[Blog Tour] Book Spotlight: ACCUSED by Yasmin Shiraz + Giveaway

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Accused: A Retaliation Novel #2
by Yasmin Shiraz
ebook, 278 pages
Published January 9th 201
3 by Rolling Hills Press/ Still Eye Rise Media
Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:
The Retaliation Saga continues in Accused...

An easier and more peaceful life seemed to be destined for Ahmed and Tashera when they left Washington, DC and entered Georgia Atlantic University. But when Ahmed is accused of a crime that he didn't commit and begins to be tried in the media, his popularity plummets, his self-esteem suffers, and his dreams of playing college basketball disappear.

Meanwhile, there is a serial rapist on campus who has been attacking freshman girls at record numbers and forcing them to keep silent. As Tashera learns about the girls, she begins to close in on the rapist. But is the attacker too crafty to be caught? Will the state prosecutor ignore key evidence to instead focus on the fame that comes with convicting a high profile basketball star?

Tashera is beyond stressed as she divides her time between trying to find enough evidence to clear Ahmed while at the same time stopping the rapist who roams the campus of Georgia Atlantic. Ahmed and Tashera's journey into a new life away from home is more challenging than they ever thought that it would be.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Yasmin Shiraz is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls as well as The Blueprint for My Girls in Love. She is an empowerment speaker and program developer who has delivered programs and keynotes based on her books.

She is the author of the ALA's Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers selection, Retaliation. She has spoken at over 100 colleges nationwide on topics such as empowerment, black history and hip hop culture.

She is an award winning film director as her film, Can She Be Saved? won 4 film awards including Best New film.

When not writing books, she produces documentaries for her company, Still Eye Rise Films.

Waiting on Wednesday (46): Ruin and Rising

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

My WoW:

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3)
by Leigh Bardugo
Expected publication: June 17th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co.
The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

You guys, I am sooo super nervous about this one. I want this to end happily. No, I want this to end with me happy. And for that to happen, Mal and Alina, Mal x Alina, Malina, Mal/Alina. Please Leigh! Make it happen or you'll crush my heart. By the way, I really love the title.

Book Review: Alienated

Alienated (Alienated #1)
by Melissa landers
ARC, 352 pages
Expected publication: February 4th 2014 by Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Synopsis:
Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Review:

This is such a fun book to read. I was never into books with a protagonist for an alien. I always seem to end up not liking them/not finishing them but, Alienated sure is a game changer! Though I did not fell head over heels in love with this, I enjoyed reading the vast majority of it despite the frustrations I felt for some scenes - it's still the good kind of frustration, if you know what I mean.

Despite being a romance freak, this is one of the rare moments where I enjoyed the story but felt detached toward the romance, which at first didn't seem so good because I couldn't bring myself to appreciate the absence of insta-romance. However, that doesn't mean to say that I don't want Cara and Aelyx to be together because after that ending? Ohwords, I am SO definitely rooting for them. I just think that they both stand out more as individual characters and it is just as delightful as the prospect of them being a couple.

I also think that one of the most stunning aspects in the book is Aelyx's development as a character. Cara is an enjoyable character too and I love that she has a very strong mentality, but the A-licker gets the trophy! Cara has always been hospitable to Aelyx and genuinely wants to become a friend to him even though doing so is going against not only her bestfriend but as well as the whole community. Aelyx started off as cold toward Cara's family but over the time, he gradually softens up to them. I think this stemmed because even though majority of mankind wants nothing to do with the L'eihrs and doesn't deem them as trustworthy, Cara remains ever so loyal to him even though she doesn't know a single thing about him. Her faith in him is absolute and it is what made Aelyx's cold demeanor to crumble. I know putting your faith in someone you know nothing about is all kinds of stupid but for Aelyx whose life on earth is made impossible by mankind, this simple gesture given to him by Cara is considered huge. My favorite part of all though, is when Aelyx started off showing more human emotions. It's one of the most heartbreaking and satisfying moments in the book! I truly enjoyed Alienated in spite its shortcomings and I cannot wait to read more of Aelyx and Cara.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. 

Waiting on Wednesday (45): Silver Shadows

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

My WoW:

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)
by Richelle Mead
Expected publication: July 29th 2014 by Razorbill
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who
dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Why, of course, I say yes to more Sydney and Adrian! Have you guys read TIS? I have and the ending killed me! Did it kill you too? I know it did. I only resurrected so I can torture myself with waiting for Silver Shadows, and I need to reread TIS too so I can review it. I spent too much time fantasizing about what might happen in the sequel again and now I need to refresh my memory about it.

Cover Buzz: CATHERINE by April Lindner + Guest Post + Giveaway


I am super excited to be able to help spread the word about the new cover for the paperback edition of CATHERINE by April Lindner which will be available this August.

Both covers are amazing but convey something very different with the image and colors. And I’m thrilled to be able to welcome April Lindner to the blog with a post discussing them both.

There is also a giveaway for an Amazon eGift Card. Just scroll to the bottom of this post for details and to enter.

While CATHERINE’s paperback release is still a few months away, if you purchase the eBook edition now, it comes with the new cover. And if you’re a fan of the first cover, the hardback copy is still available to purchase.

Both covers rock, but which one is your favorite?

About CATHERINE



Title: CATHERINE
Author: April Lindner
Publisher: Poppy
Release date: January 1, 2013 | August 19, 2014 (paperback)
Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad's famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years -- a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn't die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her -- starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine delivers a fresh retelling of the Emily Brontë classic Wuthering Heights, interweaving a timeless forbidden romance with a captivating modern mystery.


Guest Post


Promises, Promises: Judging a Book by Its Cover

By April Lindner


We’ve all been told that you can’t judge a book by its cover. And yet some of us book lovers can’t help ourselves; there’s nothing like a gorgeous cover to lure us in. More often than not, an enticing cover is the main thing that moves me to pick up a book I've never heard of, to start paging through it, giving the first few paragraphs a chance to seal the deal—or not.

So for me the most exciting moment in the whole bookmaking occurs when a book’s future cover appears in my inbox. I click on the thumbnail, and wait breathlessly as the image blooms onto my computer screen. Only then can I imagine my manuscript as a book—on a shelf, or, better still, in the hands of a reader. I know the cover will set the book’s tone. And it will make promises—hopefully the right ones.

All of this explains why I’m so thrilled by the new cover of Catherine’s paperback edition, due out in August. Don’t get me wrong: I love the original Catherine cover. Lush and dramatic, it makes certain promises—ones I believe the book keeps. The elegant model in her kickass stance promises a strong female protagonist. (Actually, the book has two alternating strong female narrators—Catherine and her daughter Chelsea.) And the background, with the iconic Flatiron Building rising up through the mist, promises the book’s Lower Manhattan setting will be as important as its characters. The title typeface—bold and purple—promises a confident, free-spirited heroine—exactly how I see Catherine herself.

But the new paperback cover—already available to readers who download the Ebook-- makes a different set of promises. On it, a boy and a girl hold each other in the shadows of a graffiti-covered underpass. They gaze at each other in rapt wonder, their shoulders, neck and heads echoing the shape of a heart. Secret romance, this cover says. It promises love against the odds. The scene is gritty—less glamorous than the cityscape on the original—but this grittiness befits the book’s main setting, a post punk night club on the Bowery. The title’s typeface is still bold, but its peachy color underscores the sweet and optimistic innocence of this couple’s embrace.

Inspired by the classic romance Wuthering Heights, Catherine is a story of star-crossed love interwoven with mystery. Its soundtrack is the post-punk music played by Catherine’s boyfriend, Hence. And the new paperback cover captures that complex mood exactly, I think. In fact, when it popped up on my computer screen for the first time, I almost swooned. There it was, in front of me: almost exactly the picture I saw in my imagination as I wrote the book.

An author can hope for nothing more than that.

***

April Lindner

April Lindner is the author of three novels: Catherine, a modernization of Wuthering Heights; Jane, an update of Jane Eyre; and Love, Lucy, due out in January, 2015. She also has published two poetry collections, Skin and This Bed Our Bodies Shaped. She plays acoustic guitar badly, sees more rock concerts than she’d care to admit, travels whenever she can, cooks Italian food, and lavishes attention on her pets—two Labrador retriever mixes and two excitable guinea pigs. A professor of English at Saint Joseph’s University, April lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons.




Giveaway

The Cover Buzz Blast includes a blast-wide giveaway for a $15 Amazon eGift Card to one winner.

  • Must be 13 or older to enter
  • Giveaway is open to anyone who can accept eGift Cards from Amazon's US online store
  • Giveaway ends on March 25th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (44): Snow Like Ashes

Hey all! It's been 3 months since I last participated in Waiting on Wednesday. It's been soooo busy in school this past few weeks but school will be over in one more week, which is nice.  But after, my family and I will be off to the province where it's all trees and mountains. Hopefully, my grandparents have installed wifi or I'll be stuck with prepaid broadband again. 

Anyway, while I'm at it, if you lovelies have time, please check out my friend's new group blog: Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc. I'm being bullied by her to promote it, lol. But honestly, this friend has done so many things for my blog. She's help me with so much and the only thing she ever asked me for in return is bookmarks. And bookplates. And button pins. With bullying on the side. 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

My WoW

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1)
by Sarah Raasch
Expected Publication:  October 14th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Sara Raasch’s debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one’s destiny.
The only genre I've read since the start of the year is contemporary NA so it would be a breath of  fresh air to read some high fantasy YA, preferably one that is released soon but hey, my TBR is also in dire need of epic fantasy. Also, this book's title + summary = kickass.

Book Review: Another Little Piece of My Heart

Another Little Piece of My Heart
by Tracey Martin
ebook, 304 pages
Published December 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley
Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:
What if your devastating break-up became this summer’s hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother’s request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she’s ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared’s big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire’s heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it’s been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

Review:

I am a huge fan of books about music especially if there are guitars in it. But what makes Another Little Piece of My Heart extra special for me is that it is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I haven’t actually read Persuasion yet but so far, I have enjoyed all its retellings that I have read and Tracey Martin’s take on Persuasion is not an exemption.

Claire and Jared’s relationship before was perfect - save for the fact that Claire’s parents are against Jared’s family’s economic status. They were kindred spirits and both truly loved each other. They had lots of fun and made music together and planned about their future together. I rooted for them the moment they met and so even though I knew where the plot would lead their relationship, I still shed tears when they broke up. What Claire did to Jared was probably wrong but at the same time, it was also understandable.

Fast forward to the present. I thought that Jared would turn into an asshole like what the summary makes him sound like but he didn’t. He has his own reasons for why he wrote the song about Claire even though it is full of lies. I was actually surprised that he was kind of ashamed of the song and other than being indifferent (but still privately hating on Claire), he still seemed like the same perfect boyfriend he once was. Claire on the other hand is more eager to make it big in the music industry. She practices much harder now with her bandmates. She doesn’t show it but Jared’s song has totally affected her. But still, I love that instead of letting it be a weakness, Claire somehow shaped it into strength and she uses it to propel her forward.

Claire also is a very likable character. Gods, I LOVE her. She’s independent, strong-willed, and sarcastic and her narration is such a delight to read. Her family is a very difficult one with a father that’s self-centered and conceited and a suck-up annoying little sister, April. But among the two, I enjoyed April more especially when they started getting along together and bonding over hating a common enemy. Honestly, you need to meet April. She’s incredibly annoying and I love her!

Claire and Jared are both genuine characters. They are not ones without flaws and they make mistakes that take them way too long to fix, but at the end of the day, they still managed to set everything back in their rightful places. The character development in this book is superb. I wanted the story to go on and on and on. But sadly, everything has to end and there was nothing I can do when I reached the final page. Tracey has created this beautiful piece and I cannot wait to read more of her works. Please, Tracey, write some more awesome books!


Rating: 5/5 stars!

Disclosure: An e-galley was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) in exhange for an honest review. No compensation of any form was received for this post.

Stacking the Shelves (19)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted at Tynga's Reviews

Yoh, Hao* there! It's been 3 months since I last participated in this meme. I received tons of ebooks for review and for blog tours but only a few print copies. Hopefully I'll get to buy some newly released once school is over.

*If you get the reference, I love you. If you don't I still love you. :-*


Borrowed:
Heaven, vol. 1 by Shizuru Seino
Lights Out, vol. 1 by Myung-Jin Lee
Pick of the Litter, vol. 1 by Yuriko Suda
Peppermint, vol. 1 by Eun-Jin Seo
Alichino, vol. 1 by Kouyu Shurei

Thanks Anne for lending me these manga! It's a pain in the butt to search for manga here in the Philippines as our local bookstores have very limited titles of them but it will be even more difficult to get the sequels of these, ugh!

Bought:
Vampire Academy, vol. 1 by Richelle Mead
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Balthazar by Caludia Gray
Chime by Franny Billingsley


Shaman King, vol. 19 by Hiroyuki Takei (Review)
Shaman King, vol. 20 by Hiroyuki Takei (Review)

I recently got addicted to this series again. I already have a copy of vol. 19 but I had to buy one for Anne because despite all the bullyings, she's been such an awesome "ate" to me and also because she's the only one who understands my love for this manga. She's my rival in the title of the most obsessed fangirl of Mankin, lol. :D


Gayle Forman signing event:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Where She Went by Gayle Forman

[Blog Tour] Review: Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas + Giveaway


Ask Again Later
by Liz Czukas
Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: March 11th 2014 by Harper Teen
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...
Review:


Ahhhhhhhh!!! This book you guys! It’s so much fun! I didn’t read the synopsis before reading the book, or before signing up for the blog tour. Oops. I seem to do that always when a fun-looking cover is involved. BUT I’d like to report that Ask Again Later didn’t give me much room to regret that decision because I loved every moment of it! Okay, not every moment. I’d still like to slap the hell out of Heart’s asshole of a brother, but other than that, Ask Again Later is just the right book for me right now.

One thing that surprised me the most about Ask Again Later is the Sliding Doors-ish concept. It’s implied in the summary but again, I didn’t read it before reading the book. Ouch. After reading Kasie West’s Pivot Point, I developed a slight obsession toward this concept so Ask Again Later was such a pleasant surprise. When Heart flipped the coin to decide who she should go to prom with, the readers are immediately thrown into a paralleling universe where Heart lived two scenarios, each told in alternating chapters: One where she had the jock, Troy, as her prom date, and the other, the theatre-geek, Ryan. 

I loved Heart the moment the book started. One can already say that she’s witty and funny and what I love about her is that she stayed that way all throughout the story. There were moments of naiveté and maybe some stereotyping but in such a way that it’s not too annoying. As well, I’m actually kinda glad that I didn’t read the synopsis of this beforehand because it gives the impression of a love triangle. I might have avoided this if that were the case. But worry not, my friends. Ask Again Later is free from love triangles. In fact, the end couple is pretty much predictable from the start. Predictable yet surprising. Apart from Heart, I also enjoyed the other characters. I may like Ryan a lot more than Troy, but Schroeder takes the trophy here. He’s a nice guy with an enough dose of jerk and his banters with Heart are to die for. I craved for their every interaction and I love how things ended up for them. 

Cute, fluffy, funny and a very easy contemporary read with a touch of supernatural. Ask Again Later is one of those books that should be taken only lightly. The characters present some views that I do not agree with but the book’s crazy fun atmosphere overrides the negative so in the end, I was left a happy reader. And because of Ask Again Later, I am now very eager to get my hands on Liz’s upcoming book Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless. *Grabby hands* 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (HarperTeen via Edelweiss) for free in exchange for an honest review as part of the Ask Again Later blog tour. No compensation of any kind was received for this post.

Giveaway

US only
-One annotated ARC of Ask Again Later + Swag
-One finished copy of Ask Again Later + Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Liz Czukas is a freelance writer (on sometimes sad or boring topics), and also writes books for young adults (which are rarely sad and full of kissing). Before that, she was a nurse and she still kind of misses starting IVs.

She lives outside Milwaukee, WI with her husband, son and the world’s loudest cat. She types too loud (according to her husband), spends too much time on the Internet, and can’t get enough of disaster movies. There is *always* a song stuck in her head, and she once won a hula-hoop contest.

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