Book Review: Release, by Patrick Ness

Release by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found the voice of RELEASE, by Patrick Ness, immediately captivating while the story centered on Adam, but found myself at first a bit confused with the secondary storyline, although I quickly understood these two seemingly separate storylines would eventually entwine and cross paths with one another. This structure frames the story well, loosely based on, and giving literary nods to FOREVER by Judy Blume, and MRS. DALLOWAY, by Virginia Woolf. Of course, more contemporary YA works such as THE SERPENT KING, by Jeff Zentner, also come to mind among the triune circle of friends: Ness's Adam, Linus, and Angela characters.
At the heart of Release is Adam Thorn, a young man on the brink of transition between boyhood and manhood. But equally important is the internal journey he takes to identify and embrace, as fully as he knows how, his true self. Adam's true self might be as easy to discover for him as buying a single rose, unsure of his intended recipient. But as Adam wrestles with the facets that make up himself, those which are "good" or "acceptable" to the world, or to his overbearing religiously rigid family, and the other parts of himself, which seem to be "bad" or "unacceptable," parts he has kept from the public eye for fear of the consequences which have imprisoned him much of his life.
The entire story takes place within the confines of one day, and is complicated by a variety of surprises, both alarming and lovely, threats painful and stifling, and the question of how both story threads will inevitably meet. What makes this a pleasure to read, though, is the journey, the discovery, and the risk of living one's truth. Bravo to Ness and to Adam. May we all learn to risk everything for the right reasons, rather than the wrong ones. Highly, Highly recommended.


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Book Review: They Both Die At the End, by Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This scything, searing read tore at me from the first page, and for me, hit all the high notes in character, plot, pacing, voice, and surprises and touches that thrum long after swiping left on blast to the very last page. Silvera is at his best in his third YA novel, having read and loved both of his first books as well. I'm not ashamed to be a hardcore fanboy. He's definitely on my list of auto-read authors.
I loved the nuanced way Silvera wove life after life together in the primarily dual POV structure, with layers of other characters that may surprise you time and again. Each beat is pointed, deliberate, and a testament to the life of each of his characters, the way dancers leave it all on the floor of the club when they dance among their tribe.
My takeaway is clear: what if we lived our lives to the fullest, as if today were our last? What if we dared to be our authentic self, holding nothing back, regretting nothing, yet if we had regrets, finding the best way to make it right? How true. What a risk. And what an important message. The fact that I know Adam pours his own heart and soul out here on every page, making himself vulnerable for his readers, and did all the hard work to take us there, makes it even more a brave, glorious song, perhaps sung a bit off key, but real, authentic, and chock full of humanity.
I loved the many tender moments I found myself choked up, teary-eyed, not giving a shit that others might laugh at me since I might as well be at Make-A-Moment; after all, I'm just reading a book, right?
Mateo and Rufus leapt off the page, soared on the back pegs of a bike rushing full boar into their final day. What a day. What a life. What a powerful read. I'm still reeling from the aftermath. Damnit, Silvera: you made me mad cry. I will find you, and I will punch you. Looking forward to your next book, and the next.
P.S. The traveler game is my new fave. Love all the social media treats, too.


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BEFORE TOMORROW by Pintip Dunn--Cover Reveal!

I am so excited to share with you the cover reveal for BEFORE TOMORROW by Pintip Dunn, a FORGET TOMORROW novella from Logan's POV!



Title: Before Tomorrow

Publisher: Entangled TEEN

Release Date: Oct. 31, 2016

In a world where all seventeen-year-olds receive a memory from their future selves, Logan Russell's vision is exactly as he expects—and exactly not. He sees himself achieving his greatest wish of becoming a gold-star swimmer, but strangely enough, the vision also shows him locking eyes with a girl from his past, Callie Stone, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of love and belonging.

Logan’s not sure what the memory means, but soon enough, he learns that his old friend Callie is in trouble. She’s received an atypical memory, one where she commits a crime in the future. According to the law, she must be imprisoned, even though she's done nothing wrong. Now, Logan must decide if he'll give up his future as a gold-star swimmer and rescue the literal girl of his dreams. All he'll have to do is defy Fate.

Add BEFORE TOMORROW on Goodreads!

But what if you don't want to wait until Oct. 31?

No problem. Pre-order REMEMBER YESTERDAY, book 2 in the FORGET TOMORROW series, and register your receipt here, and you'll receive a copy of BEFORE TOMORROW to read before anyone else! Plus, U.S. residents will also get a bookplate and bookmark!

Want to learn more about FORGET TOMORROW and REMEMBER YESTERDAY? Click here.

REMEMBER YESTERDAY buy links:

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Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.

Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. Her debut novel, FORGET TOMORROW, won the RWA RITA® for Best First Book. Her other novels include THE DARKEST LIE and the forthcoming REMEMBER YESTERDAY. She lives with her husband and children in Maryland. You can learn more about Pintip and her books at www.pintipdunn.com.

Book Review: Love Blind by Christa Desir and Jolene Perry

Love Blind by Christa Desir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book I didn't want to end, which surprised me, because of the many twists and turns this novel takes with off again, on again friends Hailey and Kyle. At first, you might think Hailey's in your face and poke the bear approach to friendship is a bit off putting, but I found her demeanor and personality one that grew on me. Hailey often seeks to get a rise out of mumbly, nonverbal Kyle. He says very little, and is a clear introvert. No hidden extroversion anywhere. Despite her encroaching blindness (she's legally blind heading toward black blind), Hailey is able to get a true read of Kyle, and sees something she likes and worth pursuing in friendship. What Hailey perceives as control and the upper hand, however, soon unravels into a twisty turny story that is like a trainwreck you can't look away from.

Much of the story centers around the fear lists of Hailey and eventually Kyle, and the way facing these fears parallels the kinds of unspoken fears inherent in relationships, especially from two very broken people. Hailey is adopted by her two moms, and struggles with facing actual feelings and dealing with them when they happen, often leading her to make poor decisions, such as pursuing a hot bouncer dude over Kyle and then regretting her choice. By stuffing pretty much all of her feelings, she initially fails to sort out her actual growing feelings for Kyle, which leads to some rocky areas of their friendship. Kyle believes he is a bad friend to Pavel, who is now homeschooled after a traumatic incident Kyle witnessed but couldn't prevent from happening. Kyle finds himself taking the brunt of a series of attacks from guys seeking an easy target, leaving him bruised and withdrawn even more. He believes he is a bad friend to Hailey, and struggles with his growing feelings for her, which are at first completely driven by hormones and lust, but eventually mature into a desire to be a good friend, and in response to true care and concern which manifests as genuinely seeing her and knowing her better than anyone else does. Kyle's deepest struggle is with his mother, and the guilt he harbors for telling his father to leave and never come back after his father cheats on his mother for the umpteenth time. Kyle is ten, and his father leaves. This is a fear he places on his list, and each of the fears on Hailey's and Kyle's lists have a way of being faced before the story is over. The question is: can their friendship survive such a tumultuous journey?

What kept me reading was how each risk was brought into the pages, and dealt with in a way that either deepened the connection Kyle and Hailey felt for each other, or stripped away the lies, filters, and misperceptions each of them struggled with. It's heartbreaking, endearing, and a hot mess, all rolled together and complicated by two beautifully complex characters. Both of them failed to see themselves as fully as the other was able to see them. It's a long ride, spanning several years, but one worth the risk if you'll read it through to the end and commit to face despite the imminent blindness.

A powerful read unlike anything I've ever read. A love story as haunting as a song, as terrifying as every fear you can think of, and worth the risk.

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Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Simon Spier. He's adorkable and charming, and the sort of imperfect friend who's still trying to figure himself out and how he fits into the world. I love that he's into music, and theater, and Oreos, and in being as authentic as he can, even if he has to keep a large portion of himself private to protect himself and the boy he loves over email.

I could not put this book down. I literally gobbled it down like Oreo anything and loved every minute of it. Simon has a great group of friends and a surprisingly supportive, yet hipster family. Their love is as fierce as Bieber, their family dog. As Simon navigates the complicated world of coming into himself, he realizes his feelings for his mystery guy, Blue, may be the very thing that makes him brave enough to want to come out and be himself fully with everyone, friends and family and all. Simon makes an important point, the Homo Sapien Agenda, where it seems only those who are gay have to struggle through the additional challenge of coming out or staying closeted in their sexuality. Why shouldn't others have to declare their sexuality, whether straight, gender fluid, LGBTQIA, or other? It would level the playing field and make finding oneself less awkward.

This book will steal your heart, cause your stomach to do all these fluttery, flippy things as you gobble it down shamelessly, and leave you wanting more. This gave me some serious book hangover. I'm still coming back down from that ending, especially the kissing. Thank you, Becky Albetalli, for writing such an important book with such heart and soul and music poured into every page. Also, your grammar is impeccable. Highly, highly recommended.

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Book Review: Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. That ending. I have not read such a perfect ending in such a long time. It took my brain a few minutes to process and fully receive the impact. I must have been twirling through the air in a perfect basket toss, positioning myself to be caught by my teammates. Once I stuck the landing, everything snapped into focus and I realize everything had been flipped.

Incredible, impeccable writing throughout. Thoughtful and detailed characterization. I felt like I was on a full cheer squad without mistaking the two Susans, thanks to the pacing and timing by Johnston. The subject of rape and its aftermath may be brutal, yet expertly handled by Johnston as the story unfolds.

At center stage is Hermione and Polly. Two friends who stay true through thick and thin, their senior year and both find ways to have each other's backs in more than one occurrence. Johnston delivers on all fronts, giving air to just about every conceivable aspect of rape and its aftermath, the slow unraveling of one girl's recovery journey. And yet, she leaves room to make the point that there is much more to Hermione Winters than just the facts, whether by police report, or news reporter. And she sure as hell is much more than the rumors, and the victim blaming, and the shaming. To the very last page, Johnston keeps the reader turning pages.

Cheerleading is about precision, execution, and decision. Hermione may have to lose herself to find she was never that far away. As the story comes full circle, she finds within herself the ability to face her past and pave the way for her future based on one simple decision: to use her voice and speak up, when rape robbed her of that choice before. Go ahead. Poke the bear. See how silent the bear is. Bravo. Bravely told. A must read. A powerhouse of a book.

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Book Review: The Serpent King, by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Glittering Read of Snakeskins and the Way We Shed Them for Something Greater

Zentner offers not one, but three stories, deftly woven, braided together. Three friends who face the unknown, where life begins, and who they will become, which is just as important as where they come from. Despite and in spite of their families, and the many ways life delivers both fairness and unfairness, often simultaneously, The Serpent King touches on a coming-of-age story so true, so painfully true, the reader cannot help but weep, laugh, scream, and hope while reading this captivating story. I found myself struggling to put the book down, wanting to read it in one greedy sweep of pages fluttering. What an exquisite read. I learned a few new vocabulary words and I loved how those words stayed in the book. YA readers aren't dumb, and it's high time authors took them as seriously as Zentner. Looking forward to the next novel as well. Zentner made the short list of auto read authors, at least for this reader. Highly, highly recommended.

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Book Review: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maybe is the word spoken before we make a wish. Like, "I wish..." I wish this never happened. I wish I had stopped it somehow. I wish it had gone differently. I wish I could go back to before. I wish. I wish. I wish.

Eden was probably the kind of girl who might lay in the grass the summer before starting her four years of high school, pulling dandelion puffballs and blowing their seeds into all the wishes she could make for her life, back when it was much simpler to wish, simpler to breathe, simpler to just be.

Back when she was Edy, and before her life went spiraling out of control. A stairwell to a dark cellar where awful things happen, and claw their way back up the stairs from beneath her skin, trying to find a way out.

THE WAY I USED TO BE is raw, unflinchingly truthful, and astonishing in its portrayal of what millions of women, girls, boys, and men, and those who do not align as either, or who remain fluid, suffer through daily.

Sadly, they carry the guilt, the shame, and the fear which belongs to their abuser, as if it belongs to them, as if it is their own. And yet, it's not. It's a horrific lie told to them to keep them a prisoner, stuck on the stairs leading down into the cellar of their minds.

As Eden struggles through all four years of high school, drifting farther and farther away from the girl who used to say maybe, take a breath, and blow her wishes across the lawn or field she laid in, she wonders if she will ever find a way back to that place where she could still choose what her life might be, instead of having it already decided for her, already a nightmare she has to endure as a consequence of his actions. But I could just as easily say her actions, or their actions, depending upon whose story is being told.

As a male, I believe this book should be required reading in every sex ed class that separates out the boys and the girls, telling them how they will become adults. This book makes it crystal clear the devastation, the aftermath, the horror of what it is like for a survivor of rape to struggle through until she finds her voice and a way to speak the truth that has been shoved down so far, she doesn't even recognize herself in the mirror anymore.

Many thanks to Amber Smith, for writing what must have been such a terrible thing to have to write and live inside of for so long, until it was perfect and ready for its readers. No one wants to read about this. But we must. No one wants to talk about this, either. But WE MUST.

There were so many exquisite moments of profound truth and honesty, words of poetry so powerfully concentrated and blasting off the page as I read the lines. This is a book that needs to be processed, pondered, discussed, and shared. I intend to do all of those things, and more.

Thank you so much for writing this book, Amber. It is an honor to know you. Please, write more books chock full of truth and boiled down to the words within these pages. Amazing. Breathtaking. Heartbreaking. Powerhouse of a book. An absolute MUST READ. A book you won't regret, despite the topic.

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Book Review: The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter

The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Before I begin with my review, I want to thank the author, Kerry Kletter, for writing this much-needed book with all the truth and veracity between those covers, from the sun to the surf and every word in between.

It's not easy to take a journey like this one, especially one that includes drowning. It's the kind of slow, methodical unraveling that happens when parents coax their child away from the safety of the pool edge, because they believe that child is somehow ready to be out in the middle of it all, when in fact, they are not ready. Not even close. Also, there are no kick boards to use to avoid drowning, or anything really. And that's the moment the reader realizes he's out there with no land in sight, and no one watching, and that's when the tug downward begins, the insistance that the drowning is going to happen, one way or another. It's more than inevitability or destiny, as if one could ascribe purpose to the undertow, it's tenacious maw, the relentless pursuit. That is what Kletter delivers with her effortless and exquisite words, the ability to place us out there in the ocean and actually want to discover why Cassie has to drown, has always been drowning or moving toward it her entire life.

I loved the truths she learned about herself, the mistakes she made, and the way she found her own pathway back from the depths of the ocean to live another day, despite everything. Cassie is awkward and loveable, and her story is searing and powerful. I am still caught in the waves, tumbling endlessly against the shore of its pages, and I knew the truth before it surfaced once and for all in its brutal, honest way. For me, it was a visceral read, one I paced myself through so I could fully absorb it's awful beauty.

Highly, highly recommended. This is one that belongs at the very top of your TBR pile. You won't regret it.

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Blog Tour: Rite of Redemption by Sarah Negovetich with Sale and Giveaway!

The Acceptance Series by Sarah Negovetich is now complete. Go forth and get yourself all three of these books and enjoy them as I have. From Book One, where Rebecca gets shipped off to the PIT and must channel her inner criminal to have any hope of getting out, to Book Two, where her life is literally on the line, and now, in Book Three, where Rebecca becomes everything The Machine accused her of in Book One, pitted against the Cardinal. For any of you who may have been living under a rock for the past three years, here's a quick recap:

RITE OF REJECTION (December, 2014)

 

 

Synopsis (Book One):

 

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca can’t wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball, eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead, the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she’s shipped off to a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.

A life behind barbed wire fences with the world’s most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with an accidental fiancé she’s almost certain she can learn to love.

But freedom comes with a price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence Rebecca must embrace the criminal within.

A teen and young adult dystopian adventure of crime, romance and survival. 

 

RITE OF REVELATION (December, 2015)

 

Synopsis (Book Two):

 

Before you Stands the Future.

The Cardinal plans to execute seventeen-year-old Rebecca Collins, just as soon as he gets what he needs to solidify his rule over the United Territories. Faced with certain death, Rebecca discovers not everyone is under the Cardinal's control. A new alliance helps Rebecca and her friends escape the PIT, giving Rebecca a chance to live the life her Rejection took away.

But the Cardinal needs her in order to stay in power, and he doesn't care who has to die to bring her back to justice.

Her last fight was a push to survive. This time, Rebecca has a life that might be worth dying for.

Continue the journey that started with Rejection and leads to a new Revelation. Buy Rite of Revelation today!

 

 

 

RITE OF REDEMPTION (June, 2016)

 

Synopsis (Book Three):

 

Rebecca escaped the PIT, found a family among the Freeman...and watched too many loved ones die. All she wants is the Cardinal to leave her in peace, but he's made it clear that's never going to happen.

When the Cardinal attacks other Freeman villages, she finally understands that no one is safe from his wrath. As the only one who's stood up to the evil that is the Cardinal, it's up to her to convince the others that they can't hide forever. It's time to fight.

The Machine predicted Rebecca would become the Cardinal's enemy. It may have gotten that one right.

In the conclusion to the Acceptance series, enemies become allies and old friends emerge, but in the end, sacrifice may be the price of freedom.

 

 

 

 

Now to learn more about Sarah Negovetich, Literary Agent, Marketing Guru, Mom, and YA Author:

 

Author Bio:

 

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are

slimy and more than a little salty; it’s accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a

better cliché.

 

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with

amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly

embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

 

You can learn more about Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com or follow her antics

on Twitter @SarahNego.

 

 

You can find more of Sarah here:

 

Website: www.SarahNegovetich.com

Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/sarahnegovetich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahDNegovetich/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SarahNego

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahnego/

 

How about a Giveaway?

 

 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway here: 

 

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And while you're at it, don't miss out:

 

 

Comment below with all things Acceptance Series. And best of luck with the giveaway! Thank you for stopping by the blog.

 

 

A Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse Speaks Out: Being Silenced Again



2016 has been an incredible year. I have witnessed many achievements as they were realized, and I have experienced many losses. Juxtaposed on either end of this continuum of achievements attained in 2016 are the publication of my debut YA novel, The Packing House, on 1/18/16, and the closing of my publisher, Booktrope, on 5/31/16, when my book goes out of print and the voice that took nearly 40 years to find goes silent once more.

Achievements:

• Published my first book
• Earned my first book award, "Indie Reader Approved" and a 4 Star review from Indie Reader
• Inducted into Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society for Counseling
• Attended first Weekend of Recovery (Male Survivor)
• Signed a contract to publish a poem and interview in an upcoming anthology to benefit www.RAINN.org, Things We Haven't Said, tentatively scheduled for January 2017 publication
• Received high rate of 4 and 5 star reviews on The Packing House
• Worked full time while attending grad school for counseling while maintaining a 3.9 GPA

Losses:

• First book goes unpublished as of 5/31/16 due to publisher closing
• Demands of work and grad school schedule limit how much time I have to devote to writing additional books to recover losses
• Despite many positive aspect of publication, poor marketing has negatively impacted book sales and reader awareness the book even exists
• A 5 month window of being published is too narrow a window to reach the full extent of potential readers
• Commitment to donate 20% of every book sold is limited by the length of time The Packing House has been in print, and by the poor marketing efforts which led my publisher to close.
• Financial burden after investing in the promotion and marketing of The Packing House does not yield increased book sales
• Despite finding my voice as a survivor of child sexual abuse through this book's publication, going out of print essentially silences my voice once more

 

 

Response:

 

How will I respond to my voice being silenced? I was four when I first experienced the silencing effect that shame has on a survivor of child sexual abuse. At such a young age, I found it very difficult to speak up about my abuse. It took me decades to climb out of the aftermath, the rubble, and find a way to speak about what had happened.

 

When I first started writing about my abuse in the form of poetry in high school, I knew I had much more to say, but had no idea how to bring the words to the surface in a way that would speak out over so many years of silence and darkness. Despite a poor attempt to begin a short story entitled, "The Packing House," it wouldn't be until years later that I would attempt to convert what was a spark of an idea in high school, into a novel. Told from the perspective of the older brother, rather than his mother, The Packing House took 3 months to write the first draft, more than 20 cover to cover rewrites, 1,000s of edits and revisions, and a full five years devoted to querying. I was offered a contract from a small press, but felt it was not the best choice. I was very grateful for the acknowledgment, but passed on that offer.

 

During those five years of querying, I received 8 requests for partial manuscripts from various agents, 5 requests for full manuscripts, and one revise and resubmit request. Several times, I went to the point of receiving an offer of representation, only to be passed on for a variety of reasons. At one point, another publisher closed while my book was under consideration with their Head Editor. Finally, I decided it was time to shelve the book, and begin a master's degree program when the contract offer of publication came from Booktrope. The process to take the MS and revise it to the point of publication took two full passes with three layers of edits by my amazing editor, Jessica West, and another month of work with my proof reader, the incredible Kathryn Galan, to get The Packing House to its final, published form.

 

Yet all of this goes back to a four year old boy who was sexually abused and silenced for what was done to him. I had a promise that I would gain back what was taken from me, and I believe there was some interest owing on that promise. I mean to get every cent back. I am not talking about money. I am talking about something worth far more than that: lives changed. Survivors who are heard, validated, and who can find a way to heal from the aftermath of their abuse. That is what I am after.

 

So, I am out on query now, seeking representation from an agent who is willing to risk re-publishing a book about abuse and a boy and a girl in love. I plan to finish writing book two of this planned duology, and begin one of several new series.

 

I have a MG series on dragons and shadows I plan to begin this summer with my two oldest boys, and a YA fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast in a steampunk world with a gender swap of the characters. In  my world, the Beast is the girl, and the Beauty is the boy. I've also got a YA Prom-themed murder mystery series, and a YA dystopian series about twins and multiples and a world where there is no disease, at the expense of one half of these sets of twins being held prisoner by the government.

 

 

 

This is your very last chance to decide to purchase your own first edition copy of The Packing House before they are no longer available and out of print. They are currently scheduled to end availability on 5/31/16. However, they could go out of print sooner, if the provider has to take them down to meet the deadline of 5/31/16. Currently you can purchase a Kindle version or Paperback at Amazon. Barnes and Noble has already removed both the Nook and Paperback version, other than a 3rd party seller who thinks you'll pay $47. Other sellers are linked in the upper right side bar.

Following this date, my rights revert to me (I already have the documentation on this) as of June 1st, and I wait to hear back from a few select agents.

I will close by saying thank you to all my readers and followers. Thank you for reading The Packing House, for reviewing and sharing your experience with others, and for recommending it to others. Without you, gaining my voice would not have mattered as much as it has. Thank you.

Release Day Celebration: There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane with Giveaway

 

Happy Release Day to

There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane!

Join us in celebrating this new release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Melanie!

 

 

Peace. Love. Order. Dome. That’s the motto that the Order has given the residents of Dome 1618 to live by. Natalia Greyes is a resident of Dome 1618, a covered city protected from the deadly radiation that has poisoned the world outside for four generations. Nat never questioned the Order, until one day she sees a stranger on the outside of the dome. Now Nat wants answers. Is there life outside the dome and if so, what has the Order been hiding from everyone?

 

There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane

Publication Date: April 26, 2016 Publisher: Month9Books

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

 

Whether it’s uncovering the corruption of the future, or traveling to other worlds to save the universe, Melanie McFarlane jumps in with both hands on her keyboard. Though she can be found obsessing over zombies and orcs from time to time, Melanie has focused her powers on her upcoming YA trilogy: THERE ONCE WERE STARS and her YA urban fantasy series: SUMMONER RISING.

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

 

 

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Release Day Celebration: Emerge by Tobie Easton with Giveaway

 

Happy Release Day to

Emerge by Tobie Easton!

Join us in celebrating this new release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Tobie!

 

 

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid, but she’s never lived in the ocean. Ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality, war has ravaged the Seven Seas.

So Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk. So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right?

That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay than ever. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with Clay, the harder it is for Lia to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

 

Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) by Tobie Easton

 

Publication Date: April 19, 2016 Publisher: Month9Books

 

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Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books at www.TobieEaston.com.

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Release Day Celebration: Nobody's Lady by Amy McNulty with Giveaway

 

Happy Release Day to

Nobody's Lady (Never Veil #2) by Amy McNulty!

Join us in celebrating this new release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Amy!

 

 

For the first time in a thousand years, the men in Noll’s village possess the freedom to love whom they will. In order to give each man the chance to fully explore his feelings, the lord of the village decrees all marriages null and void until both spouses declare their love for one another and their desire to wed again. What many women think will be a simple matter becomes a source of village-wide tension as most men decide to leave their families and responsibilities behind.

Rejected by the lord and ashamed of her part in the village’s history, Noll withdraws from her family and lives life as an independent woodcarver. This changes when her sister accuses her of hiding her former husband Jurij from her—and when Jurij eventually does ask to move in. Determined not to make the same mistakes, Noll decides to support her male friends through their new emotional experiences, but she’s soon caught up in a darker plot than she ever dared imagine possible from the men she thought she knew so well. And the lord for whom she still has feelings may be hiding the most frightening truth of them all.

 

 

Nobody’s Lady (Never Veil #2) by Amy McNulty

Publication Date: April 12, 2016 Publisher: Month9Books

 

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OTHER BOOK(S) IN THE SERIES:

 

 

 

In a village of masked men, magic compels each man to love only one woman and to follow the commands of his “goddess” without question. A woman may reject the only man who will love her if she pleases, but she will be alone forever. And a man must stay masked until his goddess returns his love—and if she can’t or won’t, he remains masked forever.

Seventeen-year-old Noll isn't in the mood to celebrate. Her childhood friends have paired off and her closest companion, Jurij, found his goddess in Noll’s own sister. Desperate to find a way to break this ancient spell, Noll instead discovers why no man has ever chosen her.

Thus begins a dangerous game between the choice of woman versus the magic of man. And the stakes are no less than freedom and happiness, life and death—and neither is willing to lose.

 

Nobody's Goddess (Never Veil #1) by Amy McNulty

Publication Date: April 21, 2015 Publisher: Month9Books

 

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Amy McNulty is a freelance writer and editor from Wisconsin with an honors degree in English. She was first published in a national scholarly journal (The Concord Review) while in high school and currently writes professionally about everything from business marketing to anime. In her down time, you can find her crafting stories with dastardly villains and antiheroes set in fantastical medieval settings.

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Cover Reveal UP IN FLAMES by Kelly Hashway

 

Today on the blog I am delighted to share with you the third and final cover in the INTO THE FIRE series by Kelly Hashway, UP IN FLAMES, which releases on April 12, 2016! I hope you've grabbed your copies of INTO THE FIRE and OUT OF THE ASHES, and have read both of these scorching first books. I've loved the story so far, and I promise you, book 3 does not disappoint! Here's the synopsis:

 

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Synopsis: 

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Seventeen-year-old Cara Tillman is in more danger than ever. 


All around her, Cara’s fellow Phoenixes are being attacked. With no other choice, she and her group take the only option they have—call more Phoenixes out of hiding and wage an all-out war against the Hunters. But with the lines of loyalty blurred, and Phoenix secrets to be kept, there’s no guarantee anyone can be trusted. 


Logan Schmidt walks the blade of love and obligation—and just one slip may end them all. 


After stealing the Phoenix dagger and going into hiding, the Hunters are convinced Logan is one of their own. But with Cara’s memories recovered, her heart is set on Logan’s return. The problem is, she may be the only one who trusts him. 


It isn’t long until Logan’s disappearance is noticed by his long-time friend, Anton Botas, who is more than just an outsider. Though Logan trusts him, the Phoenixes do not, opening yet another fault line in their plans. 


Where there is one, there are many. 


Determined to end this once and for all, Cara and the others must destroy the Phoenix daggers—the only weapons able to kill her kind. But in a raging battle, Cara learns the awful truth about the relics. Destroying them may destroy the Phoenixes in the process. 


Can Cara and her friends end this war, or is their future destined to go Up In Flames?

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YA Author, Kelly Hashway

 

Now that you've read the description, meet the author, Kelly Hashway. Kelly is the author of several speculative fiction tiles and series, including:

 

YA Touch of Death Series:

Touch of Death

Stalked by Death

Face of Death

 

and the Touch of Death Prequels:

Curse of Death

Kiss of Death

 

YA Monster Within Series:

The Monster Within

The Darkness Within

 

YA Into the Fire Trilogy Series:

Into the Fire (Book 1)

Out of the Ashes (Book 2)

Up in Flames (Book 3)

 

As well as a MG series (Curse of the Granville Fortune), and picture books. For more information, check out Kelly's website: www.kellyhashway.com

 

Author Bio:

Kelly Hashway grew up reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street novels and writing stories of her own, so it was no surprise to her family when she majored in English and later obtained a masters degree in English Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching middle school language arts for seven years, Hashway went back to school and focused specifically on writing. She is now the author of three young adult series, one middle grade series, and several picture books. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she isn’t writing, Hashway works as a freelance editor for small presses as well as for her own list of clients. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and volunteering with the PTO. Hashway currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and two pets.

 

Hashway is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

 

Find Kelly Hashway on her website, blog, Facebook Author Page, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, Amazon Author Page, GoodReads Author Page, Into the Fire on GoodReads, and YouTube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Now it's time to reveal the amazing new cover for book three of the Into the Fire Trilogy, UP IN FLAMES, which is completely breathtaking:

 

 

 
 

http://amzn.to/1RR5MLN

 

 

Don't just stare, click the cover to add this title on GoodReads! Okay, stare for as long as you like, then go preorder UP IN FLAMES. Stunning, right? I know! I loved the first two books, and am currently reading book three, and OMG, it's amazing.

 

You won't have to wait long for it, either, since book 1 is already out 2/16/16 (You got your copy already, right? Don't forget to post those reviews while you wait for book 2), followed by book 2 on 3/22/16, and finally, book 3 on 4/12/16. Hooray! I am so excited for this series, I can't even stand it. I am thrilled to get to share it with you and soon we can all fanboy and fangirl about it like crazy. Feel free to come back here and tell me what you think of books one and two while you're waiting on book three.

If you thought Into the Fire was an amazing read, just wait until you read Out of the Ashes! Book 2 picks up where book 1 leaves off, and without spoiling anything, readers of book 1 will love the parallels drawn out in book 2 with a focus on Logan this time. Stakes are raised, and book 2 ratchets up the tension and risks as if book 1 were only a flicker of a flame. Trust me, book 2 has flames that will scorch you and keep you turning pages all the way to the end!

 

Plenty of fire, lots of kissing, and scorching hot besides. Get your copy soon. You won't want to grab it Out of the Ashes. You might get singed. Get yours before it goes Up in Flames.



45 Essential YA Titles Perfect for SAAM

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), I'd like to share 45 essential YA books that will help you and others Support, Protect, Educate, Advocate, Know, Understand, and Prevent further sexual assault. Really, you should read them just to read them. But for this month especially, you should read them even more. You should share them with others. You should educate yourself and your family and loved ones. You should read these with your bookclubs and find them in your local bookstores. Librarians and bookstores should make displays featuring these books to raise awareness among your readers. You should go online and buy copies for yourself, your friends, or to give as gifts. These are the books that need to be read.

For years, growing up, books like this did not exist. Libraries and bookstores were my haven. As I walked through the aftermath of my own trauma (CSA), I found solace in books. They were my therapy. Now, I have found 45 titles all centered around sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, incest, sex trafficking and related topics. This is a positive sign of change, and YA books are at the forefront of that change.

Our children need to know. We need to learn and know more. There are those who are out there, and hurting, and the aftermath of their assault, abuse, or rape has silenced them. I've been there. So often, family members are at a loss for how to help a survivor, and books provide a direction toward recovery. We all know someone who has experienced sexual assault, abuse, or rape. They need our support to help them find the strength to heal and move forward.

Give survivors a book from this list. No words need to be said, but they will find themselves, and their voice again in the pages of that book. Be an advocate, a support, a protector, a friend who understands, someone who knows, maybe you've been there, too. Let's do what we can to prevent even one more sexual assault.

Let's eradicate sexual assault from our culture, our families, and our world. Let our children of tomorrow grow up in a safer, less dangerous world because we did something about it. I hope you'll find your voice and write your story, too, if you've faced sexual assault, abuse, or rape. We need all of these stories and more.

Here are the most current books that will equip us for that fight:

1. Forged by Fire, by Sharon M. Draper Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

2. The Nowhere Girls, by Amy Reed Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

3. Blood Water Paint, by Joy McCullough Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

4. Identical, by Ellen Hopkins Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

5. Saints and Misfits, by S. K. Ali Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

6. Girl Made of Stars, by Ashley Herring Blake Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

7. I Stop Somewhere, by T. E. Carter Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

8. Lessons from a Dead Girl, by Jo Knowles Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

9. Girls Like Us, by Gail Giles Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

10. Asking for It, by Louise O'Neill Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

11. The Female of the Species, by Mindy McGinnis Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

12. Wrecked, by Maria Padian Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

13. Living Dead Girl, by Elizabeth Scott Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

14. Such A Pretty Girl, by Laura Weiss Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

15. Things We Haven't Said: Sexual Violence Survivors Speak Out, edited by Erin E. Moulton Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are More #YAforSAAM:



16. Exit, Pursued by a Bear, by E. K. Johnston Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

17. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

18. Traffick, by Ellen Hopkins Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

19. The First Time She Drowned, by Kerry Kletter Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

20. The Way I Used to Be, by Amber Smith Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

21. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, by Matthew Quick Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

22. This Is Where the World Ends, by Amy Zhang Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

23. Swagger, by Carl Deuker Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

24. Scars, by Cheryl Rainfield Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

25. The Packing House, by G. Donald Cribbs Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

26. The Gospel of Winter, by Brendan Kiely Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

27. Fault Line, by Christa Desir Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

28. Boy Toy, by Barry Lyga Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

29. Faking Normal, by Courtney C. Stevens Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

30. Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are even more #YAforSAAM:

31. All the Rage, by Courtney Summers Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

32. What We Saw, by Aaron Hartzler Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

33. Stained, by Cheryl Rainfield Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

34. The Mockingbirds, by Daisy Whitney Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

35. Panic, by Sharon M. Draper Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

36. Punch Like a Girl, by Karen Krossing Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

37. I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, by Jacqueline Woodson Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

38. What Happens Next, by Colleen Clayton Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

39. Because I Am Furniture, by Thalia Chaltas Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

40. Where the Stars Still Shine, by Trish Doller Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

41. Dime, by E. R. Frank Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

42. Pointe, by Brandy Colbert Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

43. Run the Game, by Jason Myers Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

44. Bait, by Alex Sanchez Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

45. Period.8, by Chris Crutcher Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

What titles would you add to this list? Please share them in the comments below. In addition, if you've read one or more of these titles, comment below to share how you were changed after reading them. Then, share these with your friends and family and become part of the change in this world. I believe books are one of the best vehicles for change. Keep reading!