Blog Tour Guest Post & GIVEAWAY: The Uncrossing by Melissa Eastlake

I am so happy to host this Guest Post from Melissa Eastlake, the author of The Uncrossing. I was planning on posting my review as well, but I've been a super slow reader lately, so I haven't quite finished the book yet. But, so far I'm loving it. My review will be up soon. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Uncrossing
Author: Melissa Eastlake
Recent Release Date: October 2, 2017

Synopsis: Luke can uncross almost any curse—they unravel themselves for him like no one else. So working for the Kovrovs, one of the families controlling all the magic in New York, is exciting and dangerous, especially when he encounters the first curse he can't break. And it involves Jeremy, the beloved, sheltered prince of the Kovrov family—the one boy he absolutely shouldn't be falling for.

Jeremy's been in love with cocky, talented Luke since they were kids. But from their first kiss, something's missing. Jeremy's family keeps generations of deadly secrets, forcing him to choose between love and loyalty. As Luke fights to break the curse, a magical, citywide war starts crackling, and it's tied to Jeremy.

This might be the one curse Luke can't uncross. If true love's kiss fails, what's left for him and Jeremy?

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

Guest Post Topic: The Importance of Representation and Diversity in Fantasy

Fantasy stories expand our ideas about what is possible. They tap into deep archetypes or take readers to extreme situations in order to explore the depths of true, realistic human experiences. Characters in fantasy battle monsters or perform heroic acts to inspire readers in their own lives. Fantasy stories are fun and engaging, but they also teach us how we see ourselves and our aspirations.


Nuanced, realistic representation invites all of us to be those heroes. My original inspiration for The Uncrossing was to write a queer fairytale—to take some of the core, iconic tropes that we use to talk about what love is, and understand explore how they apply to queer people in a changing and still very broken world. 

---Melissa Eastlake--- 

Her debut novel, The Uncrossing, is coming in 2017 from Entangled Teen. She lives in Athens, Georgia with her partner and their dog.

Website --- Twitter

GIVEAWAY

A Prize Pack + a $20 B&N Gift Card (US)* 

* A $30 Amazon Gift Card will be substituted for an International winner

Enter the Rafflecaptor below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL - Spindle by Shonna Slayton + GIVEAWAY!

YA Historical Fantasy? Retelling of Sleeping Beauty?
OMG, YES PLEASE!

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for the

Spindle by Shonna Slayton

presented by Entanged Teen!

Fans of fairy-tale retellings, this one's for you!

From the author of Cinderella’s Dress, a brand-new standalone novel that retells the story of Sleeping Beauty, this time set during the Industrial Revolution.

Sleeping Beauty's happily ever after isn't the end of the story...

The evil fairy's magic is still trapped in her unfulfilled curse, and the only way to release it is to see a girl to the death. But the spindle has been hidden away for centuries, until a peddler offers it to an unsuspecting mill girl during the Industrial Revolution.

Briar Jenny had planned to escape her life of poverty and hardship with Wheeler, an ambitious young man who plans to leave the valley and start his own business. Trouble is, he no longer cares for her, fancying the new girl who just moved into town to work at the cotton mill. When Briar tries to use the spindle to win back Wheeler's heart and secure her future, she has no idea the power she has unleashed.

After pricking her finger on the magic spindle, she falls under a sleeping sickness that slowly claims her body bit by bit. It will take all her strength, to not only survive, but also break the curse and defeat the evil fairy for good.

Book Title: Spindle
Author: Shonna Slayton
Release Date: Oct. 4, 2016
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

SHONNA SLAYTON writes historical fairy tales for Entangled TEEN. Cinderella's Dress and Cinderella's Shoes, set in the 1940s are out now. Spindle, a Sleeping Beauty inspired tale set in the late 1800s, will be out October 2016.

She finds inspiration in reading vintage diaries written by teens, who despite using different slang, sound a lot like teenagers today. When not writing, Shonna enjoys amaretto lattes and spending time with her husband and children in Arizona.

The best way to keep in touch is by signing up for her monthly newsletter. She sends out behind-the-scenes info you can't read anywhere else. Sign up is on the sidebar of her website Shonna Slayton.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Greta and the Lost Army (Mylena Chronicles #3) by Chloe Jacobs - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Greta and the Lost Army (Mylena Chronicles #3)
Author: Chloe Jacobs
Publication Date: February 1, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Teen

My review of Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles #1)
My review of Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2)

Synopsis: After spending the last four years trapped in a place of monsters, demons, and magick, the last thing the fierce teenage bounty hunter Greta expected was to ever be back on Earth. But a rare opportunity gives her and the Goblin King Isaac the opportunity to do just that. Now she’s home. With a boy in tow. And her parents have lots of questions.

Although Greta finally has her heart’s deepest wish—to see her family again—every step she takes to reconnect with them drives her further away from Isaac. Greta and Isaac planned for her to return to Mylena and become his queen, but she’s not sure if she can go back to that harsh world, though staying on Earth means giving up the boy she loves.

But a powerful enemy refuses to let Greta escape. A demon who will stop at nothing to destroy her and everything she loves. Even if it means following her to Earth and forcing her to face a fate as unavoidable as love itself.

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

Review: I loved the first two books in this series. They're full of gorgeous world-building, incredible story-telling, and characters that I never want to leave behind. I was a little nervous going in to this book, because is it even possible to top all of that? Yes. The answer is a resounding yes. Chloe Jacobs managed to write a conclusion to this epic story that is everything I hoped it would be, and more! 

This book is split between Earth and Mylena. We get to meet Greta's family and see how they've been dealing with her disappearance, and now we get to see how they deal with her return. It was nice to see a different side of Greta - the side where she isn't a hunter, afraid for her life just because she's a human in a world where humans are hated, and where she has no real responsibilities other than going to high school. It's not the Greta we've come to know and love, but it is a Greta that existed once and might have existed if she hadn't been swept away to Mylena. 

Of course, things wouldn't seem right if everything stayed nice and easy! Mylena is under attack from the demon who started everything in the first place, and Isaac and Siona are desperate to return to save their people. I really enjoyed the wordplay with the title once we get back to Mylena - the "Lost Army" definitely has more than one meaning, and I loved how significant Greta's part was in reuniting the goblin army. Even though she's only a human and has no magick anymore, she's still just as important and powerful as any of the natives. 

And we can't forget Isaac, because he just keeps getting better and better. I'm so, so sad that we don't get to see any more of him, because he's such a great character. He's kind and loving, but he knows when to be firm and how to rule a kingdom. He's willing to sacrifice so much for Greta and his people, but they're also willing to give everything for him. Isaac is the perfect complement to Greta - he makes her stronger and supports her when she needs it most. He also knows how to calm her down and let her make her own decisions. 

I could really go on and on about how incredible this series, and this book in particular are, but you should really just read them for yourself! Especially if you're looking for a romantic YA fantasy. This was a perfect series ending, and the last line... I don't think anything else would have been so perfect! I am very much looking forward to seeing what Chloe Jacobs writes next, and it will be on my TBR as soon as I see it! 5/5 for sure. 


--Ashley

Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2) by Chloe Jacobs - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2)
Author: Chloe Jacobs
Publication Date: February 9th, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen

My review of Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles #1)

Synopsis: Once upon a dark time…

Greta the human bounty hunter never quite fit into the shadowed, icy world of Mylena. Yet she's managed to defeat the demon Agramon and win the love of the darkly intense Goblin King, Isaac. Now Isaac wants her to rule by his side—a human queen. And the very announcement is enough to incite rebellion…

To make matters worse, defeating Agramon left Greta tainted with a dark magick. Its unclean power threatens to destroy her and everything she loves. With the Goblin King's life and the very peace of Mylena at stake, Greta must find a cure and fast.

Her only hope lies with the strange, elusive faeries in the Glass Kingdom…if she can get there before the evil within her destroys everything.

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

Review: It's been a long time since I've read Greta and the Goblin King. Almost 3 years. I was a little worried that I might not remember enough for Greta and the Glass Kingdom to make any sense, or to be able to fall back into Mylena. I was very, very wrong! Even though it's been years, as soon as I started reading Greta and the Glass Kingdom, I was immediately pulled right back into the world and the lives of these characters as if I had never left!  Even though there were definitely things that I didn't remember right away, there are so many subtle refreshers that everything came back very quickly. They're expertly woven into the story, and I never felt like I was taking out of what was happening now to be reminded of something that happened then. 

One of my favorite things about Greta and the Goblin King was the beautiful world-building, and this book was no different. Even though I thought I knew a lot about Mylena, I learned so much more about this incredible world. It was really neat to learn things as Greta learned them, especially since it made for seamless story-telling. I felt like I was trudging through the snow, stuck in the forest, and experiencing the Glass Kingdom with Greta, Siona, and the faeries. I could feel the excitement of the goblins when Isaac reveals his surprise at the party, and I felt just as terrified as Greta as the dark magick starts to take over.

Greta is still as bad-ass as I remember, maybe even more so, and I really enjoyed watching her grow and mature and deal with the magick inside of her. She's still scared that she's no good for Isaac, but she still never gives up and still keeps pushing forward, trying to prove herself and save the world she's come to care about. And speaking of Isaac, I still love him just as much as I did before. He believes in Greta, and he is willing to give up everything to be with her. He goes through so much in this book, and there were several times when I was afraid he wasn't going to come back. 

Basically, everything about this book was fantastic! It's full of adventure, danger, romance, magick, friendship, and so much more. The world-building and story-telling are gorgeous, and I can't wait to read the final book in this amazing trilogy! Luckily, the wait this time is very short!! If you're a fan of YA fantasy, this is one series you don't want to miss, especially if you like books like Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Amber Argyle's Winter Queen. 4/5! 


--Ashley

COVER REVEAL: Tarnished (Perfected #2) by Kate Jarvik Birch

Tarnished (Perfected #2)

by Kate Jarvik Birch

Release Date: 2015

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Freedom comes at a cost...

Ella was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet—graceful,
demure...and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took
refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a
liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman’s gilded cage. Her escape
started a revolution, but she’s trapped, unable to get back to Penn—the boy she
loves—or help the girls who need her.

Back in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from
a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black
market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she's lucky,
she'll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program.
If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone
she's tried to save...

Book One:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Praise for Perfected:

“Compelling, imaginative, and unique. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!”

— Mary Lindsey, author of Shattered Souls


Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Kate Jarvik Birch is a visual artist, author, playwright, daydreamer, and professional procrastinator. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be either a unicorn or mermaid. Luckily, being a writer turned out to be just as magical. Her essays and short stories have been published in literary journals including Indiana Review and Saint Ann’s Review. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and three kids. To learn more visit www.katejarvikbirch.com

Author Links:

   

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch - Ashley's Review

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

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Perfected
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Publication Date: July 1, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death.

For fans of Keira Cass’s Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.

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

Review: This book! I don't even know where to start, I loved pretty much everything about this book, this story, and the world. It's so interesting and unique and it was definitely a breath of fresh air. 

Ella is such an interesting character. I mean, there are books where girls are treated like slaves or are slaves and are not given the opportunity to follow their dreams or think for themselves. But Ella is raised to be a pet. Not just a slave, but a literal pet. Like a purebred cat or dog. She begins her life in a kennel, and is trained to make sure her eventual masters will be pleased with their purchase. It's absolutely insane, but incredibly interesting at the same time. 

As a pet, Ella shouldn't have feelings. At all. She shouldn't love one of her talents more than the other, she shouldn't form opinions on her family, and she certainly should not fall in love. But then there's Penn, who also knows better than to love a pet, and he and Ella begin to shake the very foundation of Ella's life and training. Their romance was slow and, although there's definitely an attraction or interest at first sight, it's not at all insta-love or any of that. I really enjoyed the progression of the relationship, and how it seemed like Ella had to learn to find herself and know herself before she could find love. 

I think my favorite part of this book was the world-building though. Sure, it's set in the US in the not-so-distant future, but I felt like it was worlds away from any future i could imagine. Learning about the world and its laws through Ella's perspective was also incredibly fascinating, since she knows only a little more than the reader. She knows that she's a pet and that she lives to please her family, but that's about it. Learning about how the laws came to be and how people are so wildly opposed to it and how the girls are bred was just fascinating. It's not something I ever want to see happen, but it's interesting nonetheless.

I would totally recommend this book to any fans of YA dystopian stories, especially if you're looking for one that totally breaks the mold. Although it's very different from The Selection series, I think fans of those books would definitely enjoy this book as well. I'm excited to find out what will happen next, and I really hope that there's a sequel (or sequels) in the works! I love Kate's writing and I can't wait to find out what other projects she has in store for us. A 4/5 for sure! 


--Ashley

Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Perfected
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Synopsis: As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death.

For fans of Keira Cass’s Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.

Why?: I read Kate's book Deliver Me not too long ago and really enjoyed it. So I was really excited to find out that she had another book coming out so soon! This sounds like something totally different from Deliver Me, but still sounds really interesting and unique. 

Expectations: Perfected is compared to Kiera Cass's Selection series, which I really enjoyed. Between that and having enjoyed Kate's earlier book, I have pretty high expectations for this book. I'm expecting romance, mystery, and also a little bit of social commentary. I'm also expecting some gorgeous writing and world building!

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really love this cover. Since it's about humans being sold as pets, I really like the dress inside the bird cage. I love how the blue stands out against the white, and how simple the cover actually is. I would totally pick this up if I saw it on a shelf in a bookstore or library somewhere. It's actually what drew me to the book in the first place! 


--Ashley

My Not So Super Sweet Life (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #3) by Rachel Harris - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Publishing/Entangled Teen on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: My Not So Super Sweet Life (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #3)
Author: Rachel Harris
Publication Date: April 30, 2014

My A Tale of Two Centuries Review

Synopsis: Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy. 

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities. 

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

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

Review: When I read A Tale of Two Centuries, I somehow missed that it was a sequel. I still have yet to read My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, so I only know Cat and Lucas from A Tale of Two Centuries. That, however, did not lessen my enjoyment of this novella! It was really fun getting to see a new side of Cat and Lucas and learning more about them and their relationship.

This is, of course, a contemporary YA romance with a little bit of magic thrown in. I really enjoyed watching Cat fall for Lucas, especially with her abandonment issues. She grows so much in this book regardless of the heartache she faces. Even though not all her relationships work out, she allows herself to love and be loved (in more ways than one). Sure, this book is a romance, but it's also about family and friends and how important all relationships are. I also really enjoyed that this book is from two perspectives - Cat's and Lucas'. It was super fun being in Lucas' head and Cat is one lucky girl to have him. He's definitely swoony! 

Caterina is a whole different story though, and I think she's probably my least favorite character. She doesn't care about anyone but herself and she doesn't care who she hurts as long as she comes out on top. Every time she opened her mouth I wanted to punch her in the throat to get her to stop talking. She's just the worst, and I hated that Cat wanted a relationship with her (although I did understand why). 

After reading this novella, I will definitely be reading My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, if only to find out more of Cat's background. I know her mom leaving really messed her up, but I've only seen her as the healing Cat and not the Cat who was willing to learn how to love. If you've read the other two books in this series, I would definitely recommend this novella! I would also recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun, magical YA romance. There are a few PG-13 parts, but it's still also a pretty clean series. A 4/5! 


--Ashley

My Not So Super Sweet Life - Release Day Blitz + GIVEAWAY!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!!

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

Goodreads

My Not So Super Sweet Life is a special digital only, fan requested addition to the series!

It's also told in DUAL POV. Woohoo!

TEASER!

Read the first chapter...

http://rachelharriswrites.com/books/super-sweet-life

GET YOUR COPY TODAY

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes 

To celebrate the release author Rachel Harris is hosting a giveaway!

US - A Signed RARE paperback copy of My Not So Super Sweet Life & SWAG PACK
INT - An eBook copy of My Not So Super Sweet Life


a Rafflecopter giveaway


ABOUT RACHEL HARRIS


Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her Rachel Harrisbooks…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life’s problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram

Thanks for dropping by to check out My Not So Super Sweet Life!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway! :)

--Ashley & Paul

A Tale of Two Centuries (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2) by Rachel Harris - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: A Tale of Two Centuries
Author: Rachel Harris
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

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

Review: When I got this book, I totally missed the part about it being a sequel. I was prepared to be so confused and have to put it aside until I could go read the first book in the series. Luckily though, this wasn't the case! Without knowing any of the characters or the back story, I was still able to figure out the important information and thoroughly enjoy the book. 

I loved all of the characters in this book. Everyone was so real, and even though Alessandra seems out of place in the 21st century, I thought she was very well written as a lady of the sixteenth century. I even though that Harris did a great job throwing her into the 21st century and making her learn the slang and conventions of teenagers today. It was interesting to see how a 21st century teenager would teach someone from another time what the trends and slang are. Sometimes I feel like I need a list of slang words and trendy topics just so I can keep up with what's "popular," so I totally empathize with Less. 

I know this is a romance book, but I thought the romance was really well done. It's a major part of the plot, but it isn't overwhelming and it doesn't move too fast. I mean, it's like two weeks, but it feels like much longer. Less and Austin are not looking for a fairy tale romance, but end up with a happily ever after anyway (once they manage to work out their differences and the conflicts they encounter). They both have issues and secrets, but they work them out. The relationship is fun and innocent, and it was actually enjoyable to read about. The plot moves along quickly enough, and I never felt like there were too many details or too much information or anything. So major props to Harris on that. 

The little bit of gypsy magic that's involved really makes this story unique, and I think the gypsy is my favorite character. Plus, she gets to teach some life lessons and that's always a plus. And it kept this from being just a contemporary YA romance novel, so that was nice. Not knowing when she's coming back gives everything a sort of urgency, and I think it would have been pretty slow if that hadn't been there.

This book really surprised me, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I was going to. I'm even interested in seeing what Cat's story was in My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, and finding out about her and Lorenzo. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun twist on contemporary YA romances, and also to anyone who has read the first book in the series. But, even if you haven't, it's still a good, fun read that won't leave you confused or begging for answers to too many questions. A surprising 4/5 from me on this book! 


--Ashley

A Tale of Two Centuries (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2) by Rachel Harris - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: A Tale of Two Centuries
Author: Rachel Harris
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

Why?: I'm not usually one for romance books, but this sounds like a fun little book that mixes the past with the present. I've been reading a lot of dark, heavy books recently, and I think this will be a nice change of pace.

Expectations: I expect a fun romance with a little bit of adventure and a lot of self-discovery. Plus a lot of Less adapting her sixteenth century ways to fit in in the twenty-first century, which ought to be pretty humorous.

Judging a book by its cover: I'm not sure how I feel about this cover. It's not really anything special as far as romance covers go, but I do like the way the title looks and how the couple has on matching outfits. I'm not really sure I'd pick this up if I saw it on a shelf somewhere, but it's possible.


--Ashley

Greta & The Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

My Pre-Reading

Greta and the Goblin King did not disappoint me! It was pretty much everything I was looking for, and then some. Full of magic, mystery, a fantastical world with its own rules, and just enough romance without being overwhelming, Jacobs' debut was absolutely fantastic. 

I loved how Greta starts out as a bounty hunter, caring only about keeping her humanity hidden. Well, and her complicated relationship with Isaac. But, as events progress, everything changes for Greta, and she becomes much better and much stronger because of them. I don't want to be too spoilery, so I won't say much about what those events are, but I really think Greta handled herself and the situations in the best way possible, even if they weren't the easiest choices. 

Jacobs' world-building was amazing. From the very beginning, I felt like I was in Mylena with Greta and Isaac, and I almost didn't want to leave. Plus, the magic and mystery and everything surrounding the world and Greta's story just made it all the more exciting. Until the eclipse of course; Jacobs' made the whole transforming into killer beasts with no control over themselves terrifying and I would not want to be around to see that happen. Although I hated seeing Isaac affected just like everyone else, I thought that it was so well done and such an integral part of the story. 

And speaking of Isaac, he definitely added so much depth to the story. Even though he's headstrong and arrogant, he's also caring and funny, and he does whatever he can to help and protect Greta. I have never really pictured goblins as being attractive or caring, or anything other than short, scary, little creatures that haunt the dreams of children... but I'll take a goblin like Isaac any day. I think he's probably one of my favorite heroes in any book I've read recently. 

I definitely have some unanswered questions, but they just make me look forward to the next book all the more! The sooner it comes out the better... and I'll definitely be trying my hardest to get an ARC so that I can read it ASAP and learn more about Greta, Isaac, and Mylena! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy novels, especially those with a strong heroine who doesn't depend on anyone to save her. Even those who aren't really fans of YA would probably like this, although fans of YA fantasy would definitely like it more. I would rate this book as a 4/5. 


--Ashley

Greta & the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Greta and the Goblin King
Author: Chloe Jacobs
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back...

Why?: A strong heroine, a dark, mysterious, attractive goblin king, mystery, fantasy, and magic? Count me in! This book has been on my TBR shelf for a while, and it sounds like it has all the makings to be really fantastic. I haven't read a YA Fantasy in a few months, so I'm really looking forward to reading this one.

Expectations: I expect a pretty epic story, with magic, romance, danger, mystery, and adventure. I've heard so many good things about this book, I'm really expecting quite a lot from it. I hope it delivers!

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really like this cover. The moon and the guy in the trench coat (who I assume is Isaac), are kind of reminiscent of werewolves... But I guess since everyone in the world transforms into something dark with the eclipse it's ok. I would probably pick this book up off a shelf though, so props for that!


--Ashley