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Sunday, February 26, 2017
Saturday, February 25, 2017
"Fifteen Seconds of Normal" by Alex Marestaing
REVIEW and EXCERPT
Fifteen Seconds of Normal
by Alex Marestaing
I'm so glad I got the chance to read Fifteen Seconds of Normal by Alex Marestaing. Don't miss this one! This review opportunity is brought to you by YA Bound Book Tours.
Description
Step 1: Transfer high schools
Step 2: Hide your Tourette’s
Step 3: Find your fifteen seconds of normal
Step 2: Hide your Tourette’s
Step 3: Find your fifteen seconds of normal
Kaeya Garay has a plan. And it seems to be working. But when a curious interruption named Thatcher Kelly stumbles upon her "safe" place in the school’s abandoned art gallery, her grand plans for normalcy are suddenly derailed.
Set over the course of three weeks, Fifteen Seconds of Normal is the quirky saga of a literature obsessed teen on the edge of a meltdown and the hope driven heroine who begins to pull him back. Fans of Eleanor and Park be warned. You won’t be able to put this one down.
A Breakfast Club for a new generation from EPIC Award finalist Alex Marestaing, author of I’m Nobody: The Lost Pages.
Excerpt
Click below to read an excerpt.
Praise for the Book
"All the characters leaped from the pages and came alive. I laughed, cried, pondered, and was inspired. I could not put it down and was so sad when I finished reading it. This book will inspire teens and adults alike." ~ iwilkinson
"It's worth noting the story isn't always easy but that there are real moments of joy mixed in with the more difficult ones. The synopsis and cover may have initially drawn me to Fifteen Seconds of Normal, but the tone and characters kept me reading this interesting YA contemporary story." ~ Zili Robins
"I thought that the author did an extraordinary job with her character development and I instantly connected with both Kaeya Garay and Thatcher Kelly! [...] Overall, I thought that this book was well worth my time and I strongly urge everyone to give it a try." ~ Aurora Hale
"I cannot even begin to say how great this book is. A story that shines a bit of light on so many things that happen in life. I think the characters were great. Kaeya's TS and how she is choosing to deal with it is touching. The dynamics of how the story falls into place is different from what I've read. I love how clean the story is. No vulgar suggestive topics, languages is completely rated-G. This is instantly a favorite for me, because something a character does reminds me of someone I cherish. The author's writing style is definitely a change. I like how the characters share the spotlight. Really so good." ~ Hadassah H.
"Alex Marestaing is a gifted speaker and incredible young adult novelist, and this most recent novel is a great representation of his talent. A mixture of hope, disappointment, love, and fear, Fifteen Seconds of Normal is a story of becomings and beginnings in a very modern, very real world." ~ Marc Ellens
My Review
For sixteen-year-old Thatcher Kelly, "talking to dead authors was an inescapable habit of his, a tribute to the books that had embedded themselves in his soul" and "collecting more beautiful words from more beautiful books [was] another obsessive habit of his." A recent transfer to Glen Canyon High, Kaeya Garay tries to maintain a low profile and keep her Tourette's Syndrome hidden. But an altercation at their school throws Thatcher and Kaeya together, along with film buff Sam, and their lives will never be the same again.
The author's writing is full of beautiful turns of phrase and delightful metaphors and similes that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. My only complaint is the similarity of the characters' names: Kaeya, Kieran, Quentin. When Thatcher and Kaeya initially bond over Hemingway, you can see that these two are meant to be together. How they get there is the fun part. Sam plays an integral role as a kind of matchmaker, and his movie quotes are a good foil for Thatcher's book quotes. Everything comes together so well. There's even a reference to the school's Emily Dickinson club, no doubt a nod to the author's previous book, I'm Nobody. But I was disappointed that we never find out the story behind Mrs DeGeau.
On a par with John Green, with a similar feel to The Fault in Our Stars, this is my favorite book of the year so far.
Favorite Lines
As my homage to Thatcher ("I collect lines, from books and stuff"), here are my favorite bookish lines from the book:
"...the words were birds locked in a box and flapping furiously. They needed to come out."
"...his words were rusty and stuck, like an old gate, and neither he nor Thatcher had the strength to pry it loose."
"Dad patted Thatcher's shoulder, as if he were a dog, not a son, then walked away...with millions of unspoken words buried deep in the pockets of his cheap suit."
"...the entire gallery was bizarre, surreal, like a Kafka novel...and Thatcher liked Kafka."
"She regretted the words—I've met someone—the second they fell out of her mouth. Now they were all over the floor, and her father was sifting through them like a crazed archeologist."
"After sixteen years, Kaeya could read him like the Jane Austen novels she'd practically memorized."
"Kaeya was a new novel, and he wanted to discover every line."
"Kaeya was figurative language come to life, and every time he thought of her, he remembered why he loved poetry."
"It was anger, and inspiration, and an insatiable desire to rewrite the narrative and become something better."
"...isn't love, real love, supposed to be more than just words on a poster?"
"He could feel her trying to read him, as if he were the novel."
"She was the book he'd never finish...and it was time to turn the page."
"He'd looked so defeated, as if joy was no longer a word in the dictionary."
"That feeling of hope she'd had since transferring—that life could be normal, that love was a tangible possibility, that happy endings existed beyond the pages of fairy tales—had vanished in a feeble puff of smoke."
"Thatcher looked different. Gone was the tragic expression, and in its place, strength. He'd rewritten the narrative."
About the Author
Links
"State of Allegiance" by Summer Lane
GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
State of Allegiance
(Collapse Series Book 9)
(Collapse Series Book 9)
by Summer Lane
State of Allegiance, the ninth book in Summer Lane's Collapse Series, has just been released. Also available: State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion (read my blog post), State of Pursuit (read my blog post), State of Alliance (read my blog post), State of Vengeance (read my blog post), State of Destruction (read my blog post), and State of Fear (read my blog post).
More books by this author: the Zero Trilogy, which complements the Collapse Series - Day Zero (read my blog post), Day One (read my blog post), and End of Day (read my blog post); Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, the first book in the Bravo Saga (read my blog post).
Description
Be brave. Be vigilant. But above all, be loyal.
In the wake of a dangerous but successful mission to Yukon City in Alaska, Cassidy Hart now finds herself back in California, at the naval air station in San Diego. Together, she and Chris now face their most terrifying threat yet: nuclear destruction.
Surviving in a world gone nuclear is easier said than done. Faced with the prospect of being wiped off the face of the earth by Omega’s nuclear arsenal, Cassidy, Chris and their fellow rebel friends stage an incredible, daring journey into the Pacific Rim with the hope that they will be able to seize a weapon that could turn the tide of the war in the militia’s favor.
The clock of the apocalypse is counting down.
Choices must be made. Relationships will be strained. True love will be put to the ultimate test.
It’s militias versus Omega. Hope versus destruction.
Choices must be made. Relationships will be strained. True love will be put to the ultimate test.
It’s militias versus Omega. Hope versus destruction.
Where does your allegiance lie?
Choose carefully.
Excerpt
Click below to read an excerpt.
Praise for the Book
"I absolutely love Summer Lane’s work. I read State of Allegiance in under a day and just could not put it down. Summer does a fantastic job of weaving a story that is engaging and interesting, and keeping you interested. I’m looking forward to the next book." ~ C. Butler
"Summer Lane never fails to deliver. Action packed from beginning to end. I love this whole series but this is one of my favorite favorites . Thanks Summer for keeping me on the edge of my seat." ~ ntracefan..Jaci Baze
"I think this has to be one of my favorite Collapse Series books. Summer Lane does an excellent job fleshing out her characters and giving them added depth which makes the stories she tells even better." ~ Janiece Rhodes
"I'm running out of good things to say about Summer Lane and the Collapse Series! Every time I start one of these books I don't put it down until I am finished, and State of Allegiance was no different. Summer really makes these characters real and that makes reading these books even better." ~ Athea
"Another great read from Summer Lane! I love how characters from the past made reappearances in this book and the introduction of new strong characters." ~ Mindy
Guest Post by the Author
Cassidy Hart is still alive! After 9 installments in the Collapse Series, she still manages to evade death, and to outsmart her enemies. Some people might say that she is "too lucky", but let’s face it: who wants to read about a character that’s going to die? In fact, the entire premise of the Collapse Series is a group of extraordinarily driven people who will do anything and everything to survive. That’s what makes their story worth telling.
The concept of living off the grid is one that utterly fascinates me. I have an inner "wild woman", so to speak. I feed her by reading books about the wilderness, survival and military adventures. I think that the apocalypse is the perfect setting for my characters because it throws them into an environment that makes everything harder, crazier and more dangerous.
As a post-apocalyptic author, I definitely believe that it’s important to be prepared for any emergency or disaster! I have jugs and jugs of pure water stored away in my closet, along with cans of food, matches, blankets, boots and more. You never know when something is going to shift in your world and force you to take major evasive action. And to answer a question that is frequently asked of me: yes, I have become much more prepared for an emergency over the course of writing this series, and all of the stories contained within its universe (16 books so far!).
Staying alive, at least in Collapse, is entirely dependent on three elements: adaptation, skill, and luck. Cassidy’s ability to adapt to the new world was the first thing that helped her to survive. Second, not only did she adapt, but she forged new, strong skills that put her at the top of the food chain. Lastly, she’s had a good amount of luck – all good heroes do! Yet her luck is primarily made by herself and by her friends. What’s the lesson here? When in doubt, make your own luck!
So what do I think are the main things that we can do, here in our everyday life, to stay alive? Here’s my advice:
1. Always be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.
2. Never underestimate the power of scared people to do stupid things (and avoid those people!).
3. Keep food, water, medicine, clothing and any weapons (your rubber-band gun counts, right? *wink*) easily accessible at all times. You never know when disaster may strike!
4. Never assume that you are safe. Like Cassidy Hart, be aware that every moment is dangerous, and be on your guard!
5. Consider acquiring an animal companion, like a dog. They are great guardians and faithful friends.
Remember, the apocalypse will show you no mercy ... be ready to fight back!
About the Author
Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of the Collapse Series, Zero Trilogy, Bravo Saga, Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, and the adventure thriller, Unbreakable SEAL.
Summer owns WB Publishing. She is an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher. She also owns an online magazine, Writing Belle, where she has interviewed and worked with countless authors from around the globe.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, where she enjoys reading, collecting tea, visiting the beach and the mountains, and counting down the days until she has her very own puppy (if you’ve read Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, you’ll understand).
Giveaway
Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes (open internationally).
Links
Friday, February 24, 2017
"Sprinkled with Love" by Jennifer Faye
EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Sprinkled with Love
(The Bachelor Bake-Off Book 3)
(The Bachelor Bake-Off Book 3)
by Jennifer Faye
Sprinkled with Love by Jennifer Faye is the third book in The Bachelor Bake-Off series. Also available: A Teaspoon of Trouble, A Spoonful of Sugar, Baking for Keeps, and A Recipe for Romance.
Description
What does one do with a matchmaking cat named Romeo?
Spirited and beautiful, Jillian Parker is one of Marietta’s newest business owners. Still, her mother worries about Jillian’s bare ring finger. So in order to give her mother something else to fuss over, Jillian adopts a cat named Romeo. He turns out to be anything but a docile lap cat.
One snowy night, Romeo makes a break for it. With Jillian right on his heels, they have a near miss with a passing pickup driven by Avery Wainwright, one of Jillian’s closest friends. A rodeo accident has the sexy cowboy returning home to recuperate, and he’s not happy about it.
So when Avery finds himself lassoed into the Bachelor Bake-Off, he turns to the one person who has always helped him out - Jillian. But will teaching him to take chances outside of the show ring have them both discovering that their feelings for each other run much deeper than they ever imagined?
Excerpt
Avery stopped petting the cat and sat up straight. Alarm bells rang loud and clear. His sister had tried more than once to set him up on blind dates. He’d successfully avoided all of them. He wasn’t about to get caught up in Beth’s matchmaking now.
“I’m not going on any blind dates.” His tone was firm.
“Okay. But I haven’t set you up.”
He swallowed hard. “Then what exactly have you arranged for me?”
“Why do you sound so worried?”
“Because I am. You don’t exactly have the most conservative plans. And you do know that I’m not as mobile as I’d like to be.”
“You worry too much. Sometimes you act more like our father than our brother. You really need to loosen up and act your age.”
In truth, he did feel quite a few years beyond his biological age. After all, he’d been a guardian to his brother and sister since they were twelve. For six years, he’d been raising them. And those teenage years were not easy. His sympathies went out to his parents over what he’d put them through. He’d had no idea of the worries that were involved in parenting. He was not planning to repeat the experience—ever.
“Enough with picking on me,” he said. “What exactly have you done this time?”
“Something that will keep you from sitting at home and sulking over missing out on the rodeo—”
“Beth,” he prompted. His patience was at an end.
“I entered you in the Bachelor Bake-Off.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
"This story has great characters, a real sense of humour, plenty of angst and turmoil and is a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies with an injured cowboy and independent but loving lady. There will be a few burnt offerings and mix ups on their spicy journey but, with Romeo’s help, baking will prove their recipe for romance and the ending is swoon worthy!" ~ Splashes Into Books
"This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night." ~ Laura Collins
"Wonderful story of love between two people who kept missing out on a relationship due to timing. Some things are too hard to deny: two cats keep matchmaking, a baking contest for one to tutor the other, and the stars finally align, there's no reason to continue to fight the bond and chemistry. Once they open their eyes and hearts to the possibility, they finally find a forever love. Fantastic read!" ~ momof3boys
"A great addition to The Bachelor Bake-Off series. Likable characters and great dialogue. This book is the third book in the series and each book is just as good as the one before it. Looking forward to reading more in this series and more by this author." ~ Donna
"Ms. Faye delivers a funny, poignant, and touching story about two lost souls…who are hoodwinked by a cat. [...] I recommend this book; it has all the elements of an entertaining evening’s read." ~ gds
About the Author
Award-winning author Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.
Now living her dream, she resides with her very patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. When she’s not plotting out her next romance, you can find her curled up with a mug of tea and a book.
Giveaway
Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.
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