Review: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Title: Scorched
Author: Mari Mancusi
Source/Format: Won, Hardback
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Time Travel
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks Fire, September 3, 2013

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Trinity...Don’t leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...

Connor...He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb...He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed...

 Dragons and time travel...

By the end of this novel I was firmly on Team Dragon, nuff said…

Scorched by Mari Mancusi clearly ended up being my kind of book. With the concept—which combined dragons, time travel, and the warning of an impending apocalypse—it definitely made for one heck of a novel! Going into Scorched I really had no expectations beyond looking for an entertaining read, and I did enjoy it. The pacing was handled well, and right from the start I was pretty much hooked by the opening chapters. I was really interested in the concept of dragons and their role in the events hinted at throughout the book, and needless to say I got my answers and then some. One thing worth noting was the villains in Scorched. Initially, it was difficult to tell who was who, which was great, because it added some suspense to the novel. Trinity was a pretty interesting character, and overall I liked her personality. She had her reasons for being the way she was and it was easy to understand why she was protective of what family she had left. Now, Connor, his personality seemed straight forward, but as the novel progressed he changed as more of his past was revealed and he got to know Trinity better. His twin brother Caleb—a dragon sympathizer—was an alright character who had his own motivations and a desire to prove his worth. The dynamics of the relationships throughout the novel was one of the highlights for me, and I really kept reading because I wanted to know what happened to the characters at the end. The dragons were another highlight, and I enjoyed Mancusi’s take on the subject.

So yeah, this is probably one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I would consider getting the rest of the trilogy simply because more dragons, and that’s always a good thing.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award (Take 2)

Oh man, I completely forgot to do this post. Well better late than never! I've done this tag before but I'm going to do it again because I absolutely love these questions. So, a huge thank you to Ria @Lilac Diaries for nominating me and coming up with the questions!







First the rules...

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their website
2. Use the award logo on your post
3. Answer the 10 questions provided by the blogger who tagged you
4. Nominate 10 bloggers
5. Ask them 10 questions

What got you into reading?

It was a long time ago and it was out of necessity (for school), but then I just started to enjoy reading more and I wanted to get to as many great stories as possible.

Do you judge a book by its cover?

I like cover art but I don't judge a book based solely off of that (It could look like the prettiest thing in the world but the story might not be something I'm looking for). Usually I look at the synopsis first and consider it for a while before I even decide to read it.

What do you love the most about blogging? 

Being able to share my thoughts about books is pretty fun, plus I've discovered a lot of great novels that I wouldn't have normally picked up.

How did you come up with your blog title?

My co-blogger and I decided on the title because it sounded catchy (plus it was short and to the point).

Do you collect bookish items? Which is your favorite item, then?

Actually, I don't really collect bookish items (well besides books and bookmarks), but I do love my sketchbook with all of the quotes on it...so, uh, I guess it counts.

Have you ever wished to have a super power? What did you wish for?

If I could have any super power it would be Teleportation, because it would make moving a whole lot easier if I could just move things from point A to point B in a matter of seconds. *Sigh* Sadly, its just wishful thinking.

Which is your favorite Christmas book/novel/novella/short story?

I don't have one (yet), but I do want to read the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Because why not? I've seen the movie(s) and really want to see how the book is.

Have you ever wished to live in a fantasy world? If yes, which one would you choose? (like Hogwarts, Austen world, The Hobbit, Alice's Wonderland, The land of OZ etc).

Well a lot of the ones I've read about make me cringe, because, you know, they're pretty terrible most of the time (but totally interesting to read about). However, I would visit the version of Wonderland from A.G. Howard's Splintered. Take into account that I said I would visit, because I certainly wouldn't live there.

Did you hear about J.K. Rowling's tweet mentioning Harry Potter's son, James's first year at Hogwarts. What do you think of it? Are you excited?

What is this? I have not heard of it! Somehow, someway I've missed that news. *quietly googles it* Oh, ok, yeah, it is pretty exciting.

'Happily ever after' exists only in books. Is it true? What do you think of it?

Who knows, but I think it could exist depending on the circumstances (I'm choosing the most optimistic answer).

So I'm just going to break rules 4 and 5. I'm not nominating any blogger specifically and I don't have any questions right now. Anyway, happy reading!

The Friday 56 (37) Scorched by Mari Mancusi

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Trinity...
Don’t leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...

Connor...
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb...
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed...

"Her confusion veered sharply into anger. How dare he try to play her like this? She needed to get away, call the cops, find out what was really going on."--Scorched by Mari Mancusi 



Do you have any favorite novels that feature dragons?

Release Day & Giveaway: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

I am so excited that Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway! If you haven’t yet heard about this new series by Rae Carson, be sure to check out all the details below. As always, there's a giveaway at the bottom of the post.

About The Book:

Title: WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER

Author: Rae Carson

Pub. Date: September 22, 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 448

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research. 

Read chapter 1 of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER annotated by Rae Carson HERE!

About Rae...

Rae Carson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. Her next book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, will be available September 22, 2015. She lives in Arizona with her husband.

Connect with the Author... 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

And now time for the giveaway. One winner will receive a set of the Girl of Fire and Thorns series (in paperback format). This giveaway is US Only and ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!

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Interview: Michelle Johnson

 

Today I’m excited to welcome Michelle Johnson, author of Oleah Chronicles: Truth, to the blog. You can see the review for the book HERE. And before I get to the interview, check out the synopsis for the book below. **P.S. The ebook is currently $0.99**

About the Book 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

What would you do if everything you thought to be true in your life was a lie? Sixteen-year-old Angel Seriki must face overwhelming truths about her family when she meets Zander Black, a new student to her high school who is smart, charming and devastatingly beautiful. The revelations he uncovers to her about her family's past changes everything, and as her relationship and feelings for Zander deepen, so do the risks involved. She must now accept her fate and face the true reality of who and what she is. Even if that means giving up everything, including being human...

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What is your writing process like? Do you have any specific daily goals?

While I first started writing Truth, I never really had a process or goal. I had no intention of actually doing something with my story and would occasionally add to it when I found time. It wasn't until I reunited myself with the story - after putting it on a three year hiatus - that I made the decision to finish it and share with whomever would actually want to read it. I became more diligent then, making an effort to write daily no matter how uninspired I felt for at least an hour. Once I outlined the plot, focusing on a chapter at a time seemed less overwhelming to me and helped to develop a flow that felt natural. Sure, there were countless times I would try to develop a formula for it all, but at the end of the day, you can't force what should come organically. Some days I can write pages, other days it's only a couple paragraphs that I can get through, and I'm ok with that.

The characters in Truth are awesome. So, how did you come up with them? Did you have any sources of inspiration?

Thank you so much! I was honestly terrified to release Truth, because of how much of myself the story had in it. I've always had this...obsession if you will, for lions, vampires and greek mythology. So I merged everything together letting my mind run wild in hopes that something beautiful or special could come out of it.

I actually often found myself rereading my old diaries to create the voice I wanted Angel and Julie to have. Growing up in Toronto, my social group was never segregated, my friends are all different ethnicities, and that was an important part I wanted to reflect with Angel and Julie's relationship. When I was a teen, I would talk for hours on the phone with my friends and freak out over guys I had crushes on, and I really wanted my readers to experience how much fun that can be.

If you could take a vacation and go on a writers retreat—anywhere in the world—where would you go and why?

Rome, Italy. I went there on a school trip when I was sixteen and I fell in love with it. You're eyes are constantly absorbing so much beauty with all the architecture and art there is - not to mention the food! I'm an extremely visual person, and frequently seek out different visuals or forms of art to inspire my writing. Being in Rome, I have no doubts I could recharge, and leave feeling more passionate and inspired than ever.

What is your favorite part of the Oleah Chronicles?

If I had to pick only one, I'd say it would be the scene when Angel finally gets all her answers from Zander in the park. The entire exchange between them is so emotional and electric! I was really excited to write it because it gives readers a glimpse into not only Angel's history, but Zander's past and a better understanding of who is he is what made him that way.

What’s next for you?

I'm currently working hard to finish the second book in the Oleah Chronicles series, which will be called Justice. The goal is to release it early next year then move right into the final book in the series after that. Between releases, I really want to look into book tours, that way I can get out and meet my readers! The feedback I've gotten from all of this has ignited a fire in me that I just want to spread everywhere I can! I'm really looking forward to building this story into something great.

And that's it. I hope you enjoyed the interview, and don't forget to check out Oleah Chronicles: Truth. Happy reading!

About the Author...

Throughout my childhood I was always told I had a very creative imagination. I was drawn to stories of mythical creatures and all things that would usually give my peers the heebie geebies. Shows like Tales from the Crypt Keeper and Buffy the Vampire Slayer were among some of my favourites. I developed a strong passion for design and illustration, drawing the ideas that arose in my head and finding great excitement in bringing them to life. This led me to pursue a career in graphic design and marketing so that I could always use my creativity to the fullest. I have always loved reading and the way a compelling story would allow my mind to absorb its detailed imagery. I began to use writing as a tool to bring my creative thoughts to fruition one day, which has brought me to this moment. I'm a romantic at heart and a sucker for stories about true love which is reflected in my writing and helped bring the Oleah Chronicles to life. I hope you enjoy my first book and through it you experience the eccentric vision that began in my mind so long ago.

Website     Goodreads     Twitter

The Friday 56 (36) Doctor Who: Royal Blood by Una McCormack

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

“The Grail is a story, a myth! It didn’t exist on your world! It can’t exist here!”

The city-state of Varuz is failing. Duke Aurelian is the last of his line, his capital is crumbling, and the armies of his enemy, Duke Conrad, are poised beyond the mountains to invade. Aurelian is preparing to gamble everything on one last battle. So when a holy man, the Doctor, comes to Varuz from beyond the mountains, Aurelian asks for his blessing in the war.

But all is not what it seems in Varuz. The city-guard have lasers for swords, and the halls are lit by electric candlelight. Aurelian’s beloved wife, Guena, and his most trusted knight, Bernhardt, seem to be plotting to overthrow their Duke, and Clara finds herself drawn into their intrigue...

Will the Doctor stop Aurelian from going to war? Will Clara’s involvement in the plot against the Duke be discovered? Why is Conrad’s ambassador so nervous? And who are the ancient and weary knights who arrive in Varuz claiming to be on a quest for the Holy Grail…?

"He frowned at me, but we had been friends for many years, and I did not fear his anger on my own account. I was conscious, too, of the Doctor, watching this whole scene unfold, and while I still knew little about him, I did not want to give too much away."--Doctor Who: Royal Blood by Una McCormack


Have you ever read any of the Doctor Who books?

Review: Doctor Who: Royal Blood by Una McCormack

Title:Doctor Who: Royal Blood
Author: Una McCormack
Source/Format: Blogging for Books, Paperback Review Copy
More Details: Science Fiction
Publisher/Publication Date: Broadway Books, September 8, 2015 

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

“The Grail is a story, a myth! It didn’t exist on your world! It can’t exist here!”

The city-state of Varuz is failing. Duke Aurelian is the last of his line, his capital is crumbling, and the armies of his enemy, Duke Conrad, are poised beyond the mountains to invade. Aurelian is preparing to gamble everything on one last battle. So when a holy man, the Doctor, comes to Varuz from beyond the mountains, Aurelian asks for his blessing in the war.

But all is not what it seems in Varuz. The city-guard have lasers for swords, and the halls are lit by electric candlelight. Aurelian’s beloved wife, Guena, and his most trusted knight, Bernhardt, seem to be plotting to overthrow their Duke, and Clara finds herself drawn into their intrigue...

Will the Doctor stop Aurelian from going to war? Will Clara’s involvement in the plot against the Duke be discovered? Why is Conrad’s ambassador so nervous? And who are the ancient and weary knights who arrive in Varuz claiming to be on a quest for the Holy Grail…?

You know, there is something about the Doctor Who books that keeps me coming back for more. I love the show too so getting Royal Blood was an easy decision. I read this book in a few hours—it was kind of short—but pretty much perfect for what I was looking for. The book opens with the Doctor and Clara landing in a new place, but from the start there was something very odd about the isolated city of Varuz. With its laser swords and electricity, its first appearance is that of a great city but on closer inspection it seemed like the place was crumbling away—it made for an excellent setting. The plot was pretty straight forward as the Doctor and Clara got wrapped up in the conflicts that surrounded Varuz. And in the typical fashion of Doctor Who, they tried to help solve some of the problems to the best of their abilities. The ending was a little sad, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.

This copy of the book was provided by Blogging for Books for this review, thank you! 

Una McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author. She has written two Doctor Who novels featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory: The King’s Dragon and The Way through the Woods, as well as several audio dramas for Big Finish. She lives in Cambridge with her partner, Matthew, and their daughter, Verity

Release Week Blitz & Giveaway: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz

I'm so excited that THE PIRATE CODE by Heidi Schulz releases today and that I get to share the news along with an awesome giveaway! If you haven’t yet heard about this series by Heidi Schulz, be sure to check out all the details below. And don't forget to check out the giveaway at the bottom for the post, and enter for a chance to win copies of both HOOK’S REVENGE books! US Only.

Title: THE PIRATE CODE: HOOK'S REVENGE Book 2

Author: Heidi Schulz

Pub. Date: September 15, 2015

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 352

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Fresh off a fearsome encounter with the Neverland crocodile, Jocelyn Hook decides the most practical plan is to hunt down her father's famous fortune. After all, she'll need the gold to fund her adventuring in the future. (And luckily, Hook left her the map.)

But the map proves to be a bit harder to crack than Jocelyn had hoped, and she's convinced that the horrible Peter Pan might be the only one with the answers. Of course, he doesn't really feel like helping her, so Jocelyn takes the only reasonable course of action left to her: she kidnaps his mother. Evie, though, is absolutely thrilled to be taken prisoner, so Jocelyn's daring ploy doesn't have quite the effect she'd planned for.

Along with the problem of her all-too-willing captive, Jocelyn must also contend with Captain Krueger, whose general policy is that no deed is too dastardly when it comes to stealing Hook's treasure. And with the ever-shifting Whens of the Neverland working against her as well, Jocelyn, Evie, Roger, and the rest of the Hook's Revenge crew have their work cut out for them.

In this rambunctious showdown between characters new and old, Jocelyn puts her own brand of pirating to the test in a quest to save her future and those she loves...

About Heidi...

Heidi Schulz is a writer, reader, and giraffe suspicioner. She lives in Salem, Oregon with her husband, co-captaining a crew made of their teen daughter, a terrible little dog, and five irascible chickens. Her debut novel for middle grade readers, HOOK’S REVENGE, published by Disney•Hyperion, was a Bank Street Best book, among the New York Public Library’s Top 100 Titles for Children in 2014, and an OCTE Oregon Spirit Honor Book. A sequel, HOOK’S REVENGE: THE PIRATE CODE, will follow in September 2015. Bloomsbury Kids will publish her picture book debut, GIRAFFES RUIN EVERYTHING, in Spring 2016.

Connect with the author:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM

And now time for the giveaway. One winner will receive both HOOKS’S REVENGE Books. This contest is US Only and ends on September 25th at Midnight EST!

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Sale Alert & Giveaway: Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

Oh yes, it's that time again. The ebook for Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne is going to be on sale for $0.99 starting on September 10th to the 13th. So if you haven't read it yet, now would be the time to get it.

Check out the sale here

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull. Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease. When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

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And don't forget to check out the second book in the series, Daughter of Dusk!

Synopsis from Goodreads...

After learning the truth about her bloodlines, Kyra can’t help but feel like a monster. Though she’s formed a tentative alliance with the Palace, Kyra must keep her identity a secret or risk being hunted like the rest of her Demon Rider kin. Tristam and the imprisoned assassin James are among the few who know about her heritage, but when Tristam reveals a heartbreaking secret of his own, Kyra’s not sure she can trust him. And with James’s fate in the hands of the palace, Kyra fears that he will give her away to save himself. As tensions rise within Forge's Council, and vicious Demon Rider attacks continue in surrounding villages, Kyra knows she must do something to save her city. But she walks a dangerous line between opposing armies: will she be able to use her link to the Demon Riders for good, or will her Makvani blood prove to be deadly?

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Book Depository

Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner. Her novel MIDNIGHT THIEF debuted with Disney-Hyperion in July 2014, and its sequel DAUGHTER OF DUSK came out in August 2015. 

Website     Twitter     Goodreads

And now, time for the giveaway. Enter for a chance to win a prize pack from Livia Blackburn including an audiobook copy of Midnight Thief, a annotated paperback copy of Poison Dance, a early manuscript of Daughter of Dusk (with editorial marks), and book swag. This giveaway is International.

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Summer Lovin' Book Tag

Today I'm participating in the Summer Lovin' Book Tag since I'm kind of sad that summer is over. It kind of seems like the time flew by way too quickly, but that's besides the point. As always, check out the original tag video HERE over on Richard Denney's Youtube Channel.

Start of summer: Pick a book with an attention grabbing first sentence?

I’m going to pick Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. With this series I actually started with the second book, read the last one, all before I went back to start the trilogy from the beginning. “The Austrian horses glinted in the moonlight, their riders standing tall in the saddle, swords raised.” It was the perfect opening for the novel.

Too hot to go Out: Pick a book for a day in?

I would pick any book from the Double Vision series (Double Vision, Code Name 711, The Alias Men) by F.T. Bradley. 

Summer Road trip: Pick a book you’d take with you on the road?

If I was going to take a book with me I would probably choose Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. It’s been a very long time since I read it so it would be kind of nice to finally reread it. 

Iced Tea Goodness: Pick a book with a cold setting?

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep (There was lots of snow in this book.)

Nasty Sunburn: A book you really disliked (so far) this year?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. You can read my thoughts on the novel HERE, but there were factors that I didn't like and I found it difficult to get into the story.

Sizzling Read: Recommend one of your favorite books?

I really can't decide between Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham and Love Fortunes and Other disasters by Kimberly Karalius. I recommend both of them because they were great books.

And that's it. Don't forget to check out Richard Denney's Youtube Channel, and if you want to do this tag, go for it, because I tag you. Happy reading!

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Title:The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Source/Format: Won, Paperback
More Details: Young Adult, Historical, Horror,  
Publisher/Publication Date: Balzer + Bray, January 29, 2013

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true. Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect...

The synopsis says “Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau,” and I definitely got what I was looking for with The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd. The overall feel was pretty creepy given the themes that heavily influenced the story and the setting—there were always those lingering details that hinted at underlying mysteries—not everything was as it seemed.

The beginning started out by introducing Juliet Moreau, showing the situation she was left in after a scandal involving her father ruined her family. And when I say ruined, I really mean that the incident absolutely decimated their reputation. And London was a society based on reputation. It wasn’t a kind place to Juliet—proven by her living situation and current employment. But the interesting portions of the novel definitely happened after she departed from London for the tropical island in search of her father.

Juliet was a pretty good protagonist—minus her indecisiveness about her two main love interests. Juliet’s father was also a main focus of the story, and the broken bonds between the two were well developed. It was easy to see that Juliet was clinging to the vision she had of him as a child—she tried really hard to see the good in him—and for a second there I almost bought it. Throughout the novel things began to happen which slowly picked apart the first appearances shown by most of the characters. Everyone had their secrets. There was bitterness, but it was expected and justified.

The Madman’s Daughter was a long book, but I liked its length and the details put into developing the story and the setting. The horror aspect is another detail worth noting because it was done well, and by the time I got to the end I still had a lot of unanswered questions about the fate of the characters. Needless to say, I am curious to know how the trilogy ends. (Actual rating 4.5)

Release Week Blitz & Giveaway: Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

I am so excited that SWEET TEMPTATION by Wendy Higgins releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway! If you haven’t yet heard about this series by Wendy Higgins, be sure to check out all the details below. And don't forget to check out the giveaway for a paperback of the book with a signed bookplate and bookmarks! US only. 

Title: SWEET TEMPTATION

Author: Wendy Higgins

Pub. Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 485

Format: Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it.

Until he meets Anna Whitt—sweet, smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she has a certain power over him, one that makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve.

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives as the influencers of sin, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the demons’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoon worthy, this companion volume to the acclaimed Sweet Evil series from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, told from the perspective of the irresistibly sexy and mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into his struggle, his intense connection to Anna, and most of all, the true emotions that drive him.

A note from the author...

Sweet Temptation will encompass the entire trilogy in a condensed version, beginning with Kai's life before he met Anna, and taking readers through the epilogue of Sweet Reckoning. Sweet Temptation is a companion novel, not meant to be a stand alone story. It will definitely be a richer experience for those who have read the original trilogy...

Go HERE to read an excerpt from Sweet Temptation! Also check out Wendy's PINTEREST board for Kai!

About Wendy Higgins:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series from HarperTeen and her independently published Irish fantasy, See Me. She is a former high school English teacher who now writes full time, and lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her veterinarian husband, daughter, son, and doggie Rue. 

Wendy earned a bachelor's in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.

Connect with the author...

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM

And now for the giveaway. Up for grabs is one paperback copy of Sweet Temptation, a signed bookplate, and bookmarks. This giveaway is US Only and ends on September 18th at Midnight EST!

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The Friday 56 (35) The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

This week my 56 comes from my current read The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd. This is a book that's been sitting on my shelf for a while and I decided to give it a go. So far, it's good. 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true. Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood...

"I should have told Lucy she couldn't visit. Where I was going, she couldn't come. It was a bit farther than Bedford."--The Madman's Daughter Megan Shepherd



What's on your page 56 this week?