Grab Your Pole Series by Jenn Cooksey Blog Tour

Hello my beautiful bloggers, I'm kind of back? So in the time I've been gone I've moved and started back at public school. Due to this I haven't had much time for blogging but as you all know I'm head over heels in love with Jenn Cooksey and her writing. The Grab Your Pole series is probably the most enjoyable YA series I have ever read. I've already read the three that are currently out and patiently (not) waiting for the fourth book so in the mean time I figured I could help you guys get to know one of the characters a little more, our beloved Camie! I hope you all enjoy this top ten post.

Hi there, my name is Camie and I’m one of the main characters in the Grab Your Pole series written by Jenn Cooksey. She and I would like to thank you all for playing along today, and also, I wanted to let you know that I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m excited but kinda anxious at the same time... You know how it is; putting yourself out there even though you’re petrified that you’ll screw up and people will think you’re an idiot or something.

Anyhow, a while back before the first book in the GYP series was published, Jenn asked me to write a list of my top 10 favorite things about going to school, and I don’t know about most people—you know, because I’m not most people—but the idea of starting school scared the crap out of me. See, I was homeschooled my whole life until my sister, Jillian, and I found out that life and our education as we know it would soon be over because she and I were going into public school—different public schools from each other mind you—and while that’s huge on its own, we had also just moved back to San Diego so we had like NO friends. Anyway, the following is what I came up with!

Ummm.. (That’s me trying to think of just ONE thing I might like about “going” to school...) Yeah, so top 10 favorites is out. But, I was told I have to do a top 10 list, so what I decided to do was give you my top 10 reasons for NOT wanting to go to school. I mean come on, you guys feel me here, right?

Camie Ramsey’s top 10 reasons for NOT wanting to go to school (er...public school)

1) Not knowing anyone. I mean don’t know a single living soul out of the thousands that go to my new school. And it’s not that I care about being popular or anything, however, I’ve never really had to “make” friends before and I don’t really know how. But, if I don’t make some friends, I think eating lunch alone for the next three years might have long-term effects on my sanity. Plus, I’m afraid people might look at me weird when I start having conversations with myself out loud.

2) Waking up before God. Enough said.

3) Not being able to do school in my pajamas. I really don’t think this one needs any explanation either.

4) Homework. Umm... Forgive me if I’m wrong, but if you “go” to school, shouldn’t the work be done there? I mean I sort of thought that was point.

5) Standardized tests. Just ugh. I don’t test well to begin with, but in my opinion; giving kids a standardized test that does absolutely nothing to help them learn how to succeed in life is stupid.

6) Getting lost on campus. You know, I never had a problem finding my way at my old school—‘cause you know, my bedroom wasn’t all that far from the kitchen or the family room—but seriously, you should see the size of the school I’ll be going to. I think it might even cross a time zone or two...

7) Being judged. Because you just know if I show up sporting a pair of jeans or something that went out of style last year, someone’s bound to call the fashion police.

8) Forgetting my locker combination. I can just picture it, you know? I have like 7 minutes to get to and from class and even without getting lost, it’ll probably take me 11 minutes just to get into the metal box imprisoning my history book—like that stuff needs to be locked up tight in the first place. I mean I seriously doubt a stolen biology book would get you much on the black market.

9) Throwing my back out from lugging this ludicrously heavy backpack around. I mean isn’t that what the stupid lockers are for? You know, putting our books and stuff in them so we don’t have to carry them all the time? I don’t get it...

10) Boys. I know, I’m like super excited that there’ll be so many of them around me every day, but that’s kind of the problem too. I um...don’t really have any “experience” with boys, if you get my meaning. And even the thought of gaining some of that kind of wisdom makes me break out in a nervous sweat, which I imagine being all sweaty and sick looking will probably deter any decently cute guy from tutoring me in any way.

So there you have it, my reasons for not wanting to go to school! Oh and just so you know, those reasons aren’t in any particular order—mainly because I have no idea if I was supposed to put them in order of least to greatest or whatever. Thanks again for stopping by and hanging out with me for a bit today!

I hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did. Like I said I'm patiently waiting for the next book in the GYP series and I'm so extremely excited to be able to just spend a minute of my time with someone from the GYP gang! It's a perk having Camie visit my blog because I love her so much and I can honestly relate to many of these reasons for not wanting to go from homeschooling to public school because they were all legitimate fears of mine. My review for Shark Bait (GYP #1) and The Other Fish in the Sea (#2) can be found by clicking the names! Although I haven't written a review for Shark Out of Water I can tell you it made me feel the feels and cry the tears people. This series is a must read no matter your age or book preference, it's that amazing.

Buy Shark Bait | Buy The Other Fish in the Sea | Buy Shark Out of Water

Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, however she's no
longer a resident of heaven on earth, but instead she currently resides in
the 7th Ring of Hell with her husband, their three daughters, and a goodly
number of pets. Aside from her husband, one cat, and three out of five fish,
everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband
will not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus
will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five.
Jenn is also of the belief that Bacon should be capitalized and that just being
yourself is the best way to go. That is, unless you can be Batman. Always be
Batman.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

display/4a5012272/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout Cover Reveal

Title: Origin
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Expected publication date: August 27th, 2013 by Entangled Teen
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.
All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?
Together, they can face anything.


But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

So what do you guys think? I can definitely say I was thoroughly shocked when I got to see it in the email. It's so different from the rest of the book covers. On one hand I absolutely love it. I mean come on, seeing Daemon shirtless and sexy is a treat and it's cool how he seems to be coming out of a kick ass battle but at the same time I've always loved how dark, sexy, and mysterious Katy and Daemon looked together on the past covers. So I love it but I'm also a little iffy about the change, not that I like change in general. 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout 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. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Twitter | Facebook | Website 

Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki Book Blog Tour

Today I want to welcome all of you to my stop on the Branded tour. Both Abi and Missy are really sweet and I hope you guys enjoy. 

Title: Branded
Author: Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
Published: June 28th, 2013
Book rating: 3 stars
Cover rating: 4 stars
Format: eARC, 252 pages
Source: Lady Amber and Authors 
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Awhile back I was contacted by two lovely ladies and asked if I wanted to read the first chapter of their new book. I gladly accepted their offer and was immediately sucked into the story, after finishing the chapter they gave me I couldn't wait to read the whole thing.  When I received Branded I dove in, excited to see what this book had in store for me. After rereading and loving the first chapter, just as much as I did the first time I read it, I found I was sadly disappointed after that. 

I have seen so many stellar reviews for this book so I'm not sure if it's just me or what but this just wasn't for me. It starts off with Lexi being captured by guards, branded for her sin (lust), and taken to The Hole which is a sort of prison town where all sinners go. You're pretty much thrown in there and have to fend for yourself. If you're lucky you're given a job, it's rare to find food, and the living is less than okay. I liked Lexi at first, I was intrigued by her. I wanted to know why she was accused of lust and who she was. Finding out more about her throughout the book was fun, her background was interesting but I didn't really connect with her so she was just okay for me in the end. From the beginning Lexi has a body guard to protect her from some unknown danger, this is when we meet Cole. I can't deny that I was excited to have a hot hunk of man to admire throughout this book but yet again I didn't even connect with him nor did I find him all that attractive. He was made out to be hot but I just didn't find him totally swoon worthy. Lexi and Cole's relationship was so underdeveloped for me. I do not like relationships that have that instant love vibe and that's what I got from theirs. Yes, Cole did save Lexi and I can see how that could make you appreciate someone and be thankful but I would have liked to see more than that. I was also disappointed with the fact that I figured almost everything out by myself the last half of the book, I wish the suspension and 'on edge' feeling could have lasted throughout the entire thing.

The only reason I gave this book three stars instead of two is because I like the actual idea and world that Abi and Missy tried to create. I think a lot of people are truly judgmental when it comes to the sins of others. The sins Branded focuses on can be really deadly and I know that everyone has different opinions and outlooks on these things. A great deal of those people disagree or look down on certain sins that were made out to be bad in this book and that's realistic. I also really liked that the book had a lot of action. 

Overall Branded was just an okay read for me, like I said a lot of people loved it so don't rule it completely, it could become a favorite for you. 

Abi Ketner Is a registered nurse with a passion for novels, the beaches of St. John, and
her Philadelphia Phillies. A talented singer, Abi loves to go running and spend lots of
time with her family. She currently resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband,
triplet daughters and two very spoiled dogs. Melissa Kalicicki received her bachelor’s degree from Millersville University in 2003. She married, had two boys and currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Aside from reading and writing, her interests include running and mixed martial arts. She also remains an avid Cleveland sports fan. Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Twitter |  Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Book Trailer

This Time Around by Ellie Grace Sneak Peek

Title: This Time Around
Author: Ellie Grace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Expected publication: July 15th, 2013
Organized by: AToMR Tours
Links: Goodreads

Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart. It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she's always planned on. Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew. If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again. They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?

Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.

My Favorite Excerpt

Nora hopped into the back and started handing me the heavy boxes so I could bring it 

all into the house. When it was all unloaded she stood on the tailgate and held out her hand so I 

could help her to the ground. Instead of grabbing her hand, I wrapped my arms around her thighs 

to lift her, letting her body slide down mine until her feet touched the ground. I kept my hands on 

her hips and looked her right in the eye so she would know exactly what was coming.

“Jake – don’t,” she stammered, but didn’t pull away.

“I have to,” I told her, as I leaned forward and gently placed my lips on hers. I held them 

there for just a moment before pulling back to look at her, and my heart felt like it was beating 

out of my chest.

“I – I can’t do this, Jake.”

“Then don’t kiss me back.” 

I leaned in to kiss her again and tightened my arms around her. Cautiously I moved my 

lips against hers and brought my hand up to touch her face. I heard her moan softly against my 

lips and it was all the encouragement I needed. I pressed up against her and when I felt her lips 

part for me, I let my tongue find hers and tilted her head as I deepened the kiss. As my lips began 

moving more intensely, she wrapped her arms around my neck and crushed her body against 

mine. 

The need I felt for her turned me completely inside out. I hadn’t planned on kissing her 

today, but when I looked up at her standing on the tailgate, illuminated from the light of the 

setting sun, I knew I couldn’t wait. I had to know what it was that I was feeling, and if it was 

something real or if it was just remnants of the past clouding the present. Still, I wasn’t expecting 

this. Instead of curbing my appetite for her, it only intensified it. I’d never needed anything as 

much as I needed Nora.

When I finally pulled away, I brushed my thumb against her cheek and tucked a loose 

strand of hair behind her ear. “God, I missed you, Nora.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said breathlessly, “I still have to go back to New 

York.”

“We’ll see,” I said simply. 

Wandering by Heather Sutherlin Book Release Blast

Title: Wandering

Series: Wanderer Series Book #2
Author: Heather Sutherlin

Published: June 25th, 2013

When you’ve travelled between worlds, there’s nowhere left to go but home.

Rory has never been so cold in her life. But the biting wind only reminds her of another pain that grows more intense with each passing day. Each night Jaron’s beautiful voice sings in her dreams, and each day her footsteps draw her closer to his side. Danger and intrigue at every turn, no distance is too far when you’re returning for true love.

Rin has spent the last five years searching for Rory across two worlds. Now a series of visions have him convinced he’s growing closer to finding her. But when Rory slips through another portal, taking his visions with her, he finds himself back at square one. To find her now he’ll need the help of an old friend and a little otherworldly magic. This time he intends to bring The Wanderer home for good.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Heather Sutherlin lives in Arkansas with her husband and three children. She loves all things creative and enjoys the worlds she dreams up, longing to live the adventure alongside her characters. When she’s not at her writing desk, she is busy exploring and learning with her children or cooking big elaborate meals in the kitchen with her husband. You can see more of Heather at her website, HeatherSutherlin.com .

1999 – B.A. in Elementary Education from Harding University

2011 - 1st Place White County Creative Writers’ Conference First Chapter Contest

2012 – Debut novel, A Light in the Darkness, is released along with its sequel, To Light the Path.

2013 – Seen and Wandering, two books in a new YA fantasy series, will be released in the spring.

President - Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas

Featured Author – Arkansas Literary Festival

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Subject to Change by Alessandra Thomas Book Blog Tour and Giveaway

Title: Subject to Change
Author: Alessandra Thomas
Published: June 14th, 2013
Book rating: 4 stars
Cover rating: 3 stars
Format: eARC, 300 pages
Source: InkSlinger PR and Author

Joey made her dad a deathbed promise that she would become a doctor, and dedicate herself to fighting the very cancer that took his life. There’s just one problem -three years into her pre-med classes, she's struggling to stay on top of the curve, let alone prove she's dazzling enough to earn a spot in an Ivy League medical school. In a Hail Mary move, she throws a basic Business 101 class into her semester schedule, banking on a perfect score to boost her GPA.
That is, until she’s paired for a final project with Hawk, the bartending, motorbike-riding, gorgeously bedheaded loser who falls asleep in class and communicates in one-word sentences.
Hawk does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, which sets Joey on edge – in every possible way. As they get to know each other, her urge to scream at him is curbed only by her fantasies of tearing his clothes off. Soon those fantasies become reality, and Joey realizes Hawk makes her feel more fully herself than any of the rich boys her mother and sorority sisters approve of.
But the promise to her father hangs over her head, and the harder Joey tries to succeed in her chosen career, the faster everything falls into a hopeless tailspin of bad grades, broken promises and guilt. It doesn't help to have Hawk sitting like a devil on her shoulder, insisting she should be free to live however she wants to live - like he does.
The only thing Joey knows is that her neatly organized life is crushing her - and Hawk's bad attitude might be the only thing that can save her.

Alessandra's debut novel Picture Perfect is by far one of my all time favorite NA romance novels. It was so different and I was invested in that story from the second I picked it up. So you can understand why I'd be dying to get my hands on Subject to Change. StC felt different from PP and I liked that, I feel like Joey's insecurities and problems were on a different side of the scale than Cat's were in PP, just as serious, but different. Joey is trying to become a doctor and she's drowning in her school work, barely getting by. I think Alessandra created a character a lot of girls can relate to, just like she did with her first book. Everyone has the pressures of doing what your family expects of you and the fears of somehow screwing it up and letting them down. From the moment I started reading about Joey I knew that I just really wanted her to be happy and do what she needed, not what was expected of her. How do you change your major though when it's something that your Dad, who has passed away, wanted for you? I can't say I'd have the courage to do that, imagining myself in that position is really depressing and impossible. That's a lot of pressure and guilt. But is Joey really willing to give up her own happiness just to do what she thinks her Dad wanted? 

Hawk and Joey's relationship was confusing. It was a roller coaster ride. One minute the sexual tension is so high I could literally cut it with a butter knife and then the next minute they aren't interested and Joey's hates him because he's an infuriating dick face. At least an infuriating dick face that was swoon worthy. Joey has always done what's expected of her and played that perfect good girl role while Hawk has tattoos and works in a bar to get himself through college. He's almost always late and appears to not care about his life. Although Joey didn't want to admit it at first she was very judgmental towards Hawk and didn't really agree with all his choices but he was more than what met the eye. He didn't really judge her at first but she assumed from the beginning he was some dead beat guy. This infuriated me. How could she? Honestly. I know it's hard not to judge people sometimes but I always try to remind myself that you don't know what's going on in someone else's life so what right do you have. Thankfully Hawk called her out on this BS and when she finally actually gave him a chance and got to know him, she realized what a great guy he was and that he just had a complicated life. I knew though that the other shoe was going to drop at some point because it always does. The 'shoe' was no surprise to me, only because I over think things and saw what happened coming the instant she tried to fix the situation the first time. She obviously didn't and I was so irritated with her but at the same time I think it was best that they got all of it out on the table and sort of started over. 

Overall this book was really enjoyable, it didn't capture me as much as Picture Perfect did, but it captured me either way. I'm looking forward to reading anything that Alessandra writes because she just has a way of capturing your attention and making you stay up until wee hours of the morning finishing a book. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

GIVEAWAY FOR TOUR

Evan Elemental by Crystal Groszek Book Blast

Title: Evan Elemental

Author: Crystal Groszek

Series: Evan Elemental #1

Expected Publication: May 3, 2013

Genre: Paranormal Fiction/Romance

Seventeen-year-old Evan O’Fion has it all: excellent grades, shining extracurriculars, and a loving family that wants nothing but the best for her. The problem is, something is missing. For as long as she can remember, there’s been a hole inside of her that she can’t quite fill, not with drugs, or drinking, or mosh pits. It’s a hole too deep to fix and it’s slowly consuming her.
When a terrible tragedy rips away everything she’s known, Evan is sure she’s going to lose it. Then a mysterious package arrives and it changes everything. After a lifetime of feeling powerless, Evan is now the keeper of a power greater than she could have ever imagined and it scares the hell out of her. It also has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her parents and her past. On top of it all she has to face a new town, new home, new school, and a sexy dangerous guy…or two.
Dealing has never been her strong suit, but Evan is up for the challenge; especially when her life and her newfound power are on the line. How she’s going to handle it all and come out alive, she has no idea; but she’s stronger than ever and she’s not going down without a fight.

Goodreads | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Crystal Groszek is the author Evan Elemental, the first book in a new paranormal romance series. Crystal began thinking about and plotting Evan Elemental while attending Utica College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She currently lives in upstate New York with her fiancé, Patrick, and her lovably insane puppy, Lenni.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads