Review: The Rules by Stacey Kade

The Rules (Project Paper Doll, #1)
by Stacey Kade
Published: April 13, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Available: Amazon

Synopsis:
1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Review:
I really loved how this story started off. It doesn't try to fool us into thinking the Ariane has a great life among the humans, or that it's easy for her to follow 'the rules' her adoptive father has established for her. She's part alien and there's nothing sexy or glamorous about it. For me that is the best thing about this. Other alien books I've read have managed to make the aliens hiding among us to be highly attractive with superpowers galore.

Ariane definitely has some super powers, but there's also a physical downside to being an alien, such as the mention that her bone break easily due to their lower density levels and the grayish tinge to her skin. It was these little differences that made Ariane believable in her role as E.T. and stops this from being another alien story. Kade manages to keep some of the scary alien stereotypes while mixing it with a more sympathetic alien.

I ended up reading this through in one sitting and enjoyed the story. There were parts were I felt it lagged, but the story would quickly get back on track,  and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

 

Lie to Me is *FREE* on Amazon for 2 Days Only!

Whoo! To celebrate the release of Heal Me I decided to put Book 1 from A Touched Trilogy, Lie to Me, up for FREE on Amazon! So get your copy now! (If you have something other than a Kindle, enter my contest below to win a copy of Heal Me and Lie to Me)

Click the book cover to be taken to the Lie to Me Amazon page!

Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1)

by Angela Fristoe

Published: Nov. 29, 2012

Publisher: Little Prince Publishing

Synopsis
Phoebe Matlin has always felt broken. While one of her sisters sees the future, and the other can heal people, Phoebe has come to accept that her truth telling gift just doesn't work.

Then her best friend, Tonya, lies to her and Phoebe's gift flares to life. With Tonya pissed at her, being a Truth Teller suddenly doesn't seem like such a great gift. Although, it is nice knowing she was the reason her crush, Nathan, dumped his stalker girlfriend.

But in lies, intention is everything and Tonya's lies are a cry for help. The fear that her friend is covering darker and more serious truths is something Phoebe can't ignore. But knowing when someone is lying is the easy part. Now she has to decide what to do about it. And with Nathan and his doubts about her ability confusing things, finding a way to help Tonya isn't as easy as Phoebe thought it would be.

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Heal Me is now Available!

I am sooo excited to say that Heal Me is now available! You can get your copy at Amazon, Smashwords,and Barnes and Noble.

To celebrate not only am I doing a giveaway of a Heal Me and Lie to Me combo pack. Lie to Me is going to be FREE on Amazon for 2 days starting tomorrow!

Heal Me (A Touched Trilogy, #2)

by Angela Fristoe

Published: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Little Prince Publishing

Available: Amazon, Smashwords,and Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:
Her sisters think Lily has the easy gift. Who wouldn't love to heal people with a touch? But all that pain has to go somewhere and Lily's the one taking it all in.

Then someone close to her dies and Lily's life spins out of control. Desperate to feel something, she clings to her friend Micah. When she begins falling for him, she realizes healing others is easy. It's healing herself that is much harder.

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Cover Reveal: Heal Me by Angela Fristoe and Give@way!

Heal Me (A Touched Trilogy, #2)

by Angela Fristoe

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Little Prince Publishing

With the release date only days away I thought I'd share not only the official cover, but also some of the ideas that popped up for the cover.

The original picture was black and white, but there was a haunting quality to her face and the way she was reaching out. I considered using the original as is, but I thought it was too plain and didn't have any life to it.

Here is the original picture:

Once I decided on the picture, I went through a number of color schemes. I originally wanted a red, simply because I loved how the background popped. But with Lil's red hair, she became lost in the picture. Purple gave her a washed out look and the muted red seemed too boring, especially after how good the bright red background looked.

Here are the first ideas for the cover:

 

In the end it was my husband who suggested the blue (as he describes it) for the final cover. So good job, Brandon!

Synopsis
Her sisters think Lily has the easy gift. Who wouldn't love to heal people with a simple touch? But all of that pain and suffering has to go somewhere and Lil's the one taking it all in.

Then someone close to her dies and suddenly Lily's life spins out of control. She clings to her best friend Micah, trying to feel something. Then she finds herself falling for him and she realizes that while healing others is easy, healing herself is much harder.


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Cover Reveal: Stripped by Brooklyn Skye

Stripped

by Brooklyn Skye 

Release Date: 05/14/13

Cover designed by: Lisa Poff Photography

Cover reveal organized by: YA Bound

Summary from Goodreads:

“I like you.” His voice is low and soft, which I don’t deserve. I look away, down the rutted parking lot. 
“Don’t…waste those words on me.” 
He touches my cheek. “You just need someone to show  you.”

“No.”
I ease back again. “I don’t. So please, Torrin, stop trying to swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving.”

College freshman Quinn Montgomery will do anything to avoid the mistake her sister made—killing herself over a boy. But when she is forced into nude modeling at a local college to support her family after a bankruptcy, she begins to crack, just enough to let Torrin, the university’s top varsity oarsman, see that the real Quinn is not as feisty and unapproachable as she wants everyone to think. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine.

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye is an author, editorial intern, and just your average awkward girl (especially on the phone!). Her new adult debut, STRIPPED, releases May 2013!

Follow Brooklyn at:

Website * Twitter * Goodreads

Click HERE
to sign up to participate in the blog tour for Stripped.

***GIVEAWAY***

Enter
below to win a signed hardcopy of STRIPPED (if U.S. winner) or an e-copy
with Authorgraph (if international winner)

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Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Stung
by Bethany Wiggins
Published: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Available: Amazon

Synopsis:
There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Review:
I loved that this book jumped right into the action. The rest of the story was actually really fast paced. Fiona is on the run and doesn't know who to trust in a world she has no memory of. The action is what made this a fast read and I read it pretty much straight through in one sitting (maybe stopping briefly for food).

I loved the concept of the tattoo marking her as 'infected' and early on we learn that her mark signals people that she is among the deadliest of all the marked. I can't expand much more on how they were marked or 'infected' without giving away too much, but I will say that the explanation was interesting and I was satisfied with the science of it (or lack of science, depending on your personal preference for detailed scientific explanations).

The romance between Fiona and Bowen didn't do much for me. I liked both characters and could see a bit of a spark between them but the constant action along with the tight time frame had me doubting the intensity of what they claim to feel. I would have been just as happy without the romance.

 

*Free* On a Wing and a Dare by Linda Ulleseit

I wanted to share that On a Wing and a Dare by Linda Ulleseit is FREE on Amazon Kindle for 2 days only!

On a Wing and a Dare

In Tremeirchson, a barn leader’s children are expected to follow their parents into the sky, becoming riders of the magnificent winged horses that are the medieval Welsh village’s legacy. Neither Emma nor Davyd, however, want to follow that tradition.

Sixteen-year-old Emma risks losing her family by following her heart. Eager to take her place in the air, she longs to ride a forbidden winged colt born in barn of her father’s biggest rival. She also dreams of the rival’s sons, not sure which she truly loves. Bold and exciting, Evan will someday lead his father’s barn. Davyd is quieter, more dependable, with an ability to get things done. Her father disapproves of both boys and pushes her toward an ambitious newcomer. He also insists she ride the colt he’s picked for her.

Davyd, also sixteen, is plagued with a secret—he is afraid of heights. Refusing to become a rider means public humiliation, his parents’ disappointment, and lifelong ridicule from his brother, Evan. He reluctantly prepares to join his family aloft in the Aerial Games that provide the entire village with its livelihood and tries desperately to think of an alternative.

As Tremeirchson’s barns prepare for the Rider Ceremony, winged horses suddenly start dying. Shocked, the adults hesitate, mired in tradition and politics. Is it a disease or poison? Accidental or purposeful? Someone must discover the answer and act before all the winged horses in the world are gone forever.

Review:

Linda Ulleseit is an amazingly talented storyteller. On a Wing and a Dare brings to life a story of fantasy, love, and coming of age. The author manages to pull the reader into a historical Welsh setting with flying horses in such a way that it is easy to believe that they once flew between the clouds.

On a Wing and a Dare is an intriguing story that is told with a gentle voice that speaks to the mysticism of the world and horses Ulleseit has created. The characters are complex and they make choices that while I didn't always like, were fitting to the story and didn't seem contrived.

This is a wonderful start to a series that I look forward to continuing!