Blog Tour: Empire Of Dust by Eleanor Herman + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the Empire Of Dust tour for Eleanor Herman. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

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Empire Of Dust
Author: Eleanor Herman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: June 28 2016
Review Source: Harlequin Teen

In Macedon, war rises like smoke, forbidden romance blooms and ancient magic tempered with rage threatens to turn an empire to dust

After winning his first battle, Prince Alexander fights to become the ruler his kingdom demands—but the line between leader and tyrant blurs with each new threat.

Meanwhile, Hephaestion, cast aside by Alexander for killing the wrong man, must conceal the devastating secret of a divine prophecy from Katerina even as the two of them are thrust together on a dangerous mission to Egypt.

The warrior, Jacob, determined to forget his first love, vows to eradicate the ancient Blood Magics and believes that royal prisoner Cynane holds the key to Macedon's undoing.

And in chains, the Persian princess Zofia still longs to find the Spirit Eaters, but first must grapple with the secrets of her handsome—and deadly—captor.

New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman entwines the real scandals of history with epic fantasy to reimagine the world's most brilliant ruler, Alexander the Great, in the second book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Legacy of Kings. Empire of Dust. Alexander wants to prove that he is fit to be king. Heph wants to prove that he is still Alex's right hand man. Kat wants to kill the queen. Zofia isn't sure what to believe or if she can even trust her feelings anymore.

It's been a year long wait for this sequel - and in the book it picks up a little bit after where the last one ended. Jumping back into this world was so easy, and such an enjoyable ride for myself. I couldn't stop flipping the pages, I couldn't stop getting deeper and deeper into this world.

All the relationships that you will start rooting for. I am still a firm believer that Heph and Kat were meant to be together. Empire of Dust almost forces them to get together - in a good way - but they're to proud to admit their feelings for one another....well....one of them is.
Zo's relationship though. This concrete relationship that Legacy Of Kings set up for her, and made us root for, gets uprooted and leaves you wondering what just happened. Yet you're still secretly cheering for it. Even with the given evidence that she really just needs to move on.

The action and adventure that Empire Of Dust takes you on, it made me want to join Alexander's men on the battlefield. And Alex, you can't help but feel bad for him. You feel that he needs someone to be there for him. And then - surprisingly - a character comes to his aid....just not in the way anyone would have expected. In all seriousness I'm okay with this though. I don't want to give anything away, but I really liked this little twist.

The twists that liter this book will have you gripping the book in your hand, gasping, dropping your book and staring into nothingness as you comprehend what just happened. The first half of the book everything goes basically how you assume it's going to go. And then there's some bits and pieces towards the end that leave you speechless and sitting there going, but wait. The character's stories were so intricately woven into one another while being so spread apart. And that I loved. You'd find out a bit about Kat's path while you were reading Cyn's path, and vice versa. And that's when the twists come, that's when you get the curve ball before the character themselves even knows what's hit them.

And for that, I loved the book. And I cannot wait for the next one.

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Before the Game of Thrones craze swept the nation, Eleanor Herman was hard at work entertaining readers with her extensive research on courtly intrigue and romance. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings, as well as three other works of nonfiction: Sex with the Queen, Mistress of the Vatican, and King Peggy. Obsessed by all things royal and historical, she lives in McLean, Virginia with her husband and four extremely dignified cats. Legacy of Kings is her first novel.

Giveaway Details:

 2 winners will receive a paperback of LEGACY OF KINGS & a hardcover of EMPIRE OF DUST, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Week Two:
6/27/2016- Lisa Loves Literature- Review
6/28/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Guest Post
6/29/2016- Mundie Moms- Review
6/30/2016- Once Upon A Twilight- Review
7/1/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview

Book Review: The Event by Colleen Young

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The Event
The Taking Flight Trilogy #3
Author: Colleen Young
Reading Level: New Adult
Genres: Coming of Age | Romance
Release Date: June 24th 2016
Review Source: Author

Book Two of the Taking Flight trilogy came to a startling close and Book Three opens directly after “The Event,” which will cause all three main characters to examine and struggle with everything that’s happened over the last 18 months of their lives.

Weaving between the three points of view of Cory, Cole, and Samson, this installment of the series follows along as they grapple with new challenges like panic attacks, the meaning of family, religious faith (or lack thereof), and even a surprise wedding. The Event ultimately explores the fragile makeup of the human condition, the ties that bind us together, and how we must learn to live with the choices we make.

The Event is book three in the Taking Flight Series by Colleen Young. Book two in this series left us off with a huge cliffhanger, so this book finally leads us to the “big event” that has been alluded to throughout this series. This book might be a little hard for me to describe without giving too much away, and I don’t want to do that. So I am going to do my best to be as vague as possible while at the same time really try to sell you this book and series as a whole since I absolutely loved it from start to finish. As I mentioned in my review for book two, Cory (the lead female character of the series) went completely out of character for herself and made some really questionable choices. She and Samson (her best friend and guy who we have been routing for her to get together with) finally do get together, but her ex-boyfriend from book one, Cole, has never been too far outside of the picture. He was determined to get Cory back, fight for her even though she is with Samson now, and then in a moment of weakness while Cory and Samson are fighting, she gives in and cheats on Samson with Cole. Now, if I were to look at that one isolated incident as a one time mistake that was made during a vulnerable time when they were fighting, I could understand it a little. I don’t think it is right, I still am mad at Cory for doing that to Samson, but I could have let it go. The fact that even though Cory and Cole don’t physically cheat again, they are still overly affectionate and emotionally inappropriate with each other secretly behind Samson’s back. That really had me turning against Cory, whom I really loved prior to all that.

But all of that recaps book two. Like I mentioned earlier book two ends and book three starts with Samson finally finding out what Cory did with Cole, and let’s just say that the when and where he finds out that type of emotional information is not good. If you can gather that this book revolves around these characters going to college to become pilots, finding out really bad and emotional information about the woman you love while involving the topic of being pilots in training…well you can do the math. I guess this point of the story was where I became really conflicted. I had been routing for Cory and Samson to be together from day one, so when they finally did so in book two I was happy, but then when all was revealed to Samson I was hurt and sad for him. I didn’t want the tragic details of “the event” to cloud his judgment and have him forget all of what Cory did to him, but then again at the same time I still wanted them to have their happily ever after with each other. So let’s just say this third book starts out with a big cluster of mess.

Then there is Cole. Ugh Cole! Let me start by saying that I really liked Cole in book one. It is the first time I have read a book where there was a love triangle that I wasn’t necessarily pulling for one guy over the other. But once Cory and Cole broke up and she and Samson got together it just felt right and felt the way that it was supposed to. Cole really started grating on my nerves when he continued to pursue Cory relentlessly throughout book two and three. I completely blame Cory for the cheating, but Cole was all too willing to get into the middle of those two and try and screw it up for his own selfish reasons. Even in this book after the horrific event, Cole wedges himself into Cory’s family even further as someone for Cory to lean on even when she is at a really vulnerable point.

So did Samson just forget about all the indiscretions that he learned about Cory and Cole? No, and this book is a journey for all three characters to find truth, progress, healing, and to ultimately figure out what they really want and from who they want it with. They all need to fall to the very bottom before they can all begin to build themselves back up. Where the chips may fall when they get to the finish line is part of the wonderfully written suspense. I give this book four stars. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is just because book two happened to be my favorite in the series, but book three is still really good and I highly recommend this series to readers. As I have mentioned in previous reviews, Colleen Young has such a great way of writing that is smart, realistic, and she is able to give you the drama without dumbing things down for the readers. I have found that happens too much in YA books, but thankfully this author has found the knack to write a YA love story that is smart, funny and realistic. My only complaint is that this is the last book of the series. Let’s hope she continues it in some way. But if not, I definitely have this author on alert for any new series that she puts out there.SaveSave

#Houston Grab Passes to #WeinerDogMovie @ Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park 7/18

Wiener Dog 
Director: Todd Solondz
Starring: Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito, Zosia Mamet, Julie Delpy & Ellen Burstyn
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language and some disturbing content
Official Socials: Site | Facebook

Welcome to the doghouse: the latest hilariously biting comedy from Todd Solondz is a twisted Lassie for misanthropes. It follows the wayward adventures of a dachshund who passes from oddball owner to oddball owner—including the world’s worst mom, a beleaguered screenwriter, and the grownup incarnation of Welcome to the Dollhouse’s Dawn Wiener—whose radically dysfunctional lives are all impacted by the pooch. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Greta Gerwig, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, Ellen Burstyn, and Zosia Mamet, Wiener-Dog is a tragically funny, wondrously warped look at the absurdity of life (and death) from one of contemporary cinema’s most fearless and unique voices. Co-presented with Amazon Studios.

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Click the flyer to print your movie passes.

LOCATION:
Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park

114 Vintage Park Blvd

Houston, TX  77070

TIME AND DATE:
July 18, 2016
Monday @7:00pm
(Have your passes ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

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Trailer Thursday: The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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The Problem with Forever

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Published: May 17th 2016 

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory "Mouse" Dodge, it's a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone--spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she's imagined, there's one she never dreamed of--that she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out--for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

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Book Review: Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry

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Chasing Impossible
Pushing the Limits #5
Author: Katie McGarry
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: July 1st 2016
Review Source: Bought

Tough and independent, 17-year-old Abby lets very few people into her inner circle. It’s common knowledge in her Kentucky town that she deals drugs, but not even her closest friends know why. But when a deal goes south and Abby’s suddenly in danger, she finds herself reluctantly forced to lean on daredevil Logan—a boy whose restless spirit matches her own.

Logan has his own reasons for wanting to keep Abby at arms’ length. But he never expected to find in her the one person who might help him face the demons he’s tried so hard to run from.

Together, Abby and Logan will have to make a decision: let their current circumstances weigh them down forever…or fight for the future they both thought was impossible.

Even though I've had Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry on my iBooks for over a year now I just couldn't bring myself to read it. You might be wondering be saying “Why?!?! It's an amazing story so why hasn't Andy read it yet?!” Well, I always like to space out my Katie books because I get so emotionally attached to her characters that it’s sometimes so hard to let them go. Sometimes the wait in-between each book is tortures that I need something to hold me over until the next. That is where Chasing Impossible comes into play. 

Abby has always been one of the key secondary characters that has always stood out to me. I would absolutely hound Katie on Twitter over when we would finally be getting Abby’s story. Abby was always so secretive in all the things she did. She loved her friends with such fierceness, but would hide behind a mask. Logan, *swooooooooon*, he was hiding his own secrets, but you would’ve never guessed by the way he acts. Taking risk and living life to the fullest is what you think when someone mentions Logan. I'm honestly so emotionally drained after finishing Chasing Impossible. The more I read Abby and Logan's story the more I couldn't stop crying. The issues they were both facing felt so raw and real. I instantly felt so drawn to them. 

Katie is honestly one of my favorite authors. I have yet to read one of her books and not be instantly attached to her characters. The way she writes makes you feel like you are going through those tough choices with them, you are standing right beside them when something terrifies them and most of all you hurt when they hurt.Chasing Impossible has definitely been my favorite 2016 read so far. I'm so mad at myself for not reading it earlier. Don't make my same mistake, buy Chasing Impossible and dive into Abby and Logan's incredible story.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Torch Against the Night & Under the Lights

Waiting on Wednesday

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

A Torch Against the Night

An Ember in the Ashes #2

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Release Date: August 30th 2016

Publisher: Razorbill

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

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Under the Lights

The Field Party #2

Author: Abbi Glines

Release Date: August 23rd 2016

Publisher: Simon Pulse

In the follow-up to Abbi Glines’s #1 New York Times bestseller Until Friday Night—which bestselling author Kami Garcia called “tender, honest, and achingly real”—three teens from a small southern town are stuck in a dramatic love triangle.

Willa can’t erase the bad decisions of her past that led her down the path she’s on now. But she can fight for forgiveness from her family. And she can protect herself by refusing to let anyone else get close to her.

High school quarterback and town golden boy Brady used to be the best of friends with Willa—she even had a crush on him when they were kids. But that’s all changed now: her life choices have made her a different person from the girl he used to know.

Gunner used to be friends with Willa and Brady, too. He too is larger than life and a high school football star—not to mention that his family basically owns the town of Lawton. He loves his life, and doesn’t care about anyone except himself. But Willa is the exception—and he understands the girl she’s become in a way no one else can.

As secrets come to light and hearts are broken, these former childhood friends must face the truth about growing up and falling in love…even if it means losing each other forever.

Book Review: Paper Princess by Erin Watt

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Paper Princess
The Royals #1
Author: Erin Watt
Reading Level: Young Adult | New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: April 3rd 2016
Review Source: Purchased

From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

This book!!!!!!! I loved it so much! I don't normally do "cliffies" but OMG this one made me absolutely CRAVE the next book immediately.

To start Ella Harper is freaking awesome! I love her. She has gone through so many struggles in her young life and doesn't let it get her down. She was raised by a single mother in very poor conditions. They hopped around from place to place just trying to survive. Her mother worked several jobs including stripping to support them. When her mother got sick, Ella started stripping to cover their bills and medical costs. She continued stripping to support herself when her mother passed away. Which is how Callum Royal found her.

The Royals at first glance are complete jerks with egos the size of Texas. They also happen to be drop dead gorgeous!! Callum ends up becoming Ella's guardian and is very welcoming but his five sons are not as hospitable.

Reed has made it to my top book boyfriend list. Actually, all the Royal boys do. They become very protective of Ella and make you want to date all of them simultaneously. Gideon, the oldest seems very mysterious and like he's hiding things. Reed, next in line is the leader of the pack, especially since Gideon is off at college. He also has a mysterious, brooding quality. Easton is so love able! He is fun and sexy! He struggles with his demons the most. The twins, Sawyer and Sebastian, are always up to something and are the youngest of the Royals. All together they make one gorgeous, complicated bunch.

I give this story 5 stars because it kept me wanting every single word, I could not put the book down. It was written so well! I love the character details for each person, I love how the story flowed and I love the dialogue. I cannot wait to dive into book two to find out what happens!

Don't miss @AbbiGlines at @BooksandBooks on 6/29!

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Do we have some exciting news for you today. The incredible team over at Atria Books are sending the amazing Abbi Glines to our favorite indie bookstore! If you're in South Florida on June 29th at 8PM I highly suggest stopping by the Books & Books Coral Gables location. If you haven't done so already make sure to RSVP, it's sure to be a great event. We hope to see you there!

If you can't make it to the event Books & Books takes orders and ships anywhere in the US for free! You can find more information about this at www.booksandbooks.com. 

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Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

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Up in Flames
Rosemary Beach #13
Author: Abbi Glines
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: June 28th 2016
Review Source: Atria Books

The villain of Rosemary Beach finally gets her own happy ending in the long-awaited final novel of the #1 New York Times bestselling new adult romance series by Abbi Glines.

The blockbuster #1 New York Times bestselling Rosemary Beach series ends with a bang when the troubled character readers love to hate gets her very own happily ever after in this eagerly anticipated and overwhelmingly requested story. Known for causing problems for everyone in Rosemary Beach, Nan has been growing up lately, and she’s finally taking center stage—and finding love with the man she least expected.