NetGalley Knockout Challenge!

I stumbled upon this great August reading challenge and it seemed perfect for the back-to-school month! I have a lot of really great digital review copies from NetGalley that I would like to get read and reviewed so...why not?

Here's the deal from the host's blog (Goldilox and the Three Weres):

Pledge to read those books from your Netgalley and Edelweiss egalleys during the month of August by entering your blog on the linky below!

The books you read do not have to be released in August. They can be already released, released in August, or released later than August.

So...I don't actually know how many books I will get read in August as I'm starting a new job (YAY!), but I'm totally willing to give it a go! (And some expire VERY soon!!) Here's my list of NetGalley books that will be on the challenge TBR list:

1. Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Schultz
2. The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coates
3. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
4. The Girl in the Park by Mariah Frederick
5. The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
6. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
7. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
8. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
9. Dark Companion by Marta Acosta
10. Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
11. Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas
12. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
13. The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter
14. Between You and Me by Marisa Calin
15. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
16. Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
17. Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
18. OMGqueer by multiple authors
19. The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer
20. Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett
21. Speechless by Hannah Harrington
22. Inbetween by Tara Fuller
23. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
24. Silver by Talia Vance
25. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
26. Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie
27. Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan
28. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
29. Yesterday by C. K. Kelly Martin
30. Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel
31. Skylark by Megan Spooner
32. The Curiosities
33. League of Strays by L.B. Schulman
34. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronin-Mills
35. The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab
36. Diverse Energies by multiple authors
37. Midnight City by J. Barton Mitchell
38. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
39. The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
40. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Hahahaa...seeing that list all written out...OUCH.  They are in pub date order, so that is generally the order that I try to tackle them in, but this time I'm in pursuit of new books for my high schoolers so I'll probably start with the ones I think will most appeal to them. :)  My GOAL will be to read at least 15 of these in August. Lofty? Perhaps...

Friday Fling! Take It Like a Vamp by Candace Havens

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my not-so-guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick (sexy) reads that are definitely worth checking out!



At some point it's going to seem like "Friday Fling!" is just my soapbox to talk about my love of Entangled Publishing (and maybe that's true just a little bit), but they honestly put out really great romance reads. This week's feature was truly a gem of a read. The teaser on their website had me laughing so I knew I had to buy it! Check out this super fun read from Entangled's newest line--Covet!

Publisher: Covet (Entangled Publishing)
Release Date: July 2012
Get it! Amazon | B&N

Nick and Casey are best friends. Just friends. Nothing but FRIENDS. At least that's what they each spend a significant time convincing themselves. When Nick finally takes a chance and invites Casey into his world as more than a friend, will she be able to handle the consequences? Better yet, will Nick learn to trust that this feisty woman is one tough chick?

I can't remember the last time that I laughed and smiled as much as I did reading Take It Like a Vamp. The main character, Casey, is awesomely fun to get to know. I loved her snark and her real, curvy body and her insecurities and her fierce loyalty and her strength of character.  This chick had it all and I seriously loved her.  Top that off with Nick--the loyal, hot, BFF next door guy--and you've got a friends-to-lovers romance that will knock your socks off. The sizzling chemistry is rounded off with a dash of danger, a fabulous cast of side characters (LOVED Linc and Mason), and a trip to the Greek Islands, creating a fabulous, fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romance novel.  I can't help but hope that Ms. Havens gives us more stories like this (can you say series potential?!). I do believe I'll be heading off in search of more of her books while I wait hopefully for another one like this. :)

Waiting on Wednesday (67)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where book bloggers discuss the books that they are most anxiously waiting for! (And this fabulous button was designed by my dear blogger friend Lindsay at The Violet Hour)

This week I'm waiting on...

Rebel Heart by Moira Young
© 30 October 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Nothing is certain and no one is safe in the second book in the highly praised Dust Lands trilogy, which MTV's Hollywood Crush blog called "better than "The Hunger Games.""It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba's world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh's freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road," a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of"danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.

YA Book Review: Temptation by Karen Hopkins

Release Date: 26 June 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Goodreads description:

Your heart misleads you. That's what my friends and family say. But I love Noah. And he loves me. We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be ROSE & NOAH forever, easy. But it won't be. Because he's Amish. And I'm not.

My Thoughts...

Heirs of Prophecy Blog Tour: Guest Post

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Michael A. Rothman to the blog as part of the Heirs of Prophecy tour!  Today I asked Michael to write on a topic that piqued my interest when reading about him and his writing on his website: In the Heirs of Prophecy series, what role does the family as a whole play and what's your take on family dynamics and depictions in literature of kids and young adults? 

Without further ado, welcome, Michael!!

 As I’ve mentioned in some previous blog posts, the rule of thumb for most fiction today is that your young protagonist(s) must have a hectic home life. Assume they are either an orphan, have family issues of all varieties, or are otherwise stressed by their day-to-day situation.

My books are written in opposition to such norms, and headline protagonists which are likable, fallible, but otherwise should be very relatable. Everyone knows a brother who is a pain in the butt who you would protect with your own life, or an over-protective mother, etc. I aim to prove that the action and strife need not come from the family, but through the situations and adventures they are put through.

In HEIRS OF PROPHECY I strive to bring the family as a whole "Down the Rabbit Hole" from the modern world into the world of Trimoria. Unlike many novels which insist on depicting the family as an element of strife, I put the reader in a situation that forces them to think, "Well – what if this really happened to me and my family, how would we react and how could we handle it?"

In this tale, I put the two young protagonists into a situation that immediately makes note that they will become the focus of attention. Attention that they might not necessarily care for. Unlike today’s world, where the parents can control many of the elements of their children’s lives, the parents are integral to the process of adapting to this new world.

As a parent, they must try to protect their children, yet they too are embroiled in a miasma of confusion as they must learn to adapt to their surroundings as well.

As it becomes clear that the children are meant for greater things in this world, the parents must maintain guardrails as best they can, while the kids themselves must explore and push their way through this new world.

A child’s world and an adult’s world is very different, and the tale covers elements of both, while ensuring the kids are brought forth as the “main” characters in the story.

I’d point to one review I got from another author when he read the book, and it was his opinion that the approach I was taking was quite different than the norm – and unlike the traditional advocacies of “kill the parents” for Fiction – having a more wholesome traditional tale that involves families (all the good and bad involved with such) was a refreshing change from the norm.

"There is a sweetness and light to this novel that often seems missing in modern fantasy. I think that a wise reader will recognize that this is something the world needs, and has been waiting for."- David Farland, New York Times Bestselling Fantasy Author

Thank you so much for sharing, Michael! I love that the family gets to take the journey "down the rabbit hole" instead of leaving behind the parents and never wondering what they're thinking or up to!

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.

The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself - the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.

The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.

Only one thing stands in their way:

The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

The TOOLS OF PROPHECY is the second volume in an epic saga which describes a prophecy that has placed the Riverton brothers in the lead roles of a struggle to save their world from being overrun by unspeakable horrors. This destiny requires that they face off with the demons that nearly destroyed their world over five centuries ago.

In the first book, the population of wizards had been practically eradicated by the former tyrant. The Rivertons are now charged with creating an Academy of Magic, recruiting qualified students, and furthering their own training with secrets that have long been held by the reclusive elves.

Despite their youth, a mysterious spirit has engaged them in an epic struggle to gain mastery of their newfound skills, help raise and train two armies, and stay alive long enough for their final showdown with destiny.

The only things that stand in their way are the assassins hired to destroy them and the Demon Lord’s minion who holds a personal grudge and intends to witness the young boys’ deaths.

Meet Michael! 

I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of "Fiction" that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary.

I've learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic.
- Mike Rothman

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Check out the rest of the tour stops as well!
Monday, July 16th - Mundie Kids
Tuesday, July 17th - Owl for YA
Wednesday, July 18th - Chapter by Chapter
Thursday, July 19th - Book and A Latte
Friday, July 20th - Sweeping Me
Monday, July 23rd - Reading in the Corner  (You're Here!)
Tuesday, July 24th - Soul Unsung 
Wednesday, July 25th - Proud Booknerd
Thursday, July 26th - Bitter Sweet Enchantement 
Monday, July 30th - My Reading Room 
Tuesday, July 31st - Book Brats 
Wednesday, August 1st - Paranormal Indulgenlence 
Thursday, August 2nd - Mandy Kay Reads
Friday, August 3rd - Snowdropdreams

Cover Reveal: Hollowed by Kelley York

You should know that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED Kelley York's debut novel, Hushed, when I read it last year.  I've read it in its entirety at least twice and in bits and pieces on numerous occasions. I pimped it out to a close friend who loved it just as much and we talk about it ALL THE TIME.  I stalk follow Kelley's blog and Twitter a lot some to keep an eye out for more from her because I LOVE her writing. You know when you read a book and you know you'll love everything that author does?  That was Hushed for me. Am I rambling? Yes?  Okay, well, when I saw on her blog that she had decided to self-publish a book this fall AND she has a new Entangled Pub book coming out next year, this was me:

So OF COURSE I wanted to participate in revealing her new cover!  Have I made you wait long enough yet? Maybe you want to see this beautiful gem now?  OKAY!

The Dream Slayer Tour: Character Interview & E-Book Giveaway!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting an interview with Natalie and Tristan from The Dream Slayer! They're super fun so I hope you'll take a gander and read all the way down for a great e-book giveaway!

Welcome to Reading in the Corner, Natalie and Tristan! It's so great to have you both here today. :) Let's start with the basics--can you tell us a little bit about yourselves? 

Natalie: Thanks for having us here! It's so much fun to do something different! I'm Natalie, I'm 17. I live with parents and have an older married sister, who I sometimes see. Soon I'm going to be an aunty! Next year is my last of high school.
Tristan: Score! This school thing is way more work than I was promised on that first day of Kindergarten.
Natalie: *giggle* You thought your mother was waiting right outside.
Tristan: Hey, that was supposed to be our secret….I'm Tristan Miller. I'm 17 and I live a few streets from Nat with my parents and our dog, Corky. I have a brother who moved to the big city of Burlington Vermont. He has a job on the news as an anchor or something like that. Hard to know more since he won't return our calls.
Natalie: I call him stinky Rick face.
Tristan: It's nicer than what I call him. 

 How long have you been friends? How did you meet? 

Tristan: Since as far back as I can remember.
Natalie: We met as babies at the park. Tristan followed me around with his shovel and we played in the sandbox. I was just starting to walk so I guess we were around one.
Tristan: Hilarity and naptime ensued ever since. Except we stopped taking naps together by the time we were three.
Natalie: Otherwise it'd be creepy. We've been in classes together and every summer we'd play and do something every day.
Tristan: *smiles* Some things never change. 

What do you like to do for fun? 

Tristan: I have a popular school blog. Other than that, the normal stuff. Movies, TV. Youtube is a great school work distraction.
Natalie: I love videos with kittens. Too bad my parents still have dial up.
Tristan: I don't even know how that's possible.

What about you, Natalie? 

Natalie: I love to read and sometimes I write poetry and short stories sometimes. When we're together we love to get coffee at the Magic Bean, go to the movies, or just hang out at Tristan's house. Oh, and I daydream *knowing smile*. 

What's one random fact about you? 

Natalie: I still sleep with my teddy bear from when I was a baby. And I have a pet hamster named Plucky because I wanted him to be a bird instead.
Tristan: Hey, you cheated. That's two!
Natalie: *giggle* Oops!
Tristan: One random fact about me is I can whistle out my nose the Mission Impossible theme while drinking milks.
Natalie: He's making that up.
Tristan: Hey, get me a glass of milk and I'll prove it. 

What makes you unique? 

Natalie: Oh, nothing really except my dreams created a thinking, breathing, alternate dimension parallel to ours.
Tristan: And I'm supposed to follow that how?
Natalie: *shrugs*
Tristan: I have the uncanny ability to sense danger and run in the opposite direction. 

If you could do anything after you finish high school, what would it be? 

Tristan: I want to go to college and become an investigative reporter that travels the globe. But first I'd like to backpack across Europe.
Natalie: That sounds fun.
Tristan: You can come with me.
Natalie: *smile* I really just want to get through high school without dying! After that I'd love to open a boutique or something downtown. I love downtown. 

What's it like living in Meadow Creek? 

Natalie: We're really close to ski country, so during the winter I love the rush of people visiting. In the summer, there are some hikers and a lot of shops and restaurants close up, but it feels more intimate. We know everyone and can do normal, everyday stuff without the crowds.
Tristan: What she's trying to say is that it's dull.
Natalie: That's not true. I love it here. The mountains are gorgeous and we can go hiking whenever we want.
Tristan: Except we never do.
Natalie: Yeah, but we *could*. 

Has it always been so weird? 

Tristan: I want to say no, but the people that live here are eccentric and strange.
Natalie: That's why he lives here *smirk*
Tristan: I think maybe people are drawn to here. When we were kids we used to think that the circus clowns were possessed and we ended up stranded in a tent.
Natalie: Mr. Buckle rescued us.
Tristan: Right, which just proves, that yes, it is always been strange. That or I have an active imagination. Your guess is as good as mine. 

Natalie, let's talk just a little about your dreams. Can you tell us a little about them? 

Natalie: Like everyone else, when I dream sometimes I'm someone else. I'm taller, my hair is blond instead of brown and I have these crazy adventures and I always save the day. Sometimes they're campy, but they're always fun. I had no idea they were more than dreams until some of the dreams began to um, manifest in town.
Tristan: It sounds creepier every time I hear you talk about it. 

When did they start? 

Natalie: I don't remember exactly when. I think I've always dreamt of her, even when I was little. I remember being 10 and dreaming I was blond, just like my older sister. But it was 2 years ago where in my dreams I became the slayer and I met Damien.
Tristan: Oh, yay, we're talking about him now?
Natalie: Just for a second, I'm done now. 

And Tristan, has Natalie ever talked to you about her dreams? 

Tristan: Only once stuff started getting tough. Now, yeah we've talked about it some. At first I admit I was really freaked out. Another dimension where we all exist and have lives different from this one? It's like having a twin that's you, and you have no control over them. But then I realized it was kind of cool that another me was living in this world and he has a pretty cool life. I mean, I do. I mean…
Natalie: It'll get easier the more you talk about it. 

What are your thoughts on her dreams? 

Tristan: It's hard to put my thoughts into words. I always thought Natalie was amazing and always felt like I was the only one who knew, you know? Oh , no offense, Nat… Now our friends know she's amazing and I have to share her. What happens in our dreams affects us and vice versa. Imagine if that got out?
Natalie: People would freak.
Tristan: There would definitely be freaking. 

YA Book Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Release Date: 7 June 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother, Lugh, is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent—and she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

My Thoughts...

Fab {Indie} Friday: Thomas & January by Fisher Amelie

Release Date: 15 June 2012

Publisher: Self-pub
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from B&N

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N
(It's only $2.99 and totally worth it.)

Goodreads description:

Thomas Eriksson thinks he has it all figured out.
"People crossed the street when they saw me. I’m not really sure why that was. I mean, okay, I might have looked a bit intimidating if I was being truthful with you. I’d changed since New York. New York represented a life that wasn’t real, not truthfully, anyway. No, New York was the “young, immature, in love, idiot" side of Tom. The “Tie-Dye Tom of New York City” didn’t exist anymore. Tie-Dye Tom was dead."

January Mac Lochlainn thinks she’s her own worst enemy.

"I quit Berkeley. Threw away a full scholarship. Plans, you ask? What plans?"

But they’re both wrong.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: The Dream Slayer by Jill Cooper

Release Date: 29 June 2012
Publisher: Self-published
Source: SupaGirl Book Tours

Book Description:

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for...


Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees quiver and your heart melt. Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams. When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead. Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

My Thoughts...

Early Preview Teaser: Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

Release Date: 1 Januar 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: DRC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Goodreads description:

Be careful what you believe in.

Rudy’s life is flipped upside-down when his family moves to a remote island in a last attempt to save his sick younger brother. With nothing to do but worry, Rudy sinks deeper and deeper into loneliness and lies awake at night listening to the screams of the ocean beneath his family’s rickety house.

Then he meets Diana, who makes him wonder what he even knows about love, and Teeth, who makes him question what he knows about anything. Rudy can’t remember the last time he felt so connected to someone, but being friends with Teeth is more than a little bit complicated. He soon learns that Teeth has terrible secrets. Violent secrets. Secrets that will force Rudy to choose between his own happiness and his brother’s life.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Transcendence by C.J. Omololu

Release Date: 5 June 2012

Publisher: Walker & Company
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.

As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.

My Thoughts...

Saturday Steals!

So, I totally wasn't going to do one of these posts this week, but then I found a couple of really good deals on Amazon for books that I really enjoyed! It would be a tragedy not to let you know that these books are going for cheap right now! So, I've shortened this one up a bit--just a few to share for fun. :)

Variant by Robison Wells is only $2.99 for your e-Reader and I really enjoyed this one last year.  So much so that I purchased 3 hardcover copies so I could give one to a smaller school library and one to a friend (and keep one, of course!)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is only $5.99.  While that's obviously not as low as some other deals, I think that for a good book $6.99 is a reasonable price so this one strikes me as a good deal!

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is only $2.99.  This was probably THE book that made me realize that my "loathing" of high fantasy wasn't necessarily a universal thing. :)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is only $0.99! Now, it took me a long time to decide to read this one, but it was definitely worth taking the time to see what all the hype was about.  For less than a dollar, that's pretty much impossible to turn down!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies is only $2.99.  This was an angel story that some people loved and some people did not.  I really enjoyed it, so if you're curious, this is definitely the price at which to check it out!

Well, I think that's about all I'm going to really throw at you this week. :) 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Friday Fling! A Night of Southern Comfort by Robin Covington

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my not-so-guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick (sexy) reads that are definitely worth checking out!



It should come as no surprise at this point that I love Entangled publishing's Indulgence line...A LOT. I've gotten a little behind on reading them (more because I'm trying to BUY fewer books than because I don't want to read them) but my goal is still to read them all! I think I'm only 4 behind now... :)

Publisher: Indulgence (Entangled Publishing)
Release Date: 15 June 2012
Get it! Amazon | B&N

When Detective Jackson Cantrell and Dr. Michaela Roarke meet, their anonymous one-night stand is a night of intense passion, the likes of which neither has experienced before. When Jackson is blackmailed by Michaela's father to watch over her and find her stalker, he's forced into the life of a woman he never thought he see again. When Michaela's stalker escalates, Jackson moves in with Michaela and the searing passion is something that neither of them can deny their bodies...or their hearts.

Jackson and Michaela's story combines the characters and sizzling passion that I love in a romance novel with the mystery and intrigue of a dangerous stalker. The masterful way that Ms. Covington has woven these elements together makes the combination absolutely spot-on. I adored both of the main characters. Michaela (who Jackson and Jackson alone calls Kayla and I love it) is fiercely independent and absolutely stubborn in her attempts to break away from her controlling politician father. Jackson is clearly a heart-throb with goals for his life--goals complicated by a woman. When the two are together, their connection sizzles. Lust, romance, and suspense. Ms. Covington pulled off the combination and I couldn't put it down! She is definitely an author to watch and I can't wait for more of her stories!

(ARC) YA Book Review: Insignia by SJ Kincaid

Release Date: 10 July 2012

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: ARC
Source: Won from EpicReads.com

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

My Thoughts...

Cover Reveal: Witch Born by Amber Argyle

Publisher: Starling Publishing
Release Date: September 2012

Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Add it to your "To Read" List on Goodreads!

Meet Amber! 

Amber Argyle grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination for writing high fantasy. She has worked as a short order cook, janitor, and staff member in a mental institution. All of which has given her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State Uiversity. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three small children.

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