Monday Madness (70): Clarity by Kim Harrington

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

CLARITY by Kim Harrington

Pub. Date: March 2011

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Format: Hardcover , 256pp

Age Range: Young Adult

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Want More?

Read the 1st two chapters of CLARITY here!

Order CLARITY @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksAMillion, Borders & IndieBound

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Check out the book trailer!





Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

Win Darkness Becomes her by Kelly Keaton!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win...

DARKNESS BECOMES HER (Signed) by Kelly Keaton
Swag: Bookmark

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my interview with Kelly Keaton here

Comment on my review of Darkness Becomes Her here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) March 10, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

DARKNESS BECOMES HER by Kelly Keaton

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Format: Hardcover , 288pp

Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very…different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

DARKNESS BECOMES HER packed a punch as Gods and monsters battled it out for power over New 2 (New Orleans). From the very start of this book, I was immediately drawn into Ari’s world. She’s different and she wants answers about her mom. Unfortunately for Ari, those answers come with a price. Things kicked into high gear when Ari goes searching for answers in New 2 where talk of paranormal creatures resides. This was a train ride that I did not want to exit!

I love the protagonist’s voice. Ari is one tough gal and she knows how to dish out punishment if needed. In New 2, Ari finds kindred souls and for once feels like she belongs. I enjoyed the adventures that she had to go on to find answers about her family and herself. As brutal as some of the answers where, it all came together perfectly to create a heart-pounding page-turner. I also love the setting. Keaton’s detail to the setting of New 2 drew me into her world as if I was right there with Ari experiencing its beauty. The sequences of DARKNESS BECOMES HER take place over a few days and I enjoyed reading about the history and characters that formed the Novem. The Misfits as they are called that Ari becomes acquainted with are enjoyable and I loved their camaraderie. Sebastian, tall, dark and moody made my heart go pitter patter during a few scenes and I found myself wanting more scenes with Ari and Sebastian. DARKNESS BECOMES HER has an interesting cast of characters that’s for sure!

After reading the synopsis of this book, I would have never thought that I would be getting the treats that were written inside this page turner. It’s different and was totally unexpected. The only thing I can say now is: More Please! Yes, I’m curious to how things will play out in the next installment. If they are anything like this book, then I know I’ll be in for a surprise. I can’t wait to read more!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Sensational 7 Q & A with Kelly Keaton (Author of Darkness Becomes Her)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and MMORPGs. She lives in North Carolina with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats.

Kelly’s alter ego, Kelly Gay, is a 2010 double RITA finalist and a recipient of North Carolina’s Art Council fellowship grant in literature. She writes the Charlie Madigan series for Pocket Books.

DARKNESS BECOMES HER is in stores today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

Oh, Tina, this is soooo hard! Do I choose ancient Greece or Medieval England or ancient Egypt or Celtic Ireland or Sumeria? Brain . . . can't . . . decide! :D Okay, I have it! I would go back in time to have a little chat with Enoch. Or to the Garden of Eden... See! I'd never get anywhere because I couldn't decide, LOL.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Haunting. Lush. Decaying. Twisted. Kick-butt. Acceptance. Sacrifice.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

The Black Stallion, just one among many, though! Oh, not again, Tina! I have to pick ONE? You do realize my other crushes are not going to like me having to chose. *don't hate me guys. she's making me do it.* I pick Thor, from the upcoming movie out in May. *fans self*

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

Merlin. Because he's the most powerful wizard to ever live. Though, as Merlin, I'd use my power to change myself from an old dude into a beautiful young woman (and as such I would then procure a fierce black dragon on which to fly around the whole of England). :D

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

Ha! It's a toss up between a young Joan Cusack (because she always plays these slightly awkward, goofy, and nerdy characters, and that's pretty much how I've felt most of my life) and Zoe Deschanel. Just because I like her.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

The Dreaming Bat. My husband will love that I said this. He calls me a 'bat' all the time. It's really a term of endearment and no reflection at all on my personality. :D And the dreaming part because I've spent most of my life daydreaming about thing or another.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Quiet. Chaotic. Simple. Complicated. Entertaining. Introverted. Loving.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

Ari's sequel is in the works and will come out in Feb. of 2012. And before that I'll have my third adult novel (written as Kelly Gay) coming out August 30, 2011.

Thanks for stopping by Kelly!

For more information about Kelly Keaton and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (69): Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

DARKNESS BECOMES HER by Kelly Keaton

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Format: Hardcover , 288pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very…different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Want More?

Order DARKNESS BECOMES HER @ Amazon, BooksAMillion, Borders & IndieBound

Tara @ Once Upon a Twilight is hosting the blog tour for Darkness Becomes Her...please click on the link for the schedule of blogs hosting interviews, reviews, and a chances to win a copy of the book.

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Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

In My Mailbox (73)

For Review

Father of Lies by Ann Turner

Betrayal (Haunting Emma, #2) (Haunting Emma #2) by Lee Nichols

Lemniscate (Angel Star #2) by Jennifer Murgia

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Winners of The Way of the Dragon!

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON by Chris Bradford

Dawn C

Tia B

Meredith Miller

John MacDonald

Mary Ellen Thompson

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Cover Reveal & Contest: So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Synopsis

Bertie thinks her quest is almost done. With the help of Ariel and the rest of her friends, she has managed to find her father and rescue the kidnapped pirate, Nate, from Sedna the sea goddess. Now all she has to do is reunite her father, The Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, and she will finally have a true family of her own.  However, things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Her father has vanished, Sedna is out for revenge, her own actions have trapped the Theatre Illuminata, the only home she’s ever known, into a strange kind of limbo, and the stress of her in-between state is tearing apart the fragile threads of her mother’s sanity. Bertie’s best hope for salvaging the situation may lie in the summons by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen of the Distant Castle and hope of winning the magical boon given to the most pleasing performance. Bertie is caught between her growing responsibilities to home and family and the dream of flying free, just as her heart is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate. With so many forces pulling on her, how will Bertie be able to choose which wish to make come true?

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**CONTEST CLOSED**

EYES LIKE STARS (Signed Paperback) by Lisa Mantchev

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

What do you think about the cover?

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) February 20, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

THE FALSE PRINCESS by Eilis O'Neal

Pub. Date: January 2011

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Format: Hardcover , 336pp

Age Range: 10 to 12

Source: Publisher

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

Mini Review
Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. To follow along as Nalia a.k.a. Sinda goes from living the lifestyle of a Princess to learning how to find her place in a new life without noble means was spellbinding. I could only commend how she handled herself. I couldn’t do it. It was great to see Sinda finally find her niche with her magical abilities and make a life for herself while standing up for herself which was something she didn’t do in the past. I enjoyed the characters in this book immensely. Sinda’s best friend Keirnan was a joy to read about. He was a loyal friend and stood by her through it all.

I enjoyed the setting in THE FALSE PRINCESS. From the palace to the little town Treb to the city of Vivaskari, O’Neal really captured the setting and pulled me deeply into the pages as Sinda navigated her way to find answers about her magic. I love it when a book catches me by surprise and THE FALSE PRINCESS had me feeling like I was on a journey of discovery as Sinda grew into her own and stumbled upon a dangerous secret that could have fatal consequences.

If you’re a historical fantasy fan or just a fan of fantasy, this exciting debut is one not to be missed! I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

ANGELFIRE by Courtney Allison Moulton

Pub. Date: February 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Format: Hardcover , 464pp

Age Range: 12 and up

Source: Netgalley

First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Angels and Reapers - sounds intriguing right? Well in the case of this exciting debut, ANGELFIRE delivers…

Ellie’s strange nightmares take on a life of their own when her seventeenth birthday hits. The reapers in this book are scary as hell and downright gruesome. When I read a supernatural book, I love it when the enemies are nothing like what I’ve read in the past. It’s always great to read something new, and ANGELFIRE definitely introduced me to some frightening creatures.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. Reading along as Ellie tried to navigate through a strange world where reapers prey on human souls. The fact that she’s been protecting humans for centuries but doesn’t remember this only intrigued me more. One of the caveats of this book was Will. He’s not only gorgeous but he’s also Ellie’s fierce protector too. I adored him and how he always had Ellie’s back. This book has plenty o f kick-ass action as we see Ellie and Will slice and dice their way through the reapers that are trying to devour Ellie.

Courtney’s writing and her world of reapers has set the stage for a captivating read. ANGELFIRE is a good debut and a great start to a series that I’m looking forward to reading more about. If you’re looking for a book with plenty of action, kick-ass characters and the creatures that make their lives a living hell, then this is the read for you.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

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Check out the book trailer!

Review: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

THE IRON WITCH by Karen Mahoney

Pub. Date: February 2011
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Format: Paperback , 299pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Mini Review
I love the cover of this book and the synopsis is what really made me want to get my hands on it. With high praise from and a comparison to some of my favorite authors, I had a feeling I would enjoy THE IRON WITCH immensely. This book immediately pulled me into the life of Donna as she tried to remain in the background while keeping her secrets. A secret that she’s kept from her best friend Navin until an attack blows the lid off of her hidden world.

I really liked how Donna met Xan. I think their meeting really set the story up for me and I realized as I read along how I kept wanting to read more and more scenes with them. About half-way through the book, the plot seemed to drag a bit. I wanted the story to speed up and get into the nit and grit of things. There were times when I thought conversations were redundant and a bit childish at times. I was hoping that the fey in this book would be scarier and darker but they served their purpose - not at all like Julie Kagawa’s or Leslie Livingston’s fey which I already have on a high pedestal. I had high expectations going into this book but overall, it was a good read just not what I had in mind.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Cover Reveal - Fragment 1: So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Lisa Mantchev’s finale to her Theatre Illuminata trilogy is coming out this upcoming Fall. As part of the release several bloggers will be posting different fragments of the cover Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with the full cover revealed on Friday along with a chance to win a signed paperback copy of Eyes Like Stars.

Synopsis

Bertie thinks her quest is almost done. With the help of Ariel and the rest of her friends, she has managed to find her father and rescue the kidnapped pirate, Nate, from Sedna the sea goddess. Now all she has to do is reunite her father, The Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, and she will finally have a true family of her own.  However, things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Her father has vanished, Sedna is out for revenge, her own actions have trapped the Theatre Illuminata, the only home she’s ever known, into a strange kind of limbo, and the stress of her in-between state is tearing apart the fragile threads of her mother’s sanity. Bertie’s best hope for salvaging the situation may lie in the summons by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen of the Distant Castle and hope of winning the magical boon given to the most pleasing performance. Bertie is caught between her growing responsibilities to home and family and the dream of flying free, just as her heart is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate. With so many forces pulling on her, how will Bertie be able to choose which wish to make come true?

To check out daily fragments and chances to win a signed copy of Eyes Like Stars, vist the following blogs:

Monday 2/14 Fragment One
http://www.princessbookie.com/
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/
http://laurasreviewbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://onthenightstand.net/

Tuesday 2/15 Fragment 2
http://bibliophiles-journal.blogspot.com/
http://abookwormshaven.com/
http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/
http://www.thecozyreader.com/
http://writeforareader.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 2/16 Fragment 3
http://www.storiesandsweeties.com/
http://thekams.wordpress.com/
http://www.superreadergirl.com/
http://www.karissabooks.blogspot.com/
http://mypileofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://vampsweresandcassay.blogspot.com/

Thursday 2/17 Fragment 4
http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/
http://www.yabliss.com/
http://foreveryoungadult.blogspot.com/

Friday 2/18 Full Cover by everyone

Review: The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

THE LOST SAINT by Bree Despain

Pub. Date: December 2010

Publisher: EgmontUSA
Format: Hardcover , 416pp
Series: Dark Divine Series , #2
Source: Publisher

The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. Readers, raveous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

I don't think I could have imagined what the sequel of one of the best shape-shifter books I've read would have in store for me. Despain pulled out all the stops in THE LOST SAINT, making this action-packed thriller an impeccable read. Let's just say I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it.

THE LOST SAINT introduces readers to new characters and a deadly foe. Grace manages to come into her own as she tries to balance her powers without the wolf taking over with some help from the mysterious and alluring Talbot. With all the secrets waiting to spill out, I felt like Grace - I didn't know who to trust as she continued her search for Jude. The dynamic duo that is Daniel and Grace continues to make my heart pound as these two try to find answers of their own.

Dark, dangerous, and downright delicious, THE LOST SAINT sunk its claws in and never let up. When I finished reading this book, all I could think of was "More Please!" This series has become one of my favorites and I'm excited to see what Despain has in store for her readers in the next installment, especially after the ending of this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

The Winner of Drought!

The Winner is...

DROUGHT (Signed ARC) by Pam Bachorz

Jill of The O.W.L.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win Delirium by Lauren Oliver!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win...

DELIRIUM (Signed) by Lauren Oliver

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my interview with Lauren Oliver here

Comment on my review of Delirium here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) February 24, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**