Release Week Blitz: SWEET TEMPTATION BY WENDY HIGGINS (+Giveaway)

I am so excited that SWEET TEMPTATION by Wendy Higgins released this week and I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Wendy Higgins, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a a paperback of the book with a signed bookplate and bookmarks! US only.  So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

Title: SWEET TEMPTATION

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publishing Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 485

Format: Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes& Noble, iBooks, Book Depository, 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.

Author Note: 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

Giveaway Details:

1 Paperback of SWEET TEMPTATION and a signed bookplate and bookmarks.

US Only.

Ends on September 18th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Trailer Thursday (35)

Today I'm bringing you a trailer for a debut historical sci-fi that will have you questioning what makes a man and what makes a monster.  

This Monstrous Thing

by Mackenzi Lee

Release Date: September 22, 2015

I'm really excited about this book!  I love Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and the idea that this world is set during the same "time" as the book with characters actually creating man-made people is really intriguing.  Can't wait!!

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Waiting on Wednesday (90)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

The Sister Pact

by Stacie Ramey

Publication Date: November 1, 2015

A suicide pact was supposed to keep them together, but a broken promise tore them apart

Allie is devastated when her older sister commits suicide--and not just because she misses her. Allie feels betrayed. The two made a pact that they'd always be together, in life, and in death, but Leah broke her promise and Allie needs to know why. 

Her parents hover. Her friends try to support her. And Nick, sweet Nick, keeps calling and flirting. Their sympathy only intensifies her grief. 

But the more she clings to Leah, the more secretes surface. Allie's not sure which is more distressing: discovering the truth behind her sister's death or facing her new reality without her.

(Summary from Goodreads)

I on one hand want to really read this book, and then on the other hand, I want to throw it as far away from me as possible.  I have a very close relationship with my older sister.  She is my rock; she is my confidant; she is my best friend.  I think that if we were a little bit more damaged, we would make a pact like this as well, which scares me.  But from the reviews I've read, Ramey does an excellent job crafting the story of a left behind sister and her life without the one person that made it all worth it.  Due to this, I am going to snap this up when it comes out.  I'll be prepared with tissues and have my sister on stand-by for hugs.

What book are you waiting for?

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The Foxglove Killings Release Day Blitz (+ Giveaway)

The Foxglove Killings

by Tara Kelly 

Release Date: 09/01/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads
Gramps always said that when the crickets were quiet, something bad was coming. And the crickets have been as silent as the dead. It started with the murdered deer in the playground with the unmistakable purple of a foxglove in its mouth. But in the dying boondock town of Emerald Cove, life goes on.

I work at Gramps's diner, and the cakes―the entitled rich kids who vacation here―make our lives hell. My best friend, Alex Pace, is the one person who gets me. Only Alex has changed. He's almost like a stranger now. I can't figure it out...or why I'm having distinctly more-than-friend feelings for him. Ones I shouldn't be having.

Then one of the cakes disappears.


When she turns up murdered, a foxglove in her mouth, a rumor goes around that Alex was the last person seen with her—and everyone but me believes it. Well, everyone except my worst enemy, Jenika Shaw. When Alex goes missing, it's up to us to prove his innocence and uncover the true killer. But the truth will shatter everything I've ever known about myself—and Alex.

Buy the Book

Amazon :::: Barnes & Noble :::: Book Depository

Excerpt

Chapter One

Alex saw it first.

We were cutting through Neahkahnie Park, the morning sun warm on our backs. I was telling him we should take his grandpa’s El Camino SS and drive down the coast to California for the summer.

“He left that car to you,” I said. “You know he did.” I reached over to muss his light brown hair. It always stood straight up afterward, as if he’d been electrocuted.

“We can’t, Nova. I—” He stopped walking, his eyes widening at the playground.

Clumps of fur blew across the grass, like the cotton blooms did in July. I didn’t think it was real at first. Some kid’s stuffed animal, maybe.

But the stench was unmistakable. I’d practically been raised in my grandpa’s diner. I knew the smell of meat past its prime. Raw. Metallic. Even a little sweet.

A deer’s carcass was a twisted heap in the playground, its legs jutting out like winter branches. Bits of flesh, ranging in color from pink to dark red, were strewn across the wood chips. The head of the deer sat on the middle bucket swing. A misty film covered its eyes, and its mouth was open, as if it were gasping for air.

My stomach muscles began to knot.

I saw a dog get hit by a semi once. The scene replayed in my mind for months. The thud of the impact, the way he’d yelped. The last second of that dog’s life seemed to echo forever.

This was worse. Someone planned this. Put it on display, like it was entertainment.

About the Author

Tara Kelly adores variety in her life. She’s an author, one-girl-band, graphic designer, editor, and photographer. She lives in Sin City with her beloved guitars, sound design master husband, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.

 Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Teaser Tuesday (72)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following!

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share a few teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• MAKE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (you don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for other readers)

Share the title and author too, so that other readers can add your book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!

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Uprooted
Naomi Novik
May 19, 2015

      Our Dragon doesn't eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. 
(pg. 1)

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I can't gush enough about this book!  As you can see, from line one the narrative grabs you and takes you on a journey.  It is a journey both familiar and alien, like you're stepping into a dream you once had.  Each character in this book is necessary to the story, and feel like whole, complete people, even if they are only in the book for a few pages.  Novik is a craftswoman at the highest degree, and I want to live in the world of Uprooted.  If you don't read but one book this year, make it this one!

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Visual Inspiration - Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Pictures/Art/Photographs all help me see the books I'm reading.  Often, while I'm online, I stumble upon images that remind me of the book.  These visuals add layers to the stories, and can be used to offer hints to the plot.  So I've decided to put out "Visual Inspirations" in order to spark readers' interests in those books that I love.  Please feel free to join in; hopefully you'll get some new books to read in the process!

This is one of my favorite books of 2015.  To celebrate this I give you inspiration this week from:

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Oh I wonder what this could all mean?

Check the book out at your local bookstore or local library.  If you even like fantasy a tiny bit, you will fall in love with this book!  The mythos is so intricate and beautifully thought out that I feel like I'm walking along Agnieszka's side.

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Waiting on Wednesday (89)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming/recent releases that we seriously can’t wait to read

Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait to read:

Silver in the Blood

by Jessica Day George

Publication Date: July 7, 2015

Society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. The Florescus, after all, are shape-shifters, and it is time for Dacia and Lou to fulfill the prophecy that demands their acceptance of this fate . . . or fight against this cruel inheritance with all their might.

With a gorgeous Romanian setting, stunning Parisian gowns, and dark brooding young men, readers will be swept up by this epic adventure of two girls in a battle for their lives.

(Summary from Goodreads)

I love that this has a werewolf (?) twist to it.  I love that it is set in the 1800s, and focuses on the glamour of being the "It" society girl of that time.  I love that it has some mystery and secrets.  I love that everything will turn on it's head for these two girls.  I love this description: "With a gorgeous Romanian setting, stunning Parisian gowns, and dark brooding young men, readers will be swept up by this epic adventure of two girls in a battle for their lives."

What book are you waiting for?

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Top Ten Tuesday (42)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists there at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love us to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on their post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share.  If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. 

The topic this week is:

Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors

1. Cassandra Clare  2. Laurie Halse Anderson  3. Francesca Lia Block  4. John Green  5. Jonathan Maberry  6. David Levithan  7. Beth Revis  8. Leigh Bardugo  9. Tamora Pierce  10. Ellen Wittlinger 

Look at those amazing authors!  Each one of them, I don't care what the book is about, what genre it tackles, or how expensive it is, I am OWNING it!!  These aren't listed in any particular order; but some have been my tried and true loves long before others (I'm looking at you Ellen Wittlinger).   

Each author, whether it be their prose, their worlds, their characters, or their plots, has captured me in some way and worked their dark author magic, making the money disappear right from my bank account.  I'm going to list one book from each author that I suggest you pick up. 

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

3. The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block

4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

5. Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

6. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

7. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

9. Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

10. Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Each title links to the Goodreads page, so PLEASE go check them out!!  They are all marvelous, and some are lesser known titles that I think really deserve more attention! 

Who are you're Auto-buy Authors?  Leave a comment below, or do your own post and link me!!

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Let's Talk Slumps

Adventure Time

I have been in a real reading slump since late 2014.  Yes that's right, 2014.  For a book blogger and a life-long reader, this long of a slump is really defeating.  This isn't to say I haven't read any books.  I definitely have read quite a few over the last year and a half (I even managed to review most of them :O).  But the volume of my reading and the enjoyment I get from reading has taken a slow descent.

I can pretty much pin point where the slump started and when it got really bad.  In January 2014, I was promoted at my job.  This job, in general, is my first "big girl" job.  It's a full-time career with the potential for continued growth.  It's in a field I find fascinating, but is also full of high stress situations.  And when I got my promotion, I had only been working in my previous position for 6 months.  So I felt more pressure to "perform". This led to me being very stressed and tired at the end of each day; I had no desire to do anything, let alone read.

Luckily, I was still in graduate school and that required me to read as I was getting my degree in Library Science.  Yay, a reason (beyond wanting to, because at this point that wasn't a good motivator) to read YA/Children's lit.  This had me on a good path; not as productive as previous years, but still reading. Then two major things happened: (1) I graduated from graduate school; and (2) I got my second promotion to a Team Manager, which is essentially being one of the bosses in my office.  This led to almost a complete halt on my reading.

I'm not exaggerating that I have so far only read 4 full books this year, when in the past I well surpassed 50.  This has led to me being in a slight depression, further fueling my lack of passion for reading.  It's been a whole big mess, but I think I'm finally coming out of it.

I know I'm not the only one out there who has felt the same, so I thought of some things that have helped me deal with this, and have finally turned it around.

1. Mix Up the Genres - I typically read young adult, and a lot of sci-fi/fantasy within that umbrella.  However, I mixed it up, and not only changed genres but also switched "age levels" moving to adult fiction.  I read more magical realism and contemporary fiction with some suspense thrown in.  Now that I "cleansed" my palette, I'm ready for young adult again.

2. Re-Read Favorites - I have three books that I consider my go-to favorites: Sandry's Book (Circle of Magic, #1) by Tamora Pierce, Searching for Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #2) by Patricia Wrede, and Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger.  I can re-read each of these books, and they bring me to my happy place.

3. Change Up the Visuals - Comic books were a big thing for me at the end of last year; my sister has always been a big collector, but now that we both have steady, well-paying jobs, comics have become a thing for me too.  I love sharing this with my sister, and I know that comic books count towards reading, but when I talk about my slump I strictly mean traditional books.  I've been devouring comics like crazy actually, which I think has helped jumpstart me on the path back to reading books.

4. Plan a Time to Read - Scheduling reading time has really gotten me back on track.  I know it may seem weird to make it an action item for my day, but I work really well with structure and I'm use to reading for school.  So I make a point of having a designated reading time each day where, no matter what, I read.  It can be for 5 minutes or it can go for two hours (depends on the book), but I end up reading each day.

5. Remember That Reading is Fun - This is the most important  piece of advice I took for myself.  I had to remember how much I like to read and why.  One of the MAJOR ways I am doing this is that I, along with one of my good friends Erin who blogs at Uniquely Geeky Girl, started a book club.  It's called Gone with the Book Club, and it focuses on YA books.  I'm really excited about it because while I can obviously geek out over books with all of you and on social media, doing the whole community building, face-to-face thing is something I miss.

So there you have it, my woe is me reading slump tale.  I'm trying to get back into the swing of things not only with my reading, but also with my blogging.  Hopefully I succeed and I'm back to the Eli you all know and love.

If you've ever experienced a book slump, let me know in the comments what you did to snap yourself out and hopefully if you're in a slump, my suggestions can help a little!

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From my family to yours, even if you do not celebrate or simply don't believe, please know that I wish you the best of days today!

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