Waiting on Wednesday: The Elites by Natasha Ngan + Waterfell by Amalie Howard

*waves* Hi! It feels like AGES since I've done a Waiting on Wednesday post. This week, I have two novels that I'm absolutely dying to read. One is the second book of one of the best writers on the face of the planet, Amalie Howard, and the the other is a futuristic book with exoticism and romance.

Book Description:

The Elites by Natasha Ngan
Date of Publication: September 5th 2013
Publisher: Hot Key Books

'There is a rumour that the Elites don't bleed.'

Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures - and racial tension. Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She'd never dream of leaving - but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel's president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly.

Packed full of adventure, romance, exoticism and the power of friendship, THE ELITES is a highly compelling and beautifully written novel from a supremely talented debut author.

Why I chose this:

Oh my gosh, you guys! This sounds like my kind of read. Here's the list of things that I want in a book:

Futuristic. Check!
Wars. Check!
Scientific shiz. Check!
Adventure. Check!
Action. Check!
Exoticism. Check!

Whoa, I'm so excited to read this I'm practically trembling!

Book Description:

Waterfell by Amalie Howard
Date of Publication: October 29th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

Why I chose this:

Next up is a mermaid book, written by my favorite author and friend, Amalie Howard (who also wrote the amazing Bloodspell in 2011.) But aside from the fact that Amalie writes so darn well, like awe-inducing, smile-inducing perfection, mermaids! Guys, I'm so eager for a sea creature-starred book! Falling for a human boy = delicious romance. This just sounds so promising. Really looking forward!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Leave your links below!

Review: Fractured by Teri Terry

Book Description:

Paperback, 432 pages
April 4th 2013, Orchard Books

How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?

Kyla's memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

Set in a disturbing future world, FRACTURED is an engrossing, fast-paced read that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer.

Source: Victoria + Orchard Books (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Slated, the first book, left me heartbroken, crushed, in agony and yet, still wanting more. With Fractured, the author not only swept me off my feet once again and lured me back into her amazing story world, she also managed to break my heart and crush me a second time. To keep it short and sweet: I absolutely loved Fractured!

In Slated, the characters were multilayered and complex. In Fractured, I found out that all the complexity of the characters was just the tip of the iceberg. Fractured explores deeper layers: issues, trauma, memories and the past. The Kyla I know now has grown and changed so much. From being the odd Slated to desperately wanting to know more about her child self to something entirely unexpected. When it comes to Kyla, there were layers and layers of secrets and memories, bound by force and several processes and intense experiences. Since reading Slated, I have become emotionally attached to Kyla. So reading as she dealt with problem after problem, suffered, crumpled, rose again and fought was a roller coaster of emotions. I was constantly at the edge of my seat.

The absence of Ben in her life became one of the many reasons why I remained emotionally attached to her. Even though they have known for each other for just a few months, their bond was strong. There were certain parts in the book when I just felt my heart twisting in pain. I experienced Rain's pain and that doesn't happen all the time.

The mysterious Nico played a bigger role in Fractured. The questions that his existence raised was, to be honest, enough to draw me in and keep me reading. I was so desperate to find the answer to that big question mark in my head. As it turned out, his life was woven with Rain's. When it came to Nico, nothing was ever what it appeared to be. Shrouded in a cloud of motives and secrets, I found him troubling, intriguing and sometimes, even a bit swoon-worthy when he was in a good mood. Most of the time though, alarm bells were ringing in my head for Rain. I tend to be suspicious of certain characters and that was exactly what happened in the case of Nico.

The action in this book was not the kind of action that was intense. Instead, it was the kind of action that was constantly accompanied by hesitation, mind games and suspense. That worked fabulously well with me. You never know what's going to happen next.

Fractured is part thriller, part psychological and all-dystopic. Fractured satisfies various types of readers. I highly recommend this to readers who are looking for unpredictable reads, psychological reads and dystopia with high levels of mustery and suspense and with bursts of action.

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Blitz + International Giveaway: Eversea by Natasha Boyd

Thanks to Giselle of Xpresso Book Tours + Natasha Boyd, I'm featuring Eversea, a New Adult Contemporary Romance! Stick around for an excerpt and a giveaway.

Book Description:

Eversea by Natasha Boyd
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication date: June 10th 2013

Synopsis:
• An orphaned small-town southern girl, burdened by responsibility and stuck in time.
• A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.
• A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family’s historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.

Eversea is a FINALIST in the Winter Rose Unpublished Contest for 2013



Purchase on Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Natasha Boyd is a writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She lives in the coastal Carolina Lowcountry, complete with Spanish moss, alligators and mosquitoes the size of tiny birds. She has a husband, two sons and a cat named Tuna. Eversea is her first full-length novel.

Follow Natasha: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

I'm quite excited for Eversea! I'd like to share with you two teasers from this NA novel:

First and foremost, this interesting photo teaser...

Can someone say hot? And another one:

Jazz grabbed a poker from the fireplace, and we both skidded on sock feet to the front door. I looked out of the peephole, but with no lights on I couldn’t really see a thing.
“I can’t see anything,” I whispered, and then jumped back as another round of banging started.
“Keri Ann?” Jack’s voice shouted over the wind and rain.
“Oh my God.” I mouthed to Jazz.
Her eyes were wide.
“Do you think he got my message?”
“Shit, I don’t know,” she whispered back, her shoulders hunching up.
“Keri Ann? Please ... please open the door. I really need to talk to you.”
What the heck was he doing out there in the rain? Obviously, I was going to have to let him in. I could feel mortification and it’s crimson tide crawling up my chest to my neck.
Jazz shrugged with an apologetic ‘this is your mess, I have no clue how to help you here’ look on her face.
“Thanks!” I hissed at her.
“Keri Ann! Open the Goddamn door ... please?” Jack’s voice broke over the last word and my shoulders slumped.
Jazz rolled her eyes.
I opened the door as a huge gust of wind blew in and wrenched it out of my hands. It swung back hard banging against the wall. And there stood the tall looming shadow of Jack, hands on either side of the doorframe, in jeans and a dark wet t-shirt that clung to his body. Water streamed down his beautiful face.
“For the love of shrimp n’ grits, girl,” I heard Jazz murmur next to me as we both took in the archangel standing on the threshold. “Good luck.”
I shivered.

Giveaways

There are two giveaways for you. First is this: Win an ebook of Eversea by Natasha Boyd. Open internationally! Ends on June 26th. You don't have to be a follower for this - open to everyone!

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And the Grand Prize Giveaway! Open internationally!

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Snow White Sorrow Blitz + Giveaway

Thanks to Giselle of Xpresso Book Tours + Cameron Jace, I have another blitz for you guys! Stick around for an excerpt and a giveaway.

Book Description:

Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace
Series: The Grimm Diaries #1
Publication: May 30th 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fairy Tale

What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that talks to him through the radio. He looks like an Angel but acts like jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.

Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever.


Purchase on Amazon | Smashwords

About the Author

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

Follow Cameron: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

If you still need more details or if you need a 'sample' of the book, here's an excerpt from Snow White Blood Red:

Excerpt From Snow White Blood Red

Giveaway

Win an ebook of Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace. Open internationally! Ends on June 19th. You don't have to be a follower for this - open to everyone!

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Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

Book Description:

Paperback, 377 pages (Reviewer's Copy: ARC)
June 25th 2013, Harlequin Teen

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Source: Kai + Harlequin Teen (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

When I started reading Ink, I immediately noticed how Katie was trying to immerse herself in a foreign land. Sun did an amazing job with integrating the Japanese culture, language and mythology into the novel, so much so that I felt that the Japanese-ness of Ink became some sort of skeleton, supporting the story. She made me feel like I was actually there, going to a high school. One of the things I really appreciated was the integration of phrases, expressions and sentences in Japanese.

Katie was still mourning the death of her mother. In Ink, I got to see a mature, down-toned sadness that made it all the more pronounced. Katie did not whine about it much nor did she let this melancholy swallow her whole. One of the reasons why I like her was that she always found things to laugh about, joke about or simply point out. Her curiosity was ablaze. She knew what she wanted in life and made sure that she got it.

Tomohiro was mysterious, attractive and hard to read. There was always a sense of mystery around him – hanging questions in the air. He was rude one second, sweetly smiling at you in the next. He was a walking unpredictability, drawing my attention in every chance. As the story progressed, I got glimpses into his life. Tomohiro was so hard to read at first because he wore ‘layers’ over his true self. He was complex, 100% endearing, soft and gentle and so unforgettable.

The paranormal element of Ink was something I have never encountered before and for that, it became all the more unforgettable. I will not reveal anything more than necessary but I will just say this: the kami, the descendants of Amaterasu, and their legend were interesting points for me. As ‘supernaturals’ walking amongst humans, they were both a threat to the public and threatened by people who want to wield their powers. The ink-related abilities in this novel creeped me out, shocked me and amazed me all at the same time.

The writing was beautiful. Ink had the best qualities of an Anime: fun, cute, sweet and imaginative. The action was not overly dramatic but instead it was detailed, coming in bursts of violence and speed. I loved the twists and turns woven into the story, although they were to be expected, walking in this exotic story world left me guessing what was going to happen next. The secondary characters were also great. Yuki and Tanaka were radiant personalities, constantly bringing color and humor into the story.

Katie and Tomohiro’s relationship started out strained and generally soaked in annoyance, rudeness and glares. So I admit that it wasn’t the perfect beginning. After a series of stalker moves, shared secrets and confrontations, the two start to develop feelings for one another. Right now, you might be thinking: typical YA. I beg to disagree. Katie and Tomo have a link, the unavoidable ‘bond’ between YA lovers and this time it was neither entirely destiny nor something supernatural. It was simple shared experience, shared sadness: the deaths and loss of their mothers. This emptiness inside them made them understand each other better. That bridged the gap – cultural and emotional – between them. The attraction and emotional and a bit of sexual tension zinged between Katie and Tomo, a bit blush-inducing, smile-inducing and just so sweet and passionate. Hopeless (and not so hopeless) romantics will love these bits.

Ink is an oriental gem that is masterfully-written and unforgettably engaging. I officially label this as one of my favorite YA reads for 2013, as well as one of the best debuts I’ve ever read. Overall, Ink is intoxicating with its romance, paranormalcy and atmosphere. Pick this up! You won’t regret it. I highly recommend this to readers of paranormal romance and mythology-themed YA books. Full of life, fun and humor, Ink will appeal to readers looking for reads that follow the tradition of our beloved Anime and adventures. At the same time, Ink will appeal to readers who are looking for something unique and oriental especially when it comes to Asian/Japanese mythology.

Rating:


5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Taking Back Forever Blitz + Giveaway: Grasping for Eternity + Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper

Thanks to Giselle of Xpresso Book Tours + Karen Amanda Hooper (one of my favorite authors ever), I have another blitz for you guys! Stick around for a short but sweet excerpt and a giveaway.

Book Description:

May 31st 2013, Starry Sky Publishing

Forever is worth the fight.

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

About the Author

Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters.

Karen has been making up stories for as long as she can remember. In high school she discovered her passion for putting her thoughts onto paper, but it wasn't until her late twenties that she wrote her first novel. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.

Follow Karen: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

If you still need more details or if you need a 'sample' of the book, here's an excerpt for you:

Excerpt of Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper

Giveaway

Win an ebook bundle of Grasping for Eternity + Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper. Open internationally! Ends on June 14th. You don't have to be a follower for this - open to everyone!

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For US/CA residents, Karen has another giveaway for you: win a signed paperback of Grasping at Eternity + Taking Back Forever + Kindrily-themed gifts! (If you're not a US/CA resident but have an address Karen can send to, you can join as well.)

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Review: The Oathbreaker's Shadow (The Knots Sequence #1) by Amy McCulloch

Book Description:

Hardcover, 416 pages
June 6th 2013, Random House Children's Publishers (UK)

Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolises, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

A gripping YA action-adventure fantasy, the first part of a planned duology

Source: Harriet + Random House UK (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

From page one I was drawn to the story world of The Oathbreaker's Shadow. It had a distinct, exotic vibe about it. Featuring the vibrant nomadic culture and society of Darhan that coexist with magic, power and legends, this novel offered me a vacation in a unique world. The exotic flavor was so strong that it reminded me of the strange but beautiful vibe that I savored in The Tiger's Quest Saga.

Raim was about to turn sixteen, the Honour Age. By sixteen, he will shoulder the honour and responsibility of each and every oath that he makes. It's also the day when he can finaly attempt to become Yun. Compared to the usual fifteen-year-olds that I encounter in YA, Raim was more responsible and mature although there were still certain decisions and matters in his life that he couldn't fully understand because of his age. If I didn't know that he was fifteen, I would have never thought of him as one. Determined and passionate about becoming Yun, protective of his sister Dharma and his grandfather and fiercely loyal to his best friend, Khareh, I found him very easy to relate to and understand.

As the best friend of Prince Khareh, Raim was constantly being dragged into trouble. Khareh was daring, adventurous and fearless. He always had an air of confidence - sometimes even overconfidence - that he could bend things to get his way. I found him charming at times and cruel and inconsiderate inn others. It was like there were two parts of him. This dualism in Khareh's character really intrigued me.

The journey to Lazar, the city of the Chauk otherwise known as oathbreakers, was dangerous and eventful. Becoming an exile definitely changed Raim for the better. Experiencing the fierce glare of Sola and the difficult survival in the desert made him appreciate the true meaning of life. Along the way, he met the Alashans, nomads who know the desert like the back of their hands, and the ever-tormented Chauk. Life out of Darhan was something else altogether. The exiled Raim was hungry for life and freedom and persistently tried to prove his worth.

The social structure in The Oathbreakaer's Shadow really caught my attention. There were no families in the strict sense. Instead, people lived according to their purpose. They were anchored to their clans. Children were raised not by their birth parents but by the wise elders of each clan.

The storytelling was superbly done, woven with magic and unpredictability. The action was what I would consider detailed and movie-like in such a way that I could imagine it blow by blow. Throughout the novel there were bursts of revelations, parts that would shock me and sometimes even throw me off balance. I was constantly guessing, thinking. In short, I was just too curious about every little thing that happened in the book.

The Oathbreaker's Shadow is unputdownable, unforgettable and unparallelled with its exotic flavor, well-built story world, well-developed characters, well-executed storytelling, heart-pounding action and twists. Readers who are looking for fantasy novels with unforgettable story worlds, unpredictable reades, exotic/oriental-like ambiance might enjoy this. I highly recommend this to readers of YA fantasy and YA adventure novels: You need this in your life!

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!