Blog Tour Excerpt and Giveaway: Madame X by Jasinda Wilder

Welcome to the blog tour for Madame X by Jasinda Wilder! I'm so excited to be helping promote this book, and to support Jasinda and Berkley. I posted my review in a separate post below this one, so check that out for my thoughts on this new book. Enjoy!

About the Book:

Madame X by Jasinda Wilder

Book One of the Madame X series

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Official Summary:

My name is Madame X.

I’m the best at what I do.

And you’d do well to follow my rules...

Hired to transform the uncultured, inept sons of the wealthy and powerful into decisive, confident men, Madame X is a master of the art of control. With a single glance she can cut you down to nothing, or make you feel like a king.

But there is only one man who can claim her body—and her soul.

Undone time and again by his exquisite dominance, X craves and fears his desire in equal measure. And while she longs for a different path, X has never known anything or anyone else—until now...

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About the Author:

Jasinda Wilder is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestselling author. She is a Michigan native and currently lives there with her family. Visit her official website at jasindawilder.com.

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The Excerpt:

A knock on the door, the silent swing of hinges, and then heat and hardness behind me, a faint but intoxicating hint of cologne, the creak of leather. Hands on my waist, lips at my neck. Breath on my skin.

I don’t dare tense, don’t dare suck in a sharp breath of fear. I don’t dare pull away.

Strong, hard, powerful hands twist me in place, and an index finger touches my chin, lifts my face, tilts my gaze. I cannot breathe, don’t dare, haven’t been given permission.

“You are lovelier than ever, X.” A deep, smooth, cultured voice, like the purr of a finely tuned engine.

“Thank you, Caleb.” My own voice is quiet, careful, my words chosen and precise.

“Scotch.” The command is a murmur, barely audible.

I know how to prepare it: a cut-crystal tumbler, a single ice cube, thick amber liquid an inch from the top. I offer the tumbler and wait, keep my eyes downcast, hands behind my back.

“You were too harsh on Jonathan.”

“I must respectfully disagree.”

“His father expects results.”

I bristle, and it does not go unnoticed. “Have I ever failed to produce results?”

“You sent him away after less than an hour.”

“He wasn’t ready. He needed to be shown his faults. He needs to understand how much he has to learn.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Ice clinks, and I take the empty tumbler, set it aside, and force myself to remain in place, force myself to keep breathing and remind myself that I must obey. “I didn’t come here to discuss Jonathan Cartwright, however.”

“I suppose not.” I shouldn’t have said that. I regret it as soon as the words tumble free.

My wrist bones scrape together under a crushing grip. Hard dark eyes find mine, piercing and frightening. “You suppose not?”

I should beg forgiveness, but I know better. I lift my chin and meet those cold, cruel, intelligent dark eyes. “You know I will fulfill the contract. That’s all I meant.”

“No, that isn’t all you meant.” A hand passes through artfully messy black hair. “Tell me what you really meant, X.”

I swallow hard. “You’re here for what you always want when you visit me.”

“Which is?” A warm finger touches my breastbone, slides into the valley of my cleavage. “Tell me what I want.”

“Me.” I whisper it, so not even the walls can hear.

“All too true.” My skin burns where that strong finger with its manicured nail traces a cutting line up to my shoulder. “You test my patience, at times.”

I stand stock-still, not even breathing. Breath whispers across my neck, huffs hot on my nape, and fingers toy with the zipper of my dress.

“I know,” I say.

And then, just when I expect to feel the zipper slide down my spine, body heat recedes and that hot breath now laced with hints of scotch is gone, and a single word sears my soul:

“Strip.”

My tongue scrapes over dry lips, and my lungs constrict, protesting my inability to breathe. My hands tremble. I know this is expected of me, and I cannot, dare not resist, or protest. And . . . part of me doesn’t want to. But I wish . . . I wish for the freedom to choose what I want.

I have hesitated too long.

“X. I said . . . strip.” The zipper slides down to between my shoulder blades. “Show me your skin.”

Reaching behind my back, I lower the zipper to its nesting place at the base of my spine. Hard, insistent hands assist me in brushing the sleeves from my shoulders, down my arms, and then the dress is floating to the floor at my feet. That’s all the help I’ll get. I know from long experience that I must make a show of what comes next.

I turn my head, and see tanned skin and the perpetual two-day stubble on a refined, powerful jawline, sharp cheekbones, firm, thin lips, black eyes like voids, eyes that drip desire. My hair drapes over one shoulder. I lift one knee so my now-bare toes touch the gleaming teak, curl my shoulders in, let my gaze show my vulnerability. With a deep breath, I unhook my bra, let the garment fall away.

I reach for my underwear.

“No,” comes the purr, “leave them. Let me.”

I let my fingers graze my thighs, wait. My underwear slides down slowly, and where fingers touch, so too do lips, hot and damp, touching my skin, and I cannot flinch, cannot pull away or express how badly I want only to be alone, to even once have the right to want something else.

But I do not have that right.

The Giveaway:

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Review: Madame X by Jasinda Wilder

Madame X by Jasinda Wilder

Book One of the Madame X series

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

My name is Madame X.

I’m the best at what I do.

And you’d do well to follow my rules...

Hired to transform the uncultured, inept sons of the wealthy and powerful into decisive, confident men, Madame X is a master of the art of control. With a single glance she can cut you down to nothing, or make you feel like a king.

But there is only one man who can claim her body—and her soul.

Undone time and again by his exquisite dominance, X craves and fears his desire in equal measure. And while she longs for a different path, X has never known anything or anyone else—until now...

What I Liked:

I liked this book! Just not as much as I'd expected. There were several big things that I didn't like, but for the most part, I enjoyed the story. I will DEFINITELY be reading the sequel, and the book after that. I like Jasinda Wilder and I am trusting her!

Madame X has no recollection of who she used to be, six years ago. She has amnesia, and Caleb Indigo took her in six years ago after she was badly and nearly mortally hurt. Now, she works for him as a mentor of a sort, teaching millionaire heirs to act powerful and confident. But she is a glorified prize - never allowed to leave her apartment, a plaything of Caleb's. She isn't an escort, and Caleb is the only one that ever touches her, but she has no choice whether or not she wants to have sex with him, whether or not she wants to teach her clients how to be proper businessmen, and so on. Caleb owns her, and she is his. Until she wants more.

I feel so, so bad for Madame X. She has no memory of anything. She's about twenty-five years old, and she's a gorgeous Spanish beauty. But she doesn't know anything about herself, or the outside world. She's a prisoner in her condo, with expensive dresses and lingerie. Caleb visits her and gets one thing from her every time he comes - sex. It's infuriating because she doesn't want to want him, but physically, her body wants him. Mentally and emotionally, she feels trapped and used, and hates how he comes to her.

So X is powerless, yet so powerful. Her job is to turn men into confident businessmen, instead of the immature, snobby people that they are when they are brought to her. There is a strict no-sex or touching clause in the contract - Caleb doesn't want anyone touching X except himself. X has no concept of the outside world, and she only knows obedience to Caleb. She is completely brainwashed, naive. 

So I felt bad for her. It's hard not to, given how brainwashed she is. She can't escape Caleb, but it's almost like she doesn't want to, because he is all she has ever known (that she remembers). It's when she is taken outside to a party that she begins to question her life, as well as Caleb.

And we learn some things about Caleb, and what he is doing. Caleb is an awful human being and I cannot feel a shred of like or respect towards him. I'm not sure if the author wants to humanize him? But I think he is a monster.We don't learn anything about X's past, but I'm sure that will be to come in the following books.

So this book is all about X starting to questions things. It's kind of a short book, and not a lot happens, really. X meets a guy when she is taken outside for the first time in forever (to a charity function/party). This guy, Logan, changes a lot of things for X. We'll be seeing more of him in the series.

There is hot, hot scenes in this book, but I hate Caleb, so I wasn't feeling it. In terms of romance, I'm sure we'll see more of the romance in the next books, but this book didn't really feature romance. Hot, steamy scenes, but not really romance. How does X REALLY feel about Caleb? He has sex with her at will, like she's an object, but that isn't romance, obviously.

Overall, I liked the book, and I definitely need to read the next book. I'm kind of mad that it's a trilogy because I want to see certain people suffer like, RIGHT NOW.

What I Did Not Like:

I hate Caleb. I hate everything about him. I hate everything he does. I hate how he uses X, how he uses her body, how he treats her. I hate his business. I hate his lies, how he tells X that she is special. I hate how X falls under his spell time after time. I hate that she can't help but be physically turned on by him, because he is a monster (she hates it too, to be fair). Caleb is a turn-off and how X is treated is the reason why this book is receiving three stars. Yes, I think the author wanted it to be this way, and put X through all of that for a reason. But. That doesn't mean that I have to like it.

So, this book is NOT for every romance reader. It's not a romance novel (yet?). Yes, there are hot sex scenes. But Caleb hurts X and commands her like a puppeteer, he uses her like she's a prostitute (but exclusive to him), and I hate it. I half-wish I hadn't read this book because I really, really hate how X is treated. But I like Jasinda Wilder, so I decided to give this book a shot. I still trust Jasinda but... the fact that this is part of a series really isn't help. All that waiting?!

I want Caleb to burn somewhere tortuously scalding hot. I want to erase X's hurt and pain, and I kind of want to punch her because she could have made better decisions at the end of the book?! Ugh! I hate series sometimes, where is book two!

Also - this book is written in second person. It's weird! I'm not sure I like it. I don't think it worked for me.

Would I Recommend It:

I'm going with "no" for now, simply because this novel isn't a romance novel, and it isn't a standalone. I'd recommend possibly waiting to see how the series turns out, because things could go south really quickly. This book isn't for everyone; it isn't a light romance read. It's hot, but it's the wrong guy that having sex, so it feels wrong to think that this book is hot. So... for now, no, I can't recommend this novel.

Rating:

2.5 stars -> rounded up to 3 stars. Like I said, I trust Jasinda, and I'll be looking out for book two in the coming months. BUT. I think this book isn't necessarily for me. I'm too hooked not to read the second book, and I think I liked this one, but it wasn't what I expected.

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Blog Tour Guest Post with Sherry Thomas, Author of The Immortal Heights (and GIVEAWAY!)

Welcome to the blog tour for The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas! Guys. I am SO thrilled to help promote this book (and series)! It is hands-down one of my favorite series ever. The Immortal Heights was an excellent conclusion novel! Check out this lovely guest post by the one and only Sherry Thomas, and enter to win fabulous prizes!

On Choosing the Titles for this Series

By Sherry Thomas

Oh, titles. What a trip down memory lane.

The working title for book 1 of what would become the Elemental Trilogy was always POWERFUL. I loved that title. I felt that it conveyed everything that needed to be said about the story, which was about powers and powerful mages, with a powerful romance attached to boot. And the sequels would have one-word titles too: INDELIBLE, for the one that dealt with magical amnesia; and INDOMITABLE, for the final volume, of course.

I was so committed to POWERFUL that when I was talking to editors who were interested in the book, I asked them whether they would be willing to keep the title: I was going to let that factor into my decision making. Unfortunately, every editor said no. I sighed and bowed to the inevitable. I’d been around the publishing block a couple of times and knew that marketing always made the final decision on titles. 

Once I signed with Harper, we began hashing out a new title for book 1. This is me replying to a bunch of suggestions from marketing. 

I am rather fond of THE LAST ELEMENTAL MAGE, since the original series title was THE LAST GREAT REBELLION--or at least in my mind it was.  THE LAST GREAT ELEMENTAL MAGE?  A GREATER ELEMENTAL MAGE?  Or maybe we should echo A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and call it A REVELATION OF MAGES.  :-)

Here’s another one of my replies:

Senior Kidlet's latest contribution: SKYSPARK

Was talking with my friends and they liked LIARS' CONSPIRACY.

There are some interesting titles to be had once you introduce the words LIES or LIARS.  

ELEMENT OF LIES for example.  

The process went on for months! Nothing conveyed both the magic and the romance aspects of the story, at least not economically. I don’t think anyone is unhappy, for example, that Book 1 isn’t called ENCHANTRESS OF FIRE AND AIR. Although I do think THE LIGHTNING PROPHECY would have worked.

And then all of a sudden it was settled. Marketing decided on THE BURNING SKY. I didn’t love it but by that point I was like yay, at least we’re done with the title. :)

Once you have a title for Book 1, then the sequels’ titles have a model to follow. In my case, an adjective, followed by some sort of natural feature. Book 2 was at first called THE SHIFTING SANDS. Anyone who’s read it will see that it’s quite fitting, since one entire timeline takes place in the Sahara Desert. But there was concern that “shifting” wasn’t a very strong word, kind of wishy-washy. And then the nail was on the coffin when art department tried to implement our original cover idea, that of a dragon made of sand, and realized the palette was too monochrome.

At that point in the writing of the book, I’d moved away from the desert timeline. I know, shocking, but there is a version of that book in which nobody sets foot in the Sahara and nobody suffers magical amnesia. That particular draft opened like this:

History has no record of it, but the time was early September, 1883, and the place, a nondescript patch of ocean floor at the bottom of the Firth of Clyde, off the coast of Scotland, some thirty, thirty-five miles southwest of Glasgow. 

It was not terribly deep, three hundred feet or so. Though the water was murky, enough sunlight still seeped through to sustain life. Currents flowed slowly, following patterns established by millennia of heat exchange, barely disturbing particles of sediment. 

But on that day, the sea churned violently. Had a boy been standing at that spot—and managed to somehow avoid being swept away by the ferociously roiling waters—he would have been witness to an amazing sight: a vertical tunnel, like the eye of a storm, delineated by a furiously spinning wall of water, that allowed him to see all the way to the cloudless blue sky far above.

A moment later, however, a ship would come crashing down, followed by the mass of all the water that had been earlier displaced. So it was fortunate that there was no one on the ocean floor to bear witness to this singular occurrence.

There was, however, someone who saw it from a safe distance. 

Someone whose fate would now be decided by the perilous sea.

You can see why we decided on THE PERILOUS SEA. Even after the desert timeline was reinstated, the title still applied. Since what happens that day at sea still plays a pivotal role and the sea is still definitely perilous.

Book 3 was the easiest yet. My editor asked if I had any ideas for titles, I wrote,

I'm thinking of some synonym of mountains for the noun, maybe "heights", to keep it one syllable.

I still love incandescent for the adjective. Lucent, adamantine--guess I just like obscure words. Or "fiery" could work in a pinch.

Immortal?

The Immortal Heights?

My editor was on board. With a grand total of 6 emails exchanged, we got ourselves a title. 

And I hope this was an interesting peek into the sausage-making process!

About the Author:

Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed romance authors working today. Her books regularly receive starred reviews from trade publications and are frequently found on best-of-the-year lists. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® Award.

English is Sherry's second language—she has come a long way from the days when she made her laborious way through Rosemary Roger's Sweet Savage Love with an English-Chinese dictionary. She enjoys digging down to the emotional core of stories. And when she is not writing, she thinks about the zen and zaniness of her profession, plays computer games with her sons, and reads as many fabulous books as she can find.

Sherry’s next book, The Immortal Heights volume three of her young adult fantasy trilogy, will be available fall 2015.

Author photo by the lovely and talented Jennifer Sparks Harriman at Sparks Studio.

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About the Book:

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

Book Three of The Elemental series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Official Summary:

In a pursuit that has spanned continents, Iolanthe, Titus, and their friends have always managed to remain one step ahead of the forces of Atlantis. But now the Bane, the monstrous tyrant who bestrides the entire mage world, has issued his ultimatum: Titus must hand over Iolanthe, or watch as his entire realm is destroyed in a deadly rampage. Running out of time and options, Iolanthe and Titus must act decisively to deliver a final blow to the Bane, ending his reign of terror for good. 

However, getting to the Bane means accomplishing the impossible—finding a way to infiltrate his crypt in the deepest recesses of the most ferociously guarded fortress in Atlantis. And everything is only made more difficult when new prophecies come to light, foretelling a doomed effort.... 

Iolanthe and Titus will put their love and their lives on the line. But will it be enough? 

With The Immortal Heights, Sherry Thomas brings the acclaimed Elemental Trilogy to its breathtaking conclusion.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Check out the first two books!

      

(Click on the covers for more information.)

The Giveaway:

For First Place US Only:

1 winner will receive The Burning Sky, The Perilous Sea, The Immortal Heights, and a handmade solid lotion bar and some homemade face scrubs, plus a burning sky bag. US Only

Runners Up US Only:

 2 winners will receive The Burning Sky, The Perilous Sea, and The Immortal Heights. US Only

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Follow the Tour:

10/5/2015- Reading Teen- Review
10/6/2015- City of Books- Interview
10/7/2015- Fiction Fare- Review
10/8/2015- The Eater of Books!- Guest Post
10/9/2015- Fall Into Books- Review

10/12/2015- Carina's Books- Interview
10/13/2015- Nicks Book Blog- Review
10/14/2015- Fiktshun- Guest Post
10/15/2015- Reading with ABC- Review
10/16/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Swoon Thursday (#141): Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick!

He pushed me inside, kicked the door shut, and flung me back against it, his mouth hot and fervent on mine. I locked my arms around his neck, drowning in sensation. He felt warm, solid, and tough. His weight crushed me, delicious and real. I'd imagined this moment. I'd dreamed about it, but my imagination was a poor substitute for the real thing. My blood seemed to melt, pouring through me in throbbing surges and leaving me light-headed.

He ran his hand up my arm, and I quivered.

At my response, his arms, which had been braced on either side of my shoulders, tightened around me.

I hung my fingers on the waistband of his jeans, trying to balance myself. My knees felt slippery, weak. Desire washed over me, each new wave quicker and sharper. When my fingertips brushed the smooth skin where his jeans rode his hips, he shivered and kissed me harder. 

- eARC, 67%

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Dangerous Lies review

Ahhh, Chet. This book was all kinds of awesome!

Baltimore Book Festival 2015 Recap and Giveaway!

Hi all! I'm finally posting my recap of the Baltimore Book Festival! The Festival was almost two weeks ago (oops?), and I'm now getting on this. Forgive me!

I've gone to the Festival year after year, but this year's Festival experience has been my favorite. I hung out with so many cool people (bloggers and authors alike!), meet new awesome people, and got to sit in on some fun panels. I went on Saturday and Sunday (September 26th, 27th). Always a great time, and the weather was good!

So, here we go!

Pre-Festival excitement - I baked chocolate chip fudge brownies and white chocolate cranberry cookies on Thursday, September 24th, and packed them in baggies for authors and bloggers. I ran out pretty quickly!

Chocolate chip fudge brownies!

White chocolate cranberry cookies!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH

Sadly, I didn't attend the Festival on Friday! Last year I only went on Friday, and this year, I went on Saturday and Sunday. Flip-flopping!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH

Saturday was the most fun! I got to see Jennifer L. Armentrout (again), and I got to meet Megan Erickson (love her!), Tessa Bailey (she is awesome!), Martina Boone (such a sweetheart!), Cinda Williams Chima (ahhh!). I also got to meet Jay Crownover! But it was super brief and I didn't get a picture. Oh well!

After the "New Adult: Hot New Genre, Hotter Heroes" panel at the Maryland Romance Writers Stage:

Jennifer L. Armentrout and I!

Photo Credit: Liza

Tessa Bailey and I!

Photo Credit: Liza

Megan Erickson and I!

Photo Credit: Liza

Next, I sat in on the "Mystery VS. Thriller: What's The Difference?" panel at the Maryland Romance Writers Stage that featured Jennifer L. Armentrout, Kami Garcia, and others. Hannah moderated this panel like a champ!

M.D. Waters, Megan Hart, Rebecca York, Kami Garcia

Rebecca York, Kami Garcia, Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hannah, M.D. Waters

Next I went over to the Science Fiction and Fantasy tent, for the "YA Literature And Why It's Great!" panel. JUSTINA IRELAND, GUYS! Cinda Williams Chima! Diana Peterfreund!

Justina Ireland, Diana Peterfreund, Cinda Williams Chima, DH Aire, GL Tomas (pair)

Justina Ireland, Diana Peterfreund, Cinda Williams Chima, DH Aire, GL Tomas (pair)

Cinda Williams Chima and I!

Photo Credit: Liza

After that, I stayed for one more panel back at the Maryland Romance Writers Stage - "Young Adult Fiction: Fantastic Tales For Teens (And Grown Ups, Too!)". Here we have MELISSA MARR! So exciting! And Cheryl was there!

Lea Nolan, Kami Garcia, Martina Boone, Cheryl Klam, Melissa Marr, Jennifer L. Armentrout, MD Waters

FINALLY got to meet Martina!

YADC members! Me, Hannah, Jen. Andye, Lauren, Liza (left to right, top row then bottom row)

Photo Credit: Liza

So honored to finally meet Liza! Highlight of the Festival for sure!

Photo Credit: Liza

And that wrapped up my Saturday!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH

I went on Sunday for one reason - the YA panel, featuring Rachel Harris and Brigid Kemmerer! And I missed literally the whole panel, thanks to delayed public transportation (Ravens home game, etc.). BUT, I managed to catch everyone after the panel, when they were signing!

At the Maryland Romance Writers Stage, after the panel "Young Adult Fiction: Swoony, Sassy, And (Sometimes) Sexy Stories":

Brigid Kemmerer and I!

Rachel Harris, Cheryl Klam, and I!

I ended up staying for the next panel at the Maryland Romance Writers Stage, to support Megan! This was the "Getting The Happily Ever After: How To Plot A Romance" panel.

Megan Erickson, Shelley Greene, Christi Barth, Kimberly Kincaid, Robin Kaye, Avery Flynn

And that was that! Here is a picture of my lovely city on Sunday:

GOODIES

I took a paperback of Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout and an ARC of Unbreakable by Kami Garcia to be signed! And then I bought two paperback copies of Dirty Thoughts by Megan Erickson because HELLO, that book was awesome.

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Dirty Thoughts by Megan Erickson

And I accumulated a TON of swag. O_O

Mostly from the Maryland Romance Writers Stage swag table! They are cool like that. 

This year's experience was so amazing. I got to meet authors I thought I'd never meet because of geographic reasons (Rachel Harris, Tessa Bailey), authors who I've not met before but LOVE their books (Megan Erickson, Melissa Marr), authors that had me starstruck despite never having read their books (Cinda Williams Chima, Kami Garcia), and authors I've met and loved (Jennifer L. Armentrout, Cheryl Klam, Diana Peterfreund, Brigid Kemmerer). This Festival was my favorite yet. 

THANK YOU to Liza, for all the pictures! She graciously took pictures for me, which I appreciated so much! Also, it was lovely to meet you, friend!

A HUGE thanks to the BBF committees who made this possible, the city of Baltimore (I love you, Charm City!), and especially to Lea Nolan, for doing everything for the Maryland Romance Writers Stage - everyone is amazing and wonderful and I WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

And now... for a giveaway!

I couldn't just go to the Festival and not bring anything back for anyone! Did you all see that collection of swag I have going on from the Festival!? I grabbed a few doubles, and I have this ARC of Unbreakable that is now signed. So, if you're interested, here is the giveaway!

The Giveaway:

Win BBF swag from various authors, and a signed ARC of Unbreakable by Kami Garcia! Open internationally. Please read the general contest rules on my Giveaways page. Good luck!

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Waiting on Wednesday (#145): A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

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

This week, I'm featuring:

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Book Two of the A Darker Shade of Magic series

Publisher: Tor

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.

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I loved A Darker Shade of Magic! My first Schwab book. :)