Review: Crossing the Line (The Raven Files #1) by Meghan Rogers

Crossing the Line (The Raven Files #1) by Meghan Rogers
Publisher: Philomel Books
Release Date: April 12th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

If Jason Bourne were a teenaged girl…

Jocelyn Steely was kidnapped as a child and raised in North Korea as a spy. When her agency sends her to the U.S. to infiltrate the very group her parents once worked for, Jocelyn jumps at the chance to turn double agent and finish off her kidnappers once and for all. She convinces the head of the American spy agency to trust her, but it’s not quite as simple as that: Jocelyn has to fight the withdrawal symptoms from the drug that the North Koreans used to keep her in line, and her new fellow spies refuse to trust their former adversary. Worst of all, there might be some new information to uncover about her parents - if she even wants to find out.

This action-packed spy thriller is part Gallagher Girls, part Alex Rider, and part Bourne Identity.

My thoughts:
First...
Thank you Meghan Rogers for not only writing a badass heroine (and I mean badass with a capital B) but for letting her stay that way throughout the entire book!  I LOVED this beyond any words I can even think of, I might need an alien language to express my love for this book actually because they might have words we don't in the English language...hm have to look into that...

Anyway this book!!  OMG this book.  Be prepared for flails of all kinds because that's all I've been doing since I started this!!  First the story starts off with a bang!  We are thrown right into the action and my heart started pounding and never slowed down!  I will say when I read the first interaction between Scorpion and Viper I did do an eyeroll because I just knew where that whole story line was going.  Well I wasn't wrong on the basics but Meghan Rogers totally flipped the whole relationship between them upside down and this is where I truly started falling in love with Ms. Rogers.

Let me explain a tad.  Usually in these instances there are forbidden looks, sweaty palms between the two love birds to be, and the guy is always the resident hottie who has a bad ex girlfriend lurking in the wings.  I am not a fan of the overly hot guy who every girl wants, but he only has eyes for the new baddie so imagine my surprise when in this book we get none of that!  Yes Scorpion is first in his class, but I never read one line not a single line that made him sound uber hot.  I want to hug this author because she managed to give these characters an actual relationship that was hard built and not just founded on mutual attraction.  She let these two incredible people hate each other for various reasons and then let them grow to an understanding.  Will there eventually be a romance, I think so and I am totally okay with that.  I love Scorpion and Viper like none other and if they do just remain friends I am okay with that too  because the story is about so much more than just romance and I will take their relationship any way I can get it.

Okay now the story. I again loved every bit of it.  It was complicated and all kinds of spy stuff craziness and it was glorious.  I also want to say that I loved how the author took her readers right up to the brink of total meltdown but then eased up enough to let us breath a sigh of relief.  I like that she knew how far to push and I feel confident enough to read the next book without looking at the ending to see if things blow up.  They might still but Rogers has my total devotion to fix whatever blows up.

Viper was such a great character.  She was impulsive, but totally knew her stuff and could back up whatever she threw down.  I loved that she wasn't TSTL though and could listen to directions when she needed to.  She didn't put herself in anything she couldn't get out of and I felt comfortable letting her take on dangerous actions.  I enjoyed watching her grow and understand what it means to have a partner and I enjoyed watching her totally kick ass!!  From the get go she proved how tough she was and she never faltered.  Not even when she was at her weakest point.

I am curious who the mole is and I am quite sure there is one.  I have my eye on a few people and I am hoping I am wrong because I love these selected characters so much. If she does pick one I have picked then I think it will be brilliant even if I will be mad and want to kick the author.

I think this whole story was exciting, exhilarating, and one that I can't see anybody being able to put down once they get started.  I am so upset I have to wait for a year for the next installment!  This one doesn't exactly end on cliff hanger, but it does end with a WHOA moment that makes me want the next one even more!!

If you love spy type books this is definitely for you and even if you don't love spy books this is still for you!!  GO pick this up now!!!  Meghan Rogers you are a writing GOD!!!  Thank you for Viper and all her badassness, awesomeness, snarkiness, and amazingness!!

This is a definite blizzard read for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blog Tour: Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse: Novella feature & giveaway

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am participating in the blog tour for Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse!  As part of my stop I have an amazing novella to share with you as well as giveaway!!

When We Ended It All (Quinn)

“On the first day, you will tell your story. On the second, I will tell mine. On the third, one of us will die. You will choose who.”

One hundred years from now, Quinn lives in the woods near an apocalyptic ruin. During her rite of passage, she meets a boy who claims to be from the Other Place. But no one knows the stories of the Other Place better than Quinn, and Quinn senses there’s something not quite right about the tale this stranger tells her.

Each part of WHERE FUTURES END explores the storytelling power of a different medium: novels and movies in the first part, TV and the Internet in the second part, music in the third part, video games in the fourth part, and oral storytelling in the fifth part. I wanted this fifth part, in which Quinn and the stranger tell each other stories, to have the feel of a fairy tale. Since WHERE FUTURES END often alludes to Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, I decided to base this final section on the tale that supposedly inspired “The Jabberwocky.” This old English legend, called “The Lambton Wyrm,” is about a tiny monster that grows so large it surrounds the entire countryside and must be slayed.

When Quinn listens to the stranger’s story about a monster that must be defeated, the reader can see how the legends about the Other Place have evolved over the course of the book. Together the reader and Quinn must use their knowledge of the Other Place to decide whether this stranger can be trusted, and then must try to figure out the truth at the heart of the stranger’s story.

Finally, the puzzle pieces of WHERE FUTURES END come together, and I hope the reader will have enjoyed putting them together.

Where Futures End by Parker Peeveyhouse
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Five teens.
Five futures.
Two worlds.
One ending.

One year from now, Dylan develops a sixth sense that allows him to glimpse another world.

Ten years from now, Brixney must get more hits on her social media feed or risk being stuck in a debtors' colony.

Thirty years from now, Epony scrubs her entire online profile from the web and goes “High Concept.”

Sixty years from now, Reef struggles to survive in a city turned virtual gameboard.

And more than a hundred years from now, Quinn uncovers the alarming secret that links them all.

Five people, divided by time, will determine the fate of us all. These are stories of a world bent on destroying itself, and of the alternate world that might be its savior--unless it's too late.

 

Find Parker

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

I don't know about you, but this makes me want to dive into Where Futures End right now!
Giveaway time!  Penguin has graciously offered to send one lucky reader their very own hardcover copy of Where Futures End!  Open to US residents only.
Good Luck!

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Blog Tour: Interview with Alison Goodman!

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am participating in the blog tour for Alison Goodman!  Her latest novel The Dark Days Club hit shelves this week and if you haven't stalked your local bookstore then you must do so now!!  For our stop on this amazing tour Alison is stopping by to answer a few of our questions!

1. Please describe The Dark Days Club in five words or less.
Demon hunting in Regency high society.  I know that’s six words…but it’s a big book.

2. Which character was your favorite to write?
Lady Helen has to be my favorite, but a close second is Lord Carlston. He is mysterious and not altogether respectable–an excellent Regency hero–and it was so much fun writing the banter between him and Lady Helen. I also enjoyed creating Mr Benchley who is quite a nasty piece of work; villainous types are always great to write.

3. I love that Helen will be hunting demons! Did you always plan for her to hunt demons or did your writing turn this way halfway through?
I am a planner, so I always knew Helen would discover that there was a shadowy world of demonic creatures hidden within Regency society. However, at the beginning of the novel, she is not aware of them. Nor is she aware of her own extraordinary abilities–they are only just starting to develop. As the book progresses, the truth about her abilities gradually emerges and she must face enormous danger and terrible choices.

4. Do you have any writing rituals?
When I sit down to start a new day of writing, I always read what I wrote the day before, edit it, and then start on the new section. In that way I retrieve the flow of the writing and the tone, and “warm up” for the day ahead.

5. Can you share what you are working on next?
I am currently working on Book 3 of the Lady Helen series, which is set in Bath in the winter social season. I’m also writing another project set in the Regency: a short story titled “The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies”. It is for a new anthology called And Then…The Great Big Book of Awesome Adventure Tales, which will be published this year by Clan Destine Press.

Alison thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to dive into this amazing adventure!!

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Release Date: January 26th, 2016

Purchase: Amazon

New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

Find Alison

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads

The amazing people at Penguin are hosting an awesome giveaway! 

5 lucky readers will win a hardcover copy of The Dark Days Club!

Open to US residents only

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Giveaway! Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse!!

Hey snowflakes! I have a super awesome giveaway to share with you! The amazing people at Penguin are hosting a fantastic giveaway for their upcoming title Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse! Details below!

 Enter for a chance to win an advance readers copy of WHERE FUTURES END. There will be 5 winners, entries restricted to US only.

Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Release date: February 9th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Five teens.
Five futures.
Two worlds.
One ending.

One year from now, Dylan develops a sixth sense that allows him to glimpse another world.

Ten years from now, Brixney must get more hits on her social media feed or risk being stuck in a debtors' colony.

Thirty years from now, Epony scrubs her entire online profile from the web and goes “High Concept.”

Sixty years from now, Reef struggles to survive in a city turned virtual gameboard.

And more than a hundred years from now, Quinn uncovers the alarming secret that links them all.

Five people, divided by time, will determine the fate of us all. These are stories of a world bent on destroying itself, and of the alternate world that might be its savior--unless it's too late.

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Giveaway! The Radiant Road by Katherine Catmul

Hey snowflakes!  I have a super awesome giveaway to share with you!  The amazing people at Penguin are hosting a fantastic giveaway for their upcoming title The Radiant Road by Katherine Catmul!  Details below!

Group giveaway for an advance readers copy of THE RADIANT ROAD. There will be 10 winners!!
Entries restricted to US only.

The Radiant Road by Katherine Catmul

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Release Date: January 19th, 2016

And sometimes the Strange came to visit Clare, and dreams walked through her waking life.


After years of living in America, Clare Macleod and her father are
returning to Ireland, where they’ll inhabit the house Clare was born
in—a house built into a green hillside with a tree for a wall. For
Clare, the house is not only full of memories of her mother, but also of
a mysterious boy with raven-dark hair and dreamlike nights filled with
stars and magic. Clare soon discovers that the boy is as real as the
fairy-making magic, and that they’re both in great danger from an
ancient foe.

Fast-paced adventure and spellbinding prose
combine to weave a tale of love, loyalty, and the strength we carry
within ourselves. 

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Blog Tour Guest Post Morgan Rhodes!

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am squeeing from the rooftops because the AMAZING Morgan Rhodes is stopping by!!  I am in LOVE with her Falling Kingdoms series and I can't believe that our blog was chosen as a tour stop for her!  And she typed up a pretty awesome guest post!  Seriously my year has been made!!  

I asked Morgan

Which titles do you think will hold your readers captive while waiting for The Falling Kingdoms next installment? 

See below for her answer and some great distractions!

1. THE PRINCESS BRIDE – The movie or the book by William Goldman is a light, humorous, and unforgettable twisted fairytale that will sweep anyone away to another world. Virtually, of course. Truly a fantasy classic.

2. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin – Falling Kingdoms is often referred to as “Game of Thrones for Teens” since both series feature a fight for the throne between warring kingdoms and a large cast of characters set in a gritty fantasy land, so I must mention it as a mega amazing book series and TV series to binge read or watch if you’re looking for that type of tale. Just keep in mind, GoT is definitely R-rated when it comes to sexytimes and violence and not for the faint of heart!!

3. VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead – Looking for some non-sparkling teenaged vampires to go with your snazzy elemental magic? How about some shocking twists and unexpected deaths? *cue dramatic music* This is one of my favorite series ever (along with its sequel series Bloodlines), and well, pretty much anything by Richelle. These characters will seriously take over your life and you’ll be frantically turning the pages to find out what happens next.

4. AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER – This isn’t a book, it’s an animated TV show, but it has everything a Falling Kingdoms reader would want – elemental magic, war, betrayal, deception, romantic ships, REAL ships, humor, action, and mega elemental magic!! The way I learned about this show in the first place was someone telling me how much Prince Zuko reminded them of Prince Magnus. I’ve watched most of the first season and…yeah, he sure does!

5. REIGN – Again, not a book, but a castle-set, historical fantasy with kings and queens and magic and fabulous costumes? That seems very Falling Kingdoms to me! (I may change my mind when I actually get around to watching it – it’s available to binge watch on Netflix, right??)

6. LORD OF THE RINGS – I shall now hang my head in shame and admit I’ve never read the books by J.R.R. Tolkien…but the movies? So amazing, each and every one of them…including the recent Hobbit trilogy. Fun fact: The elves of LOTR were a definite inspiration for my immortal Watchers in Falling Kingdoms.

7. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN – No, seriously. Not for the story or the acting, although Chris Hemsworth is really quite…….. Um, sorry, I got distracted for a moment there. I remember watching the trailer for this movie and thinking that if Falling Kingdoms became a movie or TV show (hey, one can hope!!), THIS is what I’d want it to look like. The cinematography is fantastic and worth watching for alone. (Whispers: I actually kinda loved this movie.)

8. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir – A truly killer YA fantasy by an incredibly talented debut author…this book will sweep you away to a gritty, spectacular world of brewing rebellion, brave heroines, shadowy assassins, and dangerous romance…made all the better when one realizes there is a sequel in the works!

9. RUSH: THE GAME TRILOGY by Eve Silver – Okay, enough with the fantasy. How about a palate- cleanser of some seriously kickass sci-fi in which a girl is pulled from her real life into a game world where she has to fight aliens with the ultimate fate of the human world at stake? BRING IT ON, Y’ALL!

10. A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES by (yours truly) Morgan Rhodes – This is the spinoff/companion series to Falling Kingdoms! Partially set in our “real” world and partially in the world of Falling Kingdoms, two sisters discover an ancient book that leads them to a power hungry secret society and a porthole to another world full of magic and danger. I’m working on the sequel right now and it’ll be out June 2016, which will help bridge the gap a bit before Falling Kingdoms #5 in December 2016!

Happy Reading!

Morgan

Morgan thank you so much for this!  These are great picks and I know I will definitely use them between  now and when the next installment of The Falling Kingdom's comes out!

About Morgan Rhodes:

Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy. 

Tumblr / Twitter / Facebook 

Click on each cover to visit Goodreads and to find out more information about each book.

Be sure to follow the rest of the tour!

http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com	The Irish Banana Review	12/7 - interview
http://addictreaders.blogspot.com/	Addicted Readers	12/7 - review
http://aperfectioncalledbooks.blogspot.com/	A Perfection Called Books	12/8 - review
www.bookiemoji.com	Bookiemoji	12/8 - Would You Rather?
http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com/	WinterHaven Books	12/9 - guest post
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/	Once Upon a Twilight	12/10 - Review & giveaway
http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/	Two Chicks on Books	12/11 - guest post
http://www.jessabellareads.org	Jessabella Reads	12/11 - review
http://www.myfriendsarefiction.com	My Friends Are Fiction	12/14 - guest post
Http://www.amidsummernightsread.com	A Midsummer Night's Read	12/15 - Book Playlist
http://darkfaerietales.com/	Dark Faerie Tales	12/15 - review
www.iceybooks.com	IceyBooks	12/16 - Top 10 list
http://thedailyquirk.com	The Daily Quirk	12/17 - review & giveaway
http://www.mundiemoms.blogspot.com	Mundie Moms	12/18 - interview
http://hollywoodnewssource.com/	Hollywood News Source	12/18 - review

Spotlight & Giveaway: Morgan Rhodes

 I am probably one of the last people in the blogger universe who hasn't read the Falling Kingdom series by Morgan Rhodes.  I've wanted to for awhile and it has been on my tbr for well forever, but I kept pushing it aside for some reason.  When I was approached by Penguin to join in the promo for the upcoming fourth book in the series, I jumped at the chance because I knew it was time to start these bad boys!  The first book in the series is over 400 pages and I read 300 in one day!  Yes it is that amazing!  I can't believe I waited so long!  Thank you Penguin for giving me the push I needed!  My review will definitely be up soon because I know I will devour the rest of Falling Kingdoms tonight!

Okay on to the promo part of the spotlight! As part of the promo I was asked to describe what kingdom I would love to rule.  After much thought I ruled out Game of Thrones because everyone who rules dies and well I don't want to die and I ruled out Morgan Rhodes world because I need to know what happens in the first few books before I queen myself ruler.  I don't want to queen myself and then 3 books later find out my kingdom doesn't even exist anymore!  So, I decided I would love to rule the Dark Court in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series.  

Yes I am bringing the old school back with this one!  I love Fae stories and Marr's series was so dark and I loved how evil her Dark Court Faeries were.  If you ask my blog roomies they will tell you I love all the dark things so this would totally suit my darker side!  Plus I could wear all kinds of fun costumes and would totally have wicked powers! 

What world would you love to rule???

If you haven't picked up Morgan Rhodes series then you are missing out!  

Here's what you need to know abut the series!

Series Page / Website / Facebook / Goodreads

 Pre-order Frozen Tides releases 12/15/2015

About the Author:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Giveaway!  
3 winners will each receive the first 3 books in the Falling Kingdoms series.
Hosted by Penguin
Fill out the form below to enter.

Open to US residents only

Good luck!

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Review: Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's and Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

My Thoughts:
This book surprised me.  When I sat down to read it I grabbed my favorite blanket, a mug of hot tea, and settled in for a creepy ride.  Maybe I have just read too many creepy books as of late and my creep threshold is starting to change, but this one didn't creep me out like I expected.  Now if I read this in the middle of a cornfield I might think different, but I wasn't so the thriller part didn't scare me.  I was so shocked because that cover I mean creepy right??  Well I was shocked and I said something surprised me so can you guess what it was?  Let me tell you because I don't think you'll ever guess what it was especially from me!

I know I am beating a dead horse when I say everyone knows I am not a romance kinda girl these days so I was very surprised when the romance in Blood and Salt actually grabbed me.  Yes it is filled with instalurve and all things YA these days, but and this is a big but I kinda got it this time.  Ash and Dane were your normal YA couple, but it was way more intense than most books.  This intensity came from the backstory of this book and that I really liked.   Their bond was a lot of physical attraction, a little deception, a little blood, and a whole lot of craziness that exploded at the end.  I don't mind reading instalurve when things hit the fan at the end.  Makes my inner crazy go woohooo!!!!

I wasn't prepared for what was thrown at me and I felt like I had been thrown against a wall multiple times throughout the story.  I was all prepared for cornfields and blood (that first chapter is a doozy) and when things changed to immortality, cults, and history I was like WHAT???  This was not something I was prepared for and maybe that was a good thing.  I have been picking my books carefully as of late and I don't know if I would have picked this up if I had known what lie ahead.  I am super glad I didn't know because this story is super fun and one I definitely want a sequel to.

I think this story could have been creepy if the author chose to make it so.  She had everything she needed for it to be that way cornfields,  blood, a tied up dead girl appearing everywhere, a cult, and crazy insane rituals.  I'm really curious where this story would have gone if the author would have stayed on that path.  I liked where she went though so I can't complain even if my mind is still going wait I want creepy!  I liked the vengeful immortals and the star crossed lovers bit with a bit of blood thrown in.  It kinda fit pretty well actually.

I also liked the characters and Ash and Dane didn't bother me.  I think some of that has to do with the ending, but that's okay.  If I can walk away from a book liking a character I can forgive them if they bugged me early on.  The only one who puzzled me was Rhys.  I liked his character in the beginning and then he really took a strange turn in the last fourth of the book.  He is 50% of why I want a sequel.  I think he is my dark and creepy story and I want it!

So if you are looking for a creepy read this really isn't it at least it wasn't for me.  It does have a nice mix of blood and goosebumps, but really this story is about a centuries old feud.  I have to give the author credit because I really liked the backstory she wove in.  The flashbacks and other characters really made this one come alive for me and even though I wasn't creeped out I was totally captivated and that makes this book a success for me.

3.5 snowflakes

Blog Tour: Interview Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski

Today on WinterHaven Books I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour for Nightfall by Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski.  This book was all kinds of creepy and right up my alley!  For my tour stop I got to ask the guys a few questions and I even have some exclusive content to share with you!  

1. I absolutely love that y'all took out daylight throughout Nightfall! It gave the book a whole new level of scary for me. How did you come up with this idea? 
PK: I always think back to camping. The forest is so beautiful and great during the day, and then at night it’s downright terrifying – just like Nightfall.
JH: When I was a freshman at Yale, my girlfriend and I explored this old abandoned floor at the top of a gothic tower. There were no windows on the floor. It was insanely dark. I couldn’t see anything. We got totally lost. At first it was fun in a kind of campy way. Then it started to get really scary when we could not find a way out. That experience has always stayed with me.

2. Which character was your favorite to write? 
PK: There are scenes involving all characters that I love, but I guess I really liked thinking about Kana, because of what he’s going through. I guess I should stop there so I don’t spoil the book!
JH: No question for me, the answer is Marin. She is just such a badass. She is tough and brave and stubborn. She isn’t perfect. She has a hard time admitting when she has made a mistake. But her determination and ferocity is what saves them. She was inspired in part by my wife, Kasia, who is a doctor, a triathlete, and a scrappy immigrant from Poland. I didn’t know my wife when she was 14, but I kind of imagine her this way. I loved writing Marin.

3. I felt like the ending was very open ended, are there plans for a sequel?? *Crosses fingers!!*
PK: We wrestled with the ending a bit, and settled on the current one because it felt the most satisfying for this story. We’ve absolutely discussed a second and even third book (we even have several thousand words for each book), but whether they get written depends on our readers!
JH: We deliberately left the end kind of ambiguous and open ended because we wanted to create room for a sequel if we ever decide to write one. Right now we are working on a book that is set in the same world – it involves Furriers and Desert Landers – but it is not about Marin and Kana per se. But yes, at some point, it would be fun to write the conclusion of their story.

4. Actually speaking of sequels I would love a novella detailing the backstory of the, as I call them, Night Dwellers. Can you share anything about their background? 
PK: Good questions!  We’ve written a little bit about the Night Dwellers backstory and the arrival of a furrier, 14 years before the current book opens. We’re thinking of expanding that, but again, it depends on what our readers want.
JH: Okay we will give you a little more of a glimpse. This is an exclusive that we have shared with no one else, but our editor: During the fourteen years of Day, Soraya and her people hibernate below ground in vast, natural caverns that are an offshoot of the main canyon. This cave system extends throughout the entire island, and many areas are unmapped. None of Soraya’s people has ever made it through the entire cave system. There are rumors of the caves extending under the seabed so far that they reach other islands. Most of the Night creatures hibernate for the full fourteen years, in comfortable wooden containers lined with leaves and covered with branches torn from trees. Soraya started her hibernation several months later than she should have. This, of course, was because of Kana and her efforts to leave him with the Day Dwellers. Postponing hibernation, as Soraya did, is forbidden. It is also both dangerous and painful. Even small amounts of ambient light can be toxic for the Night creatures.

5. I know sometimes in co-authored books each author will write certain characters, was this the case for you two? 
 PK: No – Jake and I don’t divide up scenes or characters – doing it this way ensures that the book feels seamless, as if written by just one person.
JH: What Peter – whom I call, Kujo – says is true. But there are characters, or elements of characters, that seem to come more from one of us than the other. For example: I feel that Kujo had a really powerful sense of who Kana was and what the transformation was like for Kana. I feel like I had a strong sense of what Marin’s relationship was like with her mother and Line. Kujo, has twins himself (age 4), so he had a strong sense of how the twins (Marin and Kana) related to each other.

6. If you are each currently working on something new, can you share any details? 
PK: Sure!  We’re currently working on another book set in the Nightfall world, although it will feature different main characters and a different part of the world (closer to the Desert Lands). Though the plot will be different, I think you’ll see that it’s the same type of taut, atmospheric read, populated with some of the people you’ll remember from Nightfall – like the furriers. It’s tentatively called Edgelands.
JH: I will just add that Edgelands is all about an island at the edge of the world that operates as a gigantic funeral parlor. That’s all!

 Okay I have to say it, this interview is one of my all time favorites!  I love the exclusive that Jake shared! Just that tiny bit really wrapped up so many questions, but at the same time opened up even more!  I am really hoping with everything inside me that we get to see that second and third book and Edgelands!  I mean a gigantic funeral parlor??!!  That's got me written all over it!  

Peter & Jake thank you so much for stopping by and sharing so many amazing details. Nightfall was darkishly delicious and I can't wait for everyone to devour it!

BTW guys love the Kujo nickname!

Find the Authors:

Jake Halpern: Website / Goodreads /  Twitter

 Peter Kujawinski: Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Nightfall by Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's and Sons Books for Young Readers

Release Date: September 22nd, 2015

Purchase: Amazon

The dark will bring your worst nightmares to light, in this gripping and eerie survival story, perfect for fans of James Dashner and Neil Gaiman.

On Marin’s island, sunrise doesn’t come every twenty-four hours—it comes every twenty-eight years. Now the sun is just a sliver of light on the horizon. The weather is turning cold and the shadows are growing long.

Because sunset triggers the tide to roll out hundreds of miles, the islanders are frantically preparing to sail south, where they will wait out the long Night.

Marin and her twin brother, Kana, help their anxious parents ready the house for departure. Locks must be taken off doors. Furniture must be arranged. Tables must be set. The rituals are puzzling—bizarre, even—but none of the adults in town will discuss why it has to be done this way.

Just as the ships are about to sail, a teenage boy goes missing—the twins’ friend Line. Marin and  Kana are the only ones who know the truth about where Line’s gone, and the only way to rescue him is by doing it themselves. But Night is falling. Their island is changing.

And it may already be too late.

Review: Nightfall by Jake Halpern, Peter Kujawinski

Nightfall by Jake Halpern, Peter Kujawinski 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

On Marin’s island, sunrise doesn’t come every twenty-four hours—it comes every twenty-eight years. Now the sun is just a sliver of light on the horizon. The weather is turning cold and the shadows are growing long.

Because sunset triggers the tide to roll out hundreds of miles, the islanders are frantically preparing to sail south, where they will wait out the long Night.

Marin and her twin brother, Kana, help their anxious parents ready the house for departure. Locks must be taken off doors. Furniture must be arranged. Tables must be set. The rituals are puzzling—bizarre, even—but none of the adults in town will discuss why it has to be done this way.

Just as the ships are about to sail, a teenage boy goes missing—the twins’ friend Line. Marin and  Kana are the only ones who know the truth about where Line’s gone, and the only way to rescue him is by doing it themselves. But Night is falling. Their island is changing.

And it may already be too late.

My thoughts:
Nightfall was one of my must have books because well just look at that cover and also the summary was super creepy.  Which as you all know I am in the creepy mood nowadays so basically it was calling my name.  When it showed up on my door with the most amazing packaging ever (see picture) I knew I was in for an amazing adventure and wow!  Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski totally delivered on this one!!

I think the summary does a fantastic job at detailing what Nightfall is about.  What you don't get though from the summary is just how intense this book gets.  When the boats arrive to take the villagers away from Bliss there is an intensity in the air and when we are told their might not be enough boats my heart started pounding.  I knew what had to happen for Line, Kana, and Marin to miss this boats, but man I couldn't stop hoping they would make it back to the boat!!  When they finally do make it back to the boats luggage is everywhere and it looks like it was chaos boarding.  This made me wonder and not for the first time why everyone had a sense of urgency to leave before nightfall.  A few chapters in we find out.

Like I said I really enjoyed this story.  It was creepy, exciting, and downright thrilling throughout.  The only thing I wanted that I didn't get was a backstory.  We kind of hear a few things, but I wanted so much more.  A backstory would have helped me understand a little more about the island, but honestly even without it this story was still amazing and one of my favorites this year.  Plus there is a twist that I promise will blow your mind!!  I'm still trying to figure out how I missed the clues to it!!

I also enjoyed the characters.  It was a breathe of fresh air not to have a love triangle, drama, or romance as a major focal point.  Lately I have been looking for books that have different focal points and this one fits beautifully.  Line, Kana, and Marin were interesting characters and they each stole my heart in different ways.  Were they perfect, no, but are kids ever perfect?  They were real and honest and I really enjoyed reading their story.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads.  It's one that I think I will probably reread and I hardly ever do that, but I feel like I read it so fast that I probably missed a few key points and I want to know all the key points of this story.  Just truly fun and amazing!

4.5 snowflakes

Spotlight & Giveaway: Nightfall by Jake Halpern, Peter Kujawinski

Penguin Teen has asked a few bloggers to try and capture their reading experience while reading Nightfall by Jake Halpern, Peter Kujawinski.  At first I was like hmmmm how can I do this, but after reading Nightfall I knew I would have no problem showing just what I was thinking!  Using these gifs I have created a fun timeline to show you what I experienced during my time with Nightfall..

The scenes leading up to the boat had me beyond stressed out!  I kept worrying they weren't going to make it and then I worried about there not being enough boats! So STRESSUL!!

Then the darkness came!  In most books morning comes but nope not in this one. 

I felt extremely cold the entire time while reading Nightfall!  I even had to have a blanket on and my house stays at 75!!

And that ending.  I won't tell you what happens of course but holy mother of snowballs!!  

That's a glimpse into my reading experience!  Nightfall definitely left an impression on me!  If you have read Nightfall let me know your experience!

Also the wonderful people at Penguin are hosting this giveaway! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Images downloaded from the following sites:

thejournalistachronicle.wordpress.com

www.reactiongifs.us

theodysseyonline.com

blog.kandu.com

Blog Tour: Slasher Girls and Monster Boys: Stefan Bachmann

Today on Winterhaven Books we are participating in the blog tour for Slasher Girls and Monster Boys hosted by Penguin!  This is one of my most anticipated books of the fall and I am beyond thrilled to join in this amazing tour!  For my stop I have the talented Stefan Bachmann as a guest!  He gives us his rundown of scariest movies!

Stefan Bachmann - Slasher Girls and Monster Boys - Top 10 Scariest Movies

I love scary movies. While I'm watching them I'll be like "WHY, STEFAN?" and I've been known to turn off movies in a fright and go like. . . watch The Little Mermaid or something, but in general, they're the best. There's a healthy dose of historical horror in this list (4 out of 10? That's a healthy dose, I think?) because it's my favorite, and also the genre of my short story in the anthology. That story's called "M", and involves murder and large country houses and creepy singing children and a blind, mystery-solving protagonist. I hope you like it! And all the other marvelous authors' stories, too! Without further ado, here are my most terrifying movies that no doubt subconsciously inspired some the stuff I write:

1. Event Horizon
I've only seen this once, but that was enough, thank you. There's a scene where the main character is crawling through a tiny, claustrophobic passageway in a deserted spaceship, and there may or may not be an interdimensional demon in the passage with him, and the tension that ratchets up is actually painful. (Also, it's only marginally less silly than it sounds, but you won't care because you'll be terrified.)

 2. The Ring
That gif alone freaks me out. Ghost-Girl, you need to get a haircut. Also, stop crawling out of TVs. Stop calling people you don't know and threatening to kill them within seven days. Please. (It's so much scarier than it sounds, honestly.)

3. 28 Days Later
I watched this when I was 8 with my siblings. I do not know why we thought that was a good idea. I remember when it was done I was so, so relieved to be living in a merry little green valley in Switzerland where there were no zombies.

4. Pulse
The Japanese original - I have not seen the US remake. It's verrrrry, very quiet at first, and it also involves subtitle reading, but it's one of those scary movies that creeps into mind and curls up there and just kind of subtly terrifies you forever. It's also about the isolation that can come from technological advancements, which is a bonus, because who doesn't like social commentary with their horror?

5. The Innocents
This movie is from the 1950's, loosely based on The Turn of the Screw. I went into it expecting not very much, because for some reason I though people in the 50's did not know what scary was. Well, they did.  There's one scene that involves nothing more than a face peering in through a window that is scarier than all the SAW movies combined.

6. Psycho
Again, expected polite horribleness, was greeted with murder and mayhem. Also, I love the music. People everywhere recognize the shrieking violins during the shower scene, but listen to the overture. It's so good.

7. The Sixth Sense
This doesn't really need an explanation. You've probably seen it. I like how it's almost a calm family drama sometimes and then BAM! Dead person inside tent fort. I'm kind of in awe of Shyamalan for that one. TENT FORTS ARE SAFE HAVENS. He knows this. That's why there's a dead person in there. To traumatize everyone.

8. Pan's Labyrinth
This movie is artistically/visually/musically one of the most marvelous movies ever, and I'm not sure it's actually scary, but it is quite gory in places and I still can't watch it all the way through without looking away in grossed-out-ed-ness. Mostly due to a certain straight razor. Also, this guy:

9. The Village
I know, I know, everyone hated it, it's not scary, the twist was lame, blabla, but I DISAGREE. I love it, and the music's pretty and the acting's good and the cinematography is flawless.

10. The Others
It's about a mother and her two light-sensitive children living with some servants in a vast old Victorian house. It's a very classy sort of scary movie, and there's a twist at the end that is quite haunting, haha, oh, the puns.

PS: I have not seen The Shining, did not think The Conjuring was particularly scary, did not think the Blair Witch Project was scary at all, and fell asleep during a marathon watching of the first three Paranormal Activities so I'm not sure if those were scary. Just. . . case you were wondering why they're not on the list. :)

Thanks for having me, Winterhaven Books!

Stefan thanks so much for stopping by!  Now I have to go scrub my computer of all these creepy images!!  That Pan's Labrinth picture is staring at me!!

So my wonderful readers, what movies are on your top ten scariest list?? 

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the amazing tour stops!

Stefan Bachmann - 8/10 – Winterhaven Books
Leigh Bardugo - 8/11 – The Hiding Spot
Kendare Blake - 8/12 – Reading Teen
A. G. Howard  - 8/13 – Page Turners Blog
Marie Lu - 8/14 – Gone With the Words

Jonathan Maberry - 8/17 – Bookish Antics
April Genevieve Tucholke - 8/18 – The Midnight Garden
Danielle Paige - 8/19 – The Irish Banana
Carrie Ryan - 8/20 – Katie’s Book Blog
Megan Shepherd - 8/21 – Jessabella Reads

Nova Ren Suma - 8/24 - Bookiemoji
McCormick Templeman  - 8/25 – The Eater of Books!
Cat Winters - 8/26 – Seeing Double in Neverlan
Jay Kristoff – 8/27 - Fangirlish