The Best Books Ever

Thanks to  TLC Book Tours , we're pleased to present a review for  The Darwin Elevator , a new sci-fi novel by Jason Hough. Make sure to  check out the rest of the tour stops  to see other reviews! The Darwin Elevator By  Jason M. Hough Published on July 30th 2013 Published by Del Rey Source: Netgalley/blog tour In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura. Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is t...

We're pleased to present an interview with Brian Rowe, author of the upcoming YA fantasy novel Over the Rainbow , which re-imagines The Wizard of Oz in a modern setting.  I am excited to read this one, and I hope you are too!  Check out Brian's answers to our questions, and then enter a giveaway to win a copy for yourself! Over the Rainbow By  Brian Rowe Published on August 6th 2013 Published by: self-published A modern re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz! Zippy Green never meant to fall in love with a girl, but when she does, her ultra-conservative father tries to send her to anti-gay camp. At the Kansas City airport, however, she hides inside a giant suitcase and sneaks onto an airplane headed not to the camp, but to Seattle, where her online love Mira lives. Halfway through the flight, the plane barrels out of control and crashes into the ground, knocking her unconscious. When Zippy awakens, she finds that most of the passengers have vanished. She doesn’t...

The Last Dance By  Kiki Hamilton Published on February 14th 2013 Published by Fair Wind Books Source: The author Two people couldn't be more opposite... Kellen Peterson, the gorgeous star quarterback of the Griffin High football team, seems to have it all. Until the night of the Homecoming game, when Kellen gets tackled and suffers a traumatic brain injury - an injury that changes his life - including his ability to walk, talk and throw a football. Ivy Ly is a senior and counting down the days until she can escape to college. Though her parents have big plans for her to be a doctor, Ivy is afraid to tell them she'd rather pursue music as a career. Ivy's best friend, Mira, is obsessed with Kellen. When Ivy is asked to tutor the injured football player upon his return to school, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity for Mira to get to know him better - but sparks fly - in more ways than one... Alright, I will be honest.  I didn't go into th...

The Bitter Kingdom By  Rae Carson Published on August 27, 2013 Published by Green Willow Books Source: Edelweiss Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy. Man, what an explosive ending to one of my favorite series!  The Bitter Kingdom is the final book in the Fire and Thorns Trilogy.  Elisa has really come full circle in this book.  She is a confident and strong leader who has fully developed her pretty awesome powers.  ...

Thanks to author Victoria Simcox, we're pleased to offer an excerpt from her MG/YA fantasy novel The Magic Warble , as well as a international giveaway for an ebook of the story! Keep reading for more! The Magic Warble By  Victoria Simcox Published on February 1st 2009 Published by: Two Harbors Press Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals and the evil Queen Sentiz. In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she's honored as "the chosen one," the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz's control. But it's not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous "Magic Warble," in its final resting place. She must travel ...

This is a repeat topic, but as it was last looked at over a year ago, I'd say it's fair game! So this time around, I asked our contributors to share their favorite indie/small press/self published books. Big publishers get a ton of love, so let's celebrate the little guy. Check out our selections and let us know what you think in the comments. This week's BBE choice is a recent book I just finished with an author that I feel everyone should already know about and be reading all her books. Something Great is Mary Ting's new adult book, this is her first time writing NA and she did a wonderful job with it. Mary has a YA series called Crossroads that should be read by all too. Yara @  Once Upon a Twilight I'm definitely partial, because they've printed my own short stories, but I love Elephant's Bookshelf Press . EBP is a new imprint that began by printing themed anthologies based on the seasons. I have a YA short story in SPRING FEVERS , a o...

Thanks to  TLC Book Tours , we're pleased to present a review for  The Exiles , a new contemporary fiction novel by Allison Lynn. Make sure to  check out the rest of the tour stops  to see other reviews! The Exiles: A Novel By  Allison Lynn Published on July 2nd 2013 Published by New Harvest Source: Netgalley/blog tour A couple escaping the opulent lifestyle of Manhattan’s Upper East Side move to Newport, Rhode Island, only to be confronted by the trappings of the life they tried to leave behind. Nate, a midlevel Wall Streeter, and his longtime girlfriend Emily are effectively evicted from New York City when they find they can no longer afford their apartment. An out presents itself in the form of a job offer for Nate in Newport—complete with a bucolic, small, and comparatively affordable new house. Eager to start fresh, they flee city life with their worldly goods packed tightly in their Jeep Cherokee. Yet within minutes of arriving in Rhode...

I need help- I can't decide what book to read and give away next.  So I am leaving up to you readers... what book would you most want to see as a giveaway here?  Do you like lots of hoops to jump through to get more entries or do you like giveaways with simple 1-2 tasks? Comment below- I would love to know your thoughts!

How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea By  Mira Grant Published on July 15th 2013 Published by Orbit Source: Purchased A new Newslfesh novella from the New York Times besteslling author that brought you Feed, Mira Grant. Post-Rising Australia can be a dangerous place, especially if you're a member of the government-sponsored Australia Conservation Corps, a group of people dedicated to preserving their continent's natural wealth until a cure can be found. Between the zombie kangaroos at the fences and the zombie elephant seals turning the penguin rookery at Prince Phillip Island into a slaughterhouse, the work of an animal conservationist is truly never done--and is often done at the end of a sniper rifle. How Green This Land... is a quick read, being a novella that clocks in at around 130-ish pages. I read it mostly while waiting to board a plane, and then in a quick sprawl-on-bed-and-get-covered-in-cats session once I got home. You shouldn't read this if you ...

The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door By  Karen Finneyfrock Published on February 21st 2013 Published by Viking Children's Source: Netgalley That’s the day the trouble started. The trouble that nearly ruined my life. The trouble that turned me Dark. The trouble that begs me for revenge. Celia Door enters her freshman year of high school with giant boots, dark eyeliner, and a thirst for revenge against Sandy Firestone, the girl who did something unspeakable to Celia last year. But then Celia meets Drake, the cool new kid from New York City who entrusts her with his deepest, darkest secret. When Celia’s quest for justice threatens her relationship with Drake, she’s forced to decide which is sweeter: revenge or friendship. This debut novel from Karen Finneyfrock establishes her as a bright, bold, razor-sharp new voice for teens. Here's another one to file away under the "if I were a teenager, I would have enjoyed this way more" label.  As an adult, I was t...

Thanks to Tor Books, we're pleased to present an interview with Susan Krinard, author of the upcoming new adult/urban fantasy novel Mist , which puts a modern twist on Norse mythology.  I am excited to read this one, and I hope you are too!  Check out Susan's answers to our questions, and then enter a giveaway to win a copy for yourself! Mist By  Susan Krinard Published on July 16th 2013 Published by Tor Books Purchase:   Indiebound ,  Amazon ,  Barnes & Noble ,  BooksAMillion ,  Powells ,  Walmart ,  Overstock Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie Mist one of the only survivors. Or so she thought. When a snowy winter descends upon modern-day San Francisco in June, Mist’s quiet existence starts to feel all too familiar. In quick succession, Mist is attacked by...

Sophia: Within By Jordana Lizama Published on Feb 17th, 2013 Published by: self-published Source: Author Only time will tell if Sophia, Alec and the world are ready to accept the mission that has been passed down for many generations. This is more than a story of reincarnation. This is a story that never ended following the reign of the Greek gods. What has been hidden for thousands of years is about to surface in a small New England town. The impact on this rural village is ageless, but only the chosen time travelers know what is happening, the reason it is happening and how to control the outcome. The Men of Ages have walked the Earth unnoticed since the time of Greek mythology and have kept their ancient war alive by transporting the lead warrior in a most unusual time machine. There is only one way to stop the cataclysmic demise of the human race and Sophia is the answer. But, Sophia is a teenage girl faced with many human and nonhuman desires that create a ...

Thanks to author Gregory Mahan, we're pleased to offer an excerpt from his YA fantasy novel A Touch of Magic , as well as an international giveaway for an audiobook version of the story! Keep reading for more! A Touch of Magic By  Gregory L. Mahan Published on December 1st 2011 Published by: self-published What's a young mage to do in a land where magic is illegal, and the penalty is death? At the age of fourteen, Randall Miller is surprised to learn that he has the talent--for magic! Tricked into apprenticeship by a powerful Mage, Randall is forced to leave everything he knows behind. When his mentor is killed by Aiden, head of the secret police, he flees for his life, stumbling from one misadventure into another. Teaming up with a trio of greedy traders and a capricious imp along the way, Randall must learn to master his budding power, or die at the hands of the Rooks! Excerpt!     Power welled up within him in a painful pulse behind his forehead...

Extremities: Stories of Death, Murder, and Revenge By  David Lubar Published on July 23rd 2013 Published by Tor Teen Source: Netgalley Master of the macabre David Lubar turns his attention to dark and twisted tales for teens with Extremities: Stories of Death, Murder, and Revenge A group of high school girls takes revenge on their sadistic gym teacher in the most fitting way possible. Two stowaways find themselves on a ship for the dead. An ancient predator stalks the wrong victim. Here are thirteen tales of death, murder, and revenge from the fertile and febrile imagination of master storyteller David Lubar—his first story collection for the teen audience. This book was okay.  Not great, not terrible.  It was a very quick read -- I finished it in maybe a couple of brief commutes around town and one lounging-on-couch-eating-pizza session.  All of the stories are incredibly short, with some clocking in at just a few pages long, so it is easy to just dev...

Loteria: A Novel By  Mario Alberto Zambrano Published on July 2nd 2013 Published by Harper Source: ARC from publisher A young girl tells the story of her family's tragic demise using a deck of cards of the eponymous Mexican game in this spellbinding debut novel that marks the arrival of a powerhouse new talent. With her older sister Estrella in the ICU and her father in jail, eleven-year-old Luz Castillo has been taken into the custody of the state. Alone in her room, the young girl retreats behind a wall of silence, writing in her journal and shuffling through a deck of Lotería cards-a Mexican version of bingo featuring bright, colorful images. Neither the social worker assigned to her case nor her Aunt Tencha, who desperately pleads for her niece's release, can cajole Luz to speak. The young girl's only confidant is her journal. Within its pages, Luz addresses an invisible higher power, sharing her secrets. Using the Lotería cards as her muse, Luz picks on...