More Winners!

Hey everyone!  It is that time again to announce a few winners!  

Dark Days of Winter 2013:

Brittany S

Mid Winter ALA Event:

Stephanie W.

YA Paranormal Hop:

Renee G.

Congrats to all our winners!  Everyone has been emailed =)  Thank you so much to everyone who entered!  We still have lots of giveaways going on and many many more planned to stay tuned everybody!

Blog Tour: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Today is our last stop on the Triple Threat Blog Tour and we are finishing this amazing tour with a review of Hysteria by Megan Miranda!

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Release-Feb 5th 2013
Publisher- Walker Childrens
Purchase- Amazon/ B & N

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

My Thoughts:
Sixteen year old Mallory Murphy killed her boyfriend but can't remember what really happened that night. Mallory's parents worried about all the gossips and threats decided to give her a fresh start, in New Hampshire at a boarding school that her father once went to. Monroe Academy. 

Thinking that her problems might be past her, Mallory starts to feel the boom of an eerie presence that wont seem to let her go. Someone or something wont let her forget that night making Mallory feel like she's losing her mind. When a boy turns up dead at the academy, Mallory is accused, but she doesn't remember that night either. 

Could it be possible that Mallory may have done it again?

Hysteria is a gripping psychological thriller that plays with your mind and pulls at your heart from the very first page on. Megan Miranda was born to write for this element. She has such an amazing flare for bringing mysteries to life in sharp, clever and crisp ways. 

While I was reading this it almost felt like I was in a dream. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. I think that's my favorite part about reading thriller type books. The unknown and just sitting back and trying to figure out whats going on within the minds of these characters. Miranda knows how to take you there.

I loved all the memory flashbacks, it's the glue that really held this story together. It kept going back to that faithful night piece by piece till the reader gets every shred of emotion to add to the devastating conclusion.

I was really impressed with how well these characters were developed. Miranda does a fantastic job of making certain characters feel unhinged in both dialog and personality traits. 

Mallory is the kind of character that your willing to go that extra mile with. She's brave and bold but she's also shattered and confused. Trauma has a way of getting under your very skin to the point of hysteria. At one point I was even questioning her sanity. Miranda does an amazing job making the reader second guess everything they think they know, but still want to believe in them at the same time.

Colleen is the kind of best friend that everyone should have. Her never ending faithfulness brought a smile to my face. But I think it was Reid that really owned me. I love the how protective and loyal he was and I adored the way he always seemed to believe in her when no one else seemed to. 

The story line was a whirlwind of emotions and creeptastic scenes where my paranoia was even getting the best of me. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was there. Spooky stuff my friends. There was also very little to no romance in this book, but the moments we did get still made me smile.

I really loved the ending to this book as well. We have two story lines that entwine, the one is the mystery of Mallory's missing memories of the night she killed her boyfriend and the other is a boy who was killed at the academy. I liked the fact that the stories complimented each other instead of causing it to feel overwhelming or distracting. It was very well done. 

Bottom line, I had a really great time with this book. The plot was thrilling and suspenseful, the characters were captivating, dark and real while the writing was pulse pounding and exciting. I don't read many mystery-thrillers but the way Megan Miranda writes makes me  want to be a fan of this genre. Looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next! 

Find the Author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4 Snowflakes  

Review & Giveaway: The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian

The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian
Publication Date: February 21, 2013
Publisher: Viking Adult

Weaving philosophy and science together into a riveting, dystopian story of love and adventure, The Office of Mercy illuminates an all-too-real future imagined by a phenomenal new voice in fiction.

Twenty-four-year-old Natasha Wiley lives in America-Five—a high-tech, underground, utopian settlement where hunger and money do not exist, everyone has a job, and all basic needs are met. But when her mentor and colleague, Jeffrey, selects her to join a special team to venture Outside for the first time, Natasha’s allegiances to home, society, and above all to Jeffrey are tested. She is forced to make a choice that may put the people she loves most in grave danger and change the world as she knows it.

The Office of Mercy is speculative fiction at its best with a deeply imagined, lush world, high-stakes adventure, and romance that will thrill fans of Suzanne Collins, Margaret Atwood, Justin Cronin, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

My Thoughts

World Peace . Eternal Life . All Suffering Ended

With an Ethical Code like that where the main goal is to keep suffering to a minimum, it’s hard not to assume you’re jumping into a utopian fiction, right? However, Ariel Djanikian alters just the right amount of elements in her story to shift this utopian focus into a dystopian nightmare. Absolutely fascinating world building that’s wrapped around a truly plausible plot.

In The Office of Mercy, we meet Natasha that has lived her 24 years in America-Five, which is a post-apocalyptic society that’s enclosed in an underground dome. This North American population is one of the few that survived the “Storm” which annihilated millions of people. She works for The Office of Mercy and the book commences with her post “sweeping” or annihilating an outside tribe that was on the brink of starvation. Natasha’s assignment, along with a team of four others, is to go outside on a Recovery Mission to fix the sensors, document the sweep site and check for survivors.

In Natasha’s world, they live by an Ethical Code that dictates a few extremes. First being, no new life should ever be brought into existence without the settlement first proving that it has triple the energy, space and resources needed to sustain new life. Second, people in her society are exposed to ‘bio-replacements’ that rearrange cells in order to force their bodies to go on for more than one generation… just think… they live a VERY long time. Her society is governed by the Alphas who position themselves above all, including the tribes that live outside of their dome and wield control over life and death. They rule from a very depersonalized perspective, where they determine who lives or dies.

When Natasha is exposed to the outside world for the first time and comes face to face with a tribe she’s ordered to ‘sweep’, she finds it difficult to execute her orders and that is just the beginning of her belief system crumbling. Despite years of conditioning, she’s unable to erect a “Wall” that removes any ability to empathize for others, and as her journey continues, she begins to question the governing power and the Ethical Code she’s supported her entire life.

First off, I need to applaud Djanikian for her superb writing skills. Her strength is clearly in her ability to build an intricate society with fascinating concepts that cause the reader to embark on a mind spin. There were so many layers to this story that included themes on life, love, power, and control, that I feel a second pass at this novel would still unveil so much more to consider.

The Office of Mercy is delicately complicated yet powerfully daunting. It’s not an easy read by any means. Where my preference is a more dialog driven novel surrounded by a compelling cast, Djanikian’s focus is presenting a carefully crafted world and supplementing that with layers of considerations to ponder.

As a debut author, I have to say I’m impressed with Ariel Djanikian’s entrance into Dystopian Fiction. She has the skill to present a frighteningly real possibility with the proper world building to support her case. Well done!

3 Snowflakes

If this sounds like a book you would enjoy, be sure to fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian.

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Waiting on Wednesday, #32

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.
Here's my selection for this week... 

Towering by Alex Flinn
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.

Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.


Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.
Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

It's no secret, I'm a fan of fairy tales. I love my fantasy and the happily-ever-afters that come at the end of the story. Whenever I find a re-telling, I'm probably one of the first to jump on board, so when I came across another Rapunzel story, yes you guessed it... I quickly added it to my TBR.  I've had the opportunity to read A Kiss in Time and Beastly by Alex Flinn, so I know what to expect with this writer. She's going to make it exciting, mysterious and a ton of fun, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this next adventure.

Sooo, what book are you waiting on???

Teaser Tuesday, #17

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Expected Publication: April 2, 2013

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

My Teasers from Ebook page 15...

"Which of you learned of our little surprise greeting and crept out to warn the duchess?"

"Even the best traps don't catch all the rats the first time, my lord."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!



Blog Tour: Also Known As by Robin Benway

Today is our second stop on the Triple Threat Blog Tour and we have a review of Also Known As by Robin Benway for you.

Also Known As by Robin Benway
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury Juvenile US
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.

Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

My Thoughts
 Maggie hasn't had the typical teenage life. She's from a family of spies that work for The Collective. They right wrongs of others. Never living in one place for too long, Maggie finally gets her very own assignment. As a spy, there's plenty of research involved, but what Maggie didn't know was that being a teen in a school system in the city isn't exactly what she thought it would be nor is the boy who she must be-friend in order to get the information needed. This was such a cute story really. I liked Maggie and the stories she told of other jobs they have worked on and places they have been.

Maggie meets Roux (Roo) and end up being friends. Maggie has never had any girlfriends or boyfriends. She tries to convince herself that it was just an assignment, but Maggie eventually realizes that her and Rouxs friendship is real and so are the feelings she has developed for Jesse Oliver. She assumed he was a snotty little rich boy from the city, but what she discovers is that that's not how Jesse or Roux were at all. They all are flawed and what they had in common was that they were all loners.

As the story unfolds, Maggie puts trust in her new friends and essentially they help Maggie to uncover an awful truth.  There were twists, humor, adventure, friendship, and romance.

I really enjoyed Also Known As. I was completely surprised how the story unfolded.  I assumed this would stick to Maggie's assignment, but there was a deeper story underneath. I am a fan of books with humor and I give the author props for adding some great banter and commentary from the characters. Maggie was a fun protagonist. She was a firecracker and I enjoyed learning about all her insight to the inner workings of being a spy and what they go through on a daily basis. I couldn't imagine never living in a place for very long or always having a new identity, but it sounds fun, right!?  I absolutely loved Roux! She totally cracked me up. She was fun and feisty and proved to be a perfect friend for Maggie.

There was such a sweet developing connection between Maggie and Oliver. It was so cute following her first experience with a kiss and the feelings and emotions that come with that. As much as she told herself he was just an assignment, I just couldn't help but cheer for those two to be together. There certainly were many sweet swoony moments and I just fell for Jesse. He was just a sweetheart.

"Jesse Oliver's not gonna know what hit him. And if he messes with you, then he's really not gonna know what hit him. I'll make sure of it." (Maggie's dad's words of wisdom)

Overall this was a fun read.

3.5 Snowflakes

Review: Eternity by Laury Falter

Eternity by Laury Falter
Publisher: Audeamus LLC
Release Date: August 29, 2011
Purchase: Amazon 

Maggie thought she was safe until an old enemy arrives in New Orleans with a dire threat: A battle is on the way.

With only a few days to spare, she and Eran embark on a path that is expected to prepare them for the world’s most evil creatures. But what Maggie discovers is far more disturbing…the truth behind her identity and why their enemies will never give up.

My Thoughts:
I am completely addicted to this series.  I really enjoyed Fallen, the first book in the Guardian Trilogy, but Eternity totally blew me away.  I knew I would like it since I was a fan of the first, but nothing could have prepared me for just how much I would fall in love with not only the characters, but the whole world that Ms.Falter has created.

Eternity picks up where Fallen left us with Eran and Maggie trying to stay one step ahead of the Fallen Ones who want to destroy Maggie.  This proves to be harder than they thoughts when several Fallen Ones start enrolling in her school.  When a warning comes from one of their enemies, Eran starts traveling at night to gain some knowledge as to who is leading the army and what they will face.  This leaves Maggie open to uncovering her other lives and that is where the story really took off for me.  We get to see how Eran and Maggie met, how they fought together, and in the end how they fell in love.  It was beautiful and one of the most romantic things I have ever read.  I loved loved loved that the story took us into the past and let us see the big events in Maggie's lives.  Honestly I would read a book from each of her lives if I could, the chapters that contained the past were that good and totally captivated me.  The story in Eternity is not just past filler, we learn quite a bit about other characters that totally surprised me and we get to see Maggie live up to her badarse past lives.  I really appreciated that the author took the time to continue the storyline while giving us a ton of background information.  I understand more about why Maggie is in danger and about the Fallen Ones.  Just brilliant!

I love Eran and Maggie.  They are quickly becoming my favorite couple of all time and seeing how they fell in love was amazing.  Their love truly does stand the test of time.  Felix, Ezra, & Rufus were awesome just like in the first book and I loved their loyalty to Maggie and her fight.  I am still unsure of The Warden and Bridget, I think they will have a bigger role in the next book because I can't see them just being secondary characters.  I could  be wrong but there is just something sinister about them both that I think will come out eventually.  I loved Bronte!  I was skeptical at first but let me tell you that woman was awesome!

If you haven't picked up Fallen yet you are seriously missing out.  I can't say enough how much I am in love with this world and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book Reckoning.  I have a feeling it will be EPIC!

Upcoming Release & Giveaway: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Expected Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Press

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

If this sounds like a book you'd enjoy reading, be sure to fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

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Stacking the Shelves (35)

A weekly meme hosted by, Tynga's Reviews, that features the books we bought, borrowed, were gifted, and were given for review.

 Hey everyone!  We had another fantastic week here at WinterHaven take a look..

Reviews:
Poison by Bridget Zinn
Until I Die by Amy Plum
Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown
Let the Sky Fall  by Shannon Messenger

The Goddess Inheritance by Amiee Carter (Tina)
Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Cover Reveals:
Spirit by Shauna Granger

Giveaways:
YA Paranormal Hop--Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Poison by Bridget Zinn
Breathless Reads Tour 2013--SIGNED copies of Legend, Prodigy, & Paper Valentine
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Let the Sky Fall  by Shannon Messenger

Author Events:
Breathless Reads Tour 2013--Arlene has a fantastic write up from this event!  

WinterHaven Fun:
Teaser Tuesday--Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead


Waves of Fiction Giveaways (18 and over only please)
Temptation's Fire by Michelle Zink
The Opportunist & Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher
Easy by Tammara Webber

Keep a look out everybody, we have a lot of fun stuff planned in the coming months that I promise you won't want to miss!

We had one of the BEST book weeks EVER!  We have been squeeing ALL week and we haven't stopped yet!  HarperTeen, Harlequin Teen and Penguin you guys ROCK!  Here is what landed in our happy hands this week...EPICNESS!

For Review:

Born of Illusion  by Teri Brown

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn

Reboot by Amy Tintera

The Ward by Jordana Frankel

Rush by Eve Silver

The Eternity Curse by Julie Kagawa

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Bought:

The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

*HUGE special thanks to HarperTeen, Penguin Dutton Adult, Harlequin Teen, Netgalley, & Edelweiss*

As you can see we definitely have our hands full!  I hope everyone has had an amazing week as well!  Leave me a link so I can see all your goodies!

Review: Irresistible by Liz Bankes

Irresistible by Liz Bankes
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 14, 2013 (ebook)
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

When Mia gets a summer job at a prestigious country club, it's hard work, but fun, especially as a romance develops with fellow student Dan. However, from the beginning she is drawn to the sexy, rich and bored Jamie--he's got everything he could ever want, and enjoys nothing more than messing with people's lives for his own entertainment. Mia knows getting involved with Jamie is a bad idea, but there's something so dangerously exciting about Jamie she just can't resist.

My Thoughts:
Oh my this book was a mess!  From beginning to end I stayed cringed and wide eyed at the events that took place.  *shudders*

Mia is a girl just looking to make money so she can travel for awhile and put college off.  When she gets a job at a very highly famous and post restaurant she hopes that her dreams of traveling will come true.  What she doesn't count on is a drama filled summer involving a co worker and the bosses son.

When I read the description of the book I knew I was in for a drama filled ride, but I didn't think the whole book would be about the drama.  I hoped that Mia would grow throughout the book and yes make mistakes but learn from then.  This girl did none of those things.  From the get go we know that Jamie, the bosses son is toxic.  I honestly never grew to like him.  He was snarky, mean, and just downright evil at times.  He drinks too much, gets women to do things they normally wouldn't and turns it against them, and sleeps with multiple girls even though he has a girlfriend.  I never understood why Mia was so drawn to him especially since his antics were in plain view for her to see. The first time she sees him he is kissing a girl against the window and then said girl gets fired for messing around with him and drinking wine that he himself had taken.  She had Dan, the co worker, as her boyfriend to be and he seemed so sweet and yes I know that the nice guy always finishes last but in this book there was no competition.  Then again Mia wasn't any better than Jamie as far as all the lying and even though she did fall in love that doesn't justify her actions.  I am still confused as to why anybody would want to be with Jamie.  Don't get me wrong I love my bad boys as much as the next girl, but Jamie had no saving qualities at all.  He was just toxic which is how Mia describes him.

The story is basically about Mia falling into the wrong crowd at work and finding Jamie irresistible.  Throughout the story we get to see how deep Mia falls and how she disregards her friends to be with Jamie.  They have a very forbidden love (if you could call it that) affair and when things finally are revealed the destruction is huge.  I was bothered that what happens at the end was basically skipped over.  I can't imagine any girl bouncing back from what Mia has done to her so I felt like the big "OMG I have been an idiot" scene was left out and we the reader really needed that scene.  It would have redeemed Mia a little bit, but no we are breezed right past the aftermath and thrown into a very awkward situation with a huge cliffhanger at the end.   

So unfortunately this book was not for me.  The characters that I loved took a backseat to the drama and ickiness of Jamie and Mia's relationship.  Also as a note of warning this book is definitely for older book fans.  There are a few very descriptive scenes that I know I wouldn't want my young adult to read if I had one.

1 Snowflake   

 *ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review*

Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Released-Feb 26th 2013

Publisher-Harlequin Teen 

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Love or life.Henry or their child.The end of her family or the end of the world.Kate must choose.During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.Even if it costs her eternity.

My Thoughts:

After the mean lady cough-Carter-cough gave us that cruel hair-pulling cliffy at the end of Goddess Interrupted, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the last book of this much loved and devoured series!

It's been nine months since Calliope kidnapped Kate and took her to the King of the Titans, Cronus. 

Calliope wants revenge, wants Henry and wants to raise Kate's baby as her own. 

Cronus has taken a special liking to Kate and wants her to rule beside him as he ultimately destroys the world. 

Kate has to make an impossible choice between her love for Henry and their son, between her immortal family or the end of the world. 

With both worlds on the path of war and destruction, Kate must do everything she can to defeat the King of the Titans and protect the people she loves.

No matter what it takes.

Wow! What an ending! 

Since this is the last book in the series, I don't want to say to much plot wise. But I will say that Carter did a fantastic job wrapping this up. I loved the twist and turns and the unpredictability of it all. It's engaging, captivating and nerve wracking as hell. Fans of this series is going to want to hang on ever word.

Carter's writing is as strong and solid as ever, but I think she may have stepped it up a notch. You could feel the excitement and suspense surge in your mind and can feel the desperation and emotions of these characters leap right off the pages. 

I've always had a big thing for twist in mythology and love the idea of these characters being played and handed in a new light. Giving us readers endless new entertainment. My applause! Carter did a terrific job with this world, making it entirely her own.

I've always loved Kate Winters. I loved her strength and tolerance in the first book and her selflessness in the second but I don't think I've ever been more proud of her then in this book. Her self-sacrificing tendencies  are both ridiculously-heroic and frustratingly-noble. What a stubborn, determined and fierce character. As a daughter, a wife and a mother, her unflinching relentlessness to protect the people she cared about most was truly mesmerizing to behold. Such an amazing amazing character.

Henry has always been dark, moody and brooding, but being that he's the God of the underworld, I guess that's a fitting reason. But we finally get to see a more real, vulnerable and passionate side to him that's been long over due. 

Henry and Kate have what I call epic love. It's never been easy, it's never been just handed to them, but it's always been worth the fight. I hung on ever moment between them in this book. Loving the fact that I have no more doubts or questions about how Henry truly feels. I also loved watching them with Milo and being a family. It was warm and moving and wonderful.

At the start of the book I was a bit conflicted when it came to Ava's character. But as the story moved on, with out a doubt, she's been redeemed in my eyes. 

I also loved James, throughout the entire series he's been a constant force in Kate's life and a true friend.

I'm not sure what else I can say without wanting to spoil ya'll, so all I'm gonna say is that I loved every minute of The Goddess Inheritance and I know that fans will love it just as much.

Aimee Carter has created something fun and alive in the land of mythology. I had the best time in this world and with these characters. While I'm sad to see one of my favorite series end, I can let them go with a warm smile and a heavy heart.

Unique. Imaginative. Epic. Loved!

Fun times are still ahead. Look for Aimee Carter next adventure in; Masked! 

Find the Author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                      5 Snowflakes 

Review: Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Released- Feb 26th 2013

Publisher-Random House Books 
Pre-order- Amazon / B & N 

You or your Alt? Only one will survive. The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.

My Thoughts:
Kersh City is the last war-free zone in the world, but this world comes at a price.
Alts. Two identical children are born with two sets of parents. Each much raise their children to be the best killer.

Their Assignments are given between the ages of 10-20. You have 31 days to hunt down and kill your Alt before your Alt kills you. If neither one Completes by the 32nd day, you will both be terminated for your alternate code will self-detonate. Only one can survive. Kill or be killed.

Be the one, be worthy.

Well hell! I knew that I wanted to read this book, but I never thought it would be this absolutely amazing book that is easily one of my favorite reads of the year! If I had to pick one word to describe Dualed, it would be, Fan-freaking-tastic!

Canadian author, Elsie Chapman's writing is simply sensational. It's confident, cunning and solid. The world she created is brilliant, fresh and unique. It's creative and imaginative and probably one of the most thought provoking stores I've ever read.

The pacing and flow is pitch perfect. The mix of emotions and pound-happy action is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. This is a sci-fi survival story that challenges the characters to be the best of the best and your opponent is you. Your Alt. To fight to be the better version. How cool and wicked is this concept? It's no secret that I love survival type books and I'm happy to say that Dualed slides right next to my favorites.

West Grayer is a 15 year old idles and such a conflicting creature. She's at war with herself, and I'm not talking about her Alt. I'm taking about how much pressure guilt and fear and determination can weigh you down. It doesn't matter how much guts and skills and promises she has, it's still holding her back and pushing away. But who could blame her? West comes from an entire family of Incompletes. So what makes her think that she's the worthy version of herself? What makes her think she could win? By doing everything she has to do to survive, she decides to become a Striker, a person who is hired to kill Alts for money. Here she will hone her skills till it's time to face down her own Alt.

My heart really went out to West. She is such a stubborn and passionate character. Apart of me wants to jump up and cheer her on while the other part wants to strangle her. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the whole Striker thing. I understand the reasons behind it, but that doesn't mean it's morally the right choice. Even after the story is done, I'm still undecided. However I can't seem to be upset at her for pushing away Chord as much as she did. He's the last and only person left that she cares about. So who's to say that her Alt wont go after him the same way Chords Alt went after her brother. It's selfish and selfless and frustrating and beautiful and I'd probably do the same thing if it were me.

As for Chord, you can't help but just adore him to pieces. This guy wont take no for an answer. Push him down and he'll only push back harder. You just gotta love his fierce determination to help and protect West with everything he has. It may have started out as a promise but it's not hard to tell that it's always been so much more.

The romance was charming and subtle. The banter is sweet and tame but you can still feel that intense ache when things slowed down long enough to get real. I can't say there is a lot of romance in this one, but I wouldn't have it any other way. This book is ultimately about death and survival and anything more then what we got would have confused or distracted that fact.

All in all, this was an instant favorite! Dualed has everything I could ever want in an escape and more. It makes you think and it make you feel. It's fascinating, all consuming and 100% entertaining from start to finish. 

Also this reads like a standalone but book two; Divided is already set for next year, which I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on. Greatly looking forward to seeing where Chapman takes this next! 

A must read for dystopian sci-fi and survival fans!

Find the author

Goodreads / Website

                                                                    5 snowflakes

YA Paranormal Hop

Today we are excited to join in all the fun with I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and YA Between the Lines in their YA Paranormal Hop! We are giving away Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead!  This is definitely one of our favorite YA paranormal books ever and we want to share the love!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Make sure to visit the rest of the amazing blogs joining in the fun!

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Cover Reveal: Spirit (Elemental, #5) by Shauna Granger

Today, WinterHaven Books is excited to join in the cover reveal for Spirit (Elemental #5) by Shauna Granger hosted by AtoMR.  Without further adieu take a look!

Spirit by Shauna Granger

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Genre: Urban Fantasy

YA/New Adult

Cover Design: Mooney Designs

Cover Reveal Organizers: AToMR Tours

Not even a guardian angel is more powerful than Death.

Always careful to watch out for others, Shayna put too much trust her abilities to keep herself safe and has been cut down by crazed man. Now she is trapped in the land of the dead, watching as her two best friends suffer the consequences of her death; their powers are fading and soon they will too. Shayna is desperate to return to the land of the living to save them from a similar, cold fate. To save her friends Shayna must turn away from the Light and, in doing so, sacrifice her wings.

But the longer Shayna stays among the dead, the further she slips from sanity. If Shayna cannot find her way back she will be condemned and lost forever among the restless souls of the dead. With nothing left to lose, she will do whatever it takes to fight her way back, with or without her wings.

About the Author:
Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago Shauna started work on her Elemental Series and released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011. When not reading and writing, Shauna enjoys cooking and playing hostess whenever she can.
                         Shauna Granger / Facebook / Twitter