Sasha Hibbs's Blog, page 5

Spelled by Betsy Schow/Tour + Giveaway!

 By Betsy SchowSourcebooks FireJune 2, 2015Advance Praise for Spelled“A cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea’s evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine… For Oz fans, this work is a great clean-read alternative to Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die.” -School Library Journal “This wickedly funny, fast-paced adventure has it all: brains, courage, and heart. (Plus a kickin’ pair of heels.) .” --Jen Calonita, author of The Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series “Fairy tale survival rule #1, do NOT read this book late at night. You will wake up your entire family with loud laughter. Fairy tale survival rule #2, if you love the Wizard of Oz, clever fairy tale mash-ups, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen until the very end, you MUST read Spelled.” --J Scott Savage, award winning author of Farworld, Case File 13, and the Mysteries of Cove series. “A hilarious and snarky reimagining of the world of Oz, along with many other fairy tales injected throughout, "Spelled" is one fabulous read…Kick off those silver slippers and tuck in with this wonderful tale!” —Senator Sipes, Lil Book Bug (Palmdale, CA)Book Info: Talk about unhappily ever after. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.  Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving Dorthea with hair made up of emerald flames and the kingdom in chaos. Her parents and everyone she loves are stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed-off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story. 
Betsy Schow:
 
Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.
 
Excerpt from Spelled:
  Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”  Order Spelled here: Amazon  Add Spelled on Goodreads: Here                                                                       My Review:    
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Spelled by Betsy Schow was magically awesome! I honestly didn't know what to expect when I received this ARC. I absolutely love fairytales, and all things with a magical/fantasy element. But the Wizard of Oz? Dorothy? I was afraid going into this and how silly at the end as this was one of the most charming and clever books I've ever read!

I mean really: "Pixed off." "What the spell?" How cute is that? The designer clothes and shoes...Spelled was precious and so much fun to read.

And Kato, I smiled when the curse backfired and the reader was able to watch him and Dot grow together as a couple.

Spelled has a vivid cast of memorable characters and enough charm that no spell is required to force the reader on, it's just that pixing good!

The end was a wonderful cliffhanger conclusion that left me wishing upon a star for more! Oh and the witches....creepy, but necessary, I get it. And with that said, that epilogue....shiver!

I would highly recommend Spelled to lovers of all things fairytales with magical realms retold in the most savvy, clever way that will leave you smiling!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dragons Are People, Too by Sarah Nicolas, Review + Giveaway

Never judge a dragon by her human cover...
Sixteen-year-old Kitty Lung has everyone convinced she's a normal teen--not a secret government operative, not the one charged with protecting the president's son, and certainly not a were-dragon.

The only one she trusts with the truth is her best friend--and secret crush--the über-hot Bulisani Mathe.

Then a junior operative breaks Rule Number One by changing into his dragon form in public--on Kitty's watch--and suddenly, the world knows. About dragons. About the Draconic Intelligence Command (DIC) Kitty works for. About Kitty herself.

Now the government is hunting down and incarcerating dragons to stop a public panic, and a new shape-shifting enemy has kidnapped the president's son. Kitty and Bulisani are the last free dragons, wanted by both their allies and their enemies. If they can't rescue the president's son and liberate their fellow dragons before getting caught themselves, dragons might never live free again.

 Buy Here: Amazon                                                                           My Review:   

Dragons Are People, Too by Sarah Nicolas is a clever YA Urban Fantasy novel where our main character Kitty, shows the readers a wonderful glimpse into the realm of were-dragons. I loved this book. Kitty works as a secret operative/spy/fighter/protector. I loved her vulnerability and all her strengths, there were many on both sides and the author did a great job of exploring both.
This novel wasn’t over the top with romance, but there was enough (Sani…sigh) to satisfy the tastes of romance lovers.
The premise was intriguing and kept me turning the pages.  I loved the idea of being saddled with the responsibility of protecting the President’s son.  Of course, nearly as soon as we meet Kitty, in the very opening pages, she is working with another dragon who loses his composure and is caught transforming on camera. Secret. Over.
With their cover blown, Dragons everywhere are being carted off. Panic sets in, people jump on the bandwagon and the chaos ensues. It’s where Kitty and Sani jump into all this that the story excels.
The author did a great job with the pacing of the story. It wasn’t too fast, but wasn’t bogged down with so much information that it wouldn’t keep my interest. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but I guess you have to stop somewhere. I haven’t quite figured out if this is a standalone or if there will be other future novels.
Overall, Dragons Are People, Too explored cultural diversity, was filled with nonstop action, and had just the right amount of romance in it to make it a well-rounded novel. I really enjoyed this and hope to read more works by Sarah Nicolas. About the author:

Sarah is a 30-something YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too.

She's a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library. She also blogs at YAtopia.








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Ash and Ruin Series Blog Tour by Shauna Granger + Review

There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.

The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.

That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies.


                                                                      My Review:

   World of Ash by Shauna Granger was a quite intense post-apocalyptical read. The author doesn't waste time. In the opening pages we're introduced to Kat. And I instantly cringed and felt for her as she cut her hair. In those first few pages the author sets the tone with the Pesta's, the plague that took so many lives and how the ones left were surviving. Kat has reflections as she looks into a mirror, literally, about how her life was pre-plague and how far it varies now.

Hair styles, Pedi's, mani's, those are all things of the past. Just trying to survive is the number one priority. I felt for poor Kat, and it was heart wrenching to hear her reflections on the loss of her family.

There is some hope. Kat encounters Dylan, much in the same shape she's in, trying to survive. The plot gets interesting when they try to do it together.

I can easily imagine something like this happening. Remember the Black Plague? While World of Ash is certainly a fictional scenario, there are some elements that ring true in this series. And that's scary. Horror doesn't grab me, but something like this, to me, hands down, is true horror.

I need to mention that all three covers are absolutely gorgeous, or to be honest, bad ass!

Overall, Ms. Granger's series was a wonderful read. These books are not small, so understand what you're getting into, but a good story thick with plot, relatable characters, and an unforgettable journey never are!
Buy it here:    Amazon                  Add to Goodreads: Here

About the author:

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.

Hang in There!

I've been away for a while, but in the coming weeks I have several reviews, blog tours and giveaways to post. I've been in and out of internet range for the last few weeks and with a trip to Williamsburg around the corner, things have been busy.

In other news, I signed a contract today to be part of an awesome Teen Summer Anthology due out sometime this summer. So...I've been busy.

But hang in there....more posts to come...

Blog Tour. Review + Giveaway for The Blast by Sarah Perlmutter!

After a series of blasts force Beatrice Hicks and her family into their prepper bunker, they emerge to discover they are among the survivors of a nuclear apocalypse. Fighting against rogue groups and coping with deaths are just some of the adjustments Beatrice must make to survive, but how will she maintain her humanity after the blast?

 Buy here: Amazon                                                                                Add to Goodreads: GR



My Review:

The Blast by Sarah Perlmutter was an exhilarating read! The author wastes no time in introducing us to the main character, a ten-year-old Beatrice. Shortly thereafter, the author takes the reader on an unforgettable post-apocalyptical ride.

I loved the way the author allowed the reader to follow Beatrice from girl to teenager, giving the reader a glimpse into how the perspective can change as we age.

The Blast didn't shy away from the perils created in a post-apocalyptical world. The author tackled some serious situations including how does one survive? Food? Water? Love? Loss? Religion is even a discussion. All these elements can get lost when tackling a post-apocalyptical world, but Ms. Perlmutter hit this head on making the world so much more believable and made it hard to put the book down.

I would highly recommend The Blast to lovers of Dystopian themed societies and great YA reads delving into post-apocalyptical worlds.

About the author:



Sarah Perlmutter is the Wattpad featured author of THE BLAST, a young adult post-apocalypse novel.

Outside of the young adult genre, Sarah has published poems and flash fiction through Mash Stories, Millennial Garbage, the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation, and the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project.

When she is not writing, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, cooking food that is far too spicy, making arts and crafts, and teaching high school English.



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Awakening by Shannon Duffy Blog Tour! Review + Giveaway!

Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out--her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darian, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it.

Then Darian shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped the Terrorscape--a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants--and he needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darian be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late?



   My Review:   I snatch up every Entangled Teen book that comes my way, but I knew when the publisher reached out personally and sent this ARC my way, it was going to be good, real good.
This is the first Shannon Duffy novel I've read and what a thrilling read. There was no disappointment here.

The Dystopian world the author created was unique, dark, suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat, staying up late into the night needing to know what happened to this cast of vivid characters woven together so beautifully.

Ms. Duffy instantly introduces the reader to the world, the Protectorate, an evil dictatorship, their means of control (Terrorscape) and the citizens enduring the reign of terror. Sadly, the citizens buy into this system, the Protectorate being all they've ever known.

It's when Desiree Six has a chance encounter with an escaped convict (Noncompliant) that she begins to question everything she's been taught to believe.

The relationship building between Desiree and Darian was so beautiful to read, so tender, so sweet, and full of raw emotion. I hate that Desiree's liberation came at such a heavy cost (no spoilers here, you'll have to experience those heart wrenching scenes all on your own)but how Darian managed to get through to her was pure literary beauty.

The secondary characters are just as important and what a surprise to see Desiree's childhood bully now Protectorate paired mate turn out not to be as bad as implied. It was thrilling to watch him blossom, to put aside everything he's known and risk everything he has to do the right thing.

The Protectorate is a crooked system and you truly don't find out just how malicious they are until the final pages, and wait until you get there....

After finishing Awakening, I remember sitting up in bed, digesting all the beautiful words fed to me, and I remember thinking with a chill, "I believe something like this could happen." It makes you lose sleep, makes you wonder, makes you remember. When a novel such as Awakening can evoke those kinds of profound thoughts, feelings and questions, you know you've stumbled across something special.

Awakening reminded me of two of my favorite novels, not in just the Dystopian genre, but period. Awakening put me in mind of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Charlotte McConaghy's Fury. Both beautiful with their lyrical prose and profound and terrifying glimpses into a future that certainly could exist. I would now have to say that Awakening is among those favorites, one I will not forget.

Awakening is a terrifyingly beautifully brilliant take on YA Dystopian. I devoured each page and longed for more. This is by far one of the best books I've read all year. I patiently await the rest of this gripping story....  

Add to Goodreads: Here

Buy it Amazon: Here

About the author Shannon Duffy:



Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.



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Southern Fried Wiccan Review and Giveaway by S. P. Sipal!

Cilla Swaney is thrilled to return stateside, where she can hang up her military-brat boots for good. Finally, she'll be free to explore her own interests--magick and Wicca. But when she arrives at her grandma's farm, Cilla discovers that life in the South isn't quite what she expected. At least while country hopping, she never had to drink G-ma's crazy fermented concoctions, attend church youth group, make co-op deliveries...or share her locker with a snake-loving, fire-lighting, grimoire-stealing Goth girl...

...Who later invites her to a coven that Cilla's not sure she has the guts to attend. But then Emilio, the dark-haired hottie from her charter school, shows up and awakens her inner goddess. Finally, Cilla starts believing in her ability to conjure magick. Until...

...All Hades breaks loose. A prank goes wrong during their high school production of Macbeth, and although it seems Emilio is to blame, Cilla and Goth may pay the price. Will Cilla be able to keep the boy, her coven, and the trust of her family? Or will this Southern Wiccan get battered and fried?

My Review:

  * I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *
Southern Fried Wiccan by S. P. Final was fabulous! I love the South. I love YA. You batter and deep fry both of those and you come out with a delicious dish presented in novel form. So, Southern Fried Wiccan was a no-brainer for me. Oh, and never mind the eye-catching, beautiful cover. That just sealed the deal.

I enjoyed reading about our main character, Cilla, her experiencing the ambience and charm of the South, her high school experience, Goth girl and Emilio. You combine all of those with some nice paranormal, witches, covens and spells and you're going to be in for some good reading.

The author did a great job showing us the dilemma Cilla found herself in and how that was ultimately resolved. This was the first novel I've read from S. P. Sipal and certainly will not be the last.

I would highly recommend Southern Fried Wiccan to lovers of Kami Garcia, YA readers, and especially those like me who have a soft spot for the Deep South. 


About the author:


Born and raised in North Carolina, Susan Sipal had to travel halfway across the world and return home to embrace her father and grandfather's penchant for telling a tall tale. After having lived with her husband in his homeland of Turkey for many years, she suddenly saw the world with new eyes and had to write about it.

Perhaps it was the emptiness of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus that cried out to be refilled, or the myths surrounding the ancient Temple of Artemis, but she's been writing stories filled with myth and mystery ever since. She can't wait to share Southern Fried Wiccan with readers in March 2015.

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The Letting by Cathrine Goldstein Book Blitz and sale! Only $0.99 for a limited time!

What if the Devil doesn’t know he’s the Devil? This is the question Veronica “Ronnie” Billings poses to Phoenix, her sworn enemy, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution, and the one she loves.

Kidnapped by Phoenix’s rebels, Ronnie learns how wrong she has been. She had no idea that her patriotism was wasted on a corrupt government. Ronnie was proud to be a Leader; taking hundreds of harvested girls to the Letting facility. After all, she was saving them from future Couplings and bringing them to the safety of the New World. Or so she thought… Confused, Ronnie realizes the only way to discover the truth is to trust her heart. Together, Phoenix and Ronnie devise a plan to stop their corrupt government and preempt the dangerous rebel coup which is approaching. But when their plan goes awry, will Ronnie be strong enough to save Phoenix, her country, and herself?


Only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle! Buy here: ebook

Excerpt:
     “What if the Devil doesn’t know he’s the Devil?” I ask. 
      Phoenix shakes his head, confused. “What?”      “Why? Why does the bad I’ve done have to define me?”      "Because you’re a murdering sadist,” he snaps back at me.      “No, I am not.” I clench my teeth, standing my ground. I am tired of these labels I am suddenly wearing. “I never, I mean never knew what happened to those girls I led to the Lettings. I am so very sorry I played any role in this vile enterprise in which we exist, but I was clueless. Maybe I’m ignorant, or downright stupid, but I would rather have been dead than be responsible for hurting anyone. And before you go throwing malicious names around, maybe it’s time you consider maybe you’re wrong…? What if you kidnapped and tortured me in the name of a revolution that is wrong?”      “It’s not,” he argues.      "But I didn’t think I was wrong, either.” I am exasperated. “Don’t you get it?” He takes a step back away from me, but I go on. “We are completely turned around. The only information we’re fed is from a corrupt enterprise. What makes you think your information is any more accurate than mine?”  For the first time ever, he looks terrified. I let a moment go by before I gesture for Raven to come over, and she hurries to my side. 
     “This is Raven,” I say, slowly, talking to Phoenix. “She’s your sister.” 

About the author:

Given my love for cities and all that is gritty, my new obsession with trees really has me stumped. (Sorry.) Maybe it's because trees are the inspiration behind my new NA/YA romance novel, THE LETTING.
Whatever the reason for my new infatuation, some things remain constant -- like my love for: coffee (although sadly, it's now decaf); yoga; Luna bars (I am petitioning for them to bring back Chocolate Raspberry!); running in my neighborhood; Hemingway; Bukowski... and, above all, my husband and my girls.
I am the author of the bestselling novel, Sleeping With Mortals: The Story of a New York Mistress, and I'm also a playwright. I have my B.A. in English and my M.A. in Theatre.

Review and Giveaway! The Thorn and the Sinking Stone by CJ Dushinski!

   
    Synopsis:   Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can't escape…

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four "families" vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed--tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…


My Review:

It’s been a while since I’ve had a novel pull me in quite like this one. The Thorn and the Sinking Stone, I kind of imagine, would be like if The Gangs of New York and Romeo and Juliet had a baby. This novel wasn’t something I devoured overnight, rather, it was something that I savored, stretched out over the course of 5 days to fully appreciate all that was going on in this dark world/gem of a YA novel.

There are so many key players in this novel, but all centered around Valencia and Sebastian. Valencia is from Hara House, she is a Rose, the princess of a dynasty forged in the samurai way. Sebastian is a Dagger, part of another gang leading the way in Rain City. The conflict: the Roses and Daggers are sworn enemies. The delicious plot that pulls you in: Valencia and Sebastian slowly empathize with one another, and that turns into sympathy and then that turns into the most unlikely thing that can occur between feuding households: love.

There was a beautiful Brazilian movie I watched years ago with a similar theme: two feuding families. The sons of each family would kill one another and after each death, the son from the alternating family would attend the funeral of the son they killed and ask the patriarch of the family for forgiveness. Of course the father would never forgive and the feuding continued and continued until tragedy struck. The alternating family’s last son accidentally shot and killed the youngest son from the other family, a little boy no older than 7-8. It took something that egregious to end the feuding. The Thorn and the Sinking Stone reminded me of that movie. I hate that Valencia’s brother was so willing to sacrifice her out of pride, but loved the way the author brought the two opposing sides together.

From decade after decade of bloodshed, violence and death, finally a couple emerges that can set aside who they are and where they come from. And how, you ask, does that occur? When they are faced with similar issues, ones that present a larger enemy than themselves. The Watchmen are the police-like force in Rain City and at all costs they hunt down individuals considered Cursed. Cursed folks have supernatural abilities like telekinesis, etc. Not wanting to give away too much, suffice it to say that both Valencia and Sebastian are Cursed. When they are faced with having to fight each other to settle yet another blood debt, they discover they share the same trait and from there, a friendship of sorts, is formed.

Told from alternating view points, Valencia’s and Sebastian’s story was beautifully written set against the dark streets of Rain City where there’s a constant threat around every corner. I suppose this could be considered a standalone novel, but I suspect there’s so much more to tell.

The two feuding houses were unique and I’d have to say, aside from Godfrey and Valencia, I didn’t care for her brother or mother. And of course I understand that those characters had to be that way, otherwise it would be boring cheering for everyone. But it did allow me to empathize more with the Dagger household. Kane and Callen seemed so much easier to empathize with. There was a genuine brotherly love and concern amongst them, where Valencia’s crew was ice-old.

The ending was wonderful, nicely concluding what the novel had worked up to: the ability to accept a new future where things are uncertain, but with rays of sunshine gleaming through bringing with it the promise of a better life.

I’d highly recommend The Thorn and the Sinking Stone to lovers of YA with a dark theme, a dystopian feel with a nice dose of suspenseful romance. This was a charming novel, a delight to the literary senses and deserves to be read slowly so as to enjoy all that is going on in this dark, alluring world.


Buy The Thorn and the Sinking Stone here :  AMAZON

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About the Author:


While attempting to navigate life as a responsible human being, CJ graduated from university with a B.Comm and worked her way along as marketer, copywriter, and graphic designer to earn a paycheck while pursing her passion for creating fantastical stories set in dark and wondrous corners of the world.  Born amongst the wheat fields and open skies of the Canadian prairies, CJ’s imagination has always run wild, taking her on adventures across the world from modeling in Seoul, South Korea to backpacking through Europe and surfing (poorly) in Hawaii.
 After wandering through ancient cities and civilizations, learning from diverse cultures, and surrounding herself in new experiences, CJ was inspired and began work on her debut Young Adult novel THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE, to be published by Entangled Publishing 2014/15. CJ currently resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada – home of the Canadian Rockies – and keeps one hand on her passport and pen at all times, ready to pick up, see the world, and weave her experiences into stories.    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review and Giveaway! Red by Alyxandra Harvey!

Synopsis:

Bad girls burn hot…
 Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair. It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble. And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them. When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood. Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries. But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…  My review:  Red is the first novel I’ve read by Alyxandra Harvey and it didn’t disappoint. Red had all the workings of a delicious YA novel: suspense, paranormal, a strong heroine and romance amidst a wonderful Goth setting! The cover didn’t lie.  Ms. Harvey jumps right into the heart of the story in the opening pages. We are introduced to Kia Alcott and we get acquainted with her ability to set things on fire…literally. The struggle lies within Kia’s temper which if it flares too hot, things start to burn.  Kia is more or less carted off from her home and father to live with her Grandmother who resides in an uber creepy mansion that contains many secrets. Kia isn’t there long before the creep factor catches her attention.  She’s introduced to Ethan Blackwood, the son of Mr. Blackwood and owner of the household her grandmother runs. Ethan is hot and cold. It was a struggle to like him, or tolerate, is more like it, until, of course as a good author would do, the layers are peeled back from him. It’s once the inner demons and struggles are exposed, that the reader empathizes with him, cheers for him, and holds out hope that there is some kind of happiness that can be obtained for him.  For Ethan, life has been planned out from infancy. His parents were initiated into a cult, for lack of a better word, that once you’re in, you cannot get out of. Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from contact with these magical creatures that are hunted. Some, it would seem, are harmless while others proved to be quite deadly. I loved the story line with the Wendigo. The magical creatures that are harmless is what brings the humanitarian side out in Ethan, and it’s here that he shines the brightest.   Once Kia is let in on what’s going on within the mansion and within the forest, her fire becomes a valuable tool. But Kia means something different to Mr. Blackwood than what she means to Ethan. Can you see where things get juicy here? Choosing between what’s right and wrong, your heart, your family?  The secondary characters were equally as shining as Kia and Ethan. They all had depth and their own personalities.  Entangled Teen never disappoints. The talent pool is deep and as a reader, I love to swim around in their words, their stories, and Red was another knock-out that kept me up well past my bedtime. As I’ve said before in previous reviews, if a book is good enough for me to sacrifice my sleep, than it’s a 5/5 to me!  I would highly recommend Red to lovers of YA with a generous helping of romance, suspense, Goth and magical creatures that are sure to satisfy your craving for things that go bump in the night.   About the author :    Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream.
Aside from the ghosts, she also lives with three dogs and her husband. She likes chai lattes, tattoos, and books.
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