Clean Sweep ARC Challenge 2015

It is that time of year again for another fantastic challenge from Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer! 

This time it is all about the ARCs! I love doing Kim's challenges because not only are they so much fun but they are always just what I need to really focus and get things done,

Here are the rules for the challenge for those of you that may have missed it. Also, it is never too late to sign up and join!

(click on the link above to go directly to the sign up page)

Rules:

Link-up

Add button to your blog (optional)

ARC’s must be read between May 1st and May 31st, 2014

Challenge starts and ends at midnight in your local time zone

All ARCS/finished copies that were provided by publisher/author are eligible. They can be in any format (eBook, physical, audio)

Post start-up post with goals (can be posted during event)

Tweet using hashtag #CleanSweepARC

You do not have to post review on blog during the month of May. Just provide a link to Goodreads showing read May 1 to 31st with a two sentence review.

Twitter Party Wednesday May 13th 7pm (EST) #CleanSweepARC

Participate in at least one challenge.

The Participant Giveaway will include entries for books read (1 book entry a day allowed on giveaway), posting about challenge, start up/results post (can be combined), having button on your sidebar, participation in Twitter party, entering challenges and for following hosts.

Grand Prize- One winner will receive a new release of their choice (can be audible credit, novel or gift card) valued at up to 20.00 US dollars. Open internationally.

Challenge Schedule and entry form will post on May 1st and participant giveaway will close on June 3 at 11:59 (CST)

So what books will grace my ARC list this  year?

Surprisingly I don't have as many as I thought. I have been trying to resist that download and request button and so far I'm doing an okay job of it this year but of course, some are easier to resist than others. ;) 

This is what I have lined up to read this month:

I love Sarah's books so this one isn't going to be a challenge to get through at all, in fact I'm pretty excited about it!

After falling in love with Pushing the Limits months ago, there was no way I could say no to trying a new series by this author, which is exactly why this ended up in my ARC list and come on now, who can resist bikes?

This is the last book in the trilogy and I can't wait to see how it ends! I would be lying if I said I wasn't a but nervous for it too. Book endings are so touch and go anymore but I trust Silver to deliver. 

I really enjoyed book one so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this will be every bit as good if not better and hopefully won't have a dreadful cliffy like the first. 

I really liked the first book, way more than I know others did, but that's okay, just goes to show even when we have similar tastes, we still sometimes like different things. Either way, I'm so excited to see how this next installment will come about. 

I tried to resist this one but alas, I couldn't. It just looks too cute! And hello a music theme! Gotta love that!

Cat Winters is a master at what she does so there was no way I was saying no to this one! I can't wait to read it. I almost forgot I had this waiting for me until I made up this post. How could I forget about it?

This one just appealed to me. I'm a sucker for time travel. I'm hoping it is every bit as good as the synopsis promises.

This is another trilogy that is ending. I really liked book one, book two was different but still good so it will be really interesting to see how it all finally comes together. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it isn't a disappointment.

 I love the whole premises for this and if I'm being honest, the cover spoke to me. Dang cover whore tendencies. ;) 

I'm also a sucker for a retelling with a twist and this just sounded fantastic. *sigh* I really am trying to resist these reads but once in awhile I can't help myself and again, look at that cover! Is it terrible that after all this time reading and reviewing books, I can still get sucked in by a pretty cover?

I have no defense for this other than my nerdy side that loves history pretty much demanded that I read this. What's a girl to do, I can't argue with logic like history now can I?

This one just sounded so funny and fun. We all need some good humor in our lives, at least, that's what I'm telling myself my reason for agreeing to read and review it is and I'm sticking to it. 

This last one is part of a blog tour and while I'm also trying to limit the number of those I do, this just sounded too interesting to pass up. Keep your fingers crossed it will turn out great!

This last one wasn't one I requested, but rather was sent to me by the publisher. I still haven't decided what I want to do with it but I will at least start it and see how it goes if I have time to squeeze it in before the month is over. 

So fourteen books all in all, maybe fifteen if I decide to read the last one. Not bad really considering most of these span out from June until October of this year so I have plenty of time to read them but why not get them all out of the way now so I can concentrate on my TBR pile for the rest of the year right?

And I have a confession to make. When I first started this list, I only had twelve books on it, I have no idea how I got it up to almost fifteen so..I'm pleading the fifth on that one.

Wish me luck with all of these! I read very little in April so I'm hoping this is the kick in the pants I need to get my butt in gear and get these read way before I need to. 

Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway: Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly

Welcome to my stop for the Seriously Wicked Tour! I'm so excited to share with you this cute YA read by Connolly. I had so much fun reading it.

Published By: Tor Teen (May 5, 2015)

Book Description:

The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one.

Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch.

Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school.

Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance.

To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she’s wicked too?

*Amazon*B&N*

About the Author:

Tina Connolly is the author of the Ironskin trilogy from Tor Books, and the Seriously Wicked series, from Tor Teen. Ironskin, her first fantasy novel, was a Nebula finalist. Her stories have appeared in Women Destroy SF, Lightspeed, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and many more. Her narrations have appeared in audiobooks and podcasts including Podcastle, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, John Joseph Adams' The End is Nigh series, and more. She runs the Parsec-winning flash fiction podcast Toasted Cake. She likes re-reading books and eating pie for breakfast (preferably at the same time.)

Website

Twitter

It is so much fun to see an author you already love in a genre switch it up and write in a new genre and do just as well in it.

Connolly has created something quirky, fun, and completely entertaining in her new novel Seriously Wicked. I think I had a smile on my face the whole way through as we are introduced to Camellia and her crazy world full of magic, mayhem, and mischief.

Dragons, demons, werewolves, oh my! I think this fun read had a little bit of it all. Danger, romance, and a setting that entices you keep turning the pages wanting more adventures from Cam and more wickedness from the evil witch she is forced to live with. 

This was by far one of the most fun, light hearted, well written reads I have read this year. Fans of Connolly won't want to miss out on read!

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Open to US Residents Only Please!

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WoW Pick of the Week!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It is a chance to share those new releases were are super anxious to get our hands on and read.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love doing this post each week? It offers me a guilt free excuse to browse through all the upcoming releases. Like I really need an excuse to do that more than I already do right? :P

I love, LOVE this next series so it is no wonder I am anxiously awaiting book 8 of it. This is one of those series that while yes, it is on book 8, it is still going strong.


Have you tried this series yet? If not, what the heck are you waiting for? Try it, today! Don't let the number of books already released scare you, this is one series you don't want to miss out on.

Release Date: August 4, 2015 (Ace)

Book Description:
In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.


An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece… 

I am so excited! I need more Kate and Curran in my life. ;) 

Blog Tour Book Review and Giveaway: Trouble From the Start by Rachel Hawthorne

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour because I absolutely not only loved Trouble From the Start, but every book I have read by Hawthorne. They are just so much darn fun and perfect for spring/summer! 

Published By: Harper Teen (April 28, 2015)

Book Description:

Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Lauren Barnholdt, and Susane Colasanti, Trouble from the Start is a sweet and romantic read about a good girl who falls for a bad boy.

Avery knows better than to fall for Fletcher, the local bad boy who can't seem to outrun his reputation. Fletcher knows he shouldn't bother with college-bound, daughter-of-a-cop Avery. But when their paths cross, neither can deny the spark. Are they willing to go against everything and let their hearts lead the way? Or are they just flirting with disaster?

A companion novel to Rachel Hawthorne's paperback original The Boyfriend Project, this title is perfect for fans of summer beach reads and sweet treats. 

*Amazon*B&N*Book Depository*iBooks*

About the Author:

Rachel Hawthorne, who also writes as Lorraine Heath and Jade Parker, is the daughter of a British beauty (her mother won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero-who played the Joker on the old Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Herts, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan. She enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.


When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She writes for both adult and young adult readers. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Americana historicals. Her novels have been recognized with a RITA, Romance Writers of America’s most prestigious award for excellence, a HOLT medallion award honoring outstanding literary fiction, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, five Texas Gold Awards, the Golden Quill Award, the Rising Star Award as well as other awards and recognitions. Her novels have been selections of the Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Club. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times. 

Website


Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

Mon., 4/27 - The Irish Banana Review (Guest Post & Review)

Tues., 4/28 - My Guilty Obsession (Review)

Wed., 4/29 - FictionFare (Review)

Thurs., 4/30 - Swoony Boys Podcast (Q&A & Review)

Fri., 5/1 - Andi's ABCs (Guest Post)

Week 2:

Mon., 5/4 - Book Rocky Betty (Review)

Tues., 5/5 - Supernatural Snark (Q&A)

Wed., 5/6 - Reading W/ABC (Review)

Thurs., 5/7 - No BS Book Reviews (Q&A)

Fri., 5/8 - Gone With the Words (Review)

Rachel Hawthorne has always been my go to author for whenever I want a sweet and fun romance that is just perfect for anytime of the year. When I saw that she had a companion novel to the Boyfriend League I just knew I needed to read it.

And honestly, I got everything I was looking for in this simple, sweet read that wasn't only a lot of fun, but also had the right amount of realness and romance that made me come back for more. In fact, it was really hard to put down. I truly loved Fletcher and Avery and even now, days later, I still get a smile on my face when I think about them and their story. 

I adore reads like this one. I need them, I crave them, and I just can't get enough of them.

Hawthorne truly is one author that I will come back to time and time again simply because I know that she will give me a romance, a friendship, and a book with depth. Something just more than what others can give me. Something that can make me laugh, smile, and even bring tears to my eyes. 


This was wonderfully done and I am truly excited to get more from this author. If you haven't tried her, I highly recommend her if you are in the mood for something sweet that will just let you get away for a few hours and give you a satisfying ending when it is over. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review. 

Open to US Residents Only.

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Book Promotion: Rewind to You by Laura Johnston

Links to FREE eBook:

Rewind to You FREE on Amazon Kindle

FREE on Barnes and Noble

FREE on eBooks
FREE on Kobo

   “Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.”
– RT Book Reviews

Wish You Were Here

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.

When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…

Contemporary YA romance

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

Find REWIND TO YOU on Goodreads

"I love a good YA summer romance and for me, this one totally hit the spot!...I loved the journey; I loved the story; I loved the romance; I loved the little surprises and twists; and I loved the ending! Content: no language; mild violence; lots of kissing. Clean!" - Katie's Clean Book Collection

"I loved this book!...It caught my attention from the beginning and didn't let up the entire time." - Mel's Shelves

"This is a really remarkable love for me, to be honest. Definitely worth my 5 stars." - Book Inspections/Silly Readers

"Rewind to You is a fantastic young adult book. It has it all and it does it all so very well. Romance, heartbreak, loss, growth. You really can’t ask for more with a book. Laura Johnston created a little master piece in this otherwise unassuming young adult contemporary. "- Book Briefs

"This is why I LOVE reading YA! Rewind to You is a sweet romance with such awesome lyrical writing that I couldn't help but be swept up in the feelings of the characters." - A Writer's Dream

"I've read a lot of contemporary books the past two years, and I can safely say that Rewind To You is easily one of the best that I have ever read." - Justin's Book Blog

"...This was so much more than a sweet love story, it was a wonderfully done tale of learning how to deal with pain, loss, and moving on while still keeping your heart open to new experiences, new people, an new challenges." - My Guilty Obsession

"The writing is excellent and the story only deepens as the summer draws to a close, leaving the characters with resolution and the reader with a satisfying ending." - Heidi Reads

"5 out of 5...but I think it deserves another star!!! It's AWESOME!...This story was such a sad, and beautiful story all at the same time." - My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

"Laura Johnston has written a beautiful story with wonderful characters that have so much depth to them, I could have sworn they were real." - The Written Adventure

"Laura Johnston's debut novel Rewind to You is a perfect summer read ! A stunning soul touching story about finding love and forgiveness." - Lady A, Literature Junkie Extraordinaire 

"Rewind To You is a beautiful, heart touching romance. Laura Johnston deals with a subject we don't want to think about, the loss of a loved one, but she did it with heartfelt tenderness and a beautiful romance. I recommend Sienna and Austin's love story as a must read." - I Heart YA Books 

"I really enjoyed this book from Laura Johnston. The characters were solid and the story was fast paced and sweet." - Min Reads and Reviews

"This book was soooo good!" - Mylissa's Reviews and Books Thoughts

"I went through every emotion more than once. I can't find enough words to convey just how much I LOVED this book" - Crazy Four Books

Review: My Fairly Dangerous Godmother by Janette Rallison

Title: My Fairly Dangerous Godmother
Author: Janette Rallison
Series: Book Three in the My Fair Godmother Series
Published By: Rally Point Press (April 6, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale
My Rating: 3.5 Stars


Book Description:
Some people bomb auditions. Sadie Ramirez throws up during her tryouts on TV show America's Top Talent. Her performance is so bad, it earns her a fairy godmother through the Magical Alliance's Pitiful Damsel Outreach Program. Enter Chrysanthemum Everstar: a gum-chewing, cell phone-carrying, high heel wearing fairy godmother in training. She misinterprets Sadie's wishes and sends her back in time to be a part of The Little Mermaid story and then makes her one of the twelve dancing princesses. Wishes are permanent, and if Sadie wants to get back to her home, she'll have to strike a magical bargain--one that involves stealing a goblet from a powerful fairy queen. 

*Amazon*

Rallison writes some of the most fun, light hearted reads out there and her My Fair Godmother series is one of these best ones she writes. Full of chaos, laughs, smiles, and a fairy godmother in training and her little helper, that is sure to make anyone fall in love with them and keep turning the pages simply because you are having such a great time. 

Crissy is by far the worst fairy out there. If there is something she can make a mess out of she will but she always has her charges best interests at heart, even if they don't think she does. 

Transported from one fairy tale to the next, each one more disastrous than the previous, Sadie is starting to wonder what the heck she got herself into. Wicked queens, rogue fairies, princes, princesses, mermaids, and all matter of mayhem ensue making this a delightful light read that is sure to appeal to anyone.

Laugh out loud moments and hijinks you won't want to miss, this third installment in the series truly was so much fun and a great addition. Fans of the series and of Rallison's other works, won't want to miss this.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Review: Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Title: Cold Burn of Magic
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Book One in the Black Blade Series
Published By: K-Teen (April 28, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
There Be Monsters Here. . .

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power. 

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick. 

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her. . 

*Amazon*B&N*

After reading this book, my first thought was this, “Is there anything Estep can't write, and write well?”

Because truly, I do wonder that. She has yet to let me down, nor ceased to amaze me with the intricate, fun, and action packed worlds that she creates, whether in the YA or adult genres. 

I loved this series! It was just so much fun to read and I loved the new world that Estep created, where anyone could be magical and monsters lurked anywhere and sometimes, those monsters, weren't always the obvious ones.

Estep's famous for her heroines, they are always tough, fierce, snarky, and downright lovable and Lila was an amazing blend of all these traits, in fact this whole world was an amazing blend of her Elemental Assassin series and her Mythos Academy series, and while one is adult and one is YA, they both have that wonderful blend of action, fantasy, romance, kickbutt-ness, and a whole lot of fun that makes them hard to put down and always leaving you wanting more.

I so can not wait for more. I can quickly see this series, once again, becoming a favorite and one that I am always on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one to come out. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

Review: The Replaced by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Replaced
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Book Two in the Taking Trilogy
Published By: Harper Teen (April 28, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Fantasy 
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
Romantic and action-packed, The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.

Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost? 

Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human.

*Amazon*B&N*

When you love a first book so much, it is really hard not being excited about the sequel and even harder to not have high expectations for said sequel. Which is why I went into The Replaced with such hope that I would love it every bit as much as I did the first.

And while I did struggle a bit in the beginning with a slow start, I did end up loving this. Maybe not quite as much as the first book but overall I was once again thrown right into Kyra's crazy mixed up life of being on the run, worrying about those she left behind, info about the aliens themselves, and trying to get more information about what being a Returned means. 

Throw in a bunch of conspiracy, a love triangle (I know, I know, it didn't need to be there but some how it did add to the story), and more perplexing info on the Returned and you got one heck of a plot line, one that left me with more questions than answers and itching to get my hands on book three.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out and it was a worthy sequel to the first.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*