Blog Tour + Review: I Know Lucy by Melissa Pearl

Hi, this is Elicia here! Today we're one of the tour stops for the I Know Lucy blog tour! Read on for a full review of this book!

Title: I Know Lucy

Author: Melissa Pearl

Publisher: Evatopia Press

Release Date: 20th April 2014

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, steal, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.

Detailed Review: Exhilarating. That's how it felt while reading the book. I Know Lucy felt like a roller coaster ride with too many turns and loop-the-loops that it's impossible to not feel sick and throw up at the end. 

I mean it all in a good sense. 

So... What was so good about it? The main aspect of the book which captured me was the characters, especially Lucy. I loved reading her POVs all the time because it revealed so much to me. Lucy is meant to keep her identity  and feelings a secret but through her words, I discovered how she felt at times and her personality and behaviour around different people. Lucy is like a modern-day Katniss, surviving for her family, oppressed by a man who holds great power and putting those she loves at risk.

Zach seemed to be an average boy at first, but as I read on, I could sense his underlying intelligence and perception. He certainly made a great match with Lucy.

When sparks flew between those two... I swear, my heart melted on the spot. I felt like I was Lucy, my heart tethered to this one boy that managed to unravel me in the most unexpected ways. 

The appearance of the other characters were very sudden most of the time. This is what it seemed like to me. It seemed as if Melissa decided to do things the realistic way. I can picture her in my mind saying, 'Let's do things the real way. I'll just go with the flow. I will not stage their appearance; I shall just let them appear when they want to.' 

That, is the beauty of it. 

The story had many interesting twists, but as you know, they always come with the package. So no more comments until you read the book. I'd like to add though, they hit you hard. You'd better get a roll of bandage ready to cover the bumps and bruises you'll get.

The atmosphere in the story was well-written. There was always this element of fear and dread in Lucy's stories. And they're in just the right proportion.

Brief Review: My last words... Read the book. A thriller that will make your pulse race and your mind work should not be missed. Don't miss out on the fun!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer:

A teaser for all of you:

ZACH...

Riley was Dani. I wanted to deny it, but I couldn't, because I knew. In my gut, I knew that Dani had secrets and I had just found a layer I could peel back.

I just wasn't sure if I wanted to.

Our dream cast for I Know Lucy. Josh Hutcherson YUM...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Author Blog / Book Blog / Pinterest

Sign up for Melissa's Newsletter

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

Blog Tour + Review: Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion

Hey everyone! We're very happy to have participated in the Written On Her Heart blog tour!

Title: Written On Her Heart
Author: Paige Rion

Publisher:-

Release Date: 23rd April 2014

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Andi Callaway has dreamed of becoming a published author her entire life. 

Ford Delaney has always wanted nothing more than to escape his past. 

An opportunity of a lifetime. This is what Andi finds when she returns home to Callaway Cove on summer break. A chance to work for her literary idol Ford Delaney is up for grabs, and she’s willing to risk everything—her boyfriend, her best friends, and her education—to get it. 

She’s positive this will be the key to reaching her dreams. But the moment she begins working for the reclusive author, Andi realizes there’s more to him than just a name. As attraction builds between Andi and Ford, she begins to discover consequences must come hand-in-hand with something great—which could loosen control over her tightly wound life. And once romantic sparks fly, Andi’s other relationships start to crumble, Ford’s fame comes back to haunt him, and the heat they generate will either forge a powerful, enduring love or threaten everything she holds dear. 

Detailed Review: I had the honour of beta-reading WOHH for the author. 

No words can describe my admiration for the author after reading Written on Her Heart. 

The story is very simple, but this book proves to be one of those books that are simple yet touching. Also it has got these layers of secrets waiting to be peeled back at each turn of the page. 

WOHH tells a story about a girl who dreams of being a writer and when an opportunity arises that allows her to achieve her dreams, she eagerly takes it, mindless of the consequences or the effects it will have on her life.

Callaway Cove is a very beautiful setting because it just gives this stay-calm vibe that makes the pain and beauty of the story stand out even more. It just brings out the characters and their stories. 

Andi, the main character is very much a control freak. She has got everything planned out for the future. But the sudden job offer brings her future plans to a halt and she has to start from scratch. 

Ford has always found writing as a form of therapy but he never expected it to backfire against him. He goes to Callaway Cove for refuge. And finds unexpected surprises waiting for him, including his assistant Andi. 

The swoon-worthy romance was a winner. It definitely captured my heart. I was surprised by how much it had affected me when I finished the book.

Not to mention the splendid twists I stumbled along the way. It took quite a while for me to finished reading this book because every time I reached a twist, I couldn't read on for fear of what would have happened after that. However, it never took long before I was ready to take on the challenge of reading again. It's almost like overcoming your own fears. I felt so proud of myself after finishing.

Brief Review: When I think of WOHH, I can't help but remember the feelings I experience while reading it. I have no doubt that Paige Rion has crafted a masterpiece that will be admired by many in the future. The subject which this book is focused on will attract the attention of many aspiring writers. It wasn't only Paige's writing skills that impressed me; it was the setting, the characters and the romance that captivated me. 

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

To Andi, who always dreams big,

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams--- Eleanor Roosevelt

Your Reviewer: 

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JPOXIB0

Amazon Paperback:  http://www.amazon.com/Written-Heart-Callaway-Series-Volume/dp/1497403316/

Kobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/written-on-her-heart

Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/written-on-her-heart-paige-rion/1119235191?ean=2940149230297

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/429647

Author Bio

Paige Rion is a contemporary romance author. She’s a mother, wife, blogger, hopeless chocoholic, coffee-addicted, wine-lover. Her debut, novel—a new adult romance—Written On Her Heart, is the first in the Callaway Cove series. The next in the series is to be released this summer. She loves connecting with readers on her blog and social media. 

You can visit her website at http://paigerion.com/

You can also connect with her here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaigeRion_books

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

Win Paige Rion & WOHH Swag!!!

Prize 1

 Paige Rion deluxe tote. Your choice of either Paige Rion/WOHH t-shirt or “Team Ford” t-shirt. WOHH mug with quote. A signed bookmark and a mini Paige Rion candy box!

Prize 2

WOHH t-shirt. WOHH mug with quote. A signed bookmark and mini Paige Rion candy box!

Prize 3

 An exclusive WOHH iPhone 4 case. A white mug with genuine Paige Rion signature. Signed bookmark and mini Paige Rion candy box. (If winner does not have an iPhone 4, they will receive prize 4 and another winner will be drawn).

Prize 4

 10 more winners will receive a signed bookmark and a mini Paige Rion candy box!

Due to shipping costs, US ENTRIES ONLY.

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ARC Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Title: The Truth About Alice

Author: Jennifer Mathieu

Release Date: 3rd June 2014

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

Detailed Review: Whenever I approach a contemporary, it's usually with a sense of fear and curiosity. Why? Usually I find some books that are really very hard to connect with because the characters seem too perfect and the setting is simply too unbelievable (no high school, just a beach? What do the kids do these days?)

The Truth About Alice, was not one of these books. Instead, it relates with high school life very easily, making it so much easier to imagine the story in my head. The setting was a great setting, because it somehow set the boundaries for how far the stories would go.

Another good thing about it was that it was written from 4 perspectives about the main character, rather than letting Alice herself be the voice of the story. This makes it even more intriguing because you see the main character through the perspectives of four very different people with different intentions:

Kelsie: She used to be Alice's best friend, until the rumors started. She just stopped hanging out with Alice anymore, for fear that if she did, she'd become what she used to be: a friendless dork. 

Elaine: She's on the top rung of the popularity ladder. She sets trends for people to follow and everybody worships her. She may not hate Alice but she sure as hell doesn't like her either.

Josh: Brandon's best friend. Football player. Hot and popular. But he does have one secret that could change people's perceptions about Alice in a minute.

Kurt: He's had a crush with Alice since the first time he saw her. And he also possesses one secret that could change everything and possibly tear apart his friendship with the used-to-be-friendless Alice.

All four of these characters have the power to change Alice's life. This is what hit me the hardest. They are like determinants in Alice's life. What they do, what they say, dictate Alice's life. And this led me to think, doesn't this apply in real life too?

Yes it does. 

The Truth About Alice describes high school perfectly. It reminds us that these things actually happen or have happened.

There was one thing I dislike. The lack of swoon-worthy romance. But I think Jennifer probably thought, "Alright, I'm not gonna put in much romance in it, we still need to stay focused on Alice, not some love story." So I'll probably let this go for this book.

Brief Review: Jennifer's use of four different perspectives give us much more insight than Alice could have given about herself. Not only is it intriguing, it shows awareness of the other characters and also lets us know more about them through what they say about Alice. The Truth About Alice highlights high school life in its ugliest and prettiest: the price of popularity, the leaving of fake friends, and the discovering of real friends. This book does not make out high school to be what it seems to be, and this will be what pulls most readers in; the truth will draw you in. Overall, a truly positive debut to Jennifer's writing career!

Final Rating: 4.5/5 'Really Liked It!'

QUOTE: 

To everyone in the world, who believe the lies so easily

The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.- Maya Angelou

Your Reviewer:

COVER REVEAL: Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion

Hey everyone! Today we're doing a cover reveal for Xpresso Book Tours, featuring Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion!!!

But first here's some general information on the book:

Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion

Publication date: April 23rd 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

To escape the ensuing media whirlwind after scandalous events in his novels were revealed to be true, big-time author Ford Delaney relocates to Callaway Cove.

When 21-year-old budding writer, Andi Callaway, returns home for college break, she discovers her literary idol – Ford Delaney, a world famous novelist – has taken refuge in her tiny hometown.

Andi determines to win a job as his assistant – but being hired by the handsome, reclusive author means competing with her friends for the job and ignoring the wishes of her longtime boyfriend.

As romantic sparks begin to fly between Andi and Ford, the heat they generate will either forge a powerful, enduring love or threaten everything she holds dear.

AND FINALLY THE HEART-STOPPING, BREATH-TAKING, MAGNIFICENT AND SPECTACULAR COVER...

P.S. I have read the book (beta-read) and honestly it's really good. It's just perfect.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21456989-written-on-her-heart

This cover reveal is hosted by:

RECAP: Meeting LAUREN OLIVER!!!

Hey everyone! Me (Elicia) and Chloe went to a book fair yesterday with some friends and met a special someone...

And from the blog post title, I guess you know who.

THE AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL AND MAGNIFICENT LAUREN OLIVER !!!! 

She was the first famous author and undeniably the nicest and warmest person I've ever known! She's so cute and funny and when me and Chloe told her that we interviewed her for our blog, she said that she remembered us!!!! I ALMOST FAINTED RIGHT THEN. 

I think I may have fallen in love (amor deliria nervosa) with Lauren Oliver (excuse the pun).  

We also had a Q and A session between the audience and author and the funniest and most memorable question and answer was still this.

'Why don't you like bananas?'

A: After she ate a banana in ninth grade, she got sick and then puked right in front of her class (which was totally embarrassing). She doesn't like the colour yellow and also the smell. She said she preferred durian (a Malaysian fruit, which is DEFINITELY smellier than a banana) to bananas.

Of course, we also had the chance to ask her a few of our own questions (the answers are not exactly what she said, they're just fragments of what I can remember amidst my fangirl moment):

1. Which book did you enjoy writing the most?

A: Before I Fall because it was good to relive my life in high school when I was 17 years old again while writing it.

2. Were you scared to become a writer?

A: Well, yeah at first. When I got my first paycheck, I quitted all my current jobs and just sat down and relaxed.

3. Did you always plan to become a writer?

A: I started writing since I was nine, which was just fanfiction, but I didn't know it was called that then. Writing isn't very fun, but I just loved doing it.

She also talked about why she left Requiem (the last book in the Delirium trilogy) as it was. She said she didn't like how some authors liked to control their characters lives, when J.K. Rowling decided to fast forward to when Harry Potter was an adult and had children just because she could. She simply wanted to make the story and its characters play out naturally and the ending was written that way so we could try to imagine the characters' fates and what would happen next. This makes the story more memorable. 

Also, we found out that Lauren is obsessed with ghosts, which is evident in Liesel & Po and also her upcomping first adult novel, Rooms.

And PANIC is going to become a movie!!! Can't wait!!!

I know I'm boring you with this lengthy rant so I'll just show some pics now.

Chloe had four books signed (The Delirium Trilogy and Panic) and I had two (Before I Fall and Panic).

Chloe's signed copy of Panic

My signed copy of Panic

My signed copy of Before I Fall. Love Lauren's loopy signature!!!

And finally the beautiful author herself. I've got the feels... From just looking at her beautiful face. We did take a group photo with Lauren but my friends (including Chloe) would kill me if I posted it so I can't post that pic sorry. I'd love to though! Thanks for tuning in! This is something major for us since Lauren is the very first YA author we met face to face and we were crazily fangirling over her.

What about you? Have you ever met Lauren Oliver or any other author? 

Also, if you want to read our interview with Lauren Oliver, here's the link to the page! Click HERE.

ARC Review: Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Title: Sekret
Author: Lindsay Smith
Release Date: 1st April 2014
Publisher: Macmillan Children's
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Detailed Review: When I first stumbled across this book on Goodreads and my partner mentioned that the cover for Sekret was really good, I thought to myself, this needs to be on my TBR list. I'm a sucker for historical fiction. Anything that involves past incidents that have actually happened. So when I saw Sekret available for request on NetGalley, I absolutely had no hesitation on clicking the Request button. I kept my fingers crossed on being approved. 

I got approved. I read it. I rated it. And now I'm writing this review on how much this book really fazed and awed me. 

Sekret is a great example of how history can really make an original setting for your book. I was very intrigued when I found out that the book was set in the USSR (now Russia) while it was engaged in the Cold War with America. Using a historical setting will give an atmosphere hardly associated with books that have present or future settings. The atmosphere in Sekret was one of tension and secrecy. Giving psychic abilities to the characters gives the book another finishing touch. I especially loved the different abilities which the psychics have, everything from mind-reading to remote viewing and altering memories. The author has got a good imagination.

What gives it a high polish are the characters. Yulia is a brave and smart heroine that challenges all-time favourites like Katniss. She did remind me of Katniss at times, possibly because they were somehow under the same circumstances. Yulia's love interest, Valentin was a very hard code to crack most of the time, yet I still loved him. Rostov made a great antagonist as well as Misha and Masha. 

The secret ingredient though, was still the twists. The thing is, there's no warning of a twist coming your way. It just leaps out at you and stares you down. It's like being drowned and then pulled onto shore and then being drowned again. This cycle will keep on repeating as you read the book.

And then when you find out there's a sequel... I was like, where's the cliffhanger?!? Unlike other books, the ending was surprisingly well-rounded. Nonetheless, I still need the second book!!!

Finally, a request. MAKE ME A PSYCHIC!!!

Brief Review: Lindsay has obviously done her research regarding Russia in the 1960s and captures the atmosphere well with her descriptive prose and secretive air in writing. She artfully brings her characters to life with words and their psychic abilities is the result of creativity and thorough research. This debut clearly wears out a path for the author to easily navigate and make her voice heard in the writing industry!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE:

This quote captures the mood of the book so well,

“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.”---George Orwell

Your Reviewer:

Blog Tour and Review: Just Like A Musical by Milena Veen

Title: Just Like A Musical

Author: Milena Veen

Release Date: 15th November 2013

Seventeen-year-old Ruby Fields has always lived by the rules set up by her foolishly overprotective mother. As a result, she doesn't go to school, she's never been kissed, and almost everything she knows about life is what she has learned from old movies.

But now...now there's this Joshua guy. He's quirky, and he's tall, and he uses “romantic” and “old-fashioned” in the same sentence.

And there's Mrs. Wheeler, an eccentric retired Hollywood costume designer and Ruby's new best friend.

When Mrs. Wheeler ends up in hospital, just after telling Ruby her long-kept secret, Ruby decides to break her mother's rules and embark on a journey that will change her life forever.

Find on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18656484-just-like-a-musical?ac=1

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Like-Musical-Milena-Veen-ebook/dp/B00HBQUDKS

Detailed Review: This book greatly reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars. And if you have read this latest John Green book, you'll know what I mean.

Even though the book was quite a short read, I felt like I had read a book that was 500 pages long, because each word held the weight of so many words.

What stood out the most to me was the friendship between the main character, Ruby, and an old woman who used to work in Hollywood as a costume designer. A friendship may seem unlikely between the two characters, but if circumstances dictate it, it will happen. 

I present to you, the wonders and miracles of life. 

The characters were oh so beautiful. It's like a version of The Fault in Our Stars (please excuse this comparison, I simply can't help it), where Ruby is Hazel, Joshua is Gus and Mrs Wheeler is Peter Van Houten (but a more cheerful and caring one). It's like insta-love with these characters for me. They have their own trademarks like Ruby's heart problem, Joshua's Tourette's syndrome and Mrs Wheeler's rich but tragic past. If these don't interest you, I doubt anything ever will.

It was Ruby, who I loved most of all. Her hunger for freedom struck a chord in me, because who doesn't want freedom? I am 15, and I want freedom just like her. Freedom to go wherever I want, do whatever I want. It's so easy to relate with her in terms of this. It's also the fact that she's different from other people. She's unique in her own way and she shines the brightest in Just Like A Musical. Her musings about life are both deep and meaningful. She's right when she said 'Freedom lies inside you.' And when she says, 'Life – life was just like a musical. Sad and  beautiful at the same time.', all I could think was, 'This is a great finale to this musical.'

And if I have decided to compare The Fault in Our Stars with Just Like A Musical, it means so much. So much that even words can't convey how touching this book is. A sad but beautiful ending, funny characters, unique circumstances. What more could you want? 

With a satisfied heart, I end my journey in this book. *sigh*

Brief Review: Tragic, beautiful, funny, cute, unique. This is how I would describe Just Like A Musical. It's magnificent how Milena could write such a beautiful story using not just the power of words, but the power of strong emotions- which words can't describe that touch the reader's heart. This, is what makes this novel truly stand out from other books. 

Final Rating:

5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer: 

About the Author

Milena Veen was born in Belgrade, Serbia. Her first piece of writing, a poem about a walking cherry, saw the light of the day when she was seven. She's been writing ever since.

Milena graduated from University of Belgrade with a degree in psychology. She lives in a little European town with her husband and a mute cat. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading, riding her bicycle, and listening to music. She prefers clouds to sunshine and coffee to tea. 

Author Links:

http://milenaveen.blogspot.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7336308.Milena_Veen

http://twitter.com/milena_veen

http://fbl.me/mveen

http://pinterest.com/milenaveen/

***GIVEAWAY***

$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

 RULES AND RESTRICTIONS: 

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond  or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

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