Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown

Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown

Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Series: Lies Beneath, Book 2
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Read my review of Lies Beneath HERE.

It's been thirty days, two hours, and seventeen minutes since Calder left Lily standing on the shores of Lake Superior. Not that she's counting. And when Calder does return, it's not quite the reunion Lily hoped for. Especially after she lets her father in on a huge secret: he, like Calder, is a merman. Obsessed with his new identity, Lily's dad monopolizes Calder's time as the two of them spend every day in the water, leaving Lily behind.

Then dead bodies start washing ashore. Calder blames his mermaid sisters, but Lily fears her father has embraced the merman's natural need to kill. As the body count grows, everyone is pointing fingers. Lily doesn't know what to believe—only that whoever's responsible is sure to strike again...

After reading Lies Beneath last year, this became one of the sequels I was waiting on desperately! I love Anne Greenwood Brown's writing. Her words have a certain way of capturing you into the story– with romance, with mermaids and with legends.
This was an interesting turn as now we get to hear what happens in Lily's perspective! I really loved Lily's character in the last book and was excited to finally get to know her more.

I felt this book was a little slower compared to the first one. I loved it– but it lacked in that fast-pacedness that I adored in Lies Beneath. And of course, the lack of Calder made it drag on a little bit more.
I enjoyed the reappearance of some of the characters from the previous book. Granted, a lot had changed since then, but I mean, for instance, Jack's character has had some major character development... the wrong way. He's COMPLETELY different now, and it's kind of a creepy paranoid-ness that's taken over his life. Calder is pretty sparse throughout this whole book, as I mentioned previously, and this was both a good and a bad thing. Good, because Lily's character really flourished in this book and now I'm really loving her character, but bad because I mean: it's CALDER. Enough said.

Oh my gosh– the ending guys! Freaking awesome. Seriously pumped up to read the next book because there's so much to be answered and the way Deep Betrayal leaves off is just like, WOW. Firstly, because there's a fabulous twist in here, and secondly, mind. blown. Yeah, that's right, seriously grab this book when you can! Here's a little snippet:

❝One small step. My toes dug into the rocky precipice, feeling its pockmarked surface. The shiny lacquer of my toenails reflected a bird overhead. We made eye contact–the bird and I– he with a questioning expression, raising a feathered eyebrow.
One small step. Tensing, I leaned forward.
One small step. I closed my eyes and inhaled the perfumed air.

One small step.
And I was falling.
A rush
of adrenaline
surged from
my stomach
to my heart.❞

– p. 2-3 (ARC* edition)

*text is subject to change in the final copy

See what I mean about flawless descriptions and that enthralling tone of the story? This is one not to miss out.
Deep Betrayal was everything I could ask for in a sequel, and by the end had me saying: MORE PLEASE! Anne Greenwood Brown has proven once again her brilliant skill as an author and shall definitely be looking forward to the third instalment of this series, Promise Bound.

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Anne Greenwood Brown for providing an ARC copy for review and BTG2013! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks ● Goodreads
• City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster ● Goodreads
• Lost Voices by Sarah Porter ● Goodreads

Imposter Blog Tour: This or That by Susanne Winnacker

Susanne Winnacker

Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog that looks like a sheep and three bunnies that have destroyed every piece of furniture she's ever owned in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals. When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes.

She blogs for The League of Extraordinary Writers.

You can find her on Twitter and on facebook.

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This or That

by Susanne Winnacker

Standalone or Series?

There's no easy answer to that. I've read books that I loved and yet I didn't feel the need to read the other books in the series, simply because I was happy with the first book as it was (of course that doesn't work with cliffhangers). And then there are books that are standalones but I didn't want it to end. I wanted to read more. I guess it really depends on the book. But generally I prefer a series IF I loved a book.

Happy Endings or Cliffhangers?

I don't mind cliffhangers for a first or middle book of a series. They make me want to buy the next book faster. If a book has a happy ending, I often don't feel the need to keep reading. Of course a cliffhanger as the end of a series would make me livid, but I've never read a book that had one.

Coffee or Tea?

First thing in the morning: coffee. During the day: tea (Earl Grey or Matcha).

Early Bird or Night Owl?

Night owl. I never go to bed before midnight.

Time Machine: travel to the past or the future?

The future. I love adventures and travelling into the future would be the ultimate adventure.

Beaches or Mountains?

Beaches, no doubt. I love the ocean – its smell, its sound, everything. If I could choose, I'd have a house at the beach.

Bad Boys or Good Guys?

Well, I usually prefer the bad boys, but to be honest most bad boys in books or movies have so many redeeming qualities that you can't really call them bad. They aren't true villains. So I guess, I like characters who aren't perfect. A character that's too good is boring to me.

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Team Jacob. I've only read the first two books and the end of book 2 convinced me that I wouldn't get what I wanted.

Typing or Handwriting?

Typing. I use my laptop for writing my books and pretty much everything else. The only thing I'm still writing per hand are to-do lists and sometimes ideas if I'm not at home and don't have my laptop with me.

Sweet or Sour?

I guess, sour. I like sweet things, but I don't like it too sweet. Especially drinks. And fruit.

Dramas or Comedies?

Comedies. I'm not a big fan of emotional movies or TV series. Life provides enough drama.

Movies or TV?

Movies. I don't watch TV. The husband and I have a huge collection of DVDs and we don't mind watching a movie many times. Most of the time it's much better than what's on TV.

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs. I LOVE dogs (and bunnies, and animals in general). I've had dogs pretty much all my life. I can't imagine living without a dog. Right now we have a Komondor (a Hungarian livestock guardian dog).

A life without writing or a life without reading?

I think you can't be a writer if you don't read. But if I had to choose, I'd probably choose a life without reading. That would be a sad life though.

(I agree!)

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Thank you so much to Susanne Winnacker for answering all those This or That questions with absolutely fabulous answers! I can't wait to get my paws, err, hands on her book, Imposter! Here's a little bit more about it:

Goodreads

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late? 

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. 

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

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GIVEAWAY!

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The Sweet Dead Life Blog Tour: Guest Post by Joy Preble + Giveaway

Joy Preble

Joy Preble is the author of the popular and highly acclaimed Dreaming Anastasia series. A former English teacher, Joy grew up in Chicago and is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is now a full time writer and lives with her family in Texas, where she has learned to say "y'all" without any hint of irony. A tireless advocate for literacy and great books, she is at the center of the all-important Texas YA scene.

Find Joy: Website ● Blog ● Twitter ● Goodreads 

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Who would Joy cast for Casey?

For Casey Samuels, stoner guy turned guardian angel/unlikely hero with a heart of gold and some stubborn bad habits, my current choice is Logan Lerman, who was Charlie in Perks of Being a Wallflower and also starred in the Percy Jackson film, among many other roles. He physically looks like the Casey in my head – at least enough – and I think he has the emotional range to play someone who is very much the reluctant hero. Because Casey has been plodding through life since his dad disappeared five years ago and his mom has progressively become almost comatose. He takes care of Jenna, works two jobs, and has a little recreational drug habit that gets him through the long nights. Hardly angelic, Casey Samuels. And then there's the care accident and everything changes. Casey has to step it up. He looks hot now. He has angel mojo. And a mystery to solve. I think Logan Lerman could totally play all that.

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SWOON. I would definitely want to see Logan play Casey! Thank you so much to Joy Preble for stopping by and telling us who she would cast. Here's a little bit about The Sweet Dead Life:

Goodreads ● Amazon ● The Book Depository

“I found out two things today. One, I think I’m dying. And two, my brother is a perv.”

So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her 16-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what’s left of the family by working two after-school jobs— difficult, as he’s stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.

Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn’t survive the accident at all. He’s an “A-word.” (She can’t bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn’t just dying: she’s being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother’s mysterious depression and father’s disappearance.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Soho Teen, you can win a finished copy of The Sweet Dead Life!

The Rules:

• Open to US ONLY.
• The winner has 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner shall be chosen.
• The book will be sent out by the publisher.
• This giveaway will run until the 27th of May.

Enter in the rafflecopter below!

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Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: For Blog Tour
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t. 

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.
A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

With summer coming up soon, reading Nantucket Blue just made me want the days to go by more quickly! With beaches and boys, you're clearly headed for a fantastic summer read.
I read this one non-stop because I thought that the plot was just fantastic. I love the multiple stories and the characters involved, and how they're all connected because of Cricket. There's of course the romance, the problems with Jules, problems with her mom and dad, working at the hotel, working as an intern– brilliant bits and pieces that come together that make it one delicious summer journey.

First off, I think the name Cricket is becoming PRETTY popular in the world of YA. I mean, I believe I've heard it a couple times before, so I think this is a trend that's going to be big (or at least, girls with insect's names).
To be honest, I didn't like her character very much. She seemed to make very rash and terrible mistakes, and then doesn't want to own up for it. She puts herself first every time and doesn't seem to think about other's feelings. It really put me on edge whenever that particular trait of hers came up.

Even though Cricket's mother isn't a prominent character in the book, her teenage version is! A lot of diary entries by Cricket's mom pops up in this book, and it's quite hilarious to see Cricket reading about her mom's romance, especially when things spice up a little. Definitely contributes to a tiny twist in this novel.
All the other characters were great: Jules I loved to hate (and then love and hate some more), Zack was just absolutely swoon-worthy, and Liz was hilarious the max with her Irish accent and relationship advice. They really helped to build up the story, especially Zack, for I'm sure whom without this story would have been pretty dry.

Nantucket Blue portrays the ups and downs of life, love and friendship. Leila Howland has written a gorgeous novel which will have you aching for summer the whole way long. Loved this book and no doubt about it, she's amazingly talented. Can't wait for what she writes next!

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you to Shane at Itching for Books for allowing me to be apart of the Nantucket Blue blog tour, and to Jamie Baker at Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing an eGalley for review! ▪ ▪ ▪

If you like this, try...

• The Story of Us by Deb Caletti ● Goodreads
• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han ● Goodreads
• The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland ● Goodreads

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LEILA HOWLAND loves to read, explore L.A., and engage in funny and meaningful conversations with her friends and family, especially her brother who calls from Washington D.C. whenever he’s waiting for the bus. A lot gets discussed in those phone calls, but they tend to end abruptly when the bus shows up. She can really cut the rug, but wishes she could sing without people covering their ears. A graduate of Georgetown University, Leila spent five years acting in New York where she was a company member of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca. It was a lot of fun and she often talks about “getting back into it.” The closest she has come was a stint as an extra on The Young and the Restless in 2010. Leila now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs. She teaches high school English and blogs for HelloGiggles. NANTUCKET BLUE is her first novel.

leilahowland.tumblr.com | twitter.com/leilahowland

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