Review: Their Promise by Brina Courtney (Tour)

Title: Their Promise
Author: Brina Courtney
Format: e-ARC*
Pages: 60
Genre: YA/New Adult Fiction Contemporary
Stand-Alone or Series: Stand-Alone

Summary: One moment can change your life.
                One moment to find love.
                One moment to lose it.

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What's Next? (2)

What's Next? is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Hafsah @ IceyBooks To find out more about What's Next? click {HERE}
The NetGalley Edition: The Contemps I have quite a few NetGalley books & have been thinking about doing a NetGalley read-a-thon to get caught up on them. My problem is I don't know where to start! Here are a few of the ones I have. Help please? Without further ado... Tweet

Mini-Review: Free Four by Veronica Roth

Title: Free Four
Author: Veronica Roth
Format: E-Book
Pages: 42
Genre: YA Fiction Dystopian
Stand-Alone or Series: Companion/Series

Summary: #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth retells a pivotal Divergent scene (chapter 13) from Tobias's point of view. This thirteen-page scene reveals unknown facts and fascinating details about Four's character, his past, his own initiation, and his thoughts about new Dauntless initiate Tris Prior.

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Teaser Tuesday: 8/28 (14)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Image made by & copyrighted to me, Ren.

Anyone can join in! Just:
~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (You don't want to give away too much for any one else that hasn't read it yet, but wants to.)
~Share the title and author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teasers come from City of Bones by Cassandra Clare...
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Playlist: Their Promise by Brina Courtney

   Hey y'all! So this week I will have 2 stops on the Their Promise tour & I am so excited to finally be able to share more about this novella with y'all! I absolutely adore it! More about that later this week. ;) It's no secret that I love music to the point that it's one of my go to interview questions & today Brina is stopping by not just to share a couple songs, but pretty much the soundtrack to Their Promise! How awesome is that?! Brina was also amazing enough to create the playlist on Spotify so you can listen to it below! You can also click the title to individual tracks if you want to listen to them one by one. (I apologize if one of them goes to the wrong place. Blogger was being hinky so I had to add them manually. Just let me know if one is wrong & I will fix it as soon as I can.)

Without further ado the playlist for Their Promise...

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Cover Reveal: Naturals by Tiffany Truitt

   Hey y'all! Today I've got a reveal for the cover of Tiffany Truitt's Naturals. I don't want to keep y'all in suspense too long so...

I love it!

More About Naturals:

Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.
   NATURALS is the second book in The Lost Souls trilogy, and follows the dystopian hit CHOSEN ONES.

More About Tiffany:

   Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonald's and Banana Rats (don't ask) she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).
   Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”
   Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

Important Links: 

~Pre-Order Naturals~

~Add Naturals on Goodreads~

~Check Out Tiffany's Website~

~Follow Tiffany On Twitter~

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Week In Review: August 20 - 25

   Hey y'all! I don't normally do weekly recaps of any kind, but there was so much going on this week I thought it might be a good idea just in case anybody missed anything. This past week on the blog there was...

Monday:

~ Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Conjure by Lea Nolan ~

Tuesday:

~ Review: Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson ~

Wednesday:

~ Excerpt: ReAwakened by Ada Adams ~

Thursday:

~ What's Next? (1) ~

Friday:

~ Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ~

Also, I'm sorry there wasn't a Stacking the Shelves post this week. I did get a few things(really really awesome things) but I had to run errands today & they took longer than expected. By the time I was able to post anything it was already late so I decided to just wait & do my bookish haul post next Sat. since I'm not expecting anything next week anyways.

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Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Format: Library Binding
Pages: 387
Genre: Adult Fiction Historical Fantasy
Stand-Alone or Series: Stand-Alone

Summary: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

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What's Next? (1)

What's Next? is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Hafsah @ IceyBooks To find out more about What's Next? click {HERE}
Hey y'all! This is my first week taking part in "What's Next?"! I think this meme is a great idea. Sometimes it's nice to get other input on which book to dive into on my TBR list & with this week's picks I could really use y'alls help. They're all so different, but they look so good! Without further ado... Tweet

Excerpt: ReAwakened by Ada Adams

{Y'all know I couldn't do this post w/out using the cover again, right?}

I know half of y'all won't even read this because you've already skipped to the excerpt(& who could blame you, really?), but if you're actually reading this(you amazingly patient person you) all I'll say is: LOVE!!!!! How long until we get to read the whole book again, Ada? ;)

“Meeting Razor” - “ReAwakened”

Ada Adams

My two-story fall was cushioned by the intruder’s body. He—a vampire, I realized—groaned as I landed on top of him, forcing his body into the muddy ground. I reached for my dagger, but he was quicker. Before I had a chance to pull it out, he slipped out from underneath me, flipping me over so that he was on top. His firm, muscular body pressed tightly against mine as his hands pinned my wrists to either side of my head. His face was covered by shadows, but I could make out a mischievous smirk dancing across perfectly-shaped full lips.
“You’re quite feisty, aren’t you?” he chuckled, bending forward to examine me. Deep, charcoal eyes overflowed with amusement.
He was actually enjoying this.
“I don’t wanna hurt you,” he whispered in a deep, throaty voice. “I’m gonna release you now. Don’t do anything stupid.”
He lifted his arm, removing his right hand from my left wrist. The moment I felt some freedom, I leaped forward, attempting a left hook at his jaw. He blocked my hand, once again pushing it toward the ground.
“I said I wasn’t going to hurt you!” he growled, pinning me even further into the soft, wet earth.
“Yes, but I never said I wouldn’t hurt you,” I snapped.
He brought his face toward mine. “I’d like to see you try,” he whispered.
Challenge accepted.
I raised my head—the only part of my body that wasn't restrained by the stranger’s body—inching my lips closer to his. He tensed for a moment, his eyes searching mine, as if surprised by my sudden change in behavior. Drops of rainwater slid down his chiseled jaw, pausing briefly on his lips before they plummeted onto mine. Then, a slow, smug smile spread across his face. I felt his body relax and he leaned even closer. His breath caressed my skin as his lips drew near.
It was exactly what I needed. Summoning all my strength, I twisted my hips to the side, shooting them up and out, then launching my legs from the ground. Thrown off-balance, my captor groaned and released one of my arms to brace for the fall, giving me the perfect opportunity to reach for my dagger. In one smooth move I darted behind him, placing him in a secure headlock—the blade of my weapon aimed directly at his heart.
“Who are you?” I demanded when I was certain he couldn’t escape my grip.
“I’m a twenty-four-year-old Taurus who enjoys long walks on the beach.” Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel his arrogant grin.
“You have ten seconds to explain yourself,” I ordered. “And then I’m really going to hurt you.”
“Oh, come on! Can’t we get back to kissing? You can’t tease a guy like that.”
“Ten, nine…” I pressed the dagger deeper into him, nicking the leather of his jacket.
“Hey! Watch it!”
“Eight…”
“Oh, alright. You’re no fun,” he sighed. “My name is Razor.”
“What kind of a name is that?”
“It’s a nickname.”
“What kind of a nickname is that?”
“Spike, Blade, Fang—all the good, pointy objects were already taken by fictional characters. It was the best I could do.”

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Review: Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson

Title: Flirting In Italian
Author: Lauren Henderson
Format: E-Galley (from NetGalley)
Pages: 336
Genre: YA Fiction Contemporary
Stand-Alone or Series: Series

Summary: Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

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Cover Reveal: Conjure by Lea Nolan

   Hey y'all! Today I've got a reveal for the cover of Lea Nolan's Conjure. There's also a giveaway. I don't want to keep y'all in suspense too long so...

Personally, I love this cover. Especially the way the title's done with the crescent moon dotting the j & the tagline ("Be careful what you search for...") just makes me even more curious about the book. This is one that would definitely catch my eye in a book store!

More About Conjure:

   Be careful what you search for…
   Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.
   When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.

I'm sold! Haha With pirates, a curse, a Southern setting, & adventure this one sounds like it's right up my alley. Conjure is one of those books I would love to have for a Halloween read! How about y'all? Make sure to check out the links & enter Lea's giveaway for a shot at winning Conjure below. Don't forget to leave your thoughts on Conjure & it's cover in the comments as well. I'd love to hear what y'all have to say about it.

Important Links: 

~ Add Conjure on Goodreads ~

~ Visit Lea's Website ~

~ Follow Lea on Twitter ~

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Bookish Haul: August 13 - 19 (15)

Credit for Stacking The Shelves goes to Tynga's Reviews

Image made by & copyright to me, Ren.

   Hey y'all! So no Bookish Haul post last week. It was one of the many weeks I didn't receive anything so I just had to skip it. A lot of awesome came in this week though AND I was actually able to get outside long enough to bring back my outdoor book pictures(at least for this week) & to get sunburned. Oh well, it was worth it! Sunlight! LOL Yeah, it's been raining that much here this summer. Sorry it's a day late, I lost my camera cable(again) & couldn't get Goodreads to load.

 Without further ado...

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Mini-Review: Never Enough Stories by Denise Jaden

Title: Never Enough Stories
Author: Denise Jaden
Format: E-Book
Pages: 28
Genre: YA Fiction Contemporary
Stand-Alone or Series: Companion

Summary: An anthology of companion stories and deleted scenes from the young adult novel, Never Enough by Denise Jaden.
    Everybody loves Marcus, Loann's slow-growing best friend in Never Enough. Reviewers are calling him "a stupendous book boy." Marcus and Loann's unique friendship is not insta-love, and this anthology opens with a little more of how their friendship began...from Marcus's point of view.
Other stories follow the complicated sisterly relationship of Loann and Claire, and give a deeper view into Claire's thoughts. Did things have to end the way they did for these two?
    Publishers Weekly calls Never Enough "an intimate and enlightened rendering of anorexia and bulimia." Critically acclaimed young adult author CK Kelly Martin calls it "A poignant, important book...filled with hurt, heart, and personal strength.”
    Delve deeper into the lives of your favorite characters from Never Enough. Available September 1, 2012.

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Waiting On Wednesday: 8/15 (11)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. (Watch image via We Heart It)

This week's "Waiting On Wednesday" is:

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August Book of the Month and Book Club

Book images in banner via We Heart It

Please read the rules {HERE} before participating.

The Book of the Month for August is...

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Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Format: Library Binding
Pages: 479
Genre: YA Fiction Steampunk
Stand-Alone or Series: Series

Summary: In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to The Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Searching for her missing brother, sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld and finds herself up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork demons, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her Shadowhunter allies can stop them.

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Teaser Tuesday: 8/7 (13)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Image made by & copyrighted to me, Ren.

Anyone can join in! Just:
~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (you don't want to give away too much for any one else that hasn't read it yet, but wants to)
~Share the title and author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser comes from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare...

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The Verse Challenge

   Hey y'all!! So, this year I decided I wanted to try to participate in some reading challenges. I adore verse books so when I saw this one on Angela's blog I knew that I wanted to sign up. For more information about the rules & everything on how the challenge works click the picture. Yup, that one, right up there at the top of this post.

    I'm aiming for Level 1(Big Wheels) which is a goal of 1-5 novels written in verse. I have a few verse books on my shelf that haven't been reviewed here on my blog yet & I figured this would be the perfect time to get around to those. I'm going to have 2 lists, one with books I'd like to read for the challenge & one with the books I actually read for the challenge. I've added a tab on my blog menu under "Rens Randomness" that says Challenges so that anyone interested can check in on my progress. Good luck to all the participants & happy reading! =)

Verse Books (Maybe) To Be Read (links go to Goodreads):
~ After The Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy
~ The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
~ The Weight of the Sky by Lisa Ann Sandell

Verse Books Read (links go to reviews):

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Bookish Haul: July 30-August 5 (14)

Credit for Stacking The Shelves goes to Tynga's Reviews

Image made by & copyright to me, Ren.

   Hey y'all! So this week's been a bit of a flop for me at times. We got some not so great news more than once this week. I'm praying about it & trusting the Lord to work it all out. Hopefully y'alls week was great! It's still been raining every day, and not just passing showers, but full-on thunderstorms, so still no outdoor bookish pictures. Hopefully soon! Well, I'm not going to ramble on any more so... Without further ado...
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Review: Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Title: Never Enough
Author: Denise Jaden
Format: ARC*
Pages: 372
Genre: YA Fiction Contemporary
Stand-Alone or Series: Stand-Alone

Summary: From the author of Losing Faith, a novel about two sisters and the eating disorder that threatens to destroy their family.
   Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.
   But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late?

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Cover Reveal: Summer In Salem by Brina Courtney

   Hey guys! So y'all know I am a huge fan of Brina's books. She an amazing person & an amazing author. I was lucky enough to see an early version of this cover & now I get to share the final version & the book info. with all of y'all! You ready for it?




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