{Official Cover Reveal} Blind Study by Jacquelyn Sylvan: Excerpt + Giveaway

Today, I have a special treat for you guys!  I'm helping a friend of a friend reveal the cover for her YA debut novel!  Said friend wouldn't steer me wrong, so without further ado, check it out:

Eighteen-year-old Alice has spent the last year of her life in a hospital bed, held hostage by pain from a freak accident. Doctors can neither explain nor cure her condition, and her medical insurance is about to run out. Then, she’s offered one last chance—inclusion in a study for a revolutionary new pain medication

Miraculously, the medication works. There’s only one side effect—vivid, terrifying nightmares, of imprisonment in a pitch-black cell, with no memory of her identity or how she got there. At least, she thinks that’s all they are, until someone from her dreams shows up in real life.

When other sinister happenings cross the boundary between dreaming and waking, Alice must choose: return to a half-life of isolation and agony, or confront the malevolent force behind the dreams, before she and those she cares about are trapped in their nightmares forever. But by the time she makes her choice—it may already be too late.

Publication Date: August 20, 2013

About the author:

Before Jacquelyn Sylvan became a writer, she worked as a waitress, video store clerk, trail-riding guide, and veterinary technician, among other things. She’s a few inches shy of five feet tall, which means she’s sometimes mistaken for a child when she rides her bike, and often looked at suspiciously by amusement park ride operators. When she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her watching Vampire Diaries or trying to warn people about the impending penguin apocalypse. Jacquelyn lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two cats, and two very large dogs. Her YA novel, Blind Study, a supernatural thriller, comes out August 20, 2013.

Find Jacquelyn:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr

3 ebooks of Blind Study

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So, what do you think?  I love starbursts.  You can't go wrong with starbursts on a cover, as far as I'm concerned. =) And I love the idea of waking dreams -- er, nightmares -- and I can't wait to read this one. Gotta catch up on some review books first, but then I am all over this!

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: apes, blind study, book trailers, excerpts, giveaways, indies, jacquelyn sylvan, official cover reveals

SYNC Summer 2013: Week 10 #syncya

SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and the program has officially kicked off.  Last week's offerings were The False Prince and The Prince and the Pauper.  And here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!

This week's YA title is Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, performed by Dan Weyman for Macmillan Audio.

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.

This week's classic title is The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, performed by Ralph Cosham for Blackstone Audio.

Since Doyle created the immortal Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson, no other mystery writer has come close to eclipsing him as the standard bearer in crime fiction. A brilliant London-based 'consulting detective', Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess and renowned for his skillful use of astute observation, deductive reasoning, and inference to solve difficult cases.

This collection includes twelve of Holmes’s most famous cases: A Scandal in Bohemia, The Red-Headed League, A Case of Identity, The Boscombe Valley Mystery, The Five Orange Pips, The Man with the Twisted Lip, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band, The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb, The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor, The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, and The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.

I just realized that this is a young Sherlock Holmes and an adult Sherlock Holmes pairing.  So, pretty much what I'll be doing while listening is picturing a young RDJ for the first, and the present-day RDJ for the second.  ;0)  Seriously, though, the only Sherlock Holmes story I've read is The Hound of Baskervilles, and that was so long ago that I couldn't begin to tell you what it was about.  I just remember not loving it.  But that was a long time ago.  We'll see if I enjoy a good detective story from the master now.

Will you be checking out either of these titles?  Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download.  Other things to note:

• CHECK OUT the 2013 titles!
• LISTEN to sound clips on SoundCloud to help you decide!
• GET your device ready! You must have the OverDrive Media Console or APP to download the SYNC titles! Visit the OverDrive website to download.
• Questions? Email: synchelp@audiofilemagazine.com
• Text message alerts – Text syncya to 25827 for SYNC title download alerts.
• Email updates – sign up for SYNC title alerts by email.
• Follow the SYNC blog.

To download this week's titles, just click on the image below to be taken directly to the SYNC download page:

I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last couple of years, and I've had the chance to listen to a ton of great audio for free.  If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy.  And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed.  Win/win.  =)

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Labels: 2013, audiobooks, classics, freebies, historical fiction, mystery, promotions, sherlock holmes, summer, sync

{Audiobook} Review: Proxy by Alex London

Title: Proxy
Author: Alex London
Narrator: Andrew Sweeney
Series: Proxy, book #1
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Proxy caught my attention with an intriguing premise and that very science-fictiony cover.  It takes an interesting concept -- the whipping boy -- and throws it into a futuristic setting, rife with nearly incomprehensible technological advances, making the barbaric act of doling out punishment to a substitute seem even more archaic.

The ethical issue of using a proxy weighed heavily on the novel, just as it did on the characters.  When Knox and Syd meet, they do so as virtual enemies, using each other for their own means:  one to infuriate his father, the other for mere survival.  But as the boys journey outside of the city to escape their harsh realities, a shaky alliance morphs into true friendship.  The two boys grow to see each other as more than the roles they've played in society thus far, more than just Patron and Proxy, and they start questioning the system and everything it stands for.

This is not just the story of two boys who change their positions in an unchangeable world.  They're faced with moral and ethical dilemmas galore, as well as what it means to sacrifice oneself for the good of all. (Syd's full name is Sydney Carton, a la Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, so it seemed inevitable that the theme of sacrifice would appear in this novel.) Knox and Syd make friends -- and enemies -- along the way, but this is one of those stories where you're not sure who to trust and who to stab in the back.

It wasn't until closer to the end of this book that I was able to connect with the characters at all and really rally behind them. And that had to do a lot with Knox's own personal growth and how it was perceived by others.  The characters in this story were complex and dynamic, continually growing and changing as the circumstances warranted, which was rather fun to observe when one started out as a rich playboy and the other as an ostracized homosexual ne'er-do-well.

Andrew Sweeney did a great job separating each character, giving each a voice of their own.  Knox and Syd were like night and day, and Sweeney did a good job of conveying that in the voice he used for each. And when it came to narrating female dialogue, he didn't take his voice up a few octaves as some narrators are wont to do, which is much appreciated by this listener.

I liked Proxy...I didn't love it, but I liked it.  And I'd still definitely recommend it for those who are still on a dystopian kick but are looking for a new entry in the genre.  Proxy is definitely different, and I mean that in the best possible way.  I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this odd couple, assuming there is more in store for them with that ending.  *bites nails*


This GIF is so apropos, it's not even funny...but it kinda still is. You guys probably aren't even old enough to remember The Odd Couple -- the old movie with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon or the tv series of the same name.  Shoot, I'm not really old enough either, but my dad made sure I caught all the "classics". Ha! But those guys were day and night...kinda like Knox and Syd.

Rating:  1/2

About the author:

Alex London writes books for adults, children and teens. At one time a journalist who traveled the world reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he now is a full time novelist living in Brooklyn.

Find Alex:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: alex london, audiobooks, dystopian, lgbt, penguin, proxy, reviews

Waiting on Wednesday: Enders by Lissa Price

"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...

Title: Enders
Author: Lissa Price
Series: Starters and Enders, book #2
Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Publication Date: January 7, 2014

With the Prime Destinations body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save Callie's life - but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too ...and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body? This is the thrilling sequel to "Starters".

I feel like I've been waiting on this book forever.  Probably doesn't help that it got pushed back.  Also, I should've known they'd change the covers.  I don't mind the new covers, but I liked the original cover for Starters better.  I actually might DL the audio for Starters since it's been so long...I feel like this is one book where I definitely need a refresher.  I do remember the Old Man being pretty freaking creepy, though.

Now that you know what I'm dying to read, what are you waiting on this week?  Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!

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Labels: dystopian, lissa price, post-apocalyptic, random house, starters, waiting on wednesday (wow)

{Blog Tour} The Liberator by Victoria Scott: Review + Giveaway

So, it probably doesn't seem that long ago that I was excited to introduce you to the fabulous Dante Walker...oh, wait!  That's 'cause it was only April when I was touting that 2013 Belongs to Dante.  Well, he's back, baby, and he is better than ever!  Check out my review of The Liberator and scroll down for a giveaway!

Title: The Liberator
Author: Victoria Scott
Series: Dante Walker, book #2
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

Dante's character took a little getting used to in The Collector.  But I grew to love his swagger and his self-absorbed ways.  And he showed tremendous character growth in the first book.  That said, it took a lot to get used to this new and improved Dante in The Liberator.  He's not himself.  He doesn't know how to be a liberator, but he's trying his best.  And yet, this dude stays locked inside his own head for a good portion of the first half of the book.

Talk about a complete 180.  Dante worries -- a lot -- about his relationship with Charlie, about his status as a liberator, and about how he's going to keep Charlie safe.  It was actually kind of cute.  And then he's given this new mission, which takes him away from his beloved Charlie, and he worries even more.  Dante can't fathom how he's supposed to liberate the soul of a girl who is his equal in every way.  It's enough to drive a guy crazy.  But after Dante has his little pity party, he's back to being awesome.  Annoyingly so, but still.  :)

There are quite a few new additions to the cast of characters, as well as the return of some old friends.  ;0) And if you're worried about the possible love triangle hinted at in the synopsis, fret not.  Aspen is awesome and spunky and fierce, but more than anything, she is a friend to Dante and Charlie.  Dante sees some of himself in her, but he never looks at her the way he does Charlie.  Charlie is his world, and that's that.

I was happy to see that the villains were more prevalent and took on a more sinister role this time around. Not that they were non-existent before, but they were lurkers.  In this sequel, those bad guys have upped the ante and have added to their ranks.  This is truly a story of good versus evil, a battle between Heaven and Hell, and the bad guys aren't ready to give up just yet.

The Liberator got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but once it hit its stride, I was reminded of why I enjoyed the first book so much.  This installment is more action-packed and intense, I think, but it also packs a more emotional punch, as everyone seems to be battling their own demons.  I'm really enjoying Victoria Scott's take on angels and demons and what they're ultimately fighting for, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.

Rating:  

About the author:

I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.

My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.

Find Victoria:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Youtube | Dante’s Website

a signed copy of THE LIBERATOR & a signed copy of TWILIGHT, international

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the rest of The Liberator blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: bad boys, blog tour, dante walker, demons, entangled, fun, giveaways, reviews, souls, the collector, tori scott