{WOW} STARFALL by Melissa Landers

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

This week's WoW selection is...








's Pick:



Title: Starfall
Author: Melissa Landers
Series: Starflight, book #2
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: February 7, 2017

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage to a bloodthirsty prince and prevent a coup, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a lowly ship hand, she finally has the chance to return home and make peace, but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend... with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee, including Solara and Doran, are planning a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, they find Cassia ruling her home planet, having imprisoned the rogue prince who would have overthrown her family. Deep down, Kane knows that Cassia can't rule her world and be with the bastard son of a business man, but he's also sure she returns his feelings, and that makes the circumstances all the more painful. When the outer realms are threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew rally to protect the population from widespread enslavement. The reunion forces Cassia to consider who her true family is and if she can live without the boy who has been there for her through thick and thin.

I loved Starflight. So far, it's my favorite of Melissa Landers' books. Spaceships. Banter. Hate-to-love romance. What's not to love? And although this sequel doesn't feature the same couple as the first book, I'm equally as excited because I loved the chemistry between Cassia and Kane. Plus, it's always nice to revisit old friends. :)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, disney, funfunfun, melissa landers, sci-fi, starflight, waiting on wednesday (wow)

{Mini Reviews} WOLF BY WOLF and STARFLIGHT

Title: Wolf by Wolf
Author(s): Ryan Graudin
Narrator(s): Christa Lewis
Series: Wolf by Wolf, book #1
Length: 10 hrs 31 mins
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

So, I wasn't all that interested in this book when it came out last year and everyone was talking about it. Which is weird because I always interested in studying and reading about World War II. But people just kept talking about this book, and now there's a novella releasing and a sequel, and I figured, why the hell not? I've got 7 Audible credits to use up. :P

And it was legitimately good. I'm also VERY glad I went the audio route because the narrator was much more adept at the accents than I could ever dream of being. And because of the narrator, I felt every bit of Yael's fear of discovery, her loss of self as she became someone else.

Yael's character is something else. Revisiting her pain through flashbacks and following her along the race gives you so much insight into her character. And though there's not a ton of action, the pacing is still quick, making you feel as if you're racing toward an unseen ending, too. And then there's Luka, whom I absolutely must know more about.

I'm glad I finished this book knowing that another is in the works. It was a satisfying ending but definitely one that left me wanting more.

About the author:

Ryan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not traveling, she’s busy writing and spending time with her husband and wolf dog. She is the author of the All That Glows series, The Walled City, and Wolf by Wolf.

Find Ryan:

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Title: Starflight
Author(s): Melissa Landers
Narrator(s): Amanda Dolan
Series: Starflight, book #1
Length: 9 hrs 44 mins
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Oh, man, this book was so much fun! I've never seen Firefly -- I know...I know -- but this story was so action-packed and funny that I can't imagine sci-fi fans, and fans of the show alike, not enjoying it to some extent. It was one of those stories where Heaven help the person who interrupts me while I'm listening to it because violence may result. And I'm only kind of kidding.

There was banter and spaceships and a one-legged captain (and his pet sugar bear) and a wedding and explosions and death and conspiracies and space chases and pirates and anything and everything your little sci-fi loving heart could want. And there was not one but three groups of bad guys chasing the Banshee as they worked their way to Planet X and did they mean business!

Also, a hate-to-love romance. One of my favorites because it has to be a slow-burn...unless hate-sex is involved, in which case all bets are off. Not the case here, though. Doran has been ruthless where Solara is concerned, and it was nice to see the tables turned for a bit, even if it didn't last all that long. They made great strides toward becoming friends and then something more in this book, and I really liked how the author developed their relationship.

Starflight was just such a captivating listen from start to finish. I've listened to several novels narrated by Amanda Dolan, but this is by far my favorite. And though a sequel is planned, I am inordinately happy with how this first book ended. This was just an all-around FUN book.

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Find Melissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: alternate history, audiobooks, disney hyperion, hachette, historical fiction, melissa landers, mini reviews, reviews, ryan graudin, sci-fi, starflight, wolf by wolf

{Promo} STARFLIGHT Launch Blitz & Giveaway

The following is promotional material provided by Melissa Landers in celebration of the release of Starflight today. I haven't had the opportunity to read this book yet, but after loving her previous two books, it is high on my TBR list.

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

What do reviewers have to say?

“Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” – New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” – School Library Journal

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” – Booklist

If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Title: Starflight
Author: Melissa Landers
Series: Starflight, book #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck, and happy reading!

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Find Melissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: aliens, beautiful covers, disney hyperion, giveaways, melissa landers, promotions, sci-fi, starflight