YA Giveaway: The Last Magician

Read my review here

I have FIVE FREE copies of this fantastic, magical YA book. This is the best YA I've read all year, so I'm super stoked to offer this giveaway! For your chance to win, post a comment here. Include your first name, city, state and email. Winners are chosen randomly using Randomizer. Deadline for entry is noon MST on Dec. 13. I will notify winners Dec. 13 shortly after noon MST. Please check your email on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York courtesy of Simon & Schuster! Thank you and good luck. Start posting! Pamela

YA Book Giveaway: Here Lies Daniel Tate WIN Your Copy Before You Can Buy It!

WIN This NOW 

I have FIVE FREE copies of this new YA thriller! For your chance to win, post a comment to the blog. Include your first name, city, state and email contact. DEADLINE for posting is Thursday, May 24 at NOON MST. I will contact winners by email on May 23 in the afternoon. Please check your email that day. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting! 

Here Lies Daniel Tate
by Cristin Terrill
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2017
400 pages
ISBN: 978148148076

On sale date: June 6, 2017

Here Lies Daniel Tate is an amazing whodunit for the YA crowd. A nameless narrator bad boy from Canada takes over the identity of a missing boy from California who disappeared from his upscale neighborhood years ago.

This is a solid book ripe for movie adaptation. Clever cover art and the word "lies" in another print color emphasize that "lies" can be used in two ways. The marketing team gets kudos! 

Highly recommended grade 9-up. Mature content. Profanity.

Book Giveaway and Blog Tour! The Cabin

Two ways to win! 

 I have 1 FREE copy of The Cabin for giveaway. Post a comment to the blog. Include your first name, city, state and email address. The Winner will be chosen at random by Randomizer. Deadline for posts is Tuesday, September 20 at noon MST. Please check your email after that time. The winner has 24 hours to respond to email and claim the prize. 

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new young adult thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar, a New York Times Bestseller, and Awake

They think they’re invincible.

They think they can do and say whatever they want.

They think there are no consequences.

They’ve left me no choice.

It’s time for them to pay for their sins.

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can’t wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead—murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn’t telling the truth. And Mackenzie’s first mistake? Assuming the killing is over...

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2c2MCGJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bQSNyZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bQSVyE

BAM: http://bit.ly/2c2NDOS

Can you survive The Cabin?

Another way to win:

Starting on August 30, we'll be releasing a series of questions every Tuesday and Thursday at different locations.

Here's how you play:

1. Take a look at the schedule below.
2. Go to the location on the specified date.
3. Find The Cabin graphic with the question.
4. Solve the question.
5. Head here to submit your answer for that day's question.
6. Complete all 8 questions and be entered in to win a $500 Visa gift card! We'll also be drawing a winner each week who will win a Sourcebooks Fire book bundle!
7. Make sure to submit all answers by September 25, 2016.

YA Book Giveaway: Love & Gelato

 

This is one sweet summer read! Debut author Jenna Evans Welch has a true winner on her hands. Part romance in the Tuscan sun, part adventure, Love & Gelato is pure joy.

 

 

I have FIVE free copies of this awesome new debut! For your chance to win, simply post a comment to the blog and be sure to include first name, city, state and email. Deadline for posting comments is Thursday, May 19 at noon MST. Winners will be chosen randomly by Randomizer and notified on May 19. Please check your email  on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting!



See what others are saying:

Review

"Lina’s capacity for and understanding of love transform beautifully over the course of the novel; the book is not solely about her personal romance but also other characters’ interwoven love stories. A good addition for teens with wanderlust." (School Library Journal)

"Lina narrates in a breezy style, her mother's journal entries interwoven to provide revelations at carefully paced intervals.Seasoned with luscious descriptions of Renaissance architecture and Italian food, a sure bet for fans of romance fiction and armchair travel." (Kirkus)

"Readers will be caught up in this story of romance, family, and what it really means to be loved." (Booklist Online)

"The reader will find it difficult to put this book down." (VOYA starred review)

YA Book Giveaway: Blackhearts

I have FIVE free copies of Blackhearts up for grabs! For your chance to win, simply post to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state and email address. Deadline for posts is Monday, March 21 at noon MST. Winners are selected randomly by Randomizer and will be notified on March 21 shortly after noon MST. Please check your email that afternoon. Winners have only 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting! Pamela

YA Book Giveaway: Slasher Girls & Monster Boys

See my review

 

 

I have FIVE FREE copies of Slasher Girls & Monster Boys up for grabs! This is a thrilling and chilling read for grade 9 and up! If you have high school readers who love things that go bump in the night, you'll want this book! If you love Stephen King, you MUST have this book!

For your chance to win a copy, simply post a comment to this blog. Please include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is January 19th at noon MST. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Please check your email in the afternoon on January 19th. Winners will be contacted immediately. Winners have 24 to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York.

Back To School Giveaway: Standoff (book 2)

 

Praise for Stand-Off:

 

*"A brave, wickedly funny novel about grief and finding a way to live with it, with sweetly realistic first sexual experiences." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

*"Ryan Dean’s voice remains engaging, honest, and idiosyncratic (a page-long internal monologue follows his discovery of two teammates in a compromising situation). Smith capably expands on Ryan Dean’s coming-of-age and path to emotional recovery, chronicled through his crude comics and growing maturity." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Smith has created a consistently interesting character whose singular sense of humor grows on readers. Plus, he nails the rough-and-tumble sport of rugby. This sequel won’t disappoint fans." (Booklist)

*"The novel succeeds not only as an emotionally satisfying sequel but as a hopeful, honest account of coping with a devastating loss." (School Library Journal, starred review)


I have FIVE free copies of Standoff  up for grabs! Score your free copy! To enter, post a comment on the blog. Include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is noon MST on September 10. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be notified on September 10. Please check you email on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to an email from me. Books will ship from New York. Good luck! Start posting!

In my review:


I loved Stand Off. Sequels usually can't compare to the first book, but Andrew Smith has another winner on his hands. Ryan Dean is my FAVORITE YA protagonist of all time and I'll say it again: Watch out, Holden Caulfield!

If you don't know Andrew Smith, what are you waiting for? 100 Sideways Miles and Grasshopper Jungle are also sublime reads.

 

Back to School Book Giveaway: Con Academy

I have FIVE free copies of Con Academy up for grabs! Score your free copy! To enter, post a comment on the blog. Include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is noon MST on September 10. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be notified on September 10. Please check you email on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to an email from me. Books will ship from New York. Good luck! Start posting!

 

School Library Journal says:

"This plot-driven narrative is entertaining and the characters are likable." ---School Library Journal

 

 

My review (from blog post on 7/27/15):


Once you pick up Con Academy, you won't put it down!  What a fun, conniving jaunt! This speedy read is all-out raucous, double and triple crosses abound, and readers will root for Will to come out on top.


Will Shea is a new transfer student at the  prestigious Connaughton Academy, a prep school that caters to America's ultra rich and fabulous. As a scholarship recipient, it is only natural that people want to know more about him, and Will has an extraordinary story to tell. His father and mother, missionaries on a small island in the Pacific, are  killed. After their death, Will's church collects money to send him to America to study.

Except that's not the real story. Will (Humbert) is the son of career cons. He's been a con artist since age eight. After his mother died, Will's father spirals out of control and Will runs away. In order to get into the Academy, Will fakes transcripts and breaks into computer files. His con seems to be working...until he meets Andrea. She recognizes a con when she sees one. That's because Andrea is a con herself.

....
I loved Con Academy. Teen readers will,  too! My one obstacle with this book is the cover. The stack of poker chips with devil horns and a tail does not do the book justice. This is one case that readers should NOT judge the book by its so-so cover.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone who loves a good con! Will is a loveable character with spunk and humor.  Fans of Ally Carter will love Will Shea.

Grade 7-up.

Book Giveaway: Undertow (book 1)

 

 

                                                                    View the trailer
Undertow
by Michael Buckley
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2015
376 pages
ISBN: 9780544348257

This is the BEST YA novel I've read so far this year. You gotta get your hands on a copy! Highly, highly recommended grade 7-up. So highly recommended that I think this is the next Hollywood blockbuster! Dystopian fiction mixed with sci-fi and romance! Teen dialog is spot on. Michael Buckley, thank you for Lyric Walker, the coolest girl protagonist EVER!


I have FIVE FREE copies of Undertow up for grabs!!!! Post a comment to the blog and please include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is May 27 at NOON MST. I will notify winners on that day shortly after 12:00 MST. Winner will be chosen randomly  by Randomizer. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Don't miss out on your chance of winning the next big thing! Trust me, Undertow is awesome! Good luck and start posting! Pamela

YA Book Giveaway: Jackaby

Jackaby
by William Ritter
Algonquin Young Readers
2014
299 pages
ISBN: 9781616203535

I LOVE this book, and you will, too! Jackaby is an enigmatic character who is a mash up of Sherlock, Dr. Who and "Grimm."  Imagine the skills of Sherlock Holmes and sixth sense for paranormal--that's Jackaby.

I have FIVE FREE copies of this magnificent debut up for grabs! Simply post a comment to the blog and be sure to include your first name, city, state, and email address (U.S. addresses, only). Deadline for posts is at noon MST on December 17. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Please check your email on the afternoon of December 17. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from Algonquin. Good luck and start posting!

Praise for Jackaby:

"The rich world of this debut demands sequels." --Kirkus reviews, starred review


“Smooth writing and inventive . . . background touches (like Jackaby’s tenants and pocket contents) characterize this supernatural riff on the typical Sherlockian murder mystery. For a lighter read-alike, try Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer’s Sorcery and Cecilia (2004); for a darker tone, perhaps Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart mysteries.” —Booklist

“Toss together an alternate 19th-century New England city, a strong tradition of Sherlockian pastiche, and one seriously ugly hat, and this lighthearted and assured debut emerges, all action and quirk.” —Publishers Weekly

“Fans of Jonathan Stroud's The Screaming Staircase will appreciate Ritter's initial foray into the realm of supernatural . . . Avid lovers of fantasy will enjoy this quick read.” —School Library Journal

YA Book Giveaway and Blog Tour: The Demon Catchers of Milan: The Halcyon Bird

I have THREE copies of each book up for grabs. Three lucky winners will receive a SIGNED paperback of book one, The Demon Catchers of Milan and also a SIGNED hardcover of the NEW book: The Halcyon Bird.

See the entire blog tour

Visit the next stop on the blog

For your chance to win TWO FREE books, simply post a comment to the blog. Please be sure to include your first name, city, state and email. Deadline for posts is November 17 at noon MST. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be notified November 17; please be sure and check your email on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Start posting and good luck! Pamela

Reviews of The Demon Catchers of Milan:

“Readers, like Mia herself, will find her birthright, human and supernatural—from risotto alla Milanese to the roof of the Duomo—as delicious as it is scary.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Adding a bit of romance and adventure to the paranormal setting. . . . this original twist on demon-hunting will entice them even more. . . . a win for fans of the first book. . . . this novel could stand alone. . .”—School Library Journal

 

Praise for the first book:

Kirkus Best Books of the Year

 

★ “The demons themselves are haunting, multifaceted creatures that are both pathetic and extremely dangerous; the evil they project is complex and pain-ridden. Fortunately Mia demonstrates a strong gift for the family trade, which, like the novel’s other elements (the food will have readers salivating), is portrayed in exquisite, affectionate detail.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 

“For all of its supernatural premise, however, the story is also a love letter to Milan, celebrating the Italian city's food, art, and fashion, while incorporating some of its more sordid history into a chilling tale of spirits gone bad. Viewers of SyFy's Ghosthunters International will find this creepy travelogue delightfully up their alley, and readers may never look at their math homework the same way again.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

 

“A supernatural novel with a fresh premise worthy of note.”—School Library Journal

 

“This one starts off with a bang.”—Booklist

 

 

 

About The Demon Catchers of Milan #2: The Halcyon Bird

For fans of Lauren Kate and Cassandra Clare, a romance with a paranormal streak.

 

Mia has settled into her life with the Della Torres -- Milan's premier demon-catching family, accompanying them to exorcisms and even learning some way to be useful in the family trade. Then Bernardo comes into her life, handsome, well-mannered, someone who makes her forget her impossible crush on Emilio, her cousin. But always lurking in the background is the demon who possessed Mia once before, and who has not given up on possessing her again--this time for good.--from the publisher

 

 

 

 

 

About Kat Beyer

Kat Beyer has an M.A. in medieval history and has loved all things Italian for as long as she can remember. Her first novel was The Demon Catchers of Milan. She lives with her daughter in Madison, Wisconsin. Visit her online at http://www.katspaw.com/blog/. 

 

YA Book Giveaway: Atlantia

 I have ONE free SIGNED copy of Atlantia, the exciting new YA book from accomplished author Ally Condie.

For your chance to win, post a comment to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state, and email contact (U.S. addresses only, please). Deadline for posts is November 3 at noon MST. The winner will be chosen randomly by Randomizer. The winner will be contacted on that date. Please check your email. The winner has 24 hours to respond to my email. The book will ship from New York. For more information on the book, read below. Good luck, and start posting! Pamela

Atlantia

by Ally Condie

Dutton Children's Books

2014

320 pages

ISBN: 9780525426448

Available October 28, 2014

From the publisher:

ATLANTIA tells the story of two sisters who live Below, in the underwater city of Atlantia. Rio has always dreamt of going Above, where her powerful siren voice will not need to be hidden. However, when her mother unexpectedly dies, Rio promises her twin sister, Bay, that she will remain Below for the rest of her days. When Bay suddenly abandons Rio for the Above, Rio becomes determined to join her sister and leave the constricting world of the Below behind. Ally Condie is the award-winning author of the Matched trilogy.

From Penguin's website:

“Utterly captivating. A heroine unlike any I’d met before, a setting I’d never glimpsed, a story I’d never imagined. Atlantia is fresh, wild, and engrossing. I love Ally Condie.” —Shannon Hale, award-winning, bestselling author of Austenland and Dangerous

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamed of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all Rio’s hopes for the future are shattered when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected choice, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long silenced—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the corrupted system constructed to govern the Divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Praise

“A fast-paced fantasy adventure tale in a richly drawn dystopian future . . . this is a title that’s sure to be immensely popular with teens.” —School Library Journal

“Utterly captivating. A heroine unlike any I’d met before, a setting I’d never glimpsed, a story I’d never imagined. Atlantia is fresh, wild, and engrossing. I love Ally Condie.” —Shannon Hale, award-winning, bestselling author of Austenland and Dangerous

Book Giveaway and Blog Tour: BZRK Apocalypse (book 3)

BZRK – giveaway is Books #1 and #2 in paperback and Book #3 in hardcover

BZRK series by Michael Grant

Ages 14 and up

 

I have 3 books for one lucky winner up for grabs! Post a comment to the blog and please include first name, city, state and email. The winner will be chosen randomly by Randomizer. Deadline for posts is noon MST on October 15. Please check your email on that date. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. The books will ship from NYC courtesy of Egmont. Good luck and start posting! Pamela

 

BZRK

978-1-60684-418-2

Trade Paperback

2013 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults

★ “With simmering pots of sexual tension, near-nonstop action, and the threat of howling madness or brain-melting doom around every corpuscular corner, Grant’s new series is off to a breathless, bombastic start.”—Booklist, starred review

 

BZRK Reloaded

978-1-60684-504-2

Trade Paperback

VOYA Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror 2013

★ “The graphic descriptions of what the real and artificial creatures . . . Add in some discussable ideas on the ethics of human experimentation and a smart, simple explanation of the potential in nanotechnology . . . . Round out the experience with realistically unpredictable characters and blockbuster action sequences to complete this thoroughly enjoyable, incredibly disturbing story.”—VOYA, perfect 10 review

 

BZRK Apocalypse            

978-1-60684-408-3          

On Sale: 10/14/2014      

Hardcover

★ “A great choice for readers with a strong stomach, an interest in the future of biomedical technology and the essential ethical debate, or anyone willing to embark on an unnerving, frighteningly plausible thrill ride all around the globe.”—VOYA, perfect 10 review

 

YA Book Giveaway and Blog Tour: Tabula Rasa

I have five copies of Tabula Rasa up for grabs. For your chance to win, simply post a comment to the blog. Include first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for comments is at noon MST on September 24. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer and will be notified on September 24 by 2:00 p.m. MST. Please check your email on that date. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York.

visit the next blog on the tour A Bookish Escape

"This is a snap-the-whip story, dark and fast. The sparks of humor in the voice won me over. Bottom line: I think the cocktail of suspense and believable smart-assery adds up to an addictive dose of reader appeal."—Blythe Woolston, author of the William C. Morris Award winner The Freak Observer

"A very entertaining game for thriller fans . . . . Both Sarah and Pierce are layered and appealing characters who don’t get too caught up in their own drama—the mayhem around them is excitement enough."—Publishers Weekly

 Publication of Tabula Rasa (September 23, 2014)

About Tabula Rasa

The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this action-packed debut thriller with a Katniss-esque heroine fighting to regain her memories and stay alive, set against a dystopian hospital background.

Sarah starts a crazy battle for her life within the walls of her hospital-turned-prison when a procedure to eliminate her memory goes awry and she starts to remember snatches of her past. Was she an urban terrorist or vigilante? Has the procedure been her salvation or her destruction?

The answers lie trapped within her mind. To access them, she'll need the help of the teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, and a pill that's blocked by an army of mercenary soldiers poised to eliminate her for good. If only she knew why . . .

About Kristen Lippert-Martin

Kristen Lippert-Martin has an MFA from Columbia University. She's worked at Time, the world-renowned Brookings Institution, and even had a stint as a stand-up comic before turning to writing full-time. She was awarded the SCBWI's Work-in-Progress grant in 2010. She can be found online at http://kristenlippertmartin.com/.

YA Blog Tour and Book Giveaway: Of Monsters and Madness

Of Monsters and Madness
by Jessica Verday
Egmont
2014
281 pages
ISBN: 9781606844632
(page count from publisher's webpage)

I have FIVE free copies of Of Monsters and Madness up for grabs! For your chance to win, simply post a comment tot he blog and be sure and include your first name, city, state and email. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Deadline for posts is September 15 at noon MST. Winners will be notified by 2:00 p.m. MST on that date. Please check your email. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting! See the guest blog post and my review below.


Available September 9, 2014

What others are saying (from the publisher):

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“Verday offers a haunting portrait of a lonely, intelligent girl, while serving up gore and abundant references to classic Gothic horror stories. A monstrous mashup . . . inventive and engaging.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Verday’s novel . . . hooks readers into the mysterious and gothic atmosphere of Annabel’s Philadelphia. The plot is thrilling . . . . Annabel is a strong character.”—School Library Journal

“The result is thoroughly dark and ominous, with a secret romance adding delicious tension.”—Booklist

“Lots of good characters and an in-depth plot will keep readers engaged. Pairing classic literature and modern paranormal fiction is very appealing.”—VOYA

I have FIVE free copies of Of Monsters and Madness up for grabs! For your chance to win, simply post a comment to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state and email. Deadline for posts is September 18 at noon MST. Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be notified on September 18, so please check your email. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York.

Good luck and start posting! Pamela

Guest Post: Jessica Verday

Finding Your Place - OF MONSTERS AND MADNESS

 

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to go to Thailand. But it wasn’t meant to be, and I found out at the last minute that instead, I was going to London. (Which was completely amazing in its own right.) But ever since then, I’ve had a fascination with Thailand and everything I missed. From the achingly gorgeous scenery, to the friendliness of the people, to the vibrant culture. So when I realized that I was going to need a place for Annabel to have called home before she moves to Philadelphia, Thailand was my first pick.  And to be historically accurate, I went with what Thailand would have been called in 1826 -- Siam.

 

In Siam, Annabel lived with her mother who was a doctor’s assistant, and she grew up with a love of medicine. Siam was home and the people there were her family and Annabel was happy. But when her mother becomes ill and eventually dies, Annabel is summoned from Siam to go live with the father she’s never met in Philadelphia. Leaving everything and everyone she’s ever known behind.

 

With Philadelphia and Siam on opposite sides of the globe, I had to make sure my readers felt every mile between them. Annabel’s new home is nothing like her old one. It’s cold and dark and miserable. Once comfortable in trousers and a shirt while helping her mother care for her patients, Annabel must now learn what it’s like to suddenly be squeezed into corsets and dresses and taught the socially acceptable behaviors of a young lady.

 

The most frustrating part of these rules is that Annabel is expected to give up her dreams of becoming a surgeon. Annabel struggles with finding her place in this new world and learning to live with a future that has such limitations. But one of the reasons why I love to write all of my leading ladies as strong, independent young women is that they will always find a way to claim their power and fight for their dreams.

 

And above all else, Annabel is most definitely a fighter. (post from the author)

My Review:

Madness most magnificent! Jessica Verday takes a vulnerable innocent and ships her halfway around the world from her home in exotic Siam to the bustling city of Philadelphia--a place she's never been.  Annabel is surrounded by a family she has never known, a creepy house that is ghostly and Gothic, a strange, demented father, his tall, dark and handsome assistant, and a string of grisly murders gripping the city in terror.

Annabel's maid Maddy is her first friend and confidant. Strange goings-on in the middle of the night cause fright, and Annabel is concerned with her father's weird behavior and strange appearance. The cooks warn Annabel to stay away from her father's lab, but Annabel is curious and suspicious. Annabel has no fear of the dark; she continually seeks out danger in the dark of night. Armed with only a candle and her own strong resolve, she wanders the expanse of the mansion searching for answers.

The mysterious murders continue and this has everyone in Philadelphia on edge. Annabel and Allan share a few fleeting moments, and she realizes that she is deeply, hopelessly in love. The house continues to hide its secrets, until one fatal night when Annabel sees too much.  Discovering her father's secret will change everything. Or will it?

Of Monsters and Madness is The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meets Frankenstein meets Gothic horror meets The Island of Dr. Moreau meets Edgar Allan Poe. Verday seamlessly blends the old with the new and teens will love it! Verday assures readers that there will be a sequel. She writes, "Don't worry! I won't leave you hanging."

Highly, highly recommended for any fan of Poe's works and for those who love a Gothic tale. I truly enjoyed this mash-up, and so will you. Great fun!

Grades 7 and up. Some steamy kisses, some gore. No profanity.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Visit the next stop on the blog tour here

Author's Bio:

Jessica Verday is the New York Times best-selling author of The Hollow trilogy. She wrote the first draft of The Hollow by hand, using thirteen spiral-bound notebooks and fifteen black pens. The first draft of The Haunted took fifteen spiral-bound notebooks and twenty black pens. The Hidden took too many notebooks and too many pens to count. She lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, with her husband.  You can visit her online at www.jessicaverday.com.

 

                                                               Jessica Verday

YA Book Giveaway: Contaminated

Get your hands on a new copy of Em Garner's newest title and score a copy of the first book! Win Contaminate 2: Mercy Mode and a copy of Contaminated. Simply post a comment to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is August 27 at noon MST. Please check your email on that date. The winner will be chosen randomly by Randomizer. The winner will be notified via email and has 24 hours to respond to claim her/his prize. Good luck and start posting!

Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode

By Em Garner

Ages 12+

Publication Date: August 26, 2014

“Volume 2 of this smart series builds momentum and suspense, raises stakes and expands narrative scope—in short, plan on a marathon, up-all-night read.”—Kirkus Reviews

A gripping survival story, the second in a series by a best-selling author, of a strong girl rebuilding her life in a post-apocalyptic society where a contaminated drink makes victims act like zombies; just right for fans of James Dashner, Carrie Ryan, and The Walking Dead.

Seventeen-year-old Velvet, her little sister, Opal, their mom, who is recovering from the Contamination, and Velvet's sweet boyfriend, Dillon, are attempting to build a new life amid the rationing and regulations of the post-outbreak nation. But the outbreak isn't over: more people turning into “Connies,” more madness erupting, more killings occurring. And what they are being told is not the truth; the truth is far darker and more threatening.

Reviews of Contaminated

“Suspenseful...this dystopia speaks to a wide range of readers, including reluctant ones.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This has plenty of suspense--it's not a book to read at bedtime.”—Booklist

“Velvet may have a softer name than her literary predecessors Katniss, Cassie, and Kaelyn, but like them she has been forced to take on adult-sized responsibilities within her repressive society.... the plot moves quickly...more of a relation-based book than many other teen dystopian novels.”—The Horn Book

YA Book Giveaway: The Green Teen Cookbook

 

read my review here

 

Calling all foodies!

 

I have ONE free copy  of The Green Teen Cookbook up for grabs! For your chance to win, post a comment to the blog and please include your first name, city, state and email contact (sorry USA addresses only). Deadline for all posts is Friday, August 22. The winner is chosen randomly by Randomizer and will be notified by email on August 14. Please check your email on that date. Winner has 24 hours to respond. The book will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting!

Join the blog tour here


Kirkus Reviews:

"This by-teens, for-teens cookbook focuses on specific ways teens can live a healthy, environmentally conscious life without sacrificing the food they love. . . Cleanly laid out with photos of the teen contributors and the dishes themselves, this introduction to green eating is informative without being preachy."  - Kirkus Reviews
From the publisher:

BOOK DESCRIPTION The Green Teen Cookbook: 

The Kitchen can be one of the trickiest places for young adults to navigate—add trying to be healthy, eco-minded, and budget-conscious, and things get even more complicated! Now there is The Green Teen Cookbook (Zest Books; ISBN 978-1-936976-58-4; $14.99 PB) to help guide teens through the mysteries of the kitchen and create some amazing meals. With inspiring tips on how to cut through the chaos of going green as well as master over 70 recipes, including a seasonal key that ensures optimal freshness (and a minimal carbon footprint), any teen can become a green culinary expert and learn how to: shop on a budget; get the most out of your pantry; cook more consciously; eat healthier, and more! Featuring full color photos throughout, The Green Teen Cookbook is an all-in-one guide for eating green and eating well—by teens and for teens! 

This book is for people who enjoy cooking great, seasonal food for themselves as well as for other people—on a budget. It’s a guide for customizing recipes for each season, and for learning how to appreciate the different foods available each month. And readers looking to educate themselves on the food industry will enjoy the essays about globalization, vegetarianism, imports/exports, farming in the US and abroad, and much more.

 

The Green Teen Cookbook: Recipes for All Seasons - Written by Teens, for Teens edited by Laurane Marchive and Pam McElroy

Published by Zest Books and distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN-13: 978-1-936976-58-4; July 29, 2014; $14.99 PB, 144 pages; Ages 12+

The Burn Outs Book Giveaway and Review

 

I have FIVE free copies of The Burn Outs up for grabs! Scroll down for details how to win a free copy of The Burnouts!

my review:

The Burnouts
Quarantine, book 3
by Lex Thomas
Egmont
2014
272 pages
ISBN: 9781606843383

Available July 22, 2014 (date from publisher's website)

The Burnouts takes readers out with a flash, bang, boom! Lightning paced, reeking of madness, sadness, grittiness, and dirt, The Burnouts delivers a TKO.

Brothers Will and David are reunited on the outside of McKinley, but both of them feel the  need to save Lucy who remains inside. There is talk that the government has finally found a cure for the infected and David wants to travel to Minnesota and check it out. Meanwhile, things have deteriorated beyond control inside the high school.

Gangs of kids roam the school looking for food, fights, and drugs. Some will do anything for a quick high: sniff gasoline, markers, paint or whatever they can "cook" up. There is no medicine and no clean water. Kids are dying every day waiting to be evacuated. Only the lucky will survive; only the sly will live to see another day.

Lucy is all alone--she's smart and  savage when she needs to be. Having survived a few battles of her own, she is not ready to face any more strife. When she realizes that both Will and David have entered the school, she is afraid for them all. How will the three of them escape the madness? And how will they remain human?

Book 3 is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Recommended for high school readers and fans of the trilogy. This book is much edgier than The Hunger Games trilogy. The Burnouts is intended for mature readers--I do NOT recommend it  for middle school readers. Blood, gore, sex, deviant acts, and drug use abound. Although The Burnouts depicts a world gone mad, it is certainly a world that humans can imagine--in our darkest nightmares.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the arc from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

For your chance to win a free copy:

Post a comment to the blog and please include your first name, city, state and email contact. Deadline for posts is July 21 at noon MST! Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be notified on July 22 in the afternoon. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting, Pamela