Posts Tagged: harlequin books

Manifest Prize Pack Giveaway

11 Aug, 2010 by in manifest 36 comments

“When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom’s hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.
But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He’s cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she’d ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal’s ghost-whispering talents soon lead other “freaks” to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren’t the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky’s death, will she lose him for good?”
We are excited to announce our Manifest prize pack which includes:
Manifest paperback by Artist Arthur
A blue Tote Bag
A notebook and pen set
Manifest poster
and a Coin holder purse

To Enter To Win: Leave your name and email address below
Giveaway ends September 11, 2010 and is open to US and Canada residents
(international entries may submit if they are willing to pay shipping via PayPal upon winning)

"Inside Out" By Maria V Snyder

21 Apr, 2010 by in book review, maria v snyder 4 comments


published April 1st 2010 by Harlequin
details Paperback, 313 pages
3.5 stars

synopsis from goodreads… I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I’ve got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it’s all that dangerous – the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no…

I got this book as part of the Mundie Moms ARC tour and Maria V. Snyder is one of my favorite authors. Her Poison Study series for adults is incredible. What I love about Maria’s writing is that she portrays a strong, stubborn emotionally guarded female who can hold her own. One with little attachment to her parents or past who has troubles with trust. A woman who is looking to buck the status quo and find a better society. Along comes a man to help her ands the rest is always beautiful as they work to smooth our her rough edges, yet there is acceptance and respect between them. I saw interesting parallels in the books. This one also reminded me a lot of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield.
Inside Out is science fiction mixes with a touch of innocent romance. The reader is transported into a world consisting of class distinctions, overcrowding and manual labor where Big Brother- the Pop Cops watch your every step. Trella is the heroine, the princess of the pipes. She is not short on courage or guts and she takes a revolution into her own hands with the help of dreamy Riley. The clock is ticking and her friends lives are on the line. Can they find the gateway to a new life in time to save him?
I admit after a few days of thought this book left an impression and grew even more on me. I give it 3.5 stars and think we will see “Inside Out” in libraries and classrooms across the country as a topic of discussion. Well done once again Maria!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

12 Feb, 2010 by in the iron king 3 comments

Pub. Date: February 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: Paperback, 368pp
ISBN-13: 9780373210084
Synopsis from Barnes and Noble: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Publishers Weekly
In this first book in the Iron Fey series, Meghan Chase is turning 16, and odd things are happening. Her four-year-old half-brother, Ethan, is clingier than usual, and a tutoring session with the school hunk goes horribly wrong. But her best friend, Robbie, is always there for her, even when Meghan comes home to find her mother unconscious and her brother snarling like an animal. Robbie knows what’s happened: Ethan has been taken by the fey, a changeling left in his place, and the only way Ethan can be brought back is if Meghan embraces the truth—that the fey are real and that she is half-fey herself. She agrees, but her agreement is nearly the most active part she plays in her own adventure. After that, Meghan generally gets help from a series of male characters and is towed along by their decisions and actions. It’s an odd, throwback faerie tale, and while first-time author Kagawa is a talented writer and her descriptions are lush, Meghan’s ongoing passivity disappoints, though she has the potential to develop more fully in later books. Ages 13–18.

I finished this book last week and the landscape and characters have lived strong in my imagination ever since. Julie’s fairy world is absolutely magical and hard to forget. She does a masterful job of combining traditional faerie lore and myth with her own new creatures and iron fey creations. And let me just say, Ash, the main man is SOOOO swoon worthy. He is one to look out for in more ways than one.

We are first introduced to Puck, Meghan’s neighbor and long-time friend and he steals a little piece of your heart by calling her “princess”, looking out for her and playing cute little pranks. As the story progresses, things get weirder and weirder as Meghan begins to see things and her little brother Ethan complains of a man in his closet. Soon her world is turned upside down as she discovers things are not as they seem and her brother has been kidnapped. She steps into another realm of danger, determined to find her long lost father and replace the changeling in he rhome with the real little brother now held captive.

Julie Kagawa presents a fast paced fairy tale that will keep you intrigued until the end. Four stars, (only because Meghan seems to have the mouth of a sailor when in the human world) May I say this is an amazing start for a kind and down to earth author who is fun to chat with!

I can not wait for the next installment, “The Iron Daughter” which will be out in August 2010. In the mean time, Julie is working on a brequel between books one and 2 of the Iron King Trilogy check here: http://enterthefaeryworld.com/ironfey/ around June.

Check out our Iron King photogallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/galleries/72157623382772724/

Two websites are currently giving away the book! Ticket To Anywhere giveaway: http://tickettoanywhere.blogspot.com/2010/02/contest-iron-king-by-julie-kagawa.html
and Pageturners Blog http://www.pageturnersblog.com/2010/02/spotlight-giveaway.html Enter to win and happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

19 Jan, 2010 by in book trailer, new YA fiction 1 comment

AHHHHHH… I can not wait!

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny – one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.