Blog Tour: Torn Away by Jennifer Brown (Giveaway)

 

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Torn Away by Jennifer Brown 

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Pagecount: 288

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Buy It: Amazon 

Description from Goodreads: 

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

Two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award (2005 & 2006), Jennifer's weekly humor column appeared in The Kansas City Star for over four years, until she gave it up to be a full-time young adult novelist. 

Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.

Author Links: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook  

 

Jennifer's publisher is sponsoring a fabulous giveaway for a copy of Torn Away! Before I give y'all the Rafflecopter, though, just a few details:

- The giveaway is US ONLY.

- My giveaway policy applies.

- Enter through the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

What I Got #28 Librarians? Are the BEST

What I Got is a weekly meme hosted by Monica over at Cover Analysis :)

 

For Review:

    

    

 

Whoa. That's a lot, right? And I don't think that's even all of them. I'm going to be scrolling through my Kindle later and notice at least, like, three that I forgot to list. Blah.

 

Copper Girl by Jennifer Allis Provost

This is one of the books releassing from Spence City, the SHP imprint. It sounds like a super cool book, and goodness knows I love Spencer Hill Press.

 

First Light by Samantha Summers

This one's for a blog tour! I'm pretty sure she's dating a guy who murdered somebody? Or something? Either way, I'm so excited to get to this book. When I finally got it in the mail (all the way from AUSTRALIA!), I had to do a happy-dance. I remember this book looking great when I signed up for the tour. So yay!

 

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Kelly Simmon is a wonderful person and sent me an ecopy of this for review, and I am so happy about it! Royalty and romance. I AM SOLD. Also (I almost forgot this because apparently I am a RUDE, RUDE person) THANK YOU, KELLY! You're always so niiiice to me. I appreciate it more than I can say. <3

 

A Moment by Marie Hall

It's new adult and it seems romantic and that cover just...it just got me. So when I saw it on NetGalley... And I want to read it so bad right now. SO BAD. But I can't yet. Gah! Just...read the description on Goodreads. The book covers are all linked. Read it and then come back and tell me that book doesn't look fantastic.

 

**SPOILER ALERT** You won't be able to.

 

The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles

Oh, Entangled. I don't know what I'd do without them. I saw this on NetGalley, and it just seems like my kind of book. Heck, just look at the cover. Ahhhhhhh.

 

Gone With the Wolf by Kritin Miller

The title of this one...ha! I love it. And then it's about a guy and love and stuff, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's about a wolf...? I read the synopsis when I requested on NetGalley, but it is almost 3 AM, so I'm kind of blanking. Either way, we all know that if it's romantic, more often than not, I want to read it. Then add in the fact that this is another one from Entangled...Yeah.

 

Tragic by J.A. Huss

A New Adult Contemporary Romance. Boom, I'm there. This one is also for a blog tour, by the way.

 

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

I...have not read anything by Daisy Whitney before. I've heard about her books, but...yeah, no. But I've actually had my eye on this one for a while. So yay to Little, Brown for being awesome and letting me get this off NetGalley! Also, that cover? I LOVE IT.

 

From Library:

  

 

Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler

I actually read this back in middle school. But then I was doing my library aide thing on Friday and for some reason, this book was in my mind. So I grabbed it and checked it out and now...I'm not sure. Maybe I'll re-read it. Maybe I'll just look at a couple parts. Either way, this book? Is really good. It was kind of confusing, though. But I think I actually get it. Which makes me all kinds of happy, because I usually don't GET confusing books, I usually need people to explain them to me. So I don't think this book is for everybody, but I think it's a good one for people who have enough patience to deal with it...if that makes any sense?

 

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

I was watching a bunch of Kiera Cass' videos on Youtube (for no good reason at all) and cam across one with her Top 5 Jacked Up Books. I watched it, and this book was in it, and then I HAD to check it out. I like Elizabeth Scott's books. I can only remember not liking one--As I Wake (which I reviewed), because it...ha! It confused me. But other than that, I'm a fan of her books. So I grabbed this from the library on Friday as well. And, um...yeah. It's jacked up.

 

Gifted!

 

Y'all already know that I've read The Collector. I have an ecopy (two, actaully!) and love it--and its author--to death and beyond. But I did not have an actual, physical PRINT copy....until now!

 

I. Am. So. Freaking. NDSFIGNQNQE. About. This!

 

My school librarian gave it to me. Mhm. Yeah. I am so serious right now. Is she the best or WHAT?!?! I'd told her about it (of course, what kind of super fan would I be if every person I came into contact with didn't know about this book? And all my friends? They have to put up with me talking about Dante Walker like he's an actual person. *cough*Perez*cough*)...so, where was I...I'd told her about it, and she got me a copy. I do not know why. I do not know when. I just walked in to do my library aide thing on Wednesday and she gave it to me and I flailed accordingly. And now it is sitting on my shelf--my FAVORITES shelf, to be exact--all nice and pretty.

 

Goodness, I love it. So much. I'm pretty sure my school librarian will never see this, but if by some weird chance she does--THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU. Goodness gracious, thank you.

 

So I want to babble about Dante and how AWESOME he is and how I can now feel even more like V's OFFICIAL super fan, but, as I've said, it's past 3 AM and I have other things to do, believe it or not. And this song...NO. I WON'T BABBLE.

 

That is all I got this week.

 

(The song is She's Got Something by Greg Holden, if you want to look it up)

 

So, kind people, tell me:

 

What did you get this week?

Have you read anything I got?

Which books?!?!

Have you heard that song, if you looked it up? I am kind of addicted to it at present.

How was your week? Crazy, huh? I live in Texas. I getcha, people. I getcha.

Did you notice that there are two copies of Opal on that shelf?

I don't know why I just mentioned that. It means LITERALLY nothing.

 

Okay, I'll leave it there. Answer at least one of those in the comments? Or all of them if you want. Or none. Be random. Make me laugh. It's up to you.

 

Have a great Sunday, y'all!

 

♥Jessica(:

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor♥

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 528 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Source: Bought!!

Description from Goodreads:
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

This is one of those reviews where I know exactly what I want to tell you. I'm just not sure how to say it. *sigh*

Let's start with Laini's writing. It is still completely beautiful and descriptive and engaging. It still dragged me in and held me captive for unknown amounts of time until I (reluctantly) had to put the book down for a little while for whatever reason.

Next, the emotions. Guys, this book is so depressing. I mean, come on, it's a book about a WAR for goodness' sake. What would we expect? It's amazing how captivating this book was despite the fact that I was dreading what might come next a lot of the time. There were just...just so many feels. You know?



I cried for this book, you know. I also laughed. Hysterically, actually. It was more of a relieved thing from time to time. Oh, and when Zuze & Mik were around. Those two are adorable.

Character Rundown:
The characters! SO. MANY. Great ones this time around.

Karou: I may not be a huge Karou fan, but I respect this girl completely. She has a backbone, though it does take her a bit of time to, you know, FIND it. Also? Her blue hair is so badass.

Akiva: Akiva was always MY BOY. And he still is. Kind of. He just has to share me with some other characters I'll talk about later... Akiva is still Akiva. That was nice. It was great to see Akiva still be himself while everything else was a mess. He thinks and cares about Karou first and foremost. However, he does not let this consume him. He does keep going and doing whatever good he can and for that, Akiva will always have a place in my heart.

Ziri: Who IS Ziri, you ask? Why, Ziri is my freaking boy. He is just my EVERYTHING in this book. I worried for him the most, and he was the absolute kindest. Out of everyone, I think he had the purest intentions in everything he did. Just thinking about him now...GAH! I need the next book so I can see what'll happen with him!

Zuzana & Mik: I'm throwing them together because they are ALWAYS together. They are also super cute. These two bring the laughter into the story. Lighten it up a bit. And though their chapters were usually thrown in at parts where I was FLIPPING OUT, I always appreciated seeing them. I hope they get their happy ending when this is all over. Goodness, they deserve it.

Rath & Hazael: I was so worried for Rath! He's just a boy. He's just a boy, and all he wants to do is fight with the rebels and help them keep their kind safe. I just...this boy gets to me. And HAZAEL! I will love him forever for letting the "birds" get away. I cried over him, too. These two boys...they're some of the others that make Akiva have to share.

There are other characters, too, of course, but those are the biggies. I would consider Liraz important, too, but I chose to gush over Hazael instead. I'm coming to like Liraz a whole lot more now, though. She does have feelings. Good to see this.

DAYS OF BLOOD & STARLIGHT was one of those books that I just read and read and read, and then at the end, it hit me. This book was amazing. It was beautiful. And wonderful. And PHENOMINAL. While completely different from DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE, it's just as striking.

Whereas DAUGHTER was a tragic love story that left me a mess at the end, DAYS was a heartstopping story of the war that followed the ending of DAUGHTER. Which also left me a mess at the end...

The ending. What would life be without cliffhangers? Waiting for the next book just may kill me. I repeat: I was a mess.

Oh, and I'm Team Akiva. I positively ADORE Ziri, but it's obvious who Karou's going to end up with. I don't know if Laini meant for a love triangle, but still. I said it here. UNLESS something horrible happens to Akiva. Which hello, this is a WAR is possible. Sadly.

Overall, If you're one of those people who tend to stall on all sequels that aren't written by Jennifer L. Armentrout, you should pick this one up. It'll tear you apart then put you back together again more than once and completely blow you away. Beautiful, beautiful story.

♥Jessica(: