Review & Giveaway: Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by @TheNyaJade

Author: Nya Jade
Title: Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four
Series: Shapers #1
Publication: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Dreamwell Publishing
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Source: Author

Synopsis
The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the  truth and to stay alive.

Thoughts: I want the next book, right now. I'm not going to do a run down of the story because the synopsis does a pretty good job with the details. Jade has written a beautiful story intricately woven with mystery, suspense and romance. There is character development, the plot flows steadily in a way that I could notice the author's musical influence because some scenes were so lyrical. The main character Phoebe is still carrying the weight of guilt from the death of her father, which she feels is her fault. So, following in his legacy she decides to enroll in the school to train Shapers and meets Hollywood heartthrob Colten Chase. I found her easy to identify with and she grew more confident towards the end of the book but she maintains a level of uncertainty about her that I think will lead to more growth in the next book. Colten makes for a great male love interest he's not overbearingly aggressive with Phoebe, he's actually quite sane...totally different from the norm for teen male leads in young adult literature. What I really about this story is that there is none of that insta-romance or love triangle yet the interactions between Phoebe and Colten have this sweet intensity.Jade balances all these elements so well that I didn't feel bogged down by too much romance or suspense. I was so engrossed in this book; I didn't want to put it down. Overall, the characters and mythology are well developed and crafted. Great Read!

AUTHOR BIO ~Website
Nya Jade is a singer-songwriter and author based in San Francisco. Her music videos have aired on the VH1, BET, and MTV networks. USA Today hailed Nya as a “young female troubadour worth keeping your eyes and ears on,” in an entertainment feature on up-and-coming singer-songwriters. “Her cool singing voice recalls Sade,” said the LA Times.

Between writing and performing new music, Nya took a musical sabbatical to focus on writing a novel—an endeavor she found quite daunting, until she began looking at each chapter as a verse in a very long song. Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four is her first novel.

In her free time, Nya enjoys hanging out with family and friends, searching for amazing gluten-free desserts, and bargain hunting for her next pair of funky shoes.

Nya holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Sociology, both from Stanford University.

Tour Schedule

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"Waiting On" Wednesday #4: Icons by Magaret Stohl

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

Icons by Magaret Stohl
Release Date: May 7, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads
Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

What book are you looking forward to reading? 

Blast & Giveaway: Red Madrassa by Terah Edun

Red Madrassa by Terah Edun
A magical accident threw them together. But when Fate holds all the cards, it can be impossible to tell the difference between pure chance and Destiny...

The Madrassa, a magical school for mage practitioners, is the stuff of legend. With selective entrance exams and quotas for only the most advanced of mage children, it's almost impossible to attend.

When Allorna, a guardian trainee for the royal family, ends up on the doorstep of the citadel on the eve of the final day of a recruitment ceremony, she decides it must be fate.

She was sure she knew the path her life would take before she enrolled. But sometimes life has a way of throwing in magical curveballs and strange friends, just to see if you’ll trip up.

Oh, and one of those friends is a mage accused of murder, another is a slightly psychotic dragon, the third a healer facing an existential crisis, and the last is a female storm-caller with more hidden secrets than a thief lord.

Do they all belong at the new school they call home?
Amazon * Amazon Kindle

Tour Schedule

About the Author
Website * Goodreads * FacebookTerah Edun is a young adult  fantasy writer born and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area, who transplanted to the Northeast region for college, and now lives in South Sudan. She writes the stories that she always loved to read as a young girl.

She prefers tales of adventure, magic, fellowship and courtship – in other words high fantasy. But she’s not adverse to the occasional contemporary fantasy coming her way. Sometimes you’ll see cloaks, daggers, independent and strong girls, independent and strong guys, sweet and soft spoken girls, sweet and soft spoken guys, markets, cute guys, sparkly magic and irritatingly know-it-all boys. The book she’s currently working on is SWORN TO RAISE,  the first in the Courtlight series.

Outside of writing, she’s a international development professional with a penchant for Starbucks.

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 2/28/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Get to know me better #3

This meme is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer.

I was going to post a review today but that didn't happen, so today you get to know more about me.

Questions for this week

I can't live without...
Family
Do you make your bed each morning?
Nope,because I'm still in it.
City or Country?
Country,I like space not chaos and clutter
Most embarrassing moment?
Well it happened in front of thousands of fans at an Alabama football game. Right before halftime,we (colorguard/flag)were warming up in the back and it was this part in the routine where we had to toss the flag in the air and squat at the same time then stand straight and catch it. So,when I went do the squat, I heard this loud ripping sound. Let's just say I wore the wrong color underwear and my instructor wasn't going to send me out on the field at first but he said I'd be all right. They pinned me up and I went out there and sure enough those pins popped. The worst part was we had to perform that show again that night at a high school battle of the bands showcase. True story and unforgettable.
What do you think about book trailers?
I like the ones that are like actual movies,not the ones with words and weird pictures.

Feel free to leave a comment with your answer to any of these questions, I would love to know more about you. :)

Repost Review: Unravel Me by @TaherehMafi @harperteen

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Title: Unravel Me
Series: Shatter Me #2
Publication: February 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Pages: 465 pp.
Source: Around the World Arc Tours
Synopsis
tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Thoughts:  
Juliette has escaped whatever fate Warner had for her as a tool for the Reestablishment and now has the chance to be amongst those that understand that she is different. At Omega Point, a portion of the inhabitants have gifts and they all work together to make the operation of the facility run smoothly. Though Juliette has her freedom, she feels more trapped underground with them than she did with Warner. At least then she could see the sky. I think if she becomes any more withdrawn, she will internally combust. She is so focused on the fact that she doesn't want to hurt anyone that she sits balled up in the corner of her room rather than learning to harness her abilities. But it's not all about her; there are other lives at stake. For her to truly understand, it will take something drastic to happen.

Adam is different in this book because he has discovered something he's not ready to cope with, which makes him unable to share it with Juliette. Juliette has her secrets as well, one big one she discovered in the first book. Warner can touch her and she is keeping this from Adam. The thing about secrets, they have a way of coming out and Juliette figures this out the hard way. Does this stop her from keeping more information about Warner that may be crucial to the pending war? No.

Ugh! I can't decide which fella I like better, at the moment it's a tie. Warner surprised me with his emotional depth in this one. He strummed Juliette's heart strings like a pro, thoroughly confusing her more than she already is. Warner is a complex character and I'm starting to like him. Adam seems more unstable emotionally but he is going through a lot that is putting a strain on him. He is scared that he may lose Juliette. 

The leading lady, Juliette, in the beginning of this book, seemed the same. She doesn't seem to have grown much outside of her own personal bubble of uncertainty and confusion. She's too afraid to accept herself and the power that has been gifted to her. Juliette is more focused on the harm she can cause instead of the good she can do if she makes the effort to harness her powers. Towards the end, I began to see a glimpse of a new Juliette, sort of like a rebirth...maybe. O Juliette, Juliette! wherefore art thou, Juliette?

My favorite parts of the book are the scenes with Warner and Juliette's notebook. I like her thoughts in the notebook because she sounds more certain of who she is in the world and what she wants. And my second favorite part is when Kenji told Juliette off, priceless. She needed to hear all of it. Unravel Me is full of surprises and action and I loved them as they are unexpected. I look forward to seeing Juliette grow into the fighter that I know is simmering to get out and stop internalizing everything. 

Rating: 4.5 out 5

Some funny thoughts while I was reading: 
"If this girl faint one more time!" 
" That boy does not look that good, Dang it's like her brain gets all befuddled around hot boys. Jeez!" 
"Well played Warner, you sneaky rascal...I think, I like you." 
" Whoo-hoo! Kenji, about time someone told her about herself! High-Five!" 
"Finally, Juliette *sigh*, sheesh." 

Sunday Post #3

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~

Last Week on the Blog

Promo & Giveaway: A Song for Julia by Charles Sheehan-Miles
Reveal & Giveaway: Volition by Lee Strauss
Trailer Reveal, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Watcher by Lisa Voisin
Book Blast: Tailsman of El by Alecia Stone
"Waiting on Wednesday" #3 Of Triton by Anna Banks

Review: Fragments by Dan Wells ~Review
Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda ~Review
Review: Pantomime by Laura Lam ~ Review

Next Week

Override by Heather Anastasiu ~Review
Tailsman of El by Alecia Stone ~Review
Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade ~Review
Waiting on Wednesday
Some other books, haven't decided yet :)

Giveaways

Win Order of Darkness:Changeling by Philippa Gregory
Win A Kindle Fire HD

For Review & Tours

Received via Edelweiss from the Publisher(Thanks to HarperTeen)

Tours

I racked up at the library, see all the goodies I got!

Hidden by P.C. & Kristin Cast

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Rise by Andrea Cremer

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Everbound by Brodi Ashton
Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Review:Pantomime by Laura Lam

Author: Laura Lam
Title: Pantomime
Publication: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Genre: LGBT 
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass – remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone – are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimeras is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star. But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

Thoughts: Iphigenia "Gene" Laurus is not a proper young lady; she practically detests anything that requires her to be and enjoys tormenting her mother, who is determined to make a good match for her daughter. Gene longs to live her own life and not be forced to marry someone she doesn't care for. One day she overhears a conversation between her parents that breaks her heart and she decides to make a rash decision that will change her life. Micah, a street urchin is looking to find his way in the world, hiding out in the streets barely making it and happens upon the circus. He believes that he has found where he belongs and needles his way in or better yet takes a foolish leap and finds himself a trapeze artist in training. Micah & Gene each have a secret that as their worlds collide, could ruin everything they have come to cherish. 

Lam has created two very fascinating characters in this story. I like how the setting goes back and forth between Gene's privileged world and Micah's circus life. The biggest part of the book is the secret, which is revealed early, so no element of surprise after that. What the story does have is atmosphere of the circus, which Lam describes with flair. Towards the end something major happens but then there is a big cliffhanger, so I don't know what happens to the main characters. Overall, the pace is slower than I would have liked but it's an interesting read.