Teaser Tuesday (62)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.

Here's what you do:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two sentences from somewhere on that page
Share the title and author
Try not to include spoilers!

I'm reading a self-published book this week: Falling: Girl With Broken Wings by J Bennett. I've just started, but it's an explosive beginning. Here's a teaser:

I am crouched over Ryan, gripping his shirt. I am also watching the stranger's glowing hands, wondering if it hurts. Something is coming off him. I feel the vibrations of it hook around me and tug me upright. I cannot see what it is, but I can feel it, an invisible string that pulls me toward the stranger.

Like I said, I'm just at the beginning, so I'm still trying to get into the story. But it does start off strong.

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tessa Gratton
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: May 24, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 405
Series: The Blood Journals #1
1. Blood Magic
2. The Blood Keeper (August 28, 2012)

Synopsis:
It starts off simply.

Draw a circle... place a dead leaf in the center... sprinkle some salt... recite a little Latin... add a drop of blood...

Maybe that last part isn’t exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents’ horrific deaths. She’s willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family—even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep... and spill some blood.

The book isn’t the only recent arrival in Silla’s life. There’s Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She’s not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick’s first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can’t deny their attraction. And they can’t ignore the dark presence lurking nearby—waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.

From Goodreads

The first thing that drew me to this book was the author, Tessa Gratton, and the fact that she is a critique partner of Maggie Stiefvater (author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races). The idea of blood magic was kinda creepy to me, but I really wanted to give this book a chance. So I picked it up at the Maggie event I went to in Summer 2011, since Tessa was traveling with her. And I got it signed!

I only got to reading it this summer, but I’m really happy I picked it up. Once again, I loved seeing two narrators, but I also really loved the journal entries of Josephine Darly. We really get to know Josephine as a person, and it’s terrible to see that she’s truly a horrible person. Then there’s Silla, who has every reason to be insane, but is just doing her best to continue living day by day. And Nick is not Mr. Buffed Up Hunk, but he’s a whole different kind of tall, dark, and handsome. Having all these perspectives really gave the book depth, and upped the suspense level.

I liked how the romance progressed in this book. It was quick, since Silla and Nick’s feelings were revealed before the half-way point, but it worked. It enabled their relationship to be solid and true throughout the rest of the book. The whole story wouldn’t have worked out very well if Silla and Nick didn’t have the relationship they did. They needed each other.

The story was really suspenseful. It seemed like half the book was set in a cemetery, and the other half entailed a psycho terrorizing people. I will say that blood magic IS creepy, so I was right to feel that way even before the beginning! It’s really such a thriller of a book. It’s gory and scary and… just overall creepy! But it’s also so darn good. If I’d had the time, I know I would’ve had trouble putting it down.

However, my timing couldn’t have been better! Book two in The Blood Journals series is out on August 28, 2012!

Operation: Find Daniel is over!

For the past few months, Frankie Rose, author of the amazing book Sovereign Hope, has been searching high and low to find her perfect Daniel to grace the cover of Eternal Hope, book two in her Hope series!

She asked her readers to help her find the perfect guy to become swoon worthy Daniel Montisauri, and now Operation: Find Daniel is officially over!

Meet Collin - you're welcome in advance ;)

She would like to thank all of the awesome girls who took part in the operation, please accept this ten minute chat with Collin as your reward!

From Ali of Ginger Reads reviews
What appealed to you about being the cover model for Daniel?
I thought it was a great opportunity and I have a love for fiction, well anything that can get you out of your mind and into someone else’s perspective.

What career would you be pursuing if not for modeling?
Other than modeling I really enjoy medicine and helping people, I’m still in school working toward my biology degree at the moment actually but if I was to still work in the arts I would love to be an actor.

Girls in the States want to know... Boxers or briefs?
Briefs definitely, better support ;)

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead, alive or fictional), who would it be and what would be the first thing you ask them?
I would have to say Zeus, I’m a sucker for Greek mythology and would love to ask him about all the stories that went untold.

From Mel of Girls Hearts Books.
What sort of modeling do you normally do? Is this your first book cover?
Yes this will be my first book cover, I usually do commercial and editorial modeling along with some events which is why I was so excited for this opportunity!

What hobbies do you enjoy?
I’m a little nerdy actually, I really enjoy videogames, horror movies, and building computers but I’m from Florida so I also like wakeboarding, boating, camping and all that stuff as well.

Do you see yourself modeling 5 years from now? If not, what are your plans?
I hope so if the market still calls for it, I would really like to be acting at that point, hopefully on a television series!

From Carmen of Book Me!
Hi Collin, Thanks for agreeing to this interview! We in the Book Blogging world love to get to know the guys gracing the covers of our favourite books! Is it weird that your purrrdy face is going to be out there as the physical embodiment of uber hot guy, Daniel Montisauri? And are you prepared for a whole heap of fangirls?
I think I’m ready. I hope so anyway, is there a way to prepare for that? Haha, I think it will be a little weird because many of the people that have seen my photos are local and this will be on an entirely different scale, I think it’s awesome this series already has a fan base. I’m excited though, I think the book is great and I’m really happy to be working with Frankie!

Do you enjoy reading? Have you read the Hope series? If No, then do you intend to read the book your face will be plastered all over the front of?
I love reading, it’s something I think everyone should do more of, helps you escape from reality and yes, I really enjoyed it and I feel I can relate to Daniel very easily.

What was your reaction when Frankie Rose asked you to be her Daniel for the Eternal Hope cover?
My first thought was holy crap! Then it was...wait is this real! Once she responded I couldn’t wait to get involved further!

Have you always wanted to be a model? And are there any big modeling campaigns that we would recognize you from?
Actually up until about a year ago I never even considered it but a friend of the family told me I should try it and had a photographer reach me on facebook. I don’t have any major campaigns at the moment but I will be doing a shoot for the marketing of Abercrombie this September!

Daniel has been described as brooding and mysterious, while also being vulnerable and completely lovable at the same! Think you share any of his personality traits?
I would say I’m very similar to him, especially when you first meet me I’m pretty quiet but as I open up I’m very easy to talk to and have a very strong love for all my friends and I think that goes both ways.

One of my favourite aspects of Daniel's character is his obsession with his engines. What about you, ever feel the need to get greasy-with-it under the hood of your car? Or are you strictly a lets-take-it-to-the-mechanic kind of man?
I actually drive a pickup truck, a black ford f-150 my uncle gave me when I was 16, that truck is my baby haha. I don’t work on my engine per se but I do like to change my own oil, fuel filters, the basics, not on Daniel’s level but definitely not taking it to mechanic right away.

And finally, Collin, the question that thousands of girls, women, and maybe even a few men, will want to know now that you're gracing the cover of Eternal hope: ARE YOU SINGLE?
Sadly no, I am taken at the moment hahaha!

Sovereign Hope is out now! Eternal Hope is set to be released late October, make sure you catch it. Not only will Collin be appearing on the cover of the next book, but he will also be featured in the book trailer too! You can like his page and drop by to say hello here.

Read my review of Sovereign Hope here.
Read my interview with Frankie here.

Cover Reveal: Iridescent by Carol Oates

I'm really excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Carol Oates' upcoming novel, Iridescent, sequel to Ember!

Publication date: October 2012

Synopsis:

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.

Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.

Lies, manipulation and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.

If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?

Here's the cover for the first book, Ember, to help you compare:

I really enjoyed the first book. Read my review of Ember here.

Here's some links that may be helpful to you:
Iridescent on Goodreads
Carol Oates' Website | Carol Oates on Facebook | Carol Oates on Twitter

Blog Tour: Excerpt from The Legion of Nothing by Jim Zoetewey

Welcome to my stop on the Legion of Nothing Blog Tour! This really looks like a great book, so even though I knew I wouldn’t have the time to read it before this tour, I still wanted to participate. It’s about superheroes, for goodness sake. So for that reason, I have an excerpt from The Legion of Nothing for you!

At the end of the hall, the final painting showed a man sitting in a chair. Golden light surrounded his head and people were bowing before him. He bore a resemblance to pictures I’d seen of Vaughn’s grandfather.

“These paintings are really weird,” Haley said.

“No kidding.” I stared up at the ceiling.

“Oh yeah,” Vaughn said. “I shot up in here once. You would not believe the stuff that went on in my head.”

We followed him into a room. Except for the bookshelves and desk, it looked like the hall. Red Lightning appeared to share reading tastes with Martin Magnus. The bookshelves held books in languages I didn’t recognize, books on translating ancient languages, and a long line of handwritten journals (organized by date).

“This is where I got the stuff I gave to Magnus’ people,” he said. “I didn’t give them much. You’re welcome to the rest.”

“I’ll need to come back with a bag or something.”

Haley picked the first journal off the shelf and started flipping through it. “If we were in Harry Potter,” she said, “I’d end up possessed by this book.”

“Which would make me what?” Vaughn asked. “Malfoy?”

“Have you read the journals?” I asked Vaughn. “Do you have any idea why he did any of it?”

“Not really. I’ve read bits. They’re all pretty normal up till about two years before he got zapped with the Power Impregnator. After that they just get batshit insane.”

“So there’s no reason?” I said. “He just goes crazy? That’s dumb.”

“Ever read Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut?” Vaughn asked. “There’s a character in there that goes crazy and starts killing people. Vonnegut blames it on bad chemicals in his brain. In the book, it’s funny.”

“That doesn’t sound very funny,” Haley said.

“But see,” Vaughn said, “it’s Vonnegut. He’s funny as hell.”

I know I’m interested to read more! And I hope you are, too!

The book was published by 1889 Labs on July 22, 2012. They’re the ones who are hosting this blog tour, and they’re also having a giveaway! Make sure you fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win some awesome prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s a bit more information about the author:

Jim Zoetewey grew up in Holland, Michigan, near where L Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz and other books in that series. Admittedly, Baum moved away more than sixty years before Jim was even born, but it's still kind of cool. He's a web developer, a religion and sociology major, and the author of the superhero series The Legion of Nothing. He's also not sure why he's writing this in the third person, but he's never seen an author bio written in first person and doesn't want to rock the boat.

You can find more information about Jim and The Legion of Nothing here:
Website | Facebook | Amazon

You can also find 1889 Labs on Facebook.

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Genre: YA, dystopian
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
1. Under the Never Sky
2. Through the Ever Night (January 8, 2013)
3. Into the Still Blue (expected pub 2014)

Synopsis:
Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

From Goodreads

I really liked the dystopian world that Veronica Rossi created in Under the Never Sky. From the beginning, we get a really good look at the way Aria lives in the Pods. There’s also foreshadowing to future events that are major plot points, so I won’t say anything about them. I was so happy when I saw that the point of view switched from Aria to Perry. I absolutely love reading books written this way. I know it can’t be easy to delve into two different minds while writing a book, so I have a lot of respect for authors who manage to do it, and who do it well. Especially in this book, it’s a great literary aspect. Aria and Perry come from two totally different worlds, so seeing it the way they do individually was fantastic.

I think I enjoyed Perry’s story more than Aria’s. They both have hard times, but for some reason I connected more with the raw, almost barbarian way of life that Perry lived in. Maybe something about Aria’s side of things just didn’t seem as legitimate or real, and therefore I couldn’t connect to it. I also feel that what Perry was fighting for seemed more important to me than what Aria was fighting for.

This book was truly an adventure story, but it had elements of comedy, action, and of course, romance. The blooming romance between Aria and Perry was well-paced and realistic. They started out totally hating each other, but after spending so much time together, they began to depend on one another and have a caring relationship. Roar was a character that provided a lot of comedic relief, and helped to lighten the mood at times.

I loved the fantasy/sci-fi/evolutionary ideas that Rossi uses. Especially the way the Outsiders have reverted to a much more primitive kind of living: tribes with leaders, land boundaries between tribes, women (or people with less “power”) being of lower status. It’s intriguing that she chose to portray the future in that way. And how the sky is supercharged all the time with an element I don’t even understand is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to reading more about this world, and these characters.

Teaser "Tuesday" (61)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.

Here's what you do:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two sentences from somewhere on that page
Share the title and author
Try not to include spoilers!

I feel bad that I've been neglecting the blog, so I wanted to give you a couple teasers from the book I'm reading, Blood Magic, by the wonderful Tessa Gratton. Here they are:

Peering around the corner, I realized the statue was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and had barrettes in her hair that glittered purple in the moonlight. I was an idiot.

Page 14

He blinked, and I touched his cheek, brushing my fingers down from the corner of his eye, where someday wrinkles would press.

My eyelids fluttered closed just as I kissed him.

Page 106

I'm really liking this book. I'm positive I'll be finishing it soon after we board the plane tomorrow night.

I'll be back soon, hopefully!

Feel free to share your teasers from Tuesday with me! I'd love to see what you're reading.