Tuesday, March 7, 2017

ARC Review: Seven Days of You

What would you do if you had seven days left before you had to move and leave everything behind?  That is exactly what Sophia, our main character has to face in Cecilia Vinesse's Seven Days of You.  If you're looking for something quick to read that will remind you of those summer romances and also introduce you to a new and interesting setting, this might be a book for you.

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
Sophia has seven days left in Tokyo before she moves back to the States. Seven days to say good-bye to the electric city, her wild best friend, and the boy she’s harbored a semi-secret crush on for years. Seven perfect days…until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back to Japan and ruins everything.

Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye?

There are elements in this novel that I really enjoy including the setting - Tokyo! Readers are really able to take a quick dive into the sights, sounds and culture of Japan from an expat view.  That element was quite interesting. I also generally enjoyed the premise of the story line.  I mean, the timing of life!  Oh how unfair it can feel at times! Our main character is leaving in 7 days and at the start of the book another character, Jaime, returns and sets a series of events and ups and downs into motion.  There are also some family issues that were weaved in such a real way that came across as very authentic and I appreciated that element as well.

On the other side, there were some elements that I wasn't crazy about.  For instance, there were times where the main character came off as a little naive and immature, but then again I know we all can be like that at times.  Her friends also were a little of a low point for me as they kinda sucked.  She does have to move around a lot and so surface-y friendships might develop more often and I get that, but honestly I guess this plays into the above naiveté for me, but they don't treat her the way I would hope "close" friends would. And finally, just as an FYI (not necessarily a negative), the ending will leave readers hanging a little...I almost wished there was an epilogue as it appears this will not be any sort of series.  I get that though, sometimes life leaves stories like this...we've all had points in our lives that deserve a second chapter, epilogue or next in the series, but life sometimes ends it's self with a big fat period and moves on.

All in all, Seven Days of You is a fun, quirky and quick read that will give readers a peek into a world of hellos, goodbyes and 7 days to fall in love in Tokyo.  Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Truthwitch

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

Let me start off by saying, sorry for being MIA the past few months.  Another state-to-state move and job change means very little time to actually sit down and blog...however I have not forgotten you and I have certainly NOT stopped reading!  So stay tuned becuase when I get some free time, there will be some massive book review love coming your way! 

So on to our WoW (Waiting on Wednesday)...Being a blogger has it's benefits of sometimes getting ARCs early to read - I love it! However, sometimes I admit that I get massive book/ARC envy from those who have particularly killer reads that I just am dying to get my hands on and this my friends is one of those instances!  Let me introduce you to the lovely and highly anticipated read of 2016 - Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard!  I mean come on!!! Look at this cover?  Does it not convey some serious bad-ass-ness?! I don't think that's a word but i mean, wow!  What a stunning cover and we all know I judge my books by their covers.   Clearly there will be magic ("witch" in the title and mystical wateryness surrounding her...duh), and fighting (did you see the sword AND dagger?) and of course love/romance/friendships (I mean she is GORG, someone's bound to fall in love or have a hardcore ship here)...and this is just the cover!  Let's dive into the synopsis (courtesy of Goodreads):

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

So all in all, yes, I'm figuratively drooling over this book.  If the book gods love me I'll hope to get it before the January 5th release but if they love others before me (and it happens) then I will gladly wait my turn and get my pre-order when the rest of the world does...how many days?  Let the countdown begin!!!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Review: Midnight Thieif

Since I now travel for 50% of my job I sometimes feel like I live in airports and hotels.  That being said, I found myself the other day browsing the shelves of an unnamed airport bookstore and found myself buying Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief #1) by Livia Blackburne.  Now, I will preface this review by saying that I typically do not trust books purchased without research (either word of mouth, recommendation, Goodreads or Amazon or even Barnes & Noble reviews to rely on), but this cover did look interesting and I vaguely remembered seeing some hype around this when it released back in 2014.  So all that being said, let me tell you, this book did not disappoint!  My 4 hour flight went by in a flash and at the end all I could think about was getting my hands on the next installment! 

Blackburne does a great job with Midnight Thief by having all of the cornerstones I personally feel I need, first, a strong hero/heroine - Kyra definitely fits this bill as leading lady.  Kyra is full of strength and wit that helps her survive but she is not without flaws which helps her character feel genuine throughout.  She grows up a street thief to get by and provide for those in need (think Robin Hood) and is fairly decent at her craft.  She has a small group of urchins (the only family she knows) that she watches over and helps to mentor.  All in all her heart is in the right place, she has drive and is talented but she is fairly naive.  

Second key, a personal journey/great story-line - Kyra starts off in the streets of the Forge and is content there until there is a promise of more that will help her protect and care for those she loves, but it comes with a price. She takes this leap of faith and trains to help the Assassins Guild that starts off great until she gets in too deep... 

Third key, a love interest - now this can be changed out with a key second point of view or a intense friendship, but come on, we all need a little tug at the heartstrings and our "knight in shining armor" Tristam does not let us down. He is everything Kyra is not and they fit each-other perfectly in every way - except technically they are fighting on the opposite sides.  I mean if that didn't spell out star crossed then i don't know what would...

There's a fantastic twist at the end that will leave readers aching for the next installment but trust me when I say this book has it all! 

Overall, Midnight Thief has an amazing cast (a heroine you want to root for and bad guys you want to fail), magical creatures, epic fights, and a romantic pairing that is a slow build to perfection!  Definitely pick this one up for your trip, even if that trip only takes you to your favorite reading chair. 

Monday, March 16, 2015

ARC Review: Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys)

Okay I have to start by saying that I absolutely fell in love with this novel! Amy Spalding, you stole my heart with your amazingly addictive characters, witty banter and impossible situations that feel all too real! If you have not checked this one out yet, please do! It's well worth a read!

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:

After catching their bandmates in a compromising position, sixteen-year-old Los Angelenos Riley and Reid become painfully aware of the romance missing from their own lives. And so a pact is formed: they'll both try to make something happen with their respective crushes and document the experiences in a shared notebook.

While Reid struggles with the moral dilemma of adopting a dog to win over someone's heart, Riley tries to make progress with Ted Callahan, who she's been obsessed with forever-His floppy hair! His undeniable intelligence! But suddenly cute guys are popping up everywhere. How did she never notice them before?! With their love lives going from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye, Riley and Reid realize the results of their pact may be more than they bargained for.

Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) is one of those books that takes you by surprise! I went into it not expecting much but really wow, I feel like I stumbled across a real GEM! I laughed, I giggled, I empathized and I was constantly expecting to be taken one way and would find myself taken in a totally different (and wonderful) direction!

The characters that Spalding creates are amazingly real and diverse and full of faults that make them so delicious and adorable and frustrating all at the same time. I want Riley and Reid to be my BFFs and seriously, the guys are all so unique and imperfect in their perfectly realistic ways. And the world building is perfect! I feel like I'm there walking the school halls, chatting in the parking lot, and in the garage during rehearsals creating, I mean avoiding awkward situations...


I will warn, for our younger readers, there is sex...brief, respectful and well done but also awkward and imperfect in a very realistically hilarious sort of way, but I do feel I should make you aware.

I love that this was written in a way where we really get two points of view - Riley (our main gal) with Passenger Manifest (aka diary/journal) entries by both Riley and Reid! The inner dialog of Riley is so perfect. Really she cracks me up and makes me want to laugh with her and yell at her at the same time. Riley really lives it up, but will her casual dating (Garrick, Milo and Ted - so many!) help or hurt her chances to really land her big fish - Ted Callahan? You would think with all these guys there would be some tortured love triangle but surprisingly there are no love triangles to be found! Hooray! 


Amy Spalding, I cannot wait to read more of your books!  Bravo!  What a complicated and yet so perfectly perfect spring read! 

Friday, February 20, 2015

Book Blitz - Sword by Amy Bai

While we are by far mainly reviews here at All Booked Up YA, today we are participating in a Book Blitz put on by Xpresso Book Tours!  We signed up for Sword by Amy Bai because it sounds EXACTLY like the type of book we love to LOVE!

First off look at this cover?!  Who doesn't love a fiery red-headed female heroine that also has strength behind her?!  I mean really!  Wow! Love this cover art!
Second off, read this killer synopsis...can we say "WANT!"

Synopsis:
Sword shall guide the hands of men . . .
For over a thousand years the kingdom of Lardan has been at peace: isolated from the world, safe from the wars of its neighbors, slowly forgetting the wild and deadly magic of its origins. Now the deepest truths of the past and the darkest predictions for the future survive only in the verses of nursery rhymes.

For over a thousand years, some of Lardan’s fractious provinces have been biding their time.
Kyali Corwynall is the daughter of the Lord General, a child of one of the royal Houses, and the court’s only sword-wielding girl. She has known for all of her sixteen years what the future holds for her–politics and duty, the management of a House, and protecting her best friend, the princess and presumed heir to the throne. But one day an old nursery rhyme begins to come true, an ancient magic wakes, and the future changes for everyone. In the space of a single night her entire life unravels into violence and chaos. Now Kyali must find a way to master the magic her people have left behind, or watch her world–and her closest friends–fall to a war older than the kingdom itself.

I mean right?!  Swords...Kingdoms...Magic...Royalty!  Did we say this is exactly the types of books we love to read because YES, this is EXACTLY the types of books we love to read!

Lastly, why we're so looking forward to this book...THE AUTHOR!  She just sounds like the type of person I want...NEED to know!  I mean right?!  Sheepdog lover, coffee-slinger, farm girl...can I have a girl crush? 

Check her out:
 
Amy Bai has been, by order of neither chronology nor preference, a barista, a numbers-cruncher, a paper-pusher, and a farmhand. She likes thunderstorms, the enthusiasm of dogs, tall boots and long jackets, cinnamon basil, margaritas, and being surprised by the weirdness of her fellow humans. She lives in New England with her guitar-playing Russian husband and two very goofy sheepdogs.

Author links:
 
The best news...drum roll please...
 
THIS BOOK IS OUT NOW!
 
Wait, what?  That's right, you can go out and get your copy here!
 
Also don't forget to try your luck with the contest below!
 

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for hosting this Book Blitz!

 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Book Tour Stop: Sleeping Tom by E.V. Fairfall + Giveaway




All Booked Up YA is pleased to present to you, our lovely readers, Sleeping Tom by E.V. Fairfall!  Let me tell you, this book is one of those books that delivers and hits on the nerve of mental disorder - a refreshing and unique read that will leave a lasting impact.


What really initially drew me to this read was that, unlike so many YAs of current, Sleeping Tom focuses around a very real mental disorder but does it in such a tactful and engaging way. 

In Sleeping Tom we meet Rebecca/Caden a teen girl who is trying to figure out who she is.  Caden is confused and alone just getting out of her abusive relationship and that's how she meets dark, handsome and complex Gabriel/Tom.  Gabriel battles with dissociative identity disorder and at night "Tom" comes out and he's kind, patient, caring and by day he's Gabriel - testy, moody, complicated.  What's interesting is that on the flip side, Caden is struggling to really come to reality with who she is beyond who she is in relation to a boy.  Her identity grows and morphs throughout the novel and is really revealing and powerful to see.  How many of us haven't tried on different "selfs" in our lives?

While I didn't love this book to begin with (Caden was hard for me to relate to in the begining) I really did grow to love these two characters as the story unfolded and I really enjoyed that this novel broke that typical YA storyline and didn't leave you with a sickly sweet ending.  A wonderful read from an author I hope to read again in the future!

Enter to win a tote and a copy of Transformed! *US ONLY*


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February 16th
-Blushing Babes Book Blog
-Freshly Baked Books
-Livre It To Me
-beyond boyfriend reviews
-Books Direct
February 17th
-All in One Place
-The Bookwhore Diaries
-lushbookreviews
-Cosying Up With Books
-TNT Reviews
-Reading Is Dreaming With Open Eyes
February 18th
-Jazzy Book Reviews
-Collector of Book Boyfriends
-What’s Beyond Forks?
-A British Bookworm’s Blog
-See Kiki Read
-we stole your book boyfriend
February 19th
-Kimber Leigh Writes
-AllBookedUpYA
-The Phantom Paragrapher
-between the pages book blog
-The Shadow Realm
February 20th
-Creating Serenity
-DJ’s Book Corner
-Crystal’s Many Reviewers
-Cover to Cover
February 21st
-Forever Obsession
-Ogitchida Kwe’s Book Blog
-Kookie Krysp Reads
-Lita’s Book Blog
-Books and Ashes



Thursday, January 29, 2015

ARC Review: The Secrets We Keep

There are books out there that seem to hook you from the very first sentence...The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver is exactly that kind of book! Leaver will have you hook, line and sinker before you even realize it. I remember thinking within the first page, "Yup, and I'm hooked!" The Secrets We Keep is a thrilling ride that will have you eager to see what happens next on this spiraling journey about family, love and loss.

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

This book first jumped out at me because (1) I love stories about family - this one is about twins and their bond (2) I am intrigued by stories of great struggle/loss/emotion and this one has it all and (3) I have to admit this cover art had me at first glance! It's absolutely breathtaking.

TSWK is a well written story about a teen girl who loses her twin sister in an auto accident and really the two of them could not be different however it didn't always used to be that way. They used to be close and as they hit high school they drifted. This coming of age story really explores the way we see ourselves and the power that emotionally has especially in the teen years. Ella is amazing, and intelligent and has everything going for her only, like so many of us, she doesn't see that until she can see through someone else's eyes.

This is such a powerful story about family, friends and most of all sisters and also touches on the stressors of adolescence and belonging and the lengths that some will go to maintain popularity no matter how fragile a web that is. There were moments in this novel that really left me breathless and as Ella uncovered the world of popularity and family dynamics. Now don't get me wrong, there were many moments when I wanted to shake Ella and ask her what in the world she was doing but really, I think we've all had moments in our lives where someone had wanted to shake some sense in us! That's high school for you.

This is a story about life. About the fact that sometimes the grass is not always greener. This is a story about love. About how a family loves differently but the same. About how friendship is often the greatest form of love we can ever have. This is a story about life and how fantastically complicated it all become and how one lie can spin a web that can seem endless and suffocating. This is a story about finding one's self and where one belongs. This is a story about life.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: A Court of Thorns and Roses

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


So first off let me say, wow it's been FOREVER since I've posted a WoW post and there are SOOOOO many amazing reads that I am looking forward to for 2015!  I wish I could list them all and eventually I do hope to list them all here but let's start with one at a time!  

Okay, so without further delay, the book that I am seriously crushing/stalking is none other than the much loved Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses!  OMG!  Seriously take a look at this synopsis (courtesy of Goodreads):
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Beyond the synopsis I read a teaser of the first four chapters (that can be found HERE and HERE) and OMG, I desperately need this now! And by now I mean PRONTO! ASAP! Can it please please please be May 5th? What am I to do with myself until then...let the countdown begin because with all of these teasers and talk around this one I seriously am salivating here.  We all know how much I love a re-telling and this has the promise of a loose nod to the adored Beauty and the Beast story.  It really doesn't get better than faeries, amazing world building, hot steamy love interests and a fierce and strong leading lady!

I mean don't just take my word for it, check out some of the reviews on Goodreads and be sure to add this to your TBR pile because this one looks like one to DEFINITELY not miss in 2015!  EEeee let the wait begin...

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Review: The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2)

Wow, I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! Initial overall thoughts: If you loved The Bone Season (The Bone Season #1) then you will LOVE The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2)! Drop what you're doing and carve out a day, afternoon or several bus rides to dive into the depths of the world of the Scion and get ready to lose yourself to the world of Samantha Shannon!

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:

Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal prison camp of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the survivors are missing and she is the most wanted person in London...

As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on the dreamwalker, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city's gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided.

Where do I start? This is a hard review to write only because I want to do TMO justice and I can't really divulge all of the wonderfulness because of spoiler-y-ness. I mean come on, I seriously finished this in about 7 hours and it was a whirlwind of amazingness! I will warn that the first 60-70% felt rather slow for my general taste but because of Shannon's amazing writing/world building/characters I really did not mind it especially when she gifted us readers with the last 30-40%! Hold on to your seat because that part is AH-MAZ-ING!

Let me start by saying that Samantha Shannon is a true master of her craft! She can spin a web so intricate that you feel as if you have actually fallen into a world so real that you can actually touch, hear, feel and smell everything around you! Oh, I could read her words forever. Honestly, because she is such a talented writer that is what helped me through the slow start.

Secondly, the characters just get better! We learn so much more not only about Paige and Jaxon (who I seriously love, but I hate...I love to hate him) but also from our secondary characters who really seem to fill in and wow, I love Shannon for giving them some depth! Warden to me is still mysterious but OMG how much do I LOVE their romance. Again, Warden does not really come back in until the last 30% of the novel but when he does it's SOOOOO worth it! There is one scene...and, well, you will know when it hits you! The romance in TMO is subtle but adds so much to the story without overwhelming it. It's perfection.

Honestly if you're still on the fence about this book, trust me (and many others) when I say, this is worth the read! It's slow to start but it's absolutely stunning and one that I would hate for you all to miss out on! So what are you waiting for?

**Update: If you're on the go, know that there is also a FANTASTIC audio version narrated by Alana Kerr available for purchase HERE!  Check out this sample and enjoy on your commute!**

Monday, November 10, 2014

Queen of Someday (Stolen Empire #1)

Wow, what a thrilling ride!  Who can resist a royally good story?!  Laced with slight history but packed with a punch of adventure, heartbreak, drama and political games Queen of Someday by Sherry Ficklin is sure to have you falling in love!

Summary courtesy of Goodreads:

ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

I really had to take a step back from this one because O-M-G this book really has it all!  From the get-go the world building absolutely took my breath away.  From her idyllic childhood to the thrilling journey to Russia, Ficklin really does an outstanding job setting the scene and fully immersing the reader.

I’m not sure what’s going on but recently all of my favorite books or rather most YA books in general are featuring a kick ass heroine who is faced of course with adversity and tough choices that affect not only her but those that surround her.  This one does not fail me on that front.  Sophie really has her set of enemies throughout and one of her greatest enemies is herself.  Will she find the courage to take destiny by the horns?  She definitely is one spit-fire of a girl destined to be a queen! 

Without giving too much away, I can honestly say that I FULLY recommend this one!  Filled with so much good that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page…and even then I secretly was wishing the final pages would start to fill themselves in with more!  I can’t wait for #2! 

Sunday, November 9, 2014

For the Love of Books!


I may be late to the party by saying this but it seems a whole MONTH has escaped me!  I do promise more reviews to come!  Seriously this time!  To be upfront, it's not the reading that has lapsed...I have been reading so many EXCELLENT books that are slated to come either this fall/winter/spring!  We really do live in such an amazing world where there are such creative and imaginative writers at our disposal!  I truly am so THANKFUL for all these amazing writers/publishers/agents/etc. 

Lately (especially since it is the month of November) I have given some thought to those things that we really are so luck to have.  I challenge you all to think of one thing a day for the rest of this month that you are thankful for.  This is nothing hard or challenging but it is something that I think in our busy lives we often overlook or don't reflect on.  

So for today, let me say that beyond living in a world where we are spoiled with creativity and imagination, I am also deeply thankful for my family.  Now I don't have kids and my actual family is quite small, but I want to say beyond my immediate family I am thankful for my urban family (i.e. girlfriends, classmates, those that aren't blood related but that I honestly do consider family) and my bookish family (that's YOU)!  Thank you to you all, whether you are a fellow blogger, writer, publicist or a lover of YA that has somehow stumbled upon my little blog!  

Here's to a November filled with reflection of THANKS!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Part-Time Princess


Looking for a fun summer read that is sure to make you swoon and melt your heart?  Look no further!  Pamela DuMond introduces a new smashing series that is sure to win your heart with Part-Time Princess (Ladies in Waiting: #1)!  Royalty, makeovers and two princes fighting over one girl?!  Sign me up!  PTP is a fairly quick read that will keep you up all night wondering which frog will turn into the prince of Lucy's heart!

I was initially drawn to this one based on the topic.  I am a sucker for a romantic comedy of sorts and this one looked like it would not disappoint!  Our main character Lucy is full of spunk and is completely LOVABLE and the IRRESISTIBLE and SWOON WORTHY bad-boy Nick is just so delectable!  And really, can you even pass up the chance for a HUNKY heir to the throne, Cristoph?  Choices, choices, choices...only thing is they both think she's someone she's not...

I mean seriously...check out this cute cover?! I LOVE IT!  And come on, I need more princess stories in my life!  I was definitely pleasantly surprised by how much I truly enjoyed this novel.  Witty, funny, full of characters (big and small) that you are sure to love and love to hate...but don't take my word for it!  Read here for the killer synopsis.

Summary Courtesy of Goodreads:
Two Princes are in love with her. Too bad she’s an imposter…

Hold tight to your tiara, grab your scepter and be prepared for the New Adult hilarious, modern-day romantic-comedy ride of your life!

Rated PG-13 and mildly R for:

Sexual innuendo.
Hot Guys.
Hot Guys who are Princes.
Flirting.
Romance.
The occasional naughty word.
The occasional naughty royal fantasy.
The occasional naughty deed.
Romance.
Castles.
Ladies-in-Waiting.
Parties!
Cocktails.
A puppy.
Gowns.
Intrigue.
Chocolate.
Champagne.
A Royal Wedding!
Comedy.
Sexiness.
More Romance.
And—a Happily-Ever-After Ending (Just not the way you expected it!)

Lucy Trabbicio’s a down-on-her-luck, young, American, former biker-bar cocktail waitress desperate to find a job. Lady Elizabeth Billingsley hires Lucy to travel to Fredonia, the tiny jewel of a country in the Alps, for ten days ‘tops’ to impersonate her.

Say what? How the heck is that going to happen?

In the mother of all makeovers, Elizabeth’s people teach Lucy how to dress, walk, talk, eat, be coiffed and even get naked like a European Lady.

The goal?

To keep Crown Prince Cristoph Timmel interested in Elizabeth until she finishes her unexpected, pressing personal business in the States.

But fate intervenes… Lucy meets and is wildly attracted to sexy, bad-boy Nick on the oh-so-long flights to Fredonia. Unfortunately for Lucy—Nick and Elizabeth have a hot sexual history, which Nick wants to immediately resume.

Prince Cristoph proposes marriage. What's an imposter girl to do? Elizabeth insists that she’ll make it back home in time for the wedding. Lucy accepts Cristoph’s proposal and is on the fast track to becoming a Princess but continues to fall for the wrong Prince of Fredonia—Nick. When another tiny glitch arises—someone’s trying to kill her.

The only folks helping Lucy are her wild, party hard, take-no-prisoners Ladies-in-Waiting.

When the real Lady Elizabeth decides she’s not marrying Cristoph and never returning to Fredonia, Lucy’s faced with an uncomfortable decision—continue her deception, marry the prince she’s not in love with and live a dream life albeit without Nick, her dream guy? Or tell the truth and return to poverty and oblivion?

A modern day sexy fairy tale with romance, twists and turns, LOL moments, a few tears and an empowering ending.

So what are you waiting for?  Seriously.  Part-Time Princess will have you swooning over two dreamy men that are sure to have you lusting after them and wondering which one will sweep Lucy off her feet or if there will be any sweeping at all once they learn of her BIG secret.  Will this be a betrayal too big to overcome?  These pages are also filled with the loyal and the catty "ladies in waiting" and of course there's someone after Lucy's life...but who could it be?  Guess you'll have to dive in and read to find out!  Pick it up, grab your fav snack and dive into something juicy!


HUUUUUUGUE thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for this opportunity!



To see others blogs involved in this tour check out: 

September 22nd
-Bad Bird Reads >>Review
-Nick’s Book Blog >> Playlist
-A Little Bit of R&R >> Guest Post
-Cindy’s Love of Books >> Review
-Indie Authors You Want to Read >> Excerpt
September 23rd
-Book Briefs >> Review
-Dandelion Dreams >> Review
-Fic Talk >> Excerpt
September 25th
-Pieces of Whimsy >> Excerpt
-Tome Tender >> Review
-Underneath the Covers >> Interview
-Future Slayer Girl’s Butt-Kicking Reviews >> Review
September 26th
-Journey with Books >> Review
-Watcha Reading >> Interview
-A Journey Through Pages >> Review
-Broadway Girl Book Reviews >> Review
-All Booked Up YA >> Review

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Moving...AGAIN!

Lovely blog readers, I must apologize for my lack of posting as of late.  We are in the process of moving to another house and things have just been waaaay hectic and chaotic to sit down and compose myself enough to post on the blog.  In good news, I have been reading some FABULOUS novels that I cannot wait to share with you but for now, I must pack....and pack and pack... I feel like all I own is books upon books and they're heavy and take forever to pack up!  Oh the joys of moving.  One upside to e-books my friends is the ease of just putting your e-reader in your purse, but if you're like me, you cannot part with the wonderful characteristics of a physical book, flipping those pages and the smell of paper and ink...




To tide any of you over that are dying to find a good read to start check out some of these (full reviews to come):

1. The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black - I LOVE LOVE LOVE these two authors and they really do not disappoint in this magical adventure!  This is book one of the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next!  Good/Evil/Magic/School/Friends/Plot Twists/ETC

2. Heir of Fire by the BELOVED Sarah J. Maas - Do I really need to elaborate?! AMAZING/Heart Wrenching/AMAZING/DID I SAY AMAZING? Definitely not one to miss esp if you have read the rest of the series...if you have yet to start the series, I HIGHLY suggest you start...like yesterday!

3. Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White - Okay bookies, this one is fantastic!  You will love this.  Trust me.  Elements of Magic, themes of race and class. This definitely had a hint of Cassandra Clare mixed with an element of Howl's Moving Castle. Magical in so many ways, this is not one to miss!

4. The Falconer by Elizabeth May - Have you read this one?  No?  Why not?  You should!  Amazingly strong female lead who rises from a tragedy with a vengeance and thirst for revenge.  Fast paced and exhilarating!

There are so many amazing books coming out this fall too that I CANNOT wait to share with you!!  Oh you will swoon, you will cry, you will laugh and cringe!  Fall 2014 is looking spectacular!  I should be up and running again end of September (possibly earlier - hopeful)!  I am still active on Twitter (@allbookedupya) and regularly run contests and giveaways and will post little burbs about what I'm reading..nothing as indepth as the blog posts, but if you need your bookish fix come chat with me! 

Anyway, back to packing and packing and packing...Happy reading! 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

How, how, how had I thought I had already posted a review of the lovely THE KISS OF DECEPTION only to find out I never did!  Oy!  Let me start off by saying, if  you’re a fan of fantasy and epic adventure than you best not miss Mary E. Pearson’s amazing magical skill at writing!  Definitely one of the top 10 for 2014 IMHO, Pearson will build you a kingdom so rich and full and then throw in fantastic characters that you will love to hate and fall in love with and to top it all off she will tell you a story so amazing and lush and then she will strategically place little twists and turns that will not only keep you engaged but on the edge of your seat!  This is definitely not one to miss… Don’t trust me? Read on…


Summary courtesy of Goodreads:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.
Okay so let’s start with the cover, because we all know I DEFINITELY judge my books by the cover and this one DOES NOT disappoint! First of all look at that sky!  We’ve all been there and trust me when I say, that sky spells brewing STORM! I mean really, and check it out, our girl Lia staring right into the eye of the storm even with pursuers clearly in the background! 

As if the cover hadn’t been indication enough let me just say, this book is….FREAKING AWESOME! Seriously though, this novel was amazing and well written.  Definitely well thought out.  What was my favorite part?  Well beyond the princesses and arranged marriages it was the CHARACTERS!  Omg!  I fell in love with our little heroine.  She’s our princess, but not dainty and simple minded and liking everything pretty but rather this courageous ball of spunk that decides, “no I will not marry if not for love” and sneaks out and finds herself in a world that she can call her own…that is until they come for her.  She is so headstrong and capable at the same time.  She and her AMAZING servant Pauline set off on the adventure of their lifetime and because of courage, wit and smarts is able to really do quite anything the set their minds too…too bad the prince and the assassin are also fairly intelligent. 

Honestly though, the characters are truly amazing but the setting is nearly just as brilliant!  Pearson’s world building is seriously crafted to near perfections.  I can taste and smell the tavern and on the dusty roads I was there too!  It was like reading a movie with your eyes but feeling it in your body.  So well done.  I cannot say enough good things about this novel.  You really need to try it out yourself. Seriously, you will not be disappointed.  So what are you waiting for?  …GO! ☺

 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2)

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

It's that time of the week again, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY! Hooray! Anyway, this week I am eagerly waiting on Rick Yancy's The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2)! For those of you who've been following for a while you know how much I ADORED The 5th Wave and let me be the first to tell you my anticipation is just growing for this second installment! I mean come on...talk about a CLIFFHANGER and if you're like me, you're probably dying to know what happens....Come on September!!

Summary courtesy of Goodreads:

How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

Right?! Amazing! Oh I just cannot wait. This sounds Ah-Ma-Zing and oh that cover...it's just GORGEOUS! Love everything about it from the font choice to the colors EVERYTHING! I may even have picked up a poster that I will be giving away on my Twitter account (@allbookedupya)...so if you're not already following there, check it out!

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

The Jewel (The Lone City #1)

Wow! Wow, wow wow! If you're looking to lose yourself in a beautiful dream-like world that is so horrifically lovely then The Jewel by Amy Ewing is the book for you!  I was so looking forward to this read and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Amy Ewing will get you...hook, line and sinker! 

Summary courtesy of Goodreads:

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.


We meet Violet, #197 of 200...one of the elite - top 10. She is not a name but rather a number, a slave of sorts breed and trained to be the best that money can buy. Violet's fate lives in the surrogate system but all is not as it seems...will she be able to survive the Jewel and save herself before it's too late? Violet plays several different roles/faces within this novel...she is daughter, sister, friend, surrogate, love, damsel in distress, musician but most of all survivor. She has smarts, talent, beauty and strength but can she overcome the Jewel?

The plot is amazing and moves at a wonderful pace...not too slow but not rushed either. I absolutely fell in love with Violet and the world she comes from and the world she lives in - although horrific as it may be, it's fantastically built! The overall idea of this auction for surrogates is really quite horrible. It is not fully explained what has caused the royals not to have babies (bad water, toxins, inbreeding) however it does say that they are unable to have children thus the need for the surrogates. 

I instantly fell in love with this GORGEOUS cover.  Love the way her face shines in all of the many faucets and how it almost hugs her in a little nest.  She looks trapped, exposed, alone but none-the-less stunning. Just breathtaking.  
I will warn you, this leaves you with the mother of all cliffhangers and I for one cannot wait to read the next installment!