Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway: JUBILEE MANOR by Bethany Hagen

Title: JUBILEE MANOR

Author: Bethany Hagen

Pub. Date: August 11, 2015

Publisher: Dial Books

Pages: 400

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

The thrilling conclusion to Landry Park is full of love, betrayal, and murder--perfect for fans of Divergent, The Selection, and Pride and Prejudice.
In Landry Park, Madeline turned her back on her elite family, friends, and estate to help the Rootless. Now, in Jubilee Manor, she struggles to bring the Gentry and the Rootless together. But when Gentry heirs—Madeline’s old friends—are murdered, even she begins to think a Rootless is behind it, putting her at odds with the boy she loves and the very people she is trying to lead. If she can’t figure out who is killing her friends and bring them to justice, a violent war will erupt and even more will die—and Madeline’s name, her estate, and all the bonds she’s forged won’t make any difference.

This conclusion to Landry Park, which VOYA dubbed "Gone with the Wind meets The Hunger Games,” is a richly satisfying, addictive read.

My Thoughts...

Being a big fan of Landry Park, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the conclusion, JUBILEE MANOR. Madeline is in a precarious position. With her father removed from power and Landry Park, her once assumed-dead uncle Jack steps into Alexanders shoes and together, Madeline and Jack attempt to bring the Rootless and the Gentry together.

Madeline thought things were looking brighter. She was in love with Captain David Dana, the Rootless and the Gentry would come together and everything would eventually make a turn for the better. That was until dead bodies of friends began showing up. Blame was set against the Rootless and in turn retaliation was their defense mechanism. Their people were already considered the "lesser" lives, and when anything went wrong they seemed to be blamed. No wonder they were bitter and angry with the hoity toity Gentry. With Jack at Landry Park, most Rootless lost their faith in him and turned to Smith, whom was 100% against the Gentry and anything to do with Landry Park.

As the story moves forward, we learn why the Landry's heal from the radiation and how it all began. Despite the turmoil, Madeline had hoped that if they could figure out a way to manipulate the serum, the Rootless would have a chance at a longer, healthier life. Her brilliant cousin worked so hard on gathering blood samples and running tests to get this ready for testing. But behind all the efforts, there's someone who opposed the changes and has an agenda of their own.

There were multiple characters I considered for the roll of the murderer, and bbout half way through the book before I thought I knew who was behind them. Well played, Ms. Hagen. That little added twist (and I will not say what that particular twist is) threw me off. Madeline proved to be a much stronger protagonist. With deaths and the resistances, she never stopped believing there was a way to change things for the better.

In the end, Madeline and her family had changed. Not just from losing loved ones, but realizing everyone regardless of their station deserved a better life and an education, a warm home to live in, and not fear the threat of radiation.

 This story isn't fast-paced until the last quarter, which was done very well, but I would have liked a little more to keep me from wanting to skim a little here and there. I could've done without so much description, but besides that, I really enjoyed what the story was about. Overall Jubilee Manor concluded very nicely and I am soooo glad that David and Madeline's relationship withstood the turmoil at and around Landry Park.

Info for LANDRY PARK:

Title: Landry Park

Author: Bethany Hagen

Hardcover: 384 Pages

Publisher: Dial (Penguin)

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

About Bethany: (photo by Ritu Nanos)

Bethany is a a former librarian living in the Kansas City area with her husband and two children.

Her debut novel Landry Park came out from Dial/Penguin in 2014, and the sequel, Jubilee Manor, will be out August 11, 2015. She is am represented by Mollie Glick of Foundry Media.

Find Bethany:

 website | tumblr | pinterest |twitter

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a paperback of LANDRY PARK and an ARC of JUBILEE MANOR. US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/3/2015-The Bibliophile Chronicles- Interview

8/4/2015- Fiction Freak- Review

8/5/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

8/6/2015- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

8/7/2015- Wishful Endings- Interview

Week Two:

8/10/2015- The Eater of Books!- Review

8/11/2015- Fiktshun- Guest Post

8/12/2015- WinterHaven Books- Review

8/13/2015- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Interview

8/14/2015- The Reading Nook Reviews- Guest Post

The Game of Love & Death by Martha Brockenbrough: Review & Giveaway * Rockstar Book Tour*

Hello all! I'm very excited to be a part of this unique book and this awesome tour!

THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH Martha Brockenbrough
Pub. Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic)
Pages: 352

Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now . . . Henry and Flora.
For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.
Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?
Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.
The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.
Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget. 

My Thoughts

"She Whispered this into the baby’s ear: Someday, everyone you love will die. Everything you love will crumble to ruin. This is the price of life. This is the price of love. It is the only ending for every true story." 

This tale literally blew my mind. I have never ever read a thing like it! The whole book is based on the premise of the LOVE & DEATH, in a very human like guises, making a friendly little wager. Only they deal in human lives. The tale is told in alternating first person perspectives between Love, Death, Flora, and Henry. Each characters lives it's own tale unaware of how they wander further and further into the messy trap that has been laid before them since there very birth. There was so much pain staking detail put into the time lines of each Henry and Flora's life that I can't help but marvel at Martha's talent.

Not only is it a brilliant story about Love and Death but there is another perhaps more important story within regarding racism in the early 1930's. Flora wants nothing more than to fly her own plane but knows all to well what anyone would think of that. A female let alone of of her "color" would never ever be taken seriously, even though she is more talented than the lot of them. Henry knows he is just a friendship away from being a broke orphan so he does what he must to keep his adopted family happy included being wooed by an evil conniving woman. When a few chance encounters ( or maybe not so chance since death and Love seem to have their little fingers in everything) put these two on a collision course the spark that fly are so brilliant. I couldn't get enough of these sweet courtship. Henry and Flora are both the most outstanding characters! It is heart breaking since I wanted things to so badly go right for both of them but that doesn't seem to be  part of the game!

If the story line isn't enough to hook you, Martha really goes out of her way with some stunning and poignant prose. I was devouring this book since the writing was sheer BRILLIANCE! There is so much more I wish to say but can't give to much away so I'll leave you with this. If you are a fan of historical fiction/fantasy.THIS IS A MUST READ!! There is so much goodness here that it is a bit overwhelming. My feels are still recovering!

Blizzard Read!!!!!

 Find it:
 Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

About Martha:     

Martha Brockenbrough (rhymes with broken toe) is the author of two books for adults and five books for young readers.

She's the founder of National Grammar Day (every March 4), and she's written game questions for Cranium and Trivial Pursuit. The former editor of MSN.com, Martha has interviewed lots of celebrities, including the Jonas Brothers and Slash (his favorite dinosaur is the diplodocus). Her work has been published in a variety of places, including The New York Times. She also wrote an educational humor column for the online encyclopedia Encarta for nine years.

She lives in Seattle with her family. Her favorite kind of food is Indian, although Thai runs a close second. Besides writing, she likes board games, playing music with the family band, travel to places far and near, drinking lots of coffee, and working out really hard at the gym.

Website  | Blog | Twitter  | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr | Goodreads

5 winners will receive a finished copy of THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH! US Only.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Follow the Tour 

Week One:

4/20/2015- Alice Marvels- Interview

4/21/2015- Books, Bones & Buffy- Review

4/22/2015- A Glass Of Wine- Guest Post

4/23/2015- Jump Into Books- Review

4/24/2015- IceyBooks- Interview

Week Two:

4/27/2015- Fiction Freak- Review

4/28/2015- Nerdophiles- Guest Post

4/29/2015- The Starry-Eyed Revue- Review

4/30/2015- Seeing Double In Neverland- Interview

5/1/2015- Winterhaven Books- Review

Rook by Sharon Cameron - Review & Giveaway *Rockstar Book Tour *

ROOK

by Sharon Cameron
Pub. Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 464
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

My Thoughts

* I was given this book in exchange for an honest review and this holds no sway on my opinion.*

This book is a juggernaut if I ever saw one. what started out to be a bit slow and overly worded turned into a well thought out creation involving loyalties and learning to trust your heart. 

Rook had such an interesting setting. It takes place in the far future where a collapse of technology has essentially put the world back into the dark ages. Since the great death all technology has been banned since the rulers claim it makes people less self sufficient. The wealthy are now being executed for having the means to build any type of machinery. See where this is headed?  It was really quite an interesting take on a dystopian. I found myself riveted as the characters marveled over things made of plastic such as a nintendo controller. There is also a crazy dictator who seeks power but claims he is an instrument of the goddess fate. We know how well men acting on the advice of goddess' has worked out. LeBlancs methods are also rather unorthodox as he takes what i assume are hilton hotel shampoo/conditioner bottles, drops them into a pot with boiling blood/water and which ever one burst first decides the fate of the prisoner. Can you say CRAZY TRAIN? The catacombs of Paris are where the prisoners are held and if you know anything about this enormous system of graves and tombs running under the city of Paris, you'll have a really good idea of how awful life must be for someone being held in those rooms. 

The characters were another bright spot in this tale. Sophia Bellamy isn't your typical lady and her brother Tom isn't the weak man he seems to be. The relationships slowly come to light. Once you get a glimpse of just how much these siblings care about each other, you can't help but have a deep respect for both of them. They are both on a constant mission to save the other one. When Sophia must marry to clear her father's debt (awful I know) in steps the pompous René Hasard. i knew from the start he there was more to him than meets the eye, but boy did I get more than I bargained for. Sophia and René's witty banter and sly game of cat and mouse quickly became my focal point of the story. There was quite a few other breakneck plot twists that I didn't see coming. 

Once this book picked up it was literally full steam ahead until the very end. This book would be perfect if you enjoy historical fiction or just a unique dystopian, or a kick ass hero! I am so glad i got to read this amazingness and would like to thank Scholastic and Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a copy.

4 Snowflakes

Find it: 

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Book Trailer:

Link:

https://youtu.be/GlSDsV8SuMs

About Sharon: 

Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

5 winners will receive a finished copy of ROOK courtesy of Scholastic. 

US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow The Tour

Week One:

4/20/2015- Xpresso Reads- Interview

4/21/2015- The Starry-Eyed Revue- Review

4/22/2015- The Eater of Books!- Guest Post

4/23/2015- Mundie Moms- Review

4/24/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

Week Two:

4/27/2015- Fiktshun- Review

4/28/2015- Bookish- Guest Post

4/29/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-Tales- Review

4/30/2015- Chapter by Chapter- Interview

5/1/2015- Winterhaven Books- Review

Blog Tour Review: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Feb 10, 2015

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Their Legacy is…A calling. An Honor. A lie.

#SeekerSeries

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She
will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.

As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.

And she’ll be with the boy she loves—who is also her best friend.

But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.

Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it’s too late to walk away.

 Seeker Reviews
“Fans of Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Marie Lu’s Legend, and Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games series: your next obsession has arrived.” —School Library Journal

“[A] powerful beginning to a complex family saga . . . Dayton excels at creating memorable characters.” —Publishers Weekly

“A tightly woven, action-packed story of survival and adventure, Seeker is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.” —Tahereh Mafi, author of the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series

“Secrets, danger, and romance meet in this unforgettable epic fantasy.” —Kami Garcia, #1 New York
Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures and author of Unbreakable

My Thoughts:
You need this book in your life.  I know I haven't personally met you (you being the wonderful readers of this blog) and I don't know your reading tastes, but that doesn't matter.  I can guarantee that you will love this book.  It will be in your top 5 of all time and you will have all the feels for days to come...I solemnly promise this to be true.

Have your attention yet??  Did you run to your nearest online store and order this?  What in the world are you waiting for??  Okay here let me list all the reasons why you need this...

1. The setting is over the top amazing.  The setting is in Scotland and Hong Kong which is super different and fun.  I myself get tired of the same ole high school setting in the middle of some small town so having this story set in a whole other country was awesome.  The scenery background descriptions were so vivid and I felt like I could really see what the author envisioned.

2. The world building OMG the world building.  If you are like me you have probably read it all, but let me tell you you haven't read this before.  Different with a huge capitol D! I loved the Dreads, the magic behind everything and just the whole immensely dark world that was created.  After finishing this I am left really wanting a prequel and that almost never happens for me.  I am a huge character driven reader so backstory usually never enters my mind, but with this world I want to know the hows, whys, whos and holy molys of everything.  There is so much in this story that could be developed and I know I would read every bit of it if given the chance.

3. The characters where to even begin.  This is the first book that I have read in maybe ever that lets a main love interest be the bad guy that he is.  Do you know in the beginning that he's a baddie no, but when the time came for him to be the villain I wasn't sure if the author would let him given the whole love triangle angle that was forming, but she did it. She let him become immersed in his own life and needs.  I loved this so hard.  Yes there were moments of regret, but honestly this character is in so deep that I'll be devastated if he is redeemed.  I want him to be the villain and I know that's weird but I do.  I am crossing my fingers that the triangle is long forgotten on one end and that this particular character will get to bask in his evilness...okay not really evilness because there is a driving force behind what he is doing, but I want him to stay on his path until the very end.
 I loved the other characters as well.  Quinn was amazing and I get why she chose her paths when she did.  I respect her and I can't wait to find out what she does with her new knowledge.  She was a really strong heroine and probably one of the best I have ever read.  Her moral compass is pointing in the right direction and I only hope it continues to do so.

Those three things are only the tip of the iceberg.  I didn't even mention the Dreads and that whole wonderfully weird storyline.  It almost felt like at times there were two different stories being told and then at the last minute they came together.  I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment.  I am left hanging on the edge of my seat because I know the next book is going to be explosive!  And I mean the kind of explosive you know was coming after Katniss found out about the District not being dead!!  Yes that explosive!

So have I convinced you???  If you need more convincing then make sure to check out the rest of the blog tour. I promise by the end if you haven't already bought this you will have it in your cart!  Oh and there is going to be a movie!!!  You are a reader you know you have to read the book first!!

Blizzard Read!!

 

About Arwen:

Arwen Elys Dayton spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by a single fading flashlight whe researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, and lots of ruined castles in Scotland. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire.

Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. You can follow her @arwenelysdayton on Twitter and Instagram.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads/Instagram

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive finished copies of SEEKER, US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:
2/9/2015- Spiced Latte Reads- Review
2/9/2015- Supernatural Snark- Interview
2/9/2015- The Cover Contessa- Guest Post

2/10/2015- Once Upon A Twilight- Review
2/10/2015- Reading YA Rocks- Guest Post
2/10/2015- The Eater of Books!- Interview

2/11/2015- WinterHaven Books - Review
2/11/2015- Paranormal Book Club- Interview
2/11/2015- Literary Meanderings- Guest Post

2/12/2015- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
2/12/2015- I'd So Rather Be Reading- Guest Post
2/12/2015- Bookhounds ya- Interview

2/13/2015- Bookish- Review
2/13/2015- Bewitched Bookworms-Interview
2/13/2015- Nerdophiles- Guest Post

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway- Moonset by Scott Tracey

Today WinterHaven Books has the wonderful opportunity to review,  Moonset by Scott Tracey. Special thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for hosting this blog tour as well as allowing us to participate. 
You can view the complete Moonset tour schedule; Here! 

Moonset by Scott Tracey
Publisher-Flux
Release-April 8th 2013
Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.

 My Thoughts:
Moonset was once an ordinary coven. Not remarkable in any one way till something set them on the path to darker magic which continued to crave unstoppable forbidden powers. They started a war, became terrorists that lead to hundreds of deaths. They were a feared unstoppable force. Then one day they simply surrendered. No one knows why, maybe it was momentary clarity that freed them from the dark forces. But being quickly tried and executed, their plans were never revealed.
However, they did leave something else behind...
Malcolm, Justin, Jenna, Cole and Bailey. The children of Moonset. They will always be reminded of the sins of their parents and branded by an unbreakable curse that sets their fate as one. Something or someone is coming. Will the Moonset children be evil's second-coming? Or can they rise above and escape their tainted bloodline?

Wow! I had so much fun with this book!
This would be my first book by Scott Tracey, but it wont be my last. Tracey's writing is smooth, sharp and confident and has the perfect blend of magic and madness. I was easily absorbed from the first page till the very last. It's been a long time since I enjoyed magical element in my escape to this extent, but it also has a little bit of everything else I love. Mystery, suspense, wicked idea and wonderful imagination and even a touch of romance to make me smile.

Moonset is told in Justin's point of view which I absolutely loved. Not only do I adore male characters pov's but Justin has one of those voices that is easy to connect with instantly. He's got a great sense of humor, looks out for his family and glues you to the pages throughout the entire story.
His twin sister, and the only one related to him by blood, Jenna on the other hand is a really piece of work. Attention seeker, stubborn, frustrating, bratty, always stirs up trouble. You know the kind. Someone you'd love to slap or watch someone put her in place. I can't say that I loved her, but she's got sharp wit and I found her colorful dialog to be most entertaining, plus, you can't deny she loves her family.
As for the rest of the 'adopted' siblings, I liked them a lot as well. Malcolm is the eldest and relies more on his physical strength then magical spells. Cole is funny and fearless while Bailey is the youngest, she's sweet, pixie-like and very much protected.
Together these are the teenagers of Moonset and they have so much weight on their shoulders that I'm amazed they can even walk straight. To be viewed and judged solely by the actions of what their parents did in the world before their death must be both exhausting and excruciating. But through it all they look out for each other, being each others family and friend. I love their bond, their connection, their humor, their banter and overall good nature despite everything. They are a wonderful cast of character that have you invested the minute you meet them and they will make you want to see it through till the very end.

The concept and story line has a good mixture between a healthy dose of gathered information about the history and magical aspect and the full force of what that magic has planed for this group of misfit teens.
There are a handful of adult/guardians that, quite frankly I never cared for. Other then Quinn (he was cool) they all seemed very judgmental, unfair and full of themselves despite there good intentions.
This also has very little romance, which the sap in me would usually complain about, but to honest the story line was so busy you don't even miss it. What we did get was cute though. The minute I met Ash, I knew we were gonna get along just fine. She's a fun, witty, fiery characters that's a bit odd but there is a kind of twinkle in her personality that I found infectious.

All in all, I had a great time with this book. You can tell that Scott Tracey took his time in this world filling it with action and adventure and so much magic. The fun kind, complete with titles and spells and creatures and a history that made this universe unique, intriguing and fascinating. There is a lot to process but the way it's told felt easy to absorb everything this book has to offer. It also leaves us on a good note, but I'm still really looking forward to seeing where Tracy will take these characters next!

A very well done fun filled adventure fit for fans who is looking for a fresh twist in their magical escape!
Loved it! Next!
                       

                                                                    4.5 Snowflakes

Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).He is the author of the WITCH EYES trilogy, of which the final book, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013. He is also the author of the LEGACY OF MOONSET series, the first book of which, MOONSET, will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

Links: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Tumblr

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