colexi 

#Sinnersseriesbranded 

#Brandedofficialfanpage 

#Brandedfandom 

#Lexihamilton 

About Abi and Missy 

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999
at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time
for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Abi’s Goodreads/Missy’s Goodreads/Pinterest/Tumblr/Instagram

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive a signed copy of BRANDED, Us Only.

1 winner will receive an eBook of BRANDED, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY: Between the Stars and Sky by David James

BETWEEN THE STARS AND SKY IS OUT TODAY!

A note from the author: I'm so excited for BETWEEN THE STARS AND SKY to finally be released. This book is... different for me. First, it's a contemporary story. It's real. It could happen. Writing something like that was so different for me I wasn't sure if I could do it. But then I found these characters, and in Jackson and Sarah I found a place where I loved to write. Second, this story. THIS STORY. I didn't think I would get through it. It's one of those stories that is so big and so small and so delicate and so IN YOUR FACE lovely and scary and sad and happy that I wasn't sure I could make it through this book alive. But again, THESE CHARACTERS. I love them. And I love this story. It's a minimalistic story, so there is very little filler. Just words that mean something. To Jackson, the main character, this is important. I took what was important to the characters and reflected that in the way I told the story. This isn't a long story, but it is a big one. Complete with a crazy, scary dare, a secret game. A test of bravery. A love story. Kisses. Betrayals. First loves. Second loves. Diverse loves. All kinds of loves. Life and death. Fear and not. And in the end, I'm not sure if this story wrote me, or I wrote it. I guess you'll find out. :)

If you have questions about the content of this story, READ HERE.

"Between the Stars and Sky is a vivid contemporary novel from Young Adult author David James. Lyrical and deeply romantic, Between the Stars and Sky is a poetic and heart-stopping read for fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and E. Lockhart.

 In the small, lakeside town of Huntington, the Firelight Festival marks the end of summer. A time to laugh, to live, to love. And for Jackson Grant, it is a chance to begin again. But there is a darker side to the Firelight Festival, a deadly tradition known as the Firelight Fall. A secret game. A legendary lie. A test of bravery. Those who fall risk everything, and Jackson is on the edge. Until he meets a girl who pushes him over. For Jackson, falling for Sarah Blake might be as dangerous as jumping in the Firelight Fall. As summer burns away, Jackson and Sarah ignite an unstoppable love game. For her, his heart is on fire. And soon, Sarah shows him life, saves him from loss, and opens his heart to an infinite and wild love found between the stars and sky."

 David James writes books about stars and kisses and curses. He is the author of the YA novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON, the first book in the Legend of the Dreamer duet, as well as the companion novellas, THE WITCH'S CURSE and THE WARRIOR’S CODE. A Legend of the Dreamer anthology, SHADES OF THE STARS, was released July 2013, and includes the exclusive novella, THE ENCHANTER'S FIRE. The final book in the duet, SHADOW OF THE SUN, will be released in 2015. BETWEEN THE STARS AND SKY is his first contemporary novel for young adults. Living in Michigan, he is addicted to coffee, gummy things, and sarcastic comments. David enjoys bad movies, goofy moments, and shivery nights. Also, hipster glasses!

INFO LINKS:

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

BUY LINKS: 

Hardcover (Barnes & Noble) | Nook (Barnes & Noble) | Hardcover (Amazon) | Kindle (Amazon) | iBooks | Kobo and all other e-formats

BOOK BLAST: Silvern (Gilded #2) by Christina Farley + GIVEAWAY!

Hello! We're really excited to be featuring Christina Farley's newest book, Silvern, today! Silvern is the sequel to Gilded, and is out now from Skyscape. 

There's also a giveaway for a $50 Amazon giftcard, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

About the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Title: Silvern (Gilded #2)

Author: Christina Farley

Publication Date: September 23, 2014

Synopsis: Jae Hwa Lee has destroyed Haemosu, the dangerous demi-god that held her ancestors captive, and now she’s ready to forget about immortals and move on with her life. Then the god of darkness, Kud, sends an assassin to kill her. Jae escapes with the knowledge that Kud is seeking the lost White Tiger Orb, and joins the Guardians of Shinshi to seek out the orb before Kud can find it.

But Kud is stronger and more devious than Haemosu ever was. Jae is soon painfully reminded that by making an enemy of Kud, she has placed her closest friends in danger, and must decide how much she can bear to sacrifice to defeat one of the most powerful immortals in all of Korea.

About the Author

After teaching and traveling internationally for ten years, Christina started writing about her adventures, tossing in a little fiction for fun. This inspired her to write the GILDED series, a YA series based on Korean mythology about a Korean-American girl who takes her destiny into her own hands.

Besides writing, Christina loves traveling, running, driving too fast, and eating dark chocolate.

Christina writes fantasy for teens. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary, LLC.
Learn more about Christina by visiting her at www.christinafarley.com or by chatting with her on Twitter @christinafarley.


WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

The Giveaway! 

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

Winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLAST: Memories From a Different Future (Jump When Ready #2) by David Pandolfe + GIVEAWAY!

Hello! Today, we're featuring David Pandolfe's newest book and the second in his Jump When Ready series, Memories From a Different Future. There's also a giveaway for signed print copies and an iTunes giftcard, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post!

About the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

Title: Memories From a Different Future (Jump When Ready #2)

Author: David Pandolfe

Publication Date: August 23, 2014

Synopsis: For Nikki, it feels like no time has passed since they rescued Henry’s sister from her abductors. After all, in the in-between realm, time is completely different than for those still “living.” Even though it’s been almost twenty years, only lately has Nikki started crossing between realms again. She’s been checking on Ian—the person they knew as Curtis before he jumped into a new life. Nikki hasn’t admitted it to the others but she’s been curious. Could Ian’s life really be as good as it seems? Can she find the courage herself to try the other realm again despite what happened last time?

When Nikki suddenly starts receiving ghostlike visits from Curtis—all these years since he returned to the physical realm—she can’t imagine how it’s possible. She also realizes it has to mean something serious. Nikki soon learns that, three days from now, an incident on Earth will end Curtis’s new life. Now, Nikki, Henry and Jamie must find a way to alter the outcome of a future event only they know will take place. They’ll also have just minutes to make that happen. Otherwise, Curtis is going to die again, taking with him any hope Nikki and her friends had for starting over.

About the Author

David Pandolfe is the author of three novels, Streetlights Like Fireworks, Jump When Ready and Memories From A Different Future (Jump When Ready #2). His short fiction has also appeared in literary reviews.

While he's still writing about himself in third-person, David should probably also mention that he lives outside Richmond, VA, with his wife, two kids and a dog who's terrified of thunder (not the best situation since it thunders from spring until fall in Richmond).

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

The Giveaway!

Winner will receive a Signed print copy, of Jump When Ready,
Winner will Signed print copy Memories From A Different Future (Jump When Ready, Book 2)
Winner will receive a $15 iTunes gift card


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! 

--Ashley & Paul

Silvern (Gilded #2) by Christina Farley - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon Children's Publishing/SkyScape  on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Silvern (Gilded #2)
Author: Christina Farley
Publication Date: September 23, 2014

My Gilded Review
My Gilded Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Jae Hwa Lee has destroyed Haemosu, the dangerous demi-god that held her ancestors captive, and now she’s ready to forget about immortals and move on with her life. Then the god of darkness, Kud, sends an assassin to kill her. Jae escapes with the knowledge that Kud is seeking the lost White Tiger Orb, and joins the Guardians of Shinshi to seek out the orb before Kud can find it.

But Kud is stronger and more devious than Haemosu ever was. Jae is soon painfully reminded that by making an enemy of Kud, she has placed her closest friends in danger, and must decide how much she can bear to sacrifice to defeat one of the most powerful immortals in all of Korea.

Why?: I read and really enjoyed Gilded, so I'm excited to what's going to happen next to Jae and her friends. And also, Kud was kind of terrifying in Gilded even though he's barely in it, so I'm looking forward to this book keeping me even more on the edge of my seat than Gilded did!

Expectations: Since I enjoyed Gilded so much, I have pretty high expectations for Silvern. Definitely a lot more of the Korean mythology. I also expect the stakes to be higher and the situations more dangerous, especially because Kud is way worse than Haemosu ever was. And I also hope that Jae learns her lesson quickly in this book and doesn't make as many ridiculous mistake as she did with Haemosu.

Judging a book by its cover: I absolutely love everything about this cover. I love how the tiger looks ethereal and shiny and like it's coming out of another world. I love the colors and how the title looks. I like that the title and the borders are silver to match Silvern. I cannot wait to have a copy of this book on my shelves, and I would totally pick it up based on the cover alone!


--Ashley

The Boy With the Hidden Name (Otherworld #2) by Skylar Dorset - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Sourcebooks Fire on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Boy With the Hidden Name (Otherworld #2)
Author: Skylar Dorset
Publication Date: December 2, 2014

My The Girl Who Never Was Review
My The Girl Who Never Was Pre-Reading

Synopsis: This is not your average trip to Fairyland...

Selkie Stewart has just saved her quasi-boyfriend, Ben, from a fairy prison run by the Seelie Court. If they weren't the two most-wanted individuals in the Otherworld before, they definitely are now. Along with Ben and the rest of their ragtag group of allies-Selkie's ogre aunts; a wizard named Will; Ben's cousin Safford; and Kelsey, Selkie's best friend-Selkie is ready to embrace her destiny and bring the Court down.

Until she hears the rest of her prophecy: Benedict le Fay will betray you, and then he will die

Why?: I absolutely loved The Girl Who Never Was and after that ending, I knew I had to read The Boy With the Hidden Name ASAP! I have so many unanswered questions, especially about Ben (because wtf are you doing, Ben), and I have to know if Selkie and her friends succeed in their mission! Prophecies are tricky things, so you never know what will happen....

Expectations: After loving The Girl Who Never Was, I have pretty high expectations for this book. I expect this book to be fast-paced and full of action and romance, and a little bit of mystery. I except a lot of my questions to be answered, since I'm pretty sure this series isn't a trilogy. I expect to see old, familiar faces and meet some new people along the way. I'm so excited to jump into this book!

Judging a book by its cover: There are just so many things that I love about this cover! I love that it's exactly the same as the cover from The Girl Who Never Was, only upside down. Now it features Ben on top and Selkie upside down. I love the colors. I love the way the title looks. I want this book on my shelf ASAP!


--Ashley

Gilded (Gilded #1) by Christina Farley - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Gilded (Gilded #1)
Author: Christina L. Farley
Publication Date: March 1, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review: I love a good fantasy novel. Especially contemporary fantasy. Through some magic and supernatural beings and a decent back story in, and you'll have me hooked. Gilded has all of that and more, and is probably one of my favorite contemporary fantasy books that I've read. At least in the past several years.

Going in to this book, I was not even close to being familiar with Korean mythology. I have no idea who the gods are or what they do or what other supernatural beings there are, so I was hoping I might learn a little bit and dove in head first. Luckily, Christina included enough information about the important deities that I wasn't completely lost every time Haemosu was mentioned or Jae was whisked away into the realm of the gods. I still wouldn't say I was familiar with Korean mythology, but I do know more than I did before and I also felt compelled to look up more. 

Jae was one of those characters that I couldn't decide if I loved or wanted to smack though. Most of the time, she's alright. She's dealing with the loss of a parent, being uprooted to a completely new country (even though she's half Korean, she was raised in the States and is definitely more American than Korean as far as culture goes), and a grandfather who keeps pushing her away and telling her to leave Korea. I'd be pretty upset about all of that if I was her too, so I can't really blame her. 

But then there are other times when she does completely stupid things. Her aunt specifically tells her not to let Haemosu touch her... and then she goes and lets him do it anyway. She is perfectly capable of saving herself, but it seems like every time she gets into a pickle, she needs someone else to rescue her. It's frustrating and I would be so annoyed if I was her grandfather or her aunt or her friend. 

There is a little bit of romance, and I think it's written very well. Jae and Marc have a sort of chemistry from the very beginning, and I enjoyed watching them become closer and watching Jae decide that it's ok to trust someone else enough to maybe have a real relationship with them. Their romance is important to the story, but it's never the MOST important thing. It comes up, but the other problems always push it to the back when necessary. It isn't overwhelming or creepy or weird, and I really enjoyed how it fit into the story. 

Overall, Gilded is a really excellent contemporary fantasy. I'm really excited to read Silvern and find out what happens next. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary YA fantasy books focused around mythology. 4/5 for this one!


--Ashley

Month9Books 4 For Friday Blitz + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to the 4 for Friday Blitz for Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil, Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton, Avian by Nicole Conway, and Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki, 

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Thyra Winther’s seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can’t reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she’s doomed to spend eternity as a wraith.

Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact. Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.

A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai’s childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra’s willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts — to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast. Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup’s devotion and the fire of a young man’s desire, the thawing of Thyra’s frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.

CROWN OF ICE is a YA Fantasy that reinvents Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” from the perspective of a young woman who discovers that the greatest threat to her survival may be her own humanity.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks

Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she’s gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She’s currently the library director for a performing an visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumbler

When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | iBooks

 

Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.

Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.

Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.

Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

What kind of power is lurking inside him?

After a year of training to become a dragonrider, Jaevid Broadfeather has been sent home to rest during a three-month interlude. But when he returns to find the king drake has chosen Beckah Derrick as his new rider, Jaevid realizes something big is about to happen. Every fiber of his being is pushed to the breaking point as Jaevid battles through his avian year, preparing for the final graduation test of the battle scenario. But there is more standing in his way than a few pushups and fancy sword moves.

Jaevid must face a new fear as he is tormented by a gruesome nightmare of a mysterious gray elf warrior murdering the royal family of Maldobar. It seems obvious to him that this is some kind of message about how the war started long ago—until Felix assures him the king is very much alive. With his strange powers growing stronger by the day, and that violent dream replaying in his mind every night, Jaevid no longer wonders if he will pass his avian year or not . . . he wonders if he will even survive it.
The truth will soon be set loose.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks

Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book.

Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school.

She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.

Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Constant darkness.
Brutal and savage violence.

Excruciating pain.

Every day is a fight for survival.

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Girl Who Never Was (Otherworld #1) by Skylar Dorset - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Sourcebooks FIRE on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Girl Who Never Was (Otherworld #1)
Author: Skylar Dorset
Publication Date: June 1, 2014

Synopsis: "Today is my birthday."

In Selkie's family, you don't celebrate birthdays. You don't talk about birthdays. And you never, ever reveal your birth date.

Until now.

The instant Selkie blurts out the truth to Ben in the middle of Boston Common, her whole world shatters.

Because her life has been nothing but a lie—an elaborate enchantment meant to conceal the truth: Selkie is a half-faerie princess.

And her mother wants her dead.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Review: I had ridiculously high expectations for this book. Like, way unreasonably high. And honestly, The Girl Who Never Was delivered on all accounts, and then some! I absolutely adored this book, and when I finished it I was so glad that I had an early copy of The Boy With The Hidden Name so that I could pick it up immediately. 

This book does start off a little slow, but it makes sense and definitely picks up the pace pretty quickly. Selkie starts off as a pretty average girl living a pretty average life, so I was ok with the plot not really doing much of anything at first. It's a nice introduction to the characters before we get into the crazy stuff. And then once she tells Ben her birthday... everything changes and kept me on the edge of my seat! 

The world building in The Girl Who Never Was is done very well, and I enjoyed learning more about the faerie world as Selkie did. She's just as clueless as the reader, which was nice. Information dumps are often done in the form of conversation, so it didn't read slowly or anything. I found it interesting how certain parts of our world are more magical than others and how Skylar incorporated places with real faerie stories/hoaxes into the book. I think it made it more relatable to us regular people. 

I also thought that the romance was done very well. Sure, Ben measures time differently than Selkie and has probably been around much longer than she has, but they still work really well together and watching their friendship turn in to something more was fun and exciting. It's an important part of the book, but it isn't always front and center, and takes a backseat when there are other significant things going on. Selkie's feelings do influence her decisions, but they also tend to help get her out of sticky situations.

If you are looking for a really great fantasy book, look no further than The Girl Who Never Was! It has everything I look for in a great fantasy, and is written with excellent prose. Skylar has a way with words that makes them come alive and jump off of the page, and I can't wait to see what she has in store with the rest of this series! A 4/5! 


--Ashley

COVER REVEAL: Four of a Kind by Kellie Sheridan

Hello! We have a really exciting cover reveal for you today from the lovely folks over at Patchwork Press! Kellie Sheridan's newest book, Four of a Kind, is the first in a YA family saga following the Donovan sisters—identical quadruplets over the course of four (or more!) books.

This week is also the launch of the new website, FourofaKindSeries.com, where you can sign up to be a member of the series street team!

 

Title: Four of a Kind

Author: Kellie Sheridan

Publication Date: November 4, 2014

Cover Design: Erica Crouch

Synopsis: The odds of giving birth to identical quadruplets: 1 in 13 million.

The population of Fairview, a town so small that all anyone talks about is the Fairview Four returning after fourteen years: 7208.

The chance of Reagan blending in with the crowd after a boy in her new town starts to see her for who she really is: zero.

Following in the footsteps—and all too often, the shadows—of her sisters was nothing new to Reagan. But after fifteen years of fading in to the background, she’s finally finding her own way. Amidst all the gossip and assumptions, one person sees Reagan for what she’s always wanted to be. One of a kind.

Finally feeling like she belongs, Reagan wants to enjoy every possibility her new life has to offer, but things aren’t going as smoothly for her sisters. How can Reagan possibly let herself be happy—or maybe even fall in love—when her family is finally turning to her for support?

About the Author

I have been in love with stories in all of their forms for as long as I can remember. Admittedly, sometimes that means falling into places like Stars Hollow and Sunnydale, but books have always been my true love. In early 2011 I began writing a book blog in order to share my favorite reads with book lovers. From there, the bookish community encouraged me to stop sitting on my own stories and share them instead. Since then I’ve been madly devouring everything I can about digital publishing.

For the past two years I have been mainly obsessed with young adult books, but my favorite stories still come from the adult fantasy genre. As far as I’m concerned, Briggs, Bishop, Vincent and Vaughn are all must reads.

I spent part of my twenties living in Galway, Ireland and swooning after various lilting accents but am now back home in Ontario, Canada. My family includes two Glen of Imaal Terriers and a Green Cheek Conure.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Thanks for stopping by!


--Ashley & Paul