Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's can't-wait-to-read selection is..

  Title: Lies Beneath
  Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Published: June 12, 2012
  Pages: ??
  Goodreads

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy.

But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls.

Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

That cover is just so pretty! I'm a sucker for that color scheme. I wish it had a prettier font, though, but I kinda like how it's just simple. This one is about mermaids!! That in itself is why I want to read this, but it also sounds so mysterious and unique to the mermaid genre (though any novel in the mermaid genre seems to be unique and different from each other).

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading
Rules:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two sentences from that page
-Be careful not to include spoilers!
-Include the book titles and author, so other participants can add the book the their TBR pile!
This week's teaser comes from..

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

“There was a long, uncomfortable pause as we stared into the darkness. A figure was visible deep in the darkness, a tiny bit of glowing white.”

-Page 91

Review: Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

  Title: Between the Sea and the Sky    Pages: 240
  Author: Jaclyn Dolamore                     Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's        Published: Oct 25, 2011
  Series: ??                                            Purchase: Amazon
  Rating: 4 out of 5

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

I absolutely love mermaid mythology and Jaclyn Dolamore created a wonderful novel to add to the growing number of great YA mermaid books out there.

I loved Esmerine from beginning to end. She was so thirsty for knowledge and so naive from spending all her life with the sea and horrible tales of the human world. I loved how much she grew throughout Between the Sea and Sky, it really seemed like she understood the importance of where you come from and not to just forget about it.

I loved what romance there was between Esmerine and Alandare, but I understood their fear of falling completely in love, that they would have to go back to their lives after their adventure together was over. It was also very fitting for the time period they seemed to be living in.

The plot and writing were pretty simple, yet poetic at times. This was a fun, feel-good novel to take a break from more heavier, depressing novels out there. I loved that about Between the Sea and the Sky. I could literally read it in one sitting and not feel too overwhelmed with negative emotions.

Overall, Between the Sea and the Sky was a noteworthy addition to the mermaid genre. I would highly recommend it to fans of mermaids or paranormal romance in general. I would also recommend it as a great entrance into either the mermaid or paranormal genre.

Cover thoughts: I absolutely love this cover! I mean look at it, it's just simply gorgeous! The waves behind her almost look like they are forming wings. No. More. Words.

I give Between the Sea and the Sky a 4 out of 5.

Review: The Academy by T.P. Boje

  Title: The Academy                   Pages: 264
  Author: T.P. Boje                      Source: Author
  Publisher: CreateSpace            Published: Oct 10, 2011
  Series: Afterlife #1                    Purchase: Amazon
  Rating: 4 out of 5

Have you ever wondered where you go when you die? Meghan is 16 when it happens to her. She wakes up on a flying steamboat on her way to a school run by Angels in a white marble castle. On the boat she meets Mick who has been dead for more than a hundred years but still looks like he is a teenager. He helps her through the difficult beginning at the new school in a new world filled with heavenly magic.

One day some of Meghan's roommates find a mirror in the cellar of the school and they persuade her to go through it with them - well knowing it is strictly against the rules of the school. Meghan ends up back on earth where she meets Jason. But Jason is in danger and Meghan knows something important.

Soon she is forced to choose between the two worlds. The one she belongs to now, and the one she left.

The Academy had a premise that jumped out at me, one I had not heard of before, which is a great thing with so many similar plots out there.

The characters of The Academy could have been developed a bit more. I didn't feel like I knew the characters as well as some other novels and I wished that their appearances and personalities were described more. However, I'm hoping that book two will shed more light on them.

I also would like to have known how Meghan died and more about her life as a human. It seemed like everyone else had their stories, yet Meghan's was a mystery. Luckily, there were some clues and it seems like that's something that's going to be revealed as the series goes on.

The plot was incredibly unique and I enjoyed learning about the Afterlife world. T.P. Boje did a wonderful job carving out the beginning of the world, as well as the lore that came with it. The plot was pretty straight-forward, but there were a couple twists I did not expect. Also, some of the themes that were presented in the plot surprised me, as they were a lot darker than I expected when talking about some of the students' deaths, but welcome nonetheless. I felt this added a lot of reality to the characters, instead of everyone dying a natural, peaceful death.

The writing wasn't the best for my personal taste. The dialogue just seemed to be a bit old-fashioned. At times it was awkward and almost forced. This is another thing I see getting better with time, though, and something I grew pretty used to. Despite some of the writing, I actually found myself laughing out loud at the more humorous moments.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Academy and tried to go in with no expectations, because I had never heard of this book, therefore I hadn't heard any positive or negative things about it. I wasn't disappointed and will definitely be checking out book two. I recommend this to fans of the paranormal genre and ghosts/spirits.

Cover thoughts: I like this cover, and how the hands are trying to touch. This is a major problem for new students at the Academy, to grab and hold onto solid objects. This is something they learn, though, and I think it greatly symbolizes the story.

I give The Academy a 4 out of 5.

Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

  Title: How to Save a Life                   Pages: 341
  Author: Sara Zarr                             Source: Publisher
  Publisher: Little, Brown Books          Published: Oct 18, 2011
  Series: N/A                                       Purchase: Amazon
  Rating: 5 out of 5

Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted - to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

How to Save a Life is an incredible story about falling apart and falling apart again, just when you think you're picking yourself back up. It's a journey of learning to trust and count on somebody for the first time in your life.

The characters in How to Save a Life are phenomenal. Sara Zarr goes above and beyond for each character and I felt like I knew them personally.

Jill is incredibly snarky and sarcastic, but it's just her defense-mechanism after her rock, her father, dies. She feels like she lost part of herself and that she can't love anyone without him showing her how. She's insecure, yet comes across as confident to your face. I loved Jill from the beginning, when she captured my heart.

Speaking of capturing my heart, so did the second heroine, Mandy. I did not like her at first, I found her to be annoying and awkward. Her personality, however, quickly grew on me. She was like a sister that steals my stuff and makes me angry, then later makes me crack up because of how eclectic she is.

How to Save a Life's plot was slowly paced at times, but Sara Zarr took my heart and squeezed it hard every now and then to make sure I was still paying attention to her beautiful story. Her words were beautiful and absolutely lyrical at times and I found myself laughing at her witty dialogue.

Overall, I highly recommend How to Save a Life to anyone. The whole novel is so amazing and one hard to find flaws in.

Cover thoughts: I really like this cover and how it pertains to the story. The snow symbolizes the loneliness of it, as does there being two sets of footprints, yet one person. I'm in the crowd though that doesn't like how huge the letters are.

I give How to Save a Life a 5 out of 5.

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.

Review:

The Academy (Afterlife #1) by T.P. Boje

Random Buzzers:

Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate

Bought:

Whew. All books link to their specific covers’ Goodreads page. All these came out to around $18! They are from a little charity book store for Voices in our “mall” (it’s really just a cluster of shops that aren’t chain stores, just locally owned). Totally going back there for more middle grade and even adult (I’m looking for The Lovely Bones next time and nice Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, and any Series of Unfortunate Events books I don’t already have now, Harry Potter, Twilight, etc etc.)

I totally had to cut myself off the first time though :P.

New blog design

I started becoming very tired of the old blog design and how bright and unprofessional it was. This theme seems a lot more professional than the last and appeals to me a whole lot more.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, however, if you like the new theme. Please comment me to let me know! Thank you.

Also, please note that not all posts will take to this new design and unfortunately, there isn't really much I can do, since I use Windows Live Writer to write my blog posts. New posts should look perfectly fine, however. Please leave me a comment or email me if you see anything wrong with the theme, I would greatly appreciate it.

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.

For Review:

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

This just showed up at my doorstep, but it was very welcome!

Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto

Another that showed up randomly, this one came with The Fox Inheritance a week or so ago. The cover is so pretty. Now I just need Halo, as I don’t have nor read it.

The Fox Inheritance (Jenna Fox Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson

I didn’t finish The Adoration of Jenna Fox, but I absolutely loved what I read of it. Another first novel I need to buy, oh boy.

Bought:

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1) by Ally Carter

I went to Goodwill to see if they had any books and I came across this one and the three below. Everything came out to a bit under $6.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I’ve been wanting to read this since I watched and loved the movie. Really excited for this.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

For some reason, I had trouble finding a decent picture for this one. I loved the movie, so I decided to get the book, too.

RAK:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

You don’t know how badly I’ve been wanting to read these two RAKs, each for different reasons. Beauty Queens has stuck out in my mind since I first came across it and I’ve been dying to read it. I received this beauty from Emma at The Girl with a Book. Thank you so much Emma!

The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth #2) by Carrie Ryan

So I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and fell head over heels in love with it. I loved the world Carrie Ryan made and was desperately wanting to be sucked back in. I have the third, but I did not have this one and then along came Jen from At Random, saving the day :). Thank you so much Jen!!

 

What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Various Authors

  Title: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions               Pages: 464
  Author: Various Authors                                     Source: Library
  Publisher: HarperCollins                                     Published: Sept 20, 2011
  Series: N/A                                                       Purchase: Amazon
  Rating: 4 out of 5

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray: This one was such a cute and light story to start out this wonderful book of anthologies. I thoroughly enjoyed all three main characters in this and just found it so sweet that Giovanni wanted something so simple. Both Ravenna and Cairo’s gifts interested me and I loved the way Claudia Gray handled them and their back story.

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: I loved loved loved this one. I absolutely fell in love with The Forest of Hands and Teeth and this was such a nice addition to her carefully thought of world. Both Margie and Sally captured my heart from the beginning and I was gunning for them. The ending surprised me and I may have let a few tears go. Just perfect.

Red Run by Kami Garcia: I loved this one as well. It reminded me of Supernatural, the TV show and Anna Dressed in Blood (just based on the description, I have not read this at the time of review). If you liked either of those, you’d probably like this one. The characters in this one are great, Kami Garcia really worked her twenty-some pages and made them shine.

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce: This is probably one of the two most unique stories in this anthology, right there along side Mary E. Pearson’s Gargouille. I mean have you ever read a story about genies, young adult or not? I haven’t and I haven’t heard of any either. I really enjoyed how much lore Jackson Pearce stuffed into this story, without making you feel overwhelmed by new lingo you have never heard of. She handled the topic of genies or Jinn, as they are referred to in Things About Love, with ease. The second thing I loved about this short story was that the main character was gay. I have never had the pleasure of reading a story where the main character is gay, but I feel that Things About Love was just a gateway to them for me.

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: I loved the world and atmosphere of this one and it cemented my wanting to read the Soul Screamers series. I loved Sabine’s character, she is so snarky and kick-ass, even when she needs her ass saved. Emma was also a very likeable character, she was so brave even when she was scared and I loved that about her, even if it made her act a bit dumb (going into a house full of harpies that want to eat you? Yeah not the brightest idea, Emma). I devoured this story and I’m sure I’ll devour the Soul Screamer series.

Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr: I think Melissa Marr named this story on purpose, because it’s an alliteration when you put ‘by Melissa Marr’ next to it. Anyway, I did not care for Wicked Lovely that much, and have yet to read any of the other novels in the series, but I did like this short story. It revealed some spoilers of the story to me, as did some of the other short stories that were part of the authors’ novels in this anthology, but that didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. This story was very sweet and I loved the coupling of Keenan and Donia when I read Wicked Lovely and I loved it in Merely Mortal. Keenan is so caring towards Donia and they share such humorous banter between the two of them. Merely Mortal made me want to continue the Wicked Lovely series.

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong: I really enjoyed this short story, though I was most disappointed by this one for its spoilers, because of the fact that I enjoyed it so much. I feel that I cannot enjoy the Darkest Powers trilogy as much because it seems like such major spoilers were revealed, that I would have found surprising otherwise. This was the only drawback to this story. The rest I fully enjoyed and I loved the uniqueness of Chloe’s powers. I enjoyed the characters, though I am not a fan of Derek, because he seems far too protective and controlling, though I’m hoping this will change when I read the series. This is definitely a series I’ll be reading soon, though, all thanks to this short story.

Let’s Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan: This was one of the stories I did not like of the anthology. I liked the premise, but the whole plot seemed way too over the top sometimes. It also seemed very confusing in some parts, because of how it was written. I just couldn’t get into this one, though I will definitely check out the author to see if anything else of hers works for me.

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready: This was another story I loved. I loved that it was written in verse and I loved the premise and plot of it. It was definitely one of the more emotional short stories, besides Scenic Route and Skin Contact. Bridge had such a poetic vibe to it, I was invested from the start. Definitely another that made me want to read the series it’s attached to.

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting: This was another one of my favorites. I love Kimberly Derting and have been desperately wanting to read Desires of the Dead, since I completely devoured The Body Finder. Skin Contact is completely heart-wrenching and another that brought tears to my eyes. Rafe was such a beautiful character, even though he didn’t seem that loving to Sophie some of the time. Kimberly Derting has such a way with words, spinning descriptions into such picturesque scenes that become so vivid in your head. I saw the environment perfectly and it made it even more upsetting, as the environment wasn’t exactly a happy one. I loved this one, without a doubt.

Leaving by Allie Condie: This was another story I couldn’t get into. Overall I liked it, but it seemed to have way too much packed into it. It seemed like a bunch of lingo was thrown at you without the proper explanation. I guessed what some things meant. I liked the idea, but it just fell a little flat for me.

At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday: I really liked this short story! It was so humorous and so interesting. The zombie Girl Scouts made me laugh, they were such a great idea. Jane was such a great heroine, as well. She was so kick-ass and snarky, just like Sabine from Niederwald. I especially loved the ‘drag queen’ vampires, they were described so perfectly. This short story was placed perfectly, such a light read after a couple heavier stories. I will definitely be checking out Jessica’s Hollow series.

IV League by Margaret Stohl: I really enjoyed this story. It was another more light-hearted story and was very welcome from me. I loved the authentic feel of the dialogue and narration, it really felt like it was coming from a small-town girl that didn’t grow up with big words and SAT scores. She forged her transcripts! I loved the supernatural element to this as well, it seemed to be a unique take on the vampire subject.

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson: This one was simply wonderful and so very unique. Like genies, have you ever read a gargoyle short story or novel? I certainly haven’t and Mary E. Pearson wrote it beautifully. My heart went out to Giselle and her love with Etienne felt real. I love Pearson’s writing style with this, it’s so poetic and Gothic. Another of my favorites from this anthology and the ending was simply perfect.

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: This one was very interesting and I really liked it. It seemed very unique to me. Kissy was written absolutely perfectly, so impulsive and care-free despite her ‘pulses. Her love of McDonalds and the chimichanga scene were absolutely hilarious. I loved the mix of heaviness and lightness of this novel, it was so light-hearted, yet the supernatural element was definitely not. Imagine a guy with pure black eyes, like a reptile’s, saying he has to kill you. Creepy.

Automatic by Rachel Caine: I own the first two volumes to the Morganville Vampire series and this made me quite excited to read them. I loved Rachel’s writing style and the vividness behind her words. I don’t normally read novels with a male main character, so Automatic was a bit different for me, but I loved the characters and the plot.

 

Top 5 favorites of this anthology, in order:

1. Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan

2. Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting

3. Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson

4. Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready

5. At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday

 

Top 2 least favorites, in order:

1. Let’s Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan

2. Leaving by Allie Condie

 

I give Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions a 4 out of 5.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's can't-wait-to-read selection is..

  Title: Incarnate
  Author: Jodi Meadows
  Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
  Published: January 31, 2012
  Pages: 384
  Goodreads

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Look at that cover! It’s gorgeous! That alone is why I want this book but it sounds amazing as well. I love dystopians and this one seems especially good, so hopefully it’ll live up to expectations.

What are you waiting on?

Author Interview: Jenna Lynne Duncan and Giveaway

 

 

 

 

  Jenna Lynne Duncan

  Website | Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

  I got to interview Jenna and she kindly offered up a swag pack for her first novel, Hurricane. All proceeds of her book go towards the charity, Habitat for Humanity.

 

General Questions:

1. What made you want to be an author? Was there a specific moment where you knew that's what you wanted to do? If you weren't an author, what would you be instead?

I love to read and write. About a year ago, my sister and I were talking about our goals and following our dreams. Mine was to write a book so I went for it and started writing down a story that had been in my head for while. I have always loved to write, short stories and poetry. Hurricane is my first novel.

2. If you had one million dollars to do with what you pleased, what would you do with it?

After paying off school and taking care of my family, there are a few charities I would like to give to. Since a portion of the proceeds from Hurricane are going to Habitat for Humanity, I would like to help organizations that give books to schools in New Orleans and help with the Gulf Coast. I also would want to open my own scholarship program to help disadvantage youth go to college. Sorry, nothing crazy. Maybe if I had a billion dollars I would buy my own island. I love tropical weather and the beach.

3. If you could collaborate on a book with any author, dead or alive, who would you pick and why?

A few authors I had in mind are dead so there would be some challenges in writing from different time periods.

Questions about your book:

4. What made you decide to write a book about hurricanes? Was it from a personal experience or just an interest of yours?

The title is a double entendre. Hurricane both describes Hurricane Katrina, the storm that hit New Orleans in 2005 but also the main character, Adriana Alexander’s, life. I am from New Orleans and so the setting came naturally for me.

5. Are any of these characters based on you or anyone you know? If not, where do you draw your inspiration from for their personalities?

No, they are completely fictional. I’ve tried to base a character off someone I knew in real life but that didn’t work out too well. I felt constricted to do certain things that person would say or do.

6. Was it hard coming up with the characters' names, or did they just come naturally? Were they names you liked before you started writing Hurricane?

I always loved the name Adriana and wanted to use it in a story. The heroes’ names were harder to come up with but I am pleased with them. I always like the names Hayden and Luke. My sister helped me come up with Luke’s name. We knew a Luke and it fit perfectly with his personality.

7. What sort of reaction do you wish for most from the reader for Hurricane? What emotions do you wish to spark in them?

I wish for Hurricane to be a fun, enjoyable read. I hope people will like the love story and fall in love with the characters. If nothing else, readers can gain a new perspective on Hurricane Katrina and the supernatural. It is all set in the culturally rich, mysterious atmosphere of New Orleans, LA. and by transporting readers there, I hope they will love the city as much as I do.

8. Do you have any plans on more novels? Do you think you'd ever stray from realistic fiction?

Yes, I have many more novels planned in my future! I am currently working on Book two, the sequel to Hurricane. I’m also working on another YA novel and have plans for more books in the Hurricane series.

Now for some this or that. I love these sorts of questions:

9. Coffee or Tea? Coffee.

10. Black or White? Black!

11. Hardcover or paperback? Paperback.

12. M&Ms or Skittles? M&Ms. Unfortunately, Skittles have gelatin.

13. Shakespeare or Edgar Allen Poe? Ooh, Poe. No Shakespeare. Ok, Poe!

 

I’d like to thank Jenna for taking the time to answer my questions! I hope she and you, the audience, enjoyed this interview and I really hope you check out her book!

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  Title: Hurricane
  Publisher: Divertir Publishing
  Published: August 9, 2011
  Pages: 208
  Buy from: Amazon | B&N | Publisher

  Website | Goodreads

I anxiously looked around, my heart palpitating, just in time to see an alligator slink into the green algae covered water that was on either side of us. I swallowed hard, and my heart raced even faster. Alligators were a different type of predator—the one thing I was afraid of. Now I was on my own personal swamp tour. What if my kidnappers left me in the middle of a swamp with five of them creeping up on me? I’ve had that nightmare before and—oh no, if my dreams really are a sign of the future—I couldn’t breathe now.

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see its potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou. Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her? Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future? Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

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One lucky winner will win a swag pack for Hurricane including one bookmark, one button, and one signed cover.

Rules/Information:

1. Must be 13 years or older or have parent permission.
2. Must fill out the form below, comments will not counted but are still welcome.
3. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, October 19th.
4. Giveaway is only open to entrants residing in USA.
5. I will contact the winners by email. You will have 48 hours to contact me back before I pick another winner.
6. One entry per person. All duplicated entries will be deleted.
7. Winners will be chosen via random.org.

Please use this form to enter.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Endings

This weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

2. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

3. The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

6. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

8. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

 

That is seriously all I can think of, but each one left me in complete shock. All of them were very good books, as well.