Yearly Archives:: 2013

Friday, January 11, 2013

ARC-Apalooza Giveaway!

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Courtesy of Penguin Canada, I have three gorgeous extra ARC copies of Prodigy, Paper Valentine, and The Ruining for giveaway. Thanks to Jenni of Alluring Reads for the fabulous giveaway name! And don’t forget to stop by the blog in the upcoming weeks for tour stops on all of these pretties!

Here are the pretties:

Prodigy
Marie Lu
Series: Legend, #2
Publication date: January 29th 2013
by Putnam Juvenile      

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Paper Valentine
Brenna Yovanoff
Publication date: January 8th 2013
by Razorbill      

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

The Ruining
Anna Collomore
Publication date: February 7th 2013
by Razorbill      

Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door.

All too soon cracks appear in Annie’s seemingly perfect world. She’s blamed for mistakes she doesn’t remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she’s always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie’s fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play?

The Ruining is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity.


Giveaway details
One incredibly lucky winner will receive all three of the ARCs. Note that the ARC cover of The Ruining is the old cover. Thanks to Penguin Canada/Razorbill for this giveaway opportunity.
Open to US and Canadian addresses
Giveaway ends January 22nd, 2013
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Alexander Death by J.L. Bryan

Posted by on 01/11/2013 • 10 Comments

Alexander Death J.L. Bryan Series: The Paranormals #3 Publication date: September 23rd 2011

While Seth searches for Jenny, Dr. Heather Reynard of the CDC unravels Seth and Jenny’s secrets.

Alexander opens Jenny’s mind to her deep past, and to the full horrific extent of her powers.

Torn between her feelings for Alexander and Seth, and between her past lives and her present, Jenny must prepare to face her enemies, as well as the darkness within her…

*A copy was provided by J.L. Bryan for review purposes*  

*Spoiler free for the series!*

This series started so innocently didn’t it? I mean, we have Jenny who’s a timid, broken girl with the touch of death–or disease, who keeps to herself (for good reason) being all innocent and sweet. Ha! Good one!…

Review: Vortex by Julie Cross

Review: Vortex by Julie Cross

Posted by on 01/10/2013 • 22 Comments

This review contains no spoilers of either Vortex or Tempest

As much as I get fascinated by time travel–especially when it’s created as well as in this series–it can get extremely complicated. Like Tempest, this novel is not to be read with a wandering mind, or you will find yourself in the middle of a complex story with no idea where you are–or when. For this reason, it may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy reads that are as intelligent as they are fun, then this series is for you!

When we left Jackson in Tempest, we had learned just how intricate this whole time travel business was. Not to mention how heartbreaking to see Jackson’s heart torn apart over a girl that has no clue who he…

Up to Me by M. Leighton Exclusive!

Posted by on 01/09/2013 • 7 Comments

Xpresso Reads is happy to be part of the release week event hosted by AToMR tours. I’m sure you have seen these books around they’re making a big splash in the blogoverse lately, and although I haven’t read them yet, the amazing reviews I’ve been seeing have put the first book on my Kobo! Today you can take a sneak peek at the second book in the series, and you can enter to book 1!

Up to Me M. Leighton Series: The Bad Boys, #2 Publication date: January 6th, 2013      

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside…

Waiting on Wednesday (68)

Posted by on 01/09/2013 • 28 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine  and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

One Dark Between Sonia Gensler Release date: August 2013by Knopf Books for Young Readers

A supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge…

The Cadet of Tildor Interview & Giveaway

Posted by on 01/08/2013 • 13 Comments

Today I’m happy to be a part of the Cadet of Tildor tour organized by AToMR Tours. Find the full tour schedule here. I have Alex here for an interview today, and then you can enter to win a pretty fab giveaway! 🙂

The Cadet of Tildor Alex Lidell Publication date: January 10th 2013by Dial      

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown’s inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her…

Review: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell

Posted by on 01/08/2013 • 0 Comments

The Cadet of TildorAlex LidellPublication date: January 10th 2013by Dial

 

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown’s inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve…

Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Posted by on 01/07/2013 • 42 Comments

Touch of Death Kelly Hashway Series: Touch of Death #1 Publication date: January 15th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press 

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned…