AUSTRALIAN BLOG TOUR - REVIEW: Crystal Kingdom (Kanin Chronicles #3) by Amanda Hocking

Crystal Kingdom (Kanin #3)Released: 1 August 2015
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: PanMacmillan Australia
Purchase: Amazon l Angus & Robertson l Booktopia l Bookworld l Fishpond

With help from the Trylle clan, Bryn tries to clear her name and discover who was really responsible for the Kanin King's murder.

Then, while she's still trying to make sense of it all, Ridley tracks her down while she's on the run for a crime she didn't commit. He refuses to abandon her, so she finally decides that she wants to be with him and that they do belong together. Together, they return to the Kanin capital and rally other trackers and the King's Guard to defend their kingdom from the villain within. But in the process, Bryn learns a startling truth about her former enemy. Brynn's loyalty is still to her kingdom, but will she be rewarded with a place in the royal guard -- and who will ultimately win her heart?

My Thoughts:

I'd always known that war wouldn't be so black and white, but I'd come to realize that there was a darker shade of grey, where right and wrong came second to simply surviving.

Let me start of by saying that when I first started The Kanin trilogy I was a bit concerned that because I hadn't read The Trylle trilogy I would be a little confused. But for those in the same boat as me, don't fear. I never at any point felt any confusion, so you can go ahead and jump right in. You'll be swept away and captivated by the story just as I was.

I read the three books in this series over a one week period. Sometimes when I binge read a series I end up needing a break and praying for the end. But there were certain events in the previous two books that I was desperate to see played out, so I was eager at every point.

My initial reaction after reading Frostfire was that I didn't like Bryn very much. I found her to be a bit immature and self centred. But boy oh boy, didn't that change over the course of the next two books. By the end of Crystal Kingdom she was such a strong character. Concerned for her friends, family and loved ones, to the point that she puts herself in danger to protect them. Her love for her kingdom was such a wonderful thing to see. 

He had this wonderful, dizzying way of making the whole world disappear for a few minutes, so it was only me and him, and all the rest of my fears and worries fell away. 

I loved Ridley right from the start. He's strong, determined, loyal, protective. He possessed all the qualities that you want your leading man to have. My only complaint is that we didn't get to spend a great deal of time with him. But in saying that, those moments that we did get were pretty darn perfect! I loved seeing his relationship with Bryn bloom and blossom, and he bought out some amazing qualities in Bryn and showed her that you can do a job you love as well as have strong, loving relationships. 

Konstantin was a character that had me intrigued throughout the whole trilogy. Even when he was committing acts that had me questioning if he was good or bad, there was just something about him that I liked. And he did have me guessing right until the very end. And what an ending it was! Complete with tears and all!

I can't not make mention of the supporting characters. There was such a wonderful cast and they really had a chance to shine in Crystal Kingdom. Bryn is surrounded by such a fantastic network of strong kick ass friends. Each played an integral role in the story, and I grew to love each and every one of them.

Crystal Kingdom saw Bryn traverse a whole array of kingdoms. And I loved it. Seeing the differences between how all the kingdoms lived was so wonderful. Amanda Hocking's beautifully vibrant storytelling had me perfectly able to picture all the situations that Bryn found herself in.

After finishing the Kanin trilogy, I'm positive that I'll now being going to check out Amanda Hocking's other work. Friends had raved to me about her writing, and now I'm able to agree!

"There is no such thing as a good war, Bryn." Konstantin said. "Good people will die. Innocent lives will be destroyed."

4/5 Awesome Stars!

About the Author:

Amanda Hocking lives in Minnesota and had never sold a single book before 15 April 2010. She will shortly sell her millionth. Her books have been a self-publishing phenomenon - according to the Observer, Amanda is the most spectacular example of an author striking gold through ebooks. In her own words, Amanda is an Obsessive Tweeter. John Hughes mourner. Unicorn enthusiast. Red Bull addict. Muppets activist. Fraggin Aardvarks guitarist. Author of the USA Today bestselling books the Trylle Trilogy.

Find Amanda:

Website l Twitter l Series Website l Facebook l Instagram

Blog Tour – Crystal Kingdom

      Saturday, August 1 - Diva Booknerd - Review and Q&A

   Sunday, August 2 - Book Nerd Reviews - Review and Giveaway

  Monday, August 3 - Butterfly Elephant – Review

Tuesday, August 4 - Confessions from Romaholics – Review

 Wednesday, August 5 - SassyBookLovers - Review, Q&A & Giveaway

Thursday, August 6 – Fictional Thoughts - Review and Q&A

 Friday, August 7- Behind the Pages - Review

 Saturday, August 8 - Words Read and Written - Q&A

 Monday, August 10 - Aussie Bookworm - Review and Q&A

Tuesday, August 11 – Gobblefunked – Review and Q&A

Thursday, August 13 - The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Review

Friday, August 14 - The Rest Is Still Unwritten - Q&A

 Saturday, August 15 – Fangirl World – Review

 Sunday, August 16 - The Cosy Dragon – Q&A

Tuesday, August 18 - Mystical World of Books - Review and Q&A

Thursday, August 20 - Novels on the Run – Review

 Saturday, August 22 - #LoveBooks - Review and Q&A

 Sunday, August 23 - The Cosy Dragon - Review

 Monday, August 24 - Behind the Pages - Q&A

Wednesday, August 26 - YA Book Addict - Review

 Thursday, August 27 - Read Between the Lines - Review

Saturday, August 29 - Book Nerdigans - Review and Q&A

Monday, August 31 - Oops I Read a Book Again - Review and Q&A 

REVIEW: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Never date your best friend

Always be original

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken 

Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they'd never, ever do in high school.

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never die your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he's broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It's either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember.

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they've actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love. 

Purchase: Amazon l B&N l Book Depository

**REVIEW CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

My Thoughts:

Love was people creating memories for each other...

I'd always meant to read Adi Alsaid's Let's Get Lost, but for some reason that never happened. When I read the synopsis for Never Always Sometimes I knew that this would be the book to introduce me to this authors writing. And the very first thing that jumped out at me was how beautiful that writing is. I connected with it so easily. It was descriptive and perfectly paced. It was so easy to read and get swept up in the story. I was hooked right from the first page!

Never Always Sometimes is split into three sections and told from the POV of our two main characters Dave and Julia. They've been best friends for years, and early on they compiled a list of things that they would never do in high school. A list of cliches that they would avoid at all costs. The list of Never's. But as high school is coming to an end they decide to make things interesting and actually do everything on the list. From partying at the Kapoor brothers house to dying your hair a colour of the rainbow. Everything is fair game.

I loved both Dave and Julia immediately. I loved their closeness and their banter and their ease. Dave is a romantic. He thinks beautiful, romantic things. He's so sweet and caring. And Julia has such a zest for life. She was infectious! But it wasn't until Julia's POV that I realised how much substance she had. She's not just out to have fun and do crazy things. She's so much deeper than that. She cares much more than she lets on.

He'd been a cliche all four years of high school, in love with his best friend, pining silently.

As Dave and Julia complete each of the never's they begin to question the way they viewed things previously. Not just the relationships and interactions they've had with their classmates, but also their feelings for each other. I absolutely loved this aspect of the story. I loved watching their opinions and presumptions evolve and change. I loved seeing the growth of new relationships and new friendships. 

One of the things on the Never list related to hooking up with a teacher. And it was here that the author lost me for a bit. I found the whole thing a little odd. I don't know about you, but hooking up with a teacher never entered my mind when I was in high school. I mean sure there's been teens who've had a crush on a teacher, but the lengths Julia went to were just a little bizarre for my liking. 

Outside of that I loved everything. Until the ending. Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing really wrong with it besides it not being what I'd imagined. As readers we picture things in our minds. We have visions of how things will play out. And this ending never entered my head once. I'm sure lots of people will love that the author didn't take things down the predictable route though. I just wish I could be one of them. It did guarantee that I'd be thinking about it long after I'd finished reading it.

Rest assured that I will be reading more from this author in the future. Loved, loved, LOVED his writing!

People were always belittling teenage heartbreak. But heartbreak was heartbreak was heartbreak.

4/5 Wonderfully Written Stars

Thanks so much to Harlequin Teen for providing me with a review copy. 

EBOOK LAUNCH & GIVEAWAY: Sweet Madness ‏by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

Today we’re celebrating the release of the Sweet Madness ebook by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie. Sweet Madness is a retelling of the infamous Borden Murders told from the POV of Lizzie’s Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan.

Seventeen-year-old Bridget Sullivan is alone in Fall River, a city that sees Irish immigrants as nothing more than a drunken drain on society. To make matters worse, she's taken employment with the city’s most peculiar and gossip-laden family—the Bordens. But Bridget can’t afford to be picky—the pay surpasses any other job Bridget could ever secure and she desperately needs the money to buy her little sister, Cara, passage to the states. It doesn’t hurt that the job location is also close to her beau, Liam. As she enters the disturbing inner workings of the Borden household, Bridget clings to these advantages.

However, what seemed like a straightforward situation soon turns into one that is untenable. Of course Bridget has heard the gossip around town about the Bordens, but what she encounters is far more unsettling. The erratic, paranoid behavior of Mr. Borden, the fearful silence of his wife, and worse still...the nightly whisperings Bridget hears that seem to come from the walls themselves.

When Bridget makes a horrifying discovery in the home, all that she thought she knew about the Bordens is called into question...including if Lizzie is dangerous. And the choice she must make about Lizzie’s character could mean Bridget’s life or death.

Goodreads l Amazon l B&N l IndieBound l BAM l The Book Depository l Powell’s

What Readers Are Saying

“This thrilling novel will keep readers on their toes until the last page. Fans of historical fiction and horror will thoroughly enjoy this book.” —VOYA Magazine

“The portrait of the claustrophobic, creepy Borden household and its denizens, Lizzie especially, is grippingly vivid.” -Kirkus

“Engaging historical novel that gives readers another glimpse into the infamous Lizzie Borden.” -YA Book Central

“Dark, creepy and overall fantastically moody; SWEET MADNESS remains firmly entrenched in the Hitchcock side of horror.” -Fangirlish

About the Authors

Trisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather disobedient black lab. She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life. She writes Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is published with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press.

Trisha is a member of the SCBWI, The Cape Cod Writers Center, and the YA Scream Queens—a group of nine female authors who are deathly serious about their horror.

Website l Twitter l Facebook l Goodreads l Tumblr

Lindsay Currie lives in Chicago, Illinois with one incredibly patient hubby, three amazing kids and a 160 pound lap dog named Sam. She's fond of tea, chocolate and things that go bump in the night.

An author of young adult and middle grade fiction, Lindsay is published with Flux/Llewellyn, Merit Press and Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Website l Twitter l Facebook l Goodreads lInstagram

Giveaway

To celebrate the ebook release, the authors are giving away a very special swag pack: A custom, exclusive bookmark, an exclusive image of the Borden house taken by photographer Frank C. Grace, and signed bookmarks.

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COVER REVEAL: PUSH ME, PULL ME by Vanessa Garden

●•●★●•● COVER REVEAL ●•●★●•●

"Sometimes holding on hurts more than letting go..."

PUSH ME, PULL ME 

a novel by Vanessa Garden

●•●★●•● SYNOPSIS ●•●★●•●

Since Ruby Milton’s mother committed suicide, she’s forgotten what it’s like to be seventeen.

Saddled with taking care of her toddler brother and alcoholic father, Ruby has no time for fun. She also can’t shake the growing resentment she feels for her mother’s selfish decision, which left her unable to grieve without anger and regret. 

Then she meets blue-eyed musician Byron Black, who challenges everything she believes.

Byron refuses to let anyone control his life—or his death. When he left the city behind, he was in search of somewhere where nobody knew his secret. What he didn’t expect was to meet a beautiful redhead whose views conflict so completely with his own. But as their romance deepens, he begins to doubt his choices and decides to return to the city…for one last chance. 

When Byron disappears, Ruby will stop at nothing to track him down.

Upon finding Byron, Ruby discovers his devastating secret, and a battle of wills begins. Byron doesn’t want her to know this part of him. He has to deal with it by himself, even though the idea of losing her tears him apart. 

Will they be able to see each other through the darkness? 

Or should they save their hearts and just let go?

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25926184-push-me-pull-me

●•●★●•● VANESSA GARDEN ●•●★●•●

A bookseller and Young Adult author, Vanessa loves nothing more than immersing herself in the exciting world of books. When she is not gushing about her favourite reads with customers, or mentally casting actors to play the characters in her books, Vanessa enjoys hanging out with those she loves most.

FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/1I8GYAf

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://bit.ly/1ObMTTq

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/vanessagarden27

WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/1Kb5QVz

RELEASE EVENT & GIVEAWAY: In An Instant by Janae Mitchell

Sixteen year old Emersyn Moore spends her summer days working part-time in a book store, enjoying her next read, and hanging out with her best friend, Brianna. She also spends a lot of time admiring Brianna’s older brother, Kaden, who has made it clear that he sees Emersyn as nothing more than a sister. Emersyn concedes to her sisterly role, keeping her feelings to herself, as well as the fantasies she knows will never become reality. However, when Kaden is involved in a disabling accident, everything changes, including their relationship.

Will it tear them apart, making her long for the sisterly role she’d always despised, or will this life altering experience bring them closer together, forcing Kaden to see her in a new light? Only time will tell.

Time. They say it will heal all wounds, but Emersyn knows that’s a lie. Some wounds never heal, which is evident every time she looks at Kaden. 

"In An Instant is the one story that has come from my heart more than any other book I've written. Kaden, one of the main characters, suffers injuries that most would think would make life unlivable, at least to the point where a normal life would never be accomplished. However, my nephew suffered the same fate in a similar accident, and even though his life's story is totally different than Kaden's, both lives give me hope. Every time I see my nephew smile, it's like a rainbow, letting me know that the storms of life, as severe as they may seem, are only temporary. The sun will always return, and it's up to us as to how we're going to enjoy it."

About the Author

“First & foremost, I'm a country girl. I'm no different than most, I just happen to write... a lot. If I’m not writing books, I’m reading them. I live for the HEA! I'm a huge fan of readers! They breathe life into the books we give birth to. Thank you, fellow readers, for making books come alive.” ☺
Janae was born and raised in East Tennessee, where she currently resides with her husband, two children, and their hairless dog, Dobby. In her spare time, she likes to read, play tennis, and spend time with her family on the lake.

Online Release Event 

To celebrate her most recent release, Janae is hosting an IN AN INSTANT Release Event! There will be several other authors there throughout the day celebrating with her and doing giveaways for all the loyal readers who attend, so make sure you join! (Click on event photo below to join!)

Giveaway!

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☺

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #84: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black--black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Expected publication: September 1st 2015

The whole concept of this story and the narrative sounds so interesting. And since I'm always looking for something that's a little different to everything else, I'll definitely be picking this one up. 
What book are you patiently waiting for the release of?

REVIEW: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!
 
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
 
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
 
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Includes a PDF Help Line Resource Guide and a Note Read by the Author.

My Thoughts:

For a minute I can feel it: the sense of peace as my mind goes quiet, like I'm already dead. I am weightless and free. Nothing and on one to fear, not even myself.

My heart. My poor aching heart. I cried like I've never cried before while reading a book. Big, ugly crying. Loud and scary sobbing. This is a book. Just a book. At least that's what I kept telling myself. This isn't real. But it is. This story is so real, because its happening every single day, the world over. This story could be happening right next door to where I live right now. It could be happening to someone in my family. 

"The cadence of suffering has begun." - Cesare Pavese

I

am

in

pieces.

When I read a book as amazing as All the Bright Places, the characters become my friends, my family. When they're sad, I'm sad. When they're happy, I'm happy. When they're in pain, I'm in pain. I become so invested in their story that it stays with me long after I've turned the last page. Just a passing comment from another book lover can bring to the surface all of the emotions that a book elicited in me. That's how it is with this book. 

For once, I don't want to be anyone but Theodore Finch, the boy she sees. He understands what it is to be elegant and euphoric and a hundred different people, most of them flawed and stupid, part asshole, part screwup, part freak... A boy who belongs - here in the world, here in his own skin. He is exactly who I want to be and what I want my epitaph to say: The boy Violet Markey loves.

Theodore Finch is witty and incredibly intelligent. His mind is a brilliant place, that at times could also be fast and frantic. But his heart... His heart was a thing of beauty. He cared and he loved and he gave so much. But Finch is bullied and beaten. He's called a freak. His home life is sad. His Dad is an arse and his Mum is so distant. And Finch feels everything so greatly. I cannot put into words how much I loved him. This boy is in my heart for life. 

Just like Finch, Violet Markey knows pain and depression. But she has such strength and wonderful parents. When a chance encounter on the ledge of the school bell tower throws this unlikely pair together for a school project, Violet's eyes are opened to how incredible Finch is. Violet doesn't have an instant attraction to Finch, but he's nothing if not persistent and it's not long before his natural charm wears her down. 

I felt so let down by some of the adults in this book. Finch's family failed so miserably in recognising the signs and behaviour that at times was right under their noses. I wanted to scream at them and shake them and make them see. I wanted them to sit up and pay attention to this boy that desperately needed help.

The thing I realize is that it's not what you take, it's what you leave.

This book. This author. I have never, in all my years of reading, read a book that has affected me as greatly or as deeply as this one. It is beauty. It is love. It is pain. It is sadness. It is grief. It is loss. It is life. It is death. It just simply is. 

This book has been compared to the Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor and Park. Personally, I don't like to compare books because ultimately one is going to come off second best. But sometimes a book comes along that blows all others out of the water. This is that book. Get it, read it, and let it become one of the best books you're most likely to read.

You are all the colors in one. at full brightness.

5/5 Theodore Finch Stars.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are from an ARC and may have changed at the time of publishing. 

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #83: Even When You Lie to Me by Jessica Alcott

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.

Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.

But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.

She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.

In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.

Expected publication: June 9th 2015

I have such a weak spot for student/teacher relationships. It's not just the taboo nature of it, it's also seeing if it's a one sided attraction, and how the author manages to pull something like that off. 
I'm really excited for this!
What book are you patiently waiting for the release of?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #82: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life. 

Expected publication: April 28th 2015

I remember there used to be a set of twins at my school who would fool everyone by switching places, but this just takes it to a whole new level. That saying 'be careful what you wish for' comes to mind here.
What book are you patiently waiting for the release of?