Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the New Year 2012 Hop I am giving away your choice of books.

You can pick your choice of this series book one or book two. Just enter with Rafflecopter.

Read our review of Isle of the Night HERE!

Review: Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Summary-

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.
But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.
Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

Review-

An intricately woven storyline. This book had me from the very beginning. It has a mysterious quality that kept me guessing the whole way through. The setting is strangely unique. Beautiful in it's rawness. The characters are twisted and manipulative. I never knew if their actions were sincere or if they had ulterior motives. Not knowing who to follow and who to believe or trust was half of the intrigue. They all have their own little quirks but they are just a bunch of crazy teenagers. Or so it would seem. That is until all doom is impending. Then the story gets really exciting. That's when all creation breaks loose! The one you think is mis-guided turns out to be the hero. In a strange twist of fate, the hero turns out to be the mis-guided one. The "family" pulls it together and finally saves not only the day, but the whole existence of mankind. Definitely a must read!

Publisher- G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Reviewers Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the Author for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

Review: Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto

Summary-

Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.
The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times-bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

Review:
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this sequel to "Halo," and I wasn't disappointed! The writing is just as beautiful and the returns of lovable characters make the story enjoyable. This novel introduced clever and creative ideas, and once again left the reader itching to find out what happens next. Any lover of young adult fantasy will want to check this series out!

PS: I hear a third addition to the series is just around the corner! We will have to wait and see! :)

Publisher-Feiwel & Friends
Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS
Reviewed by~Molly Maugans (Student at Franklin High School)

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the  Read for your Future book program!~

Interview & Giveaway:Heather Burch author of Halflings (Halflings #1)

Welcome Heather to our blog. Thank you for stopping by to ave a chat with us. Heather is also giving away a copy of her new book Halflins which comes out in Feb/2012 You can preorder you book HERE!

1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

The idea for Halflings had been rolling around in the back of my head for years. I always look for an unusual idea, then think about how I can put an uncommon twist on it. I wanted an angel theme, but I didn’t want to do fallen angels. I wanted a twist. My mind started thinking, “What about the offspring of fallen angels and human women? They would be half … Halflings.”


2. How did you come up with the names for the characters?
This sounds so strange, but their names were just there … when I began to write. I guess my subconscious had done so much work that when the idea shifted to composition mode, a lot of the decisions were already made. I came up with the name Nikki. But Mace, Raven, and Vine—they named themselves. I knew there would be Halfling females introduced and their names were Vegan, Winter and Glimmer. Glimmer’s wings sparkle. In fact, each of the Halflings names describe them. Mace is strong and solid. Raven is dark and brooding. Vine is young and fresh. Winter is cold. Yes, actually cold to the touch.

3.How much are you and the characters alike?

I’ve raised boys, so the boys were really easy for me to identify with. But as I wrote Nikki and got inside her head, I realized there was a lot of me represented in her character. She has a strong will to fight and do what’s right, even if it’s not the easy choice.


4. Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?
I do read a lot, but I tend to set other books aside while I’m writing. Right now I’m working on book three in the series, so I’ve got a lovely shelf of books I will dive into as soon as I’m done writing this one.


5. What made you decide to go angels?
Several things sort of smashing together at once. First, what could possibly be cooler than a muscled warrior angel? I mean, really. As I said, the idea had been in the back of my mind for a long time, but just hadn’t hatched. I call it X-men meets Cinderella. Or maybe, superhero meets super cool. I love the freedom of teens who aren’t confined to a school. I wanted these characters to be world travelers and I wanted to visit exotic places. And what’s better than a hot guy with wings? I can’t think of too much that tops that. Add in the fact that these guys are here to protect you, and well, that raises them a little more on the awesomeness scale. When I started writing, there were no angel books on the shelf. Seriously, none. Then, when I was finishing up writing book one, Hush, Hush came out. At first, I was stunned because I thought I’d be the first “angel” book out there. But it’s growing into its own genre now. And it’s okay I wasn’t the first.


6. How did the cover come about?
My publisher always asks for the author’s thoughts about the cover. When I first started imagining the book—you know, as a book—I imagined a girl and a red background. The cover initially had a blue-green background and it was nice, but then they changed it to red and it really came alive. But here’s an interesting story about the cover that no one knows. I know the artist who did the famous painting Footprints in the Sand. We got started talking one day and he said, “Hey, can I read some of the book you’re writing?” So, I sent him a rough draft and he went berserker on me. He was so excited about the concept and the story, he painted me a “mock” cover. Just because he’s awesome that way! I still really love that cover. It has a spooky feel, a hell-hound in the shadows, and a long haired angel guy with wings standing over Nikki. Very cool. Plus, he did it before the books even sold, so he’s on my best friend list. For good.


7. So what is your next project and when is it due out?
Book two in the trilogy is titled GUARDIAN and will release in September. Halflings is a really big story and there are multiple layers to the plot that unfold over several books. In book two, Nikki gets to travel with the Halflings. Yachts, Europe, and of course, a giant dose of danger with a fair amount of romance.


8. Do you have a daytime job or are you a full time writer?
I write full time. I get up at 4:40 a.m. and usually write for about eight hours. I do that four days a week. With the January release, a lot of my writing time has been swallowed by answering emails, planning book events and (this is the crazy part) fan letters. I love connecting with my readers, so that’s the fun part.


9. How did you get into writing novels and were you worried about people’s reactions to your books?
I’ve always written. As a teenager, I wrote poetry. It was a great way to express all the angst that comes with being a teen. When I got married, my husband’s mother and sister were published novelists. That’s when I got the “book bug.” I started learning from them. As far as being worried about people’s reactions … hmmm … I guess to some degree I am always a little bit worried. I mean, writing novels is all about connecting with the reader. I want to connect with people on a deep level through my books. I want you to remember my characters, think about them after you finish reading. Anytime you put yourself out there, you’re asking to be rejected—I guess that’s part of what makes things like writing, painting, music unique. We pour our hearts into something creative, then hold our hearts in our hands and allow people to either caress or stab it. If what you’ve written, painted, sang or composed causes people to “feel” something, you’ve done your job. That’s what you take to bed at night.


10. One last thing do you collect anything personally?
Swarovski Jewelry. I absolutely love it. I’ve even got an ink pen that’s filled with tiny Swarovski stones. It’s reserved for book signings.
Other places to find Heather:
Heather Burch Books website
Goodreads
Amazon
Twitter
Now for the giveaway Just enter rafflecopter

Review: Unnatural (Archangel Academy #1) by Michael Griffo

Summary-

In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.
But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…

Review-
I'm a pretty open minded guy, and I thought I might like this one. Oh how wrong I was. The open ended way that certian steamy sceans are handled was way out of my comfort zone. This book takes the notion of homosexual love and revamps it into a racy forever alone womans novel. I did not like this book and it was a chore to finish it, but hey to each his own. 

Publisher-Kensington
Review Rating: 2 Stars

Reviewed by~James Cross(Student at Franklin High School)

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the read for your future program!~

Review: End of Days (The Fallen #3) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Summary-

Victory is fleeting, but defeat is eternal.

The war between Heaven and Hell rages on. Aaron, half-angel and half-human, commands the Fallen in their quest to protect humanity. But evil forces gain strength at every turn. And lurking somewhere in the shadows is Archangel Gabriel’s instrument with the power to call down the End of Days.
Aaron draws confidence from the girl he loves as he struggles to make peace with his legacy as Lucifer’s son. These are desperate times, and Aaron knows the Fallen will need to forge new, unlikely alliances to survive.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Aaron will stop at nothing to defend civilization—and the girl who holds his heart. Even if it means venturing to Hell and back.

Review-
At first I was sceptical about how this book would be, the second one ended beautifully. I really didn't see how this one could improve on it, but I was greatly impressed. The action and story telling flow seamlessly through the different view points. I loved it and I can't wait for book 4.

Publisher-Simon Pulse
Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!
Reviewed by~James Cross(Student at Franklin High School)

~Thank you to the author for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

Review: Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Summary-

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.

Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.
She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.
She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.


Review-

I have been waiting for this book for little over a year, imagining the progression of the warrior and her guardian, wishing it would come out and anticipating it. It did not disappoint! There was so much action, and yet so much loss in this amazing sequel to Angelfire. It was a great follower and it tied up some loose ends, while giving you more mysteries... and a problem that you hope with all of your heart will be fixed before it is too late. This book leaves you wanting the next part instantaniously, and it makes you wish for a happy ever after. This book has a great steady plot and a fun twist everywhere you turn. I recommend this for any lovers of angels or romance. It was a great read and will satisfy a lot of people.

 

Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books

Review Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Patti

~Thank you to ALISON LISNOW from Harpercollins for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

 

Review: Arcadia Awakens (Arkadien #1) by Kai Meyer

Summary-

To Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic and wholly unknown. But when her life in Brooklyn begins to fall apart, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where centuries of family secrets await her.

Once there, Rosa falls head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both fascinate and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.
Hidden caves, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a history of familial bloodlust mean that Rosa can’t trust anyone. Torn between loyalty to her family and love for their mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love…or run as far and as fast as she can.

Review-

This book is so much better than I had anticipated. On the back, it sounds like a Romeo and Juliet story between two mafia kids, but it is nothing like that. It has more drama (if that's possible) and it had more maturity involved. You can see the characters evolving throughout the book, and you can see how different the two love struck teens are, and how important, or unimportant, their families are to them. It leaves you with a mystery and need for the next book. Basically, it leaves you wanting more. Meyers does a great job with the suspense and mystery in this novel, and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

Publisher-Balzer + Bray

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Patti

~Thank you to the Author for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

 

Review: Significance (Significance Series #1) by Shelly Crane

Summary-

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating, barely, and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football schalorship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has. Then she meets Caleb. She saves his life and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing but she is supposed to be on her way to a date with his cousin. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally. They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive. Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him. Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?

Review-

Significance is an amazing love story. It's the kind of love you could only wish existed. This book held my interest from beginning to end. I love the main characters Maggie and Caleb. They are awesome! They make the most amazing couple. Kyle on the other hand, just ended up getting on my nerves a lot. At points I was just like "Enough already!! Back off!"

The storyline is great. There is a love story along with action, and drama. I laughed, I cried. I was so into this book. The only problem is that it has quite a few mistakes in the Editing but, the story totally makes up for it. I highly recommend this book. One of the best books ever!

Publisher-CreateSpace
Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!
Reviewed by~Sarah

~Thank you to the author for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

GIFT CARD giveaway HOP

Review: Warrior (Dragons Of Starlight #2) by Bryan Davis

Summary-

In the second book in bestselling author Bryan Davis's Dragons of Starlight series, Jason and Koren travel to the mysterious Northlands to find help in their quest to free the human slaves from their dragon masters. Meanwhile, Jason's friend Elyssa marches straight into the heart of the dragon kingdom in an attempt to free the slaves with brute force.

Review-

This is a great sequel. In it you can really see the characters developing and it has so many twists. There is always something unpredictable around the corner. Davis shows true talent in his writing and an understanding for his characters. I would recommend this book to anyone, any age.

Publisher- Zondervan

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Patti

~Thank you to Zondervan and the Author for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~