Release Day Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) in exchange for an honest review

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

I had no doubts that Julie Kagawa would give me an unforgettable last book of this trilogy–and what a fantastic ending it was. Everything in this book is touched upon, leaving nothing open. It was an altogether incredibly satisfying end to this series and these characters that I’ve grown so fond of.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a rocky start at the beginning. Allie is mourning Zeke’s death and is spiraling downward into madness. She is pitiful and very nearly loses herself to the darkness of her vampire, and has to internally battle her way back to humanity. Thankfully, she’s not alone in her battle–she has her sire Kanin and her vampire brother Jackal alongside her. I have to admit, I liked this part the least in The Forever Song, but I trusted Julie Kagawa to take me in a direction I wouldn’t be disappointed with.

Note to self: Never doubt the amazing Julie Kagawa!

The three of them are on the search for Sarren, and there’s no shortage of blood and guts and gore. The action is riveting–I’m always in awe of how detailed and gripping Julie Kagawa writes these action scenes. I love them! They’re never just the same fight, kill, die thing over and over. Julie Kagawa manages to keep you on your toes, and nothing is ever expected.

The best part of this book is the amount of depth Kanin and Jackal have. These two have been on the journey with Allie for a long time, and their relationships only manage to get stronger. Kanin is my absolute favorite character of this series–he is the father figure to Allie, providing her with his own wisdom and advice, but as the series progresses, they become near equals. Kanin is such a fascinating character. Despite how long he’s been a vampire, he manages to retain his humanity, and he teaches and guides Allie to do the same.

Jackal, on the other hand, is as self-centered and rude as usual, but there’s no doubt that there’s a fondness between him and Allie. These two have been through tons together, so it’s only a matter of time before they truly become like brother and sister. And every word out of this vampire’s mouth is freaking hilarious! He lightens up so many tense scenes, but there’s also a seriousness to him that we never truly see until now.

The Forever Song is everything I expected from Julie Kagawa. It had a strong, satisfying conclusion, and yet I knew I’d miss all the characters when it was over. This series is seriously one of the best vampire books, one of the best post-apocalyptic books, I’ve ever read. It’s well written, well developed, and you come to care for the characters more and more as the series progresses. I’m sad this series is over, but I have to admit that it concluded perfectly!

4.5 hearts
lacey

Series Order: Blood of Eden series

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

#1 ~ The Immortal Rules: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Eternity Cure: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Forever Song: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 30th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover

In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie’s birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There’s a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

It’s been foreeeever since I’ve read a YA book, but reading The Eternity Cure has reminded me of just how much I’ve missed YA books, and paranormal ones at that. Although, to be honest, it’s Julie freaking Kagawa, so of course I’d end up loving anything and everything by her!

Anyways, The Eternity Cure was so. freaking. gooooood! I don’t know why I waited so long to read it, especially since I read book one, The Immortal Rules, so long ago. But seriously, Julie Kagawa never ceases to amaze me. I was instantly sucked back into this post-apocalyptic, devastated world she created. I couldn’t stop reading, couldn’t stop flipping the pages, because everything is so heart-pounding, thrilling, and intense. I’d forgotten how much I liked Allison as the heroine–she’s kickass and all around just an incredible heroine for this series.

Allie has left Eden–and Zeke–to go in search of her sire, Kanin, who is in the hands of a psychotic, evil vampire. Kanin is being tortured, and Allie knows she’s running out of time before Kanin turns dark and loses all sense of humanity. Along her journey towards Kanin, she encounters Jackal, who is another offspring of Kanin, and the vampire who also killed her friends. I thought Jackal was a fabulous addition to the set of characters in the Blood of Eden series–he’s bold, he’s crass, and he’s hilarious. He’s not exactly there for comic relief, although he does lighten up the story every time he opens his mouth. Allie pretty much hates him, and the two have a very tenuous relationship–they become unlikely allies in their search for Kanin. Julie Kagawa does a great job in bringing Jackal’s character to life–I didn’t care for him when he was first introduced in The Immortal Rules, but now I can’t imagine Allie going on her journey without him.

So if you’ve read The Immortal Rules, I know what you’re thinking–WHAT ABOUT ZEKE??? For all you Zeke fans, don’t despair! Zeke is THERE! He wonderfully surprises Allie–but I won’t say when or why, just that he does! And while I don’t particularly LOVE Zeke, I was still so, so happy he was there with Allie. They make such a great team together, and he brings out the best out of Allie.

The thing I love most about this series is that despite it being young adult, Julie Kagawa holds nothing back. There’s death, blood, gore, and violence, and all of these things add up to one heart-pounding, fantastic sequel. This series is, without a doubt, one of the few vampire series that doesn’t disappoint.

5 hearts!

5-hearts

lacey

Series Order: Blood of Eden series

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

#1 ~ The Immortal Rules: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Eternity Cure: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Forever Song: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

Release Day Launch + Excerpt: Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Don't Look Back RDL

We are extremely excited that Jennifer L. Armentrout’s DON’T LOOK BACK releases today!! DON’T LOOK BACK is a young adult suspense being published by Disney Hyperion!

Dont Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: April 15th 2014
Series: Standalone
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Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all—popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her—even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory—someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

“This engrossing thriller packs a heady atmospheric punch with plenty of theatrical scares,” Kirkus Reviews

“Armentrout has written another winner. From the first page to the last, she builds both terror and confusion to the point where readers will be hooked and on the edge of their seat. This standalone contains all of Armentrout’s usual trademarks– a strong and determined heroine, witty comments and hot guys–but she adds in an extra layer by ratcheting up the suspense to the highest degree and follows it up with an ending no one will see coming.” RT BOOK REVIEWS 4 1/2 Stars TOP PICK

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes and Noble • iTunes

excerpt

I didn’t recognize the name on the street sign. Nothing about the rural road looked familiar or friendly. Tall, imposing trees and overgrown weeds choked the front of the dilapidated home. Windows were boarded up. There was a gaping hole where the front door had been. I shivered, wanting to be far away from here…wherever here was.

Walking felt harder than it should be, and I stumbled off the chilly asphalt, wincing as sharp gravel dug into my feet.

My bare feet?

I stopped and looked down. Chipped pink nail polish peeked through the dirt…and blood. Mud caked the legs of my pants, leaving the hems stiff. It made sense, seeing as how I wasn’t wearing any shoes, but the blood…I didn’t understand why there was blood staining the knees of my jeans.

My vision clouded and dulled, as if a gray film had been dropped over my eyes. As I stared at the weathered asphalt under my feet, large and smooth rocks replaced the tiny stones. Something dark and oily seeped over the rocks, slipping through the cracks.

Sucking in a sharp gasp, I blinked and the image was gone.

Hands trembling, I raised them. They were also covered with dirt and scratches. My nails were broken, bloodied. A silver ring wrapped, encased in soil, around my thumb. Air froze in my chest as my gaze crawled over my arms. The sleeves of my sweater were torn, revealing pale flesh covered in bruises and gashes. My legs started to shake as I swayed forward. I tried to remember how this had happened, but my head was empty—a black void where nothing existed.

A car drove by, coasting to a stop a few feet in front of me. Somewhere in the trenches of my subconscious, I recognized the flashing red and blue lights as a source of safety. Elegantly scrawled along the black-and-gray side of the cruiser were the words ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.

Adams County? A flash of familiarity came and went.

The driver’s door opened, and a deputy stepped out. He said something into the radio on his shoulder before he looked at me.

“Miss?” He started around the cruiser, taking tentative steps. He looked young for a deputy. Barely out of high school and able to carry a gun seemed wrong somehow. Was I in high school? I didn’t know. “We’ve received some calls into dispatch concerning you,” he said gently. “Are you okay?”

I tried to respond, but only a hoarse squeak came out. Clearing my throat, I winced as the motion scratched and pulled. “I…I don’t know.”

“Okay.” The deputy held up his hands as he approached me, as if I were a skittish deer about to bolt. “My name is Deputy Rhode. I’m here to help you. Do you know what you’re doing out here?”

“No.” Knots formed in my belly. I didn’t even know where here was.

His smile strained. “What’s your name?”

My name? Everyone knew their name, but as I stared at the deputy, I couldn’t answer his question. The knots started twisting more. “I don’t…I don’t know what my name is.”

He blinked, and the smile was completely gone. “You don’t remember anything?”

I tried again, concentrating on the empty space between my ears. That was how it felt. And I knew that wasn’t good. My eyes started to tear up.

“Miss, it’s okay. We’ll get you taken care of.” He reached out, lightly taking hold of my arm. “We’ll get this sorted.”

Deputy Rhode led me around the back of his cruiser. I didn’t want to sit behind the Plexiglas, because I knew that wasn’t good. Only bad people sat behind the glass in police cruisers. I wanted to object, but before I could say anything, he settled me into the seat and wrapped a coarse blanket around my shoulders.

Before he locked me in the bad part of the car, he knelt and smiled reassuringly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

But I knew he was lying, trying to make me feel better. It didn’t work. How could everything be okay when I didn’t know my own name?

about the author

Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon

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Blog Tour: A Song For Us by Teresa Mummert

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for A Song For Us by Teresa Mummert! A Song For Us is the third and final book in the White Trash Trilogy, and will release on April 22, 2014!

A Song for Us by Teresa Mummert

A Song For Us by Teresa Mummert
Series: White Trash Trilogy #3
Release Date: April 22nd 2014
Add to Goodreads

In this highly anticipated follow-up to White Trash Damaged, Cass and Tucker have finally found their happily ever after, but can Eric, the band’s brooding drummer, ever let go of his past and find love?

From a small-town boy with fantasies of superstardom to rock star on tour with the suddenly famous band Damaged, Eric’s life has not been an easy journey. Now he struggles to let go of his past of physical abuse, a past that still haunts him. His anger is causing him to spiral out of control and he risks losing everything he has worked so hard for.

Only one person has ever gotten him to open up about his past: Sarah, the lead singer of Filth, the opening act on their first national tour—a fellow rocker with a confident façade that masks her own painful secrets. But their bands’ rocky past and Sarah’s tumultuous relationship with her bandmate and boyfriend Derek force her to keep Eric at a distance. As their friendship begins to grow into something more, Eric has to find a way to let go of his tortured past, or it could jeopardize his only chance for a happy future…

Preorder:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble

Series Order: White Trash Trilogy

White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert White Trash Damaged by Teresa Mummert A Song for Us by Teresa Mummert

#1 ~ White Trash Beautiful: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ White Trash Damaged: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ A Song For Us: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Teresa MummertI was a Russian spy at the ripe age of thirteen, given my uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying ( I also read fortunes on the weekends). By sixteen I had become too much of a handful for the Lethal Intelligence Ensemble (L.I.E.). I was quickly exiled to the south of France where I worked with wayward elephants in the Circus of Roaming Animals and People (C.R.A.P.). I was able to make ends meet by selling my organs on the black market for pocket change and beer money. At the age of twenty three I decided to expand my horizons and become a blackjack dealer in Ireland. I loved the family atmosphere at Barney’s Underground Liquor Lounge (B.U.L.L.). People couldn’t resist the allure of Liquor up front and poker in the rear. Eventually I became tired of the rear and headed off to the United States to try my hand at tall tales. That is what brings us here today. If you have a moment I’d like to tell you a story.

(This bio is not to be taken seriously under any circumstance.)

Teresa Mummert is an army wife and mother whose passion in life is writing. She is the author of the New York Times and USA Todaybestselling novels White Trash Beautiful and Suicide Note. Born in Pennsylvania, she lived a small town life before following her husband’s military career to Louisiana and Georgia. Check out her website for samples and updates!

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon Page

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin

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Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin is LIVE!! This is the fourth book in the Beaumont series! Don’t forget to check out the giveaway below!

Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin

Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin
April 14th, 2014
The Beaumont Series #4 (full reading order below)
New Adult Contemporary Romance
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Liam Westbury has the world at his feet. He’s the quintessential golden boy. He’s the superstar quarterback for Beaumont High. His girl, Josie, is head cheerleader. He has his choice of colleges just waiting for him.  Except he’s suffocating from all the pressure he’s under and no one understands.

Liam Page is the heartthrob he never wanted to be. He’s successful, smart and in demand by record companies and his adoring fans. Music is his passion, his love, but something’s missing. His nights are lonely and he longs for the girl he left behind. Seeing her in every face in the crowd haunts him with the knowledge that she hates him. Going home has never been an option until now.

Be there when Liam Westbury becomes Liam Page and follow the highs and lows of the Quarterback turned Rockstar as he finds a way back to Beaumont in this prequel to Forever My Girl.

Purchase:
Ebook • Paperback

Reading Order: The Beaumont series

Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin My Everything by Heidi McLaughlin My Unexpected Forever by Heidi McLaughlin
Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin
 Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin

#1 ~ Forever My Girl: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ My Everything: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ My Unexpected Forever: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Finding My Forever: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Finding My Way: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Heidi McLaughlinHeidi is the author of USA Today, Kobo, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling series, The Beaumont Series.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Instagram • Goodreads

giveaway

Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or one of two $50 Gift Cards.

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