Blog Tour: Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding (Review + Giveaway)

Welcome to the blog tour for Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding! This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tours and will be running from November 25th to December 6th. Be sure to check out the other tour stops by clicking the banner above or following the links at the end of this post. Also, enter the tour-wide giveaway below!

Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding
eARC: 320 pages
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publishing Date: 3 December 2013
Age Level: Young Adult
Source: Provided for tour in exchange for an honest review

For Kellie Brooks, family has always been a tough word to define. Combine her hippie mom and tattooist stepdad, her adopted overachieving sister, her younger half brother, and her tough-love dad, and average Kellie’s the one stuck in the middle, overlooked and impermanent. When Kellie’s sister finally meets her birth mother and her best friend starts hanging with a cooler crowd, the feeling only grows stronger.

But then she reconnects with Oliver, the sweet and sensitive college guy she had a near hookup with last year. Oliver is intense and attractive, and she’s sure he’s totally out of her league. But as she discovers that maybe intensity isn’t always a good thing, it’s yet another relationship she feels is spiraling out of her control.

It’ll take a new role on the school newspaper and a new job at her mom’s tattoo shop for Kellie to realize that defining herself both outside and within her family is what can finally allow her to feel permanent, just like a tattoo.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound | Barnes and Noble

A little while ago, I wrote a review in which I stated one of the reasons I liked the book so much was because it was quiet and didn't make a bid deal about itself. The same really goes for Ink is Thicker Than Water. This book is such a great example of what life as a normal teenager really can be like. Kellie goes through so many things in this book, but it was all handled quite realistically. There's drama and family issues and all that, of course, but it doesn't slap you over the head with it and the drama isn't blown out proportion. I really found myself relating to the themes and characters in this novel. I think it's a true testament to the talent of the author when a story can speak to a reader on more than one level. Ink is Thicker Than Water definitely rings true with the good, the bad and the ugly parts of growing up.

Blog Tour: Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe (Interview + Giveaway)

Welcome to the blog tour for Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe! This tour is hosted by the ever-wonderful, Rockstar Book Tours. For my stop, I had the great opportunity to interview author Trisha Wolfe! So find out about this book, look at my interview and check out all the other fun stuff! Be sure to visit the other tour stops by clicking the banner above or following the links below. Also, don't forget to enter the awesome tour-wide giveaway! So without further ado, here's Fireblood!

Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe
eARC: 366 pages
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publishing Date: 26 November 2013
Age Level: Young Adult

To save a kingdom, Zara must choose between a prince who could be the answer and a rising rebellion that threatens to take control.

When Zara Dane is chosen to marry Prince Sebastian Hart, son of the man who ordered her father’s capture, Zara knows she must fight to save everything she loves from ruin.

Being betrothed to the prince means a life trapped behind the towering stone walls of the Camelot-forged realm. Under the watchful eye of the prince's first knight, Sir Devlan Capra, changing her future becomes difficult.

When an unlikely rebel reveals the truth about the deadly secrets that fuel King Hart’s twisted world, Zara’s path to rescue her father becomes clouded by deception. The Rebels clear her path by forcing Zara’s hand with an ultimatum: sway Prince Sebastian to join the Rebels, convincing him of his father’s evil nature, or they will take him out.

But Zara is uncertain about a future under the Rebels’ command and where the prince’s heart truly lies. She must decide who to trust, what to believe, and what she’s truly fighting for before the king destroys all of Karm, including her heart.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Book Depository

Top Ten Tuesday (35): Things I am Thankful For

This has been a really tough year, especially the last couple of weeks, so the topic this week is much needed and nothing short of wonderful. The topic today is Top Ten Things I am Thankful For. I really love this time of year and all the happiness it brings. So, although it has been rough lately, there are still heaps of reasons to be happy and thankful.

Here are ten things I am incredibly thankful for:

Review: Pawn by Aimée Carter

Pawn by Aimée Carter
eARC: 346 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 26 November 2013
Age Level: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound | Barnes and Noble

You can be a VII if you give everything.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked - surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed, and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Oh my word, this book is SO GOOD! Non-stop crazy awesomeness. Pawn has political intrigue, a family that is so messed you can't help but wonder how they function at all, love, betrayal, faith, hope, despair... this book seriously has it all. Some things are so horrific, I couldn't see how the main character, Kitty, could possibly remain sane!

Book Blast + Giveaway: Unstoppable by S. R. Johannes

Welcome to the Book Blast for Unstoppable by S. R. Johannes! This whole series looks really interesting, so I knew I'd have to take part in this blast. Below you'll find the synopsis for this awesome looking book, a bit of information about the author and even a giveaway. Fun, right? So add this book to your TBR pile and then enter the giveaway!


Hmmm... does anybody else think of this Santigold song every single time they see the title of this book? Well, do you? Am I alone in this? ... Oh dang. Le sigh. Anywhoozle... on to the book blast!
 

Unstoppable by S. R. Johannes
Book 3 in The Nature of Grace series
Expected Publication: March 2014

After everything that has happened, Grace goes to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee. Even though she is now home-schooled by her bird-obsessed grandmother, the move gives Grace time to relax. She learns to scuba dive and starts boating with old man Rex, Birdee’s casual friend/boyfriend.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace rescues an abused Florida panther, currently on the endangered list. The more she dives into the animal’s horrific condition, the more she ventures into the underground world of the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for the law. Eventually, she stumbles upon one large roadside zoo filled with a variety of endangered and illegal animals.

Before she can gather evidence and report her findings to the authorities, she is kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. Only this time, Grace is the prey.

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace is offered one chance at survival. With a one-hour head start and very little supplies, time and skill are now all that stands between the hunter and the hunted.

Top Ten Tuesday (34): Covers I Wish I Could Redesign

The topic this week is Top Ten Covers I Wish I Could Redesign. So, I have a love/hate relationship with covers. Some are so hideous, and so wrong, I can't believe they were ever printed. Others are redesigns that I just... I just don't understand why they would do it. There are those that are just hard to look at and those that don't fit the story at all. I'll admit that I am one of those people who judge a book by its cover. Well, maybe not judge a book by the cover, but I have been known to pass on books with covers that just don't speak to me. Likewise, if a book has a really interesting cover, I'll at least pick it up to read what it's about. Love them or hate them, covers can play a huge part in pulling readers in or pushing them away.

So which covers would I love to see redesigned? Check them out below (in no particular order):

Cover Reveal: Ungifted by Kelly Oram

Welcome to the cover reveal for Kelly Oram's Ungifted! Ungifted is the second book in the Supernaturals series. If you'd like to read up on book one, Chameleon, download it now. I've loved every single book I've read by Kelly, so I'm sure this one will be amazing as well. Now without further ado, time for the cover reveal!

Review: Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell

Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell
eARC: 320 pages
Publisher: Amulet Books/Abrams
Release Date: 1 October 2013
Age Level: Young Adult
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

Rebecca Blue is a rebel with an attitude whose life is changed by a chance encounter with a soon-to-be dead girl. Rebel (as she’s known) decides to complete the dead girl’s bucket list to prove that choice, not chance, controls her fate. In doing so, she unexpectedly opens her mind and heart to a world she once dismissed—a world of friendships, family, and faith. With a shaken sense of self, she must reevaluate her loner philosophy—particularly when she falls for Nate, the golden boy do-gooder who never looks out for himself.

Sometimes a book comes along and totally surprises you. Goodbye Rebel Blue really snuck up on me. It's kind of a quiet book, in a way, and it doesn't really make a big fuss about itself. It simply is. I love when I'm reading a book and I don't even realize how it is affecting me, until I catch myself thinking about it or talking to someone else about the characters or story. That's what I mean by it snuck up on me. That's what I mean when I say it's a quiet book. I seeps into your heart and becomes part of you, without you even realizing it's happening. This is a sign of a great book.

It's the End of the Month As We Know It: October

Hey you guys! Litza here, with all the details from October. I've had a really busy month on all fronts, so I'll try to make this short and sweet! Check out all the awesomeness from the month! (Also, be sure to take a look at something in the Giveaways section... just sayin'!)

Reviews Done

I got two done! Woo hoo! Sure, they were done at the end of the month, but still. I'm getting better at this... I hope. Yay!

Surprise Mystery Giveaway!

Hooray! It's time for a surprise giveaway! For those who actually look at the Facebook page, remember when I said I might have a surprise coming? Well, this is that surprise! I've decided to declutterfy (that is totally a word now because I just said it... so there) my bookshelves. As part of this declutterfication (ooh look, another new word!), I'm giving books away! What am I giving away? Well, I'm going to give away some of the ARCs sitting on my shelves. These poor ARCs need some new homes, so I thought you guys might like them. As for which ones I'm giving away, I'm going to make this a surprise. I have kids, teen and adult fiction titles, so the books in this giveaway box could be any combination of those. How many am I putting in the box? I'm not telling you that, either. Bwahaha!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter below. As this is bound to be fairly heavy, this giveaway is for US addresses only. Sorry to all my amazing international followers, but you'll get your chance next month to win stuff. The giveaway will be ending on December 13th, so get entering and spread the word! Who knows, maybe if we get enough interest, I'll add another winner...

Blog Tour: Dream Girl by S. J. Lomas (Review + Giveaway)

Welcome to the blog tour for Dream Girl by S. J. Lomas! Be sure to check out the other tour stops and enter the tour-wide giveaway below!

Dream Girl by S. J. Lomas
Expected Publication: November 2013, 258 pages
Age Level: Young Adult

For Christine, dreams have never meant much. Until she meets Gabriel. Everyone thinks Christine should stay away from her new coworker at the library—thanks to his bad reputation—but when her dreams grow more vivid and she becomes entangled in a dangerous dream world with Gabriel every night, she can’t stay away. Soon it’s clear there is far more to dreams than Christine ever imagined, and now she’s on the path to making the biggest, and strangest, decision of her life.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Top Ten Tuesday (33): Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

The topic this week is Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On. There are actually quite a few I'm eager to have. Some are true sequels whilst others are maybe a little further into the series. Some of them I've put off reading until the last book comes out and some are even on their way to my eager hands right now! There are so many wonderful books to look forward to, you guys. My only limitation is how fast I can read... and how much time I have to sit down and read. Let's get this list going, shall we?!

Here are ten sequels I can't wait to read: