Double Review: Wesley James Ruined My Life

Hey guys! So a while ago we hosted a Blog Tour for Wesley James Ruined My Life and also included a review by the marvelous Mari. I just recently read it as well and would love to share my thoughts with you! Below is Mari's previously posted review, along with the my new one.

Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn

Mari's Perspective

Review:

This book was the quintessential beach read. Honestly it was the kind of light book that you sometimes NEED during vacation, and it didn't disappoint. While it had a predictable and somewhat cliche plot, the backstory more then made up for it. Q is a likeable girl who (like me) loves England, and needs to make cash in order to go. Her relationships with her parents are complex (what with her gambler of a dad) and in many ways she is a fully developed character. Then in comes Wesley who "ruined" her life a while ago, who is stirring some new feelings in her. In my opinion it was stupid that she blamed him for the divorce of her parents. Like really Q? You really thought that he was the one to reveal to your mom that your dad lost his job? How dumb and naive can you be? But whatever. Wes is SUPER hot, and his reporte with Q is extremely cute, something that really drives the book forward. Their love/hate relationship is super fun and cute to watch, and it was perfect to lazily read on a summer day, outdoors with a lemonade in hand!

Rating: 7.5/10

Lauren's Perspective

Review:

    Wesley James Ruined My Life is very short and to the point. It's an easy read and hard to put down, but there were a few flaws within the writing.

    The author's writing, or Quinn's thoughts, were very repetitive. Quinn kept saying over and over again, 'this and this only happened because of Wesley James'. She blamed him for everything even though clearly none of the problems were his fault. She was very immature which does not portray her age very accurately (she's in her senior year). Although, this repetitive thinking could also show how deep Quinn is stuck in the past, and how she really never got over her parents divorce. It was better to blame Wes for everything going wrong in her life instead of face the truth of what actually happened.

    There was also another factor that didn't really add up: Quinn's coworker Amy. I don't want to spoil anything, but something goes down with Amy that really comes from out of the blue. It was plausible of course, but it just seemed like the author wanted a plot twist and a way for Quinn to look good, so she threw that in there. There wasn't even support throughout the novel, so it felt random.

    Overall, I would recommend Wesley James Ruined MY Life, but more for a discussion topic than for its content. 

Rating: 6/10

Recommended if you are looking for: a fast paced, short and easy read.

Well, there you have it guys! Thanks so much for reading and sorry we haven't really posted in a while!

Your friends at the Autumn Bookshelf

GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT

Congrats go out to Eleanor (@sunsetandstars) for winning our Embers of War giveaway! You will be contacted shortly!

Also thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! Just because you didn't win this copy, does not mean you shouldn't give the book a try!


Your friends at The Autumn Bookshelf

EMBERS OF WAR GIVEAWAY

Hey guys, I have some exciting news! Thanks to Titan Books, I'll be holding a Book Giveaway for a new release of theirs. It's called Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell. Below is the intriguing synopsis for the novel, as well as the rules for the giveaway!

THE PRIZE~
-By winning this giveaway, you will receive one finished copy of the newly released Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell!

TO ENTER~
1. Follow my account, @AutumnBookshelf on Twitter.
2. Follow Titan Books on Twitter ( @TitanBooks).
3. Retweet my pinned post that announces the giveaway! (on @AutumnBookshelf)
4. That's it! You're good to go!

THE CONDITIONS AND RULES~
-This giveaway is open to UK/US/Canada only.
-You can only enter the giveaway once, and you must be following both of the aforementioned twitter accounts AND retweet the post to be considered to win.
-Giveaway ends on March 3, 2018 at 12:00am CST.
-Winner will be announced on March 5, 2018 on both my blog and on twitter! The winner will be contacted via Direct Message on Twitter shortly after the announcement has been made.
-Make sure your Twitter account is not on private when the giveaway ends, otherwise I cannot guarantee that I'll be able to see your retweet.
-Winner must be 18 years of age or have parent permission to enter this giveaway.

TITAN BOOKS, TITAN HOUSE 144 SOUTHWARK STREET, LONDON SE1 0UP 020 7620 0200

“Powell’s writing is fast-paced and fun and full of adventure. He is – ANN LECKIE, Hugo Award-winning author of Ancillary Justice on my must-read list.” 

EMBERS OF WAR

GARETH L. POWELL

AFTER THE WAR, THE BATTLE FOR PEACE BEGINS IN THE

START OF A BRAND NEW SERIES FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR GARETH L. POWELL.

           

EMBERS OF WAR is the first in a three-part space opera from BSFA winning author Gareth L. Powell that will delight fans of Ann Leckie, Alastair Reynolds and Adrian Tchaikovsky. Beautifully plotted and paced, EMBERS OF WAR is a timely and considered look at morality and the consequences of conflict, delicately balanced with Powell’s trademark wit and warm prose to create a modern, page-turning addition to the increasingly popular space opera genre. 

The warship Trouble Dog was built and bred for violence, yet following a brutal war, she finds herself disgusted by conflict and her role in a possible war crime. Seeking to atone, she joins the

House of Reclamation, an organisation dedicated to rescuing ships in distress. But stripped of her weaponry and emptied of her officers, she struggles in the new role she’s chosen for

herself. When a ship goes missing in a disputed system, Trouble

Dog and her new crew of misfits and loners, captained by Sal

Konstanz, an ex-captain of a medical frigate who once fought against Trouble Dog, are assigned to investigate and save whoever they can.

Meanwhile, light years away, intelligence officer Ashton Childe is tasked with locating and saving the poet, Ona Sudak, who was

aboard the missing ship, whatever the cost. In order to do this, he must reach out to the only person he considers a friend, even if he’s not sure she can be trusted. What Childe doesn’t know is that Sudak is not the person she appears to be.

What appears to be a straightforward rescue mission turns into something far more dangerous, as Trouble Dog, Konstanz, and

Childe find themselves at the centre of a potential new conflict that could engulf not just mankind but the entire galaxy.

If she is to survive and save her crew, Trouble Dog is going to have to remember how to fight.

TITAN BOOKS, TITAN HOUSE 144 SOUTHWARK STREET, LONDON SE1 0UP 020 7620 0200

PRAISE FOR GARETH L. POWELL

“Impeccably structured, with a series of cliff-hangers, but beautifully balanced between big ideas and the smaller-scale

human story. If you read only one space opera this year, it's got to be The Recollection.”

The Guardian on The Recollection

“Like M. John Harrison, but without the crushing sense of despair and ennui.”

Philip Reeve on The Recollection

“Gareth L. Powell is going to be a major voice in SF.”

Paul Cornell on The Recollection

“Gareth L Powell has got it just right … The Recollection is a joy to read.” 

Geek Chocolate on The Recollection

“A justly celebrated book, innovative, filled with excitement, eminently readable.”

Adrian Tchaikovsky on Ack-Ack Macaque

“I thought that Powell’s previous novel, The Recollection, was one of the best things I’d read in ages, and Ack-Ack Macaque, though different in tone, is easily as good. It’s the most fun I’ve had with a novel in quite a long time and you need to read it too, trust me.”

Dave Hutchinson on Ack-Ack Macaque

“Powell has created a vast, thoroughly original world that is so imaginative, emotionally engaging and frighteningly real that you don’t want to leave it.”

Den of Geek on Ack-Ack Macaque

“Ridiculously readable, thoroughly entertaining, and packed full of ideas.” SFFWorld on Ack-Ack Macaque

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GARETH L. POWELL is the author of five science-fiction novels and two short story collections. His third novel, Ack-Ack Macaque, book one in the Macaque Trilogy, was the winner of the 2013 BSFA novel award. He lives in Bristol, UK. Find him on Twitter @garethlpowell.

www.titanbooks.com |  https://www.facebook.com/titanbooks | @TitanBooks

TITAN BOOKS IS A DIVISION OF TITAN PUBLISHING GROUP LTD.REGISTERED OFFICE: 144 SOUTHWARK STREET, LONDON, SE1 OUP.

Book Review: One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Released: May 30, 2017

Read: May 2017

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Format: ARC, 368 pages

Series: Stand-alone

Description from Goodreads:

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. 

Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. 

Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.

Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.

And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. 

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? 

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

Review: 
    One of Us Is Lying was simply amazing! It got my attention from the very first page and continued to hold it throughout the entire novel. The author, Karen M. McManus, did a great job of hiding who the true killer really was, and only hinted it in at the very end. Usually with books where the point of view rotates between characters, I enjoy one perspective more than the others and look forward to that one in particular. But that didn't happen with One of Us Is Lying; I wanted to know more information about each character equally. This created a very enticing read and I can't wait for more people to read it!

Favourite Quotes:

• " These murder club meetings are becoming a regular thing. We need a new name, though."
• "It concerns me you're avoiding a promise not to murder me."
• "I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes they're just assholes who screw up because they don't expect to be caught."
• " I guess we're almost friends now, or as friendly as you can get when you're not one hundred percent sure the other person isn't framing you for murder."
• "We could be surrounded by walking dead in the zombie apocalypse and she'd look for the bright side."

Rating: 8.5/10

Recommended if you like: thrillers, murder-mysteries, high school dramas, the Breakfast Club, Pretty Little Liars

Keep flipping pages,
Lauren

Favourite Books of 2017

Hey guys! 2017 is finally coming to a close, so we thought we would let you in on our favourite 2017 releases. Below are just a few of the books we adored, and feel free to tell us your favourites in the comments!

Lauren:

• Dreamfall by Amy Plum
• The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
• The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
• If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger
• The Masked Truth by Kelly Armstrong

Ola:

• Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
• First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy
• The Case of the Missing Men by Kris Bertin
• Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
• The Muse by Jessie Burton
• The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

Happy New Year!

Your friends here at The Autumn Bookshelf

Book Review: All The Crooked Saints

 All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

Released: October 10th, 2017

Read: October 2017

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: ARC, 311 pages

Series: n/a

Description from GoodReads: Here is a thing everyone wants: a miracle.
Here is a thing everyone fears: what it takes to get one.
   Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars.
   At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo.
   They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.

Review: This book is kind of like a bedtime story. The narrator meanders and builds the world and characters so you can fall in love with each of them in turn. I don't mean it as an insult when I say that there's no pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching action. It's something I haven't seen before, and I really like it. There's a lot of character. If you can picture a bunch of characters standing out in the desert, you are about halfway to the amount of characters in the story, and you didn't even count the desert as one. Sometimes, like a true bedtime storyteller, the names or backstories get a little confusing. (#itsDarlenesRooster) But all the characters are lovely, with complex but simple wants and fears that are developed through clear story arcs. Like I said, the narrator meanders. The book describes side character's side characters background stories. It compares radio waves to miracles, and informs us in detail of a plant that takes over its environment. The intricate details set the storybook tone throughout the book. Altogether, the novel has a languid, bedtime storyteller feel that may bore some people, but I found it interesting and relaxing.

Blog Tour: Sparked

Hey all! Today I'm bringing you a spotlight post for Sparked! Be sure to let me know what you think of the book!

Title: SPARKED
Author: Helena Echlin & Malena Watrous
Pub. Date: October 3, 2017
Publisher: Geek & Sundry
Pages: 310
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, TBD, Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Laurel Goodwin wakes up to find her older sister Ivy missing from their Airstream trailer in the Oregon redwoods. A recurring nightmare convinces her that Ivy was abducted, but no one takes her dream seriously, including her mom. Laurel, a loner, has to learn to ask for help, and Jasper Blake, a mysterious new kid who shares her love of old books, quickly becomes her ally. Together they find their quiet town holds a deep secret and is the epicenter of a dark prophecy. 
Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own.

Read a sneak peak of SPARKED!

About Helena and Malena: 

Hello! We are both novelists, but if you've ever tried to write anything, you know that writing can be a lonely, angst-filled business. So one night over a cocktail or two, we came up with a solution: write our next book together. Malena already had an idea: a girl's sister is kidnapped and she has to rely on mean girls with superpowers to get her sister back. We couldn't resist seeing where that story would take us – a wild ride that includes a loner girl who wants to be a writer and a gorgeous boy who can shoot fire from his eyes but also loves to talk about books. And an ancient Zoroastrian prophecy. And pie shakes. (OK, so maybe we got a little carried away.)
We've both published solo novels (check them out here and here) and had no idea how co-writing would work out, but we pounded out the first draft in a white-hot frenzy of inspiration we called "the Vortex." One of us would write a scene and send it to the other with a note: "My apartment is a pigsty and I haven't eaten all day. #inthevortex." We wrote the book we wanted to read as teenagers: a supernatural thriller with healthy doses of horror and humor. Oh, and of course there's romance. You have to wait a long time for the only kiss in the book, but isn't that the case with all the best kisses in books?
Website | Twitter 



Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SPARKED, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Schedule:

Week One:
10/2/2017- Literary Meanderings- Interview
10/2/2017- Zach's YA Reviews- Review

10/3/2017- BookHounds- Guest Post
10/3/2017- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

10/4/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
10/4/2017- Rachel's Book Reviews- Review

10/5/2017- Wandering Bark Books- Guest Post
10/5/2017- A Gingerly Review- Review

10/6/2017- Rainy Day Reviews- Excerpt
10/6/2017- Bibliobakes- Review

Week Two:
10/9/2017- Margie's Must Reads- Guest Post
10/9/2017- YA Book Madness- Review

10/10/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview
10/10/2017- The Best Books Ever- Review

10/11/2017- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Launch Coverage
10/11/2017- the bookdragon- Review

10/12/2017- YA and Wine- Interview

10/13/2017- Owl Always Be Reading- Excerpt
10/13/2017- Nerdophiles- Review

That's all for today!
Happy Reading,
Mari

Blog Tour: The Way to Bea

Hey all, I'm bringing you a fantastic blog tour stop for The Way To Bea! Let me know what you think!

Title: THE WAY TO BEA
Author: Kat Yeh
Pub. Date: September 19, 2017
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads

 With a charming voice, winning characters, and a perfectly-woven plot, Kat Yeh delivers a powerful story of friendship and finding a path towards embracing yourself.

Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot.

But then something incredible happens--someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words--and herself--have found a new way to belong.


 About Kat:
Kat grew up reading, doodling, and scribbling in Westtown. She worked for many years in advertising and sports marketing, while writing children’s books in the wee hours of the night. She currently lives on Long Island where she can see water every day and explore all the bay and harbor beaches with her family.

Website | Twitter |Instagram| Pinterest | Goodreads 

And now we have an amazing interview with Kat!




Why did you have your main character write haikus and not other forms of poetry?

 Oh, Bea... One of my favorite things about her is that even when she isn't able speak out, she still expresses herself and shows the world how she feels on the inside. And poetry is definitely one of those ways. Bea's poetry gives the reader a window to her heart. And the perfect way for them to experience her shifting emotions. 

 Before 7th grade started, Bea was a joyful and exuberant writer & artist, who would often break into sudden silly dances on the sidewalk. Her whimsical free verse poetry was painted in bright colors and curling letters all over her bedroom walls. 

 Until the heartbreak of losing her best friend.
Her best friend who tells Bea that she is just "too much."

 With this, Bea doesn't know how to be anymore. She is being judged for the way she expresses herself. So, what is a poet supposed to do? 

 Bea turns to haiku. A form of poetry with strict rules and structure: Exactly three lines with five syllables, then seven, then five. Because maybe if she is following rules, she can belong again.

 Five
Seven
Five

 But her worry is  (5)
with seventeen syllables (7)
will she still be too...much        (6)

 So then I guess the question is, who makes the rules anyway...and who gets to decide what and who is too much?



Do you like to write poetry?

 I grew up, believing I would be a poet. I imagined that this job would include sitting by a window each day and dreaming of what to write about. I imagined I would have a wonderful pen – maybe an old-fashioned fountain pen that would make exactly the right thick and thin lines to write my poems with.  I made a vow when I was in third grade that I would write a poem every day for the rest of my life. I made it pretty far. 
The answer is Yes. I love writing poetry. I even snuck some into my first novel, THE TRUTH ABOUT TWINKIE PIE.


What would you want your middle grade readers to take away from this book? What would you hope adult readers to glean from it?

 Hmm. This is an interesting question.
Because if it were middle grade ME reading it, I would hope that this book helped me realize that friendships are complicated. But that does not mean that it's okay for someone to hurt you. And if life is a maze, no matter what unexpected twists and turns you face, YOU are the only one who gets to decide what path to take. And if you hit what seems like a dead end – then YOU get to decide whether you want to turn around, climb over, or forge ahead and create a new path for yourself.

 For my readers, whether they are young or grown, all I can say is that I hope they take from my book whatever it is they need to take from it. 

 There's this saying about how once a book is published, it no longer belongs to the author. And I do really believe this is true. Books belong to the reader. Whoever they are and whatever their backstory. How could it not? They will be reading this story and looking at it through their specific worldview. They will read it and feel as only they can.

 I've had people write to me after they read THE TRUTH ABOUT TWINKIE PIE and thank me for helping them with things that I never dreamed I'd be helping anyone with. They took the book and got what they needed from it. They made it their own. It's a pretty cool thing, isn't it? You put your heart into something and you work and work so hard on it, hoping someone will connect to it. But if and how they do is not up to you. It's up to the reader. After all, it's their book.


Did you have similar experiences within your own friendships as Bea did?

 My main friend group started changing when I was in 9th grade, but it was nowhere near as dramatic as what Bea went through. In my school, the size of my class doubled after 8th grade and even though I still loved my closest friends, we sort of drifted into different groups over time as we grew and changed. I'll add that I'm still super close to these friends and love them dearly even though we had many years (and now decades!) where we didn't hang out. 

 But this experience was definitely what inspired me to write THE WAY TO BEA. I kept thinking: what if this had happened to me in 7th grade instead of 9th...and what if it wasn't a gradual shifting of friendship, but a sudden, hurtful dropping of one. I know losing a friend group is something that is all too common at all ages and it was something I wanted to write about.


If you had to choose your favorite quote from the book, what would it be?

 if I act 
the way 
I wish I were
am I still acting
—or becoming?

 It's a line that Bea writes as she's thinking about how to navigate the confusing world that is middle school. And it's something I think about a lot. Does "acting" ever become "being"? I think the answer is different for everyone. For some people, the idea of "acting" feels like putting on a false front. Like acting a part or pretending. But, I like to think of "acting" as deciding to do something. To act upon it. To accomplish something. Sometimes you just need to keep trying and trying something until you look up one day and see that you've actually done it.

 Giveaway Details:

 3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE WAY TO BEA, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:
9/18/2017- Jennifer Mary G.- Interview
9/19/2017- YAYOMG!- Review
9/20/2017- BookHounds YA- Guest Post
9/21/2017- Word Spelunking- Review
9/22/2017- Little Red Reads- Interview

 Week Two:
9/25/2017- Mrs. Knott's Book Nook- Review
9/26/2017- YA Book Madness- Review
9/27/2017- La La the Library- Review
9/29/2017- Cindy's Love of Books- Review
   
Let me know what y'all think of the book!
Happy Reading,
Mari

Book Review: Crooked Kingdom

 Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Released: September 20th, 2016

Read: August 2017

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Format: E-Book, 536 pages

Series: Six of Crows #2

Description from GoodReads: When you can't beat the odds, change the game.
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.


Review: Just like Six of Crows, the ending to this duology hits every note right and kept me at the edge of my seat with every single jaw-dropping twist and turn. The gang returns with a vengeance, reminding at least me why I loved them the first time around. The book delved deeper into the backstories and life-changing moments that shape their decisions until the very end. Comparitively the side characters fall vaguely flat, but their scenes hint at more things that we just didn't have the chance to discover. 
   It was also really fun to read characters so close to each other that you almost learn more about one character from someone else's perspective than you do from their own. The gang is written so tightly-knit that it's almost like I am personally friends with all of them.
   Leigh Bardugo also keeps up the beautiful descriptions and dedicated world-building from the first book. I may be biased because she's one of my favourite authors, but I adore her writing.
   All in all, the book kept the pace, feeling, and excitement going from one end to the other and wrapped the duology up well enough for it to be over. But hopefully, maybe just maybe, there will be a follow-up.

Quoteable Quotes:
- "You like things that you can see. Like piles of snow and benevolent tree gods."
- "Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return."
- "You aren't a flower, you're every blossom in the wood blooming at once. You are a tidal wave. You're a stampede. You are overwhelming."
- "But if you couldn't open a door, you just had to make a new one."
- "It's shame that lines my pockets, shame that keeps the Barrel teeming with fools ready to put on a mask just so they can have what they want with no one the wiser for it. We can endure all kinds of pain. It's shame that eats men whole."
- "That's where you're wrong, I don't hold a grudge. I cradle it. I coddle it. I feed it fine cuts of meat and send it to the best schools. I nurture my grudges, Rollins."
- "When one plan was blown, you made a new one. When they backed you into a corner, you cut a hole into the roof."
- "And that was what destroyed you in the end: the longing for something you could never have."
- "But just as surely as life connected everything, so did death. It was that endless, fast-running river. She'd dipped her fingers into its current, heldthe eddy of its power in her hands. She was the Queen of Mourning, and in its depths, she would never drown."

Rating: 10/10

Read if You like: crime novels, bank heists, the Grisha trilogy, well built worlds.

Optimistically yours, Ola

Blog Tour: Masked & Keeping The Beat

Hey loves! Yes you read that right! Today is really special, as The Autumn Bookshelf is hosting TWO stops for Rockstar Book Tours! So sit back and enjoy!


Title: MASKED (Superheroes UnderCover, #1)
Author: J.D. Wright
Pub. Date: August 15, 2017
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Pages: 217
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, TBD, Goodreads

Summary:

- Turn 18 (check!)
- Register super name
- Order supersuit
- Attend superhero indoctrination
- Graduate high school
- Start kicking criminal tail

Vada Lawson can’t wait to be a superhero. Born into a family with special powers, she’s been training to fight criminals and villains her whole life. But her indoctrination into the underground super community is derailed when normals start breaking out in superpowers themselves.

Not trained to control their new abilities, the normals are frightened and vulnerable. Then their mutilated corpses begin turning up all over town. What the heck?

Somehow, with the help—and hindrance—of an annoying newly-minted super named Orion, Vada has to stop the chaos before it destroys her and everything she holds dear…and ruins her superhero debut.

No one ever said that being a superhero was easy… 


About J.D.: 

J.D. Wright is a military wife, mother of four, and author of paranormal and fantasy romance books filled with strong-willed heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and sprinkled with humor and adventure. J.D. creates artistry in many ways, as a baker and cake artist by day and author by night. You can usually find her typing away at the computer or covered in frosting.


Since discovering she has a knack for writing, J.D. has so far written and self-published eight books of the Everealm and Songs of Everealm Series and is now venturing into the world of paranormal with her new superhero-themed series. She is an avid reader and lover of all things romance so she always includes a good love story in her paranormal and fantasy novels.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Interview with the author:

What was the inspiration behind the book?
It was actually a superhero children’s show that my kids started watching which gave me the idea to use that as a theme. I love superheroes myself. Then when I started looking into it, I realized there aren’t many books with this theme that are written for older teens and upper-YA. So I decided to write one!

Who would your dream cast be of the movie adaptation?
Surprisingly, I haven’t really given this a lot of thought. I know that’s crazy since I’ve mapped out my entire cast for two of my other series. But here are some ideas for Masked.
I think I would go with AnnaSophia Robb as Vada/Majestic. She has the girl next door look but could still probably kick some tail.
Nick/Orion is so hard because I really can’t think of a blonde actor that’s the right age to play him. Maybe Luke Benward? I’m sure my readers could probably help me find the perfect Nick.
I think Kyle Allen would be great as Victor/Velocious. Bonus points as he’s already an acrobat!
Henley/Eden is a complex character. Danielle Campbell might be able to pull off her wicked side.

What is your favourite quote from the book?
The one that still makes me chuckle is “…this isn’t Gotham City, Batman. You don’t foot the bill.” I thought it would be funny to mention a well-known superhero and Batman happens to be my favorite. But it also shows that comic books still exist in this alternate world. I won’t tell you who said it though. You’ll have to read it to find out.

What would you want your readers to take away from the book?
I don’t expect the story to have any long-lasting effects. There isn’t a message I’m trying to convey or a boundary I want to break through. Like movies and television, I just hope this story entertains you. If it does, that’s all I could ask for.

Which character do you identify the most with?

I think I’m a mixture of a few of them. Vada has my ambition, that’s for sure. James got my love of video games. And Nick has my terribly inappropriate sense of humor. Poor guy.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a MASKED Mug and a $10 Amazon GC, International winner will receive a $20 Amazon GC.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more exclusive content!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:
9/11/2017- Mom with a Reading Problem- Interview
9/12/2017- Seeing Night Reviews- Review
9/13/2017- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt
9/14/2017- Book Briefs- Review

Week Two:
9/18/2017- Under the Book Cover- Review
9/19/2017- Wonder Struck- Guest Post
9/20/2017- Comfort Books- Review
9/21/2017- BookHounds YA- Interview
9/22/2017- Reese's Reviews- Review

And now on to Keeping the Beat!

Title: KEEPING THE BEAT
Author: Jeff Norton
Pub. Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Pages: 368
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads

It was supposed to be the best summer of her life. Instead, seventeen-year-old Lucy finds her best friend, Harper, shot dead in an LA swimming pool. How did things ever go so wrong? The story circles back to trace the steps that led to this disaster.

Only Harper McKenzie could have taken five girls from their school and reinvented them as Crush, the top prospect to win the international talent contest Project Next. As soon as the band finds its footing, it scores a huge win in the UK semifinal. Next stop, LA! 

The girls will spend a luxurious summer in Hollywood, living as reality TV stars while they prepare for their performance in the Project Next final. With a mansion to themselves, they’re the toast of the town … living every girl’s dream come true. 

It’s way too late when Lucy discovers that Harper’s heart has never been in Project Next at all. Joining the competition was just part of Harper’s elaborate ruse to reconnect with her no-good ex-boyfriend. Harper will risk anything — from her friendships to the band’s reputation — to get him back. 

Meanwhile, the other members of Crush are throwing themselves headfirst into sex, drugs and rock and roll. With the band in crisis and the final approaching, Lucy must decide whether she wants to play to Harper’s beat or set the rhythm for the rest of the band. 

This fast-paced story takes unexpected twists, unraveling the mystery of Harper’s murder and exploring the complicated relationships among members of the band. Writing team Marie Powell and Jeff Norton — with many years in the entertainment business between them — deliver one-part wish fulfillment and one-part cautionary tale as they go behind the scenes to reveal what no one sees on “reality” TV.



About Jeff:

Jeff Norton is an author, writer-producer, and founder of AWESOME. He creates compelling characters, amazing stories, and immersive worlds for all ages, in all media. He is the author of the high-tech thriller ‘MetaWars’ series from Hachette, ‘Memoirs Of A Neurotic Zombie’ from Faber, and the upcoming ‘Stomp School’ picture book series from Little Tiger Press.  He also creates and co-writes with other talented authors, such as the best-selling ‘Princess Ponies’ series with Julie Sykes (under the name Chloe Ryder) for Bloomsbury and the young adult novel ‘Drummer Girl’ with Bridget Tyler.
Jeff is an Executive Producer of the pre-school television show ‘Trucktown’ based on Jon Scieszka’s best-selling books.  Through his production company, AWESOME, Jeff is developing a slate of high-concept television shows for kids and adults.


Website | Twitter |Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of KEEPING THE BEAT, US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:

Week One:
9/11/2017- Books,Dreams,Life- Excerpt
9/12/2017- Wonder Struck- Review
9/13/2017- Confessions of a YA Reader- Excerpt
9/14/2017- Lattes & Paperbacks- Review

Week Two:
9/18/2017- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
9/19/2017- books are love- Interview
9/20/2017- Rachel's Book Reviews- Review
9/21/2017- BookHounds YA- Guest Post
9/22/2017- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

Well that's all for today! Let me know what you think below!
Happy Reading,
Mari