#BookBirthdayTuesday: Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes Trilogy, #2) by Sara Raasch

Ahahahahahahahaha!!!

The day has FINALLY arrived!!

The sequel to the AWESOME, Snow Like Ashes, is OUT!!!

*Squeals* *giggles* *jumps around*

We LOOOOOVED the first book in the trilogy and have been counting down the days until ICE LIKE FIRE would be published!! 

If you have not started this trilogy yet then we suggest to go to your nearest bookstore and grab copies of both the first and second books! 

We cannot wait to DEVOUR this book! *hehe*

CONGRATS to Author Sara Raasch!!

Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes Trilogy, #2)

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Purchase on Barnes and Noble & Amazon!

Synopsis: It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world.

Also, BIG BOOK BDAY SHOUTOUT to:

The Rose Society (The Young Elites Series, #2) by Marie Lu

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Sthol 

Blue Voyage by Diana Renn

Extra Life by Derek Nikitas

MARTians by Blythe Woolston

No True Echo by Gareth P. Jones

The Emperor of Any Place by Tim Wynne-Jones

Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle

Recap Monday: #OUAT Season 4, Ep. 2

Once Upon A Time

Original Air Day: Sunday, OCT 5, 2014

Time: 8PM

Season: 4

Episode: White Out

“Until we’re together no one leaves this town,” and so begins the latest episode of Once Upon A Time with Elsa locking in the town’s inhabitants by building a large wall of ice around the entire town until she can locate Anna. While Emma, Prince Charming (David), and Killian (Captain Hook) deal with finding out who put up the ice wall, Snow (Mary Margaret) has to handle getting the power to the town back on because Regina (Evil Queen) has gone into lock down mode. She refuses to even see Henry.

Meanwhile, the show takes the audience back in time to when Anna had ventured out of Arendelle into the Enchanted Forest to discover a way to help Elsa with her powers and discover the truth about their parents. She travels to Prince Charming’s house long before he was known as such, back when he was David, The Coward (It was SUPER amusing to see the prince with long hair. Bad hair extension job?? Come on hair crew! You SO could have done a better job!). Anna adorably tries to be all cryptic by giving a false name to David (“Joan”) which he instantly doesn’t believe and calls her out on being Kristoff’s fiancé (the ring on her finger giving her away and the fact that David only knows one person from Arendelle). But before Anna and David can get acquainted or David can figure out the real truth as to why Anna is in the Enchanted Forest, a new threat appears. Little Bo Peep isn’t all cute and sweet, playing with sheep (Hey! That rhymed!), she’s one dark and evil beotch who uses her staff to brand people so she can make sure she knows where they are at all times (a.k.a. her sheep) and collect payment. David and his mom owe money for Little Bo Peep helping to keep them and their farmland safe from all the other baddies in the Enchanted Forest. She gives them until the next day to come up with the money or she will brand them and take their farm.

Back in Storybrooke, Emma finds Elsa and tries to talk her down but when Prince Charming and Killian come barging in, Elsa gets spooked and sends her and Emma tumbling down the center of the ice wall. As Prince Charming and Killian try to find a way to free them, the temperature keeps dropping and while Elsa has nothing to worry about, Emma is slowly losing consciousness with her lips turning blue and her body going numb. Killian and Prince Charming are in a race to figure out how to free them before Emma gets frozen to death.

Our Thoughts: This was a pretty good episode. We really enjoyed learning more about Anna and seeing more of her quirky, optimistic character getting displayed. She was adorable and sweet as ever while still throwing herself into danger to do the right thing and kick butt! Elsa is still struggling to learn to control her emotions and her powers. She manages to gain some better control while trapped in the ice cave with Emma and discovers her own inner strength which was nice to see happen.

Little Bo Peep being the primary villain in this episode was a little laughable. It was hard to take serious. Once Upon A Time is known for its twists and turns and connections and big revelations but even more so for how awesome the villains are! Little Bo Peep just didn’t fit the bill. The actress did a wonderful job but there wasn’t enough umph in her abilities or her attitude. Maybe we’ve just been in love with Rumple and the Evil Queen for so long we hold all other villains to a higher standard, but we would have liked to have seen more of a fight with Little Bo Peep than there was.

There are two big revelations on the show: Turns out Anna isn’t the only one with her kind of powers. Someone else is in town and wants to take over. And Anna has a connected past with Rumple. Originally, we thought it was Elsa but turns out Anna and Rumple eventually crossed paths from a little sneak shown in the show. Not sure when or how yet but we are SO EXCITED to find out!

It was cute and sweet seeing how cray cray Killian was getting over Emma being trapped inside the ice cave. He tried to take the ice wall down with his hook which was adorbs. He also held hands with Emma and carried her off in his arms. *dreamy sigh* They need more screen time and to go on an actual date where Killian changes clothes. Do the creators not find it even a little weird that Killian is always wearing the same outfit in every episode?? I mean, don’t us wrong, he looks damn good in that outfit but it would be fun to see him dressed in 21^st century clothing (Skinny jeans will probably work really well on him *wink wink*).

Overall, the second episode into the 4^th season of OUAT was decent. It had it’s really enjoyable moments and zingers and heartfelt connections, but it’s going much slower than the first three seasons of OUAT. At least slower than what we’re used to watching. We miss Regina being a bigger part of the picture and Snow White with her fierce, kick-butt skills. But then again she just had a baby so that’s understandable. We just hope as season 4 moves forward, the show picks up in action and brings back all the dark twists and turns and secrets we love to watch unfold!

Favorite Heart to Heart Scene: Prince Charming going into father mode and having the intentions talk with Killian about Emma.

“I think it’s time you and I have a little talk about your intentions with my daughter.’ (Prince Charming)

‘That’s a little old-fashioned, even by my standards, and I still pay with doubloons.’ (Killian)

‘Oh, remember I know your reputation. Emma is not some conquest.’ (Prince)

‘I wouldn’t risk my life for someone I see as loot. Whatever we become, it’s up to her as much as me.” (Killian)

Favorite Kick-Butt Scene: When Anna is teaching David how to sword fight! It was awesome to see Anna teaching the Prince how to be brave and strong. We loved that the Prince has always learned how to hone those qualities through the women in his life: his mom, Snow, and now Anna. 

Swoon Worthy Male Leads!

As HUGE booklovers, it's no surprise we would end up falling head over heels for some of the hot male leads to some of our favorite books! Whether they're walking around shirtless, being sarcastic, letting their nerd flag fly or kicking some serious butt, every character on our list is definitely swoon worthy *teenie bopper nerd giggle*

Jason Stephens, Rekesh Saint-Louis, AND Leanian from the Sons of Old Trilogy

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom. 

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls. 

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

Normal just got a deadlier definition.

Check out Lucifer, the first book in the trilogy!

Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instrument Series.

Synopsis: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . 

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Check out City of Bones, the first book in the series!

Jason Shepherd from The Dark Elite Series.

Synopsis: When Lily Parker's guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, Lily was shocked. So was St. Sophia's.

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia's boarding school, Lily is surrounded by an ultra-rich bratpack. She's pretty sure her spoiled, petty, fashion-obsessed classmates are the most monstrous things she'll have to face, and surviving them and their cruel practical jokes is proving even tougher than the homework...

But on top of being the punchline to every joke, Lily's hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building. All building have their creaks and groans - but Lily could swear that she's being watched.

The only thing keeping her sane, so far, is her roommate Scout. But something strange is going on there too - Scout keeps disappearing late at night, reappearing bruised and tired, and she won't tell Lily where's she's been... until, that is, a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school. Lost in the dark Lily hear's footsteps heading towards her - it's Scout and she's running from a real moster.

Scout is part of a group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers: magic users who've been corrupted by their power. Much as Lily would love to help, it's too dangerous without powers of her own - especially if she'd have to go up against the firespell herself.

Check out Firespell, the first book in the series!

Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series.

Synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Check out The Lightning Thief, the first book in the series!

Tucker Avery from the Unearthly Series.

Synopsis: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Check out Unearthly, the first book in the series!

Ethan Lawson Wate AND Wesley Jefferson Lincoln (a.k.a. Link) from the Caster Chronicles.

Synopsis:  There were no surprises in Gatlin County. 

We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Check out Beautiful Creatures, the first book in the series!

Barnabas from the Madison Avery Series.

Synopsis: My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

Check out Once Dead, Twice Shy, the first book in the series!

Galen from Syrena Legacy.

Synopsis: Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Check out Of Poseidon, the first book in the series!

Seth from the Wicked Lovely Series.

Synopsis: Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Check out Wicked Lovely, the first book in the series!

Will from the Infernal Devices Trilogy.

Synopsis: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Check out Clockwork Angel, the first book in the series!

Ariel from the Théâtre Illuminata Trilogy.

Synopsis: All her world’s a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.


Enter Stage Right  

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Open Curtain

Check out Eyes Like Stars, the first book in the trilogy!

Will Wagner from the book Avalon High.

Synopsis: Avalon High, I was starting to think, might not be so bad after all.

Maybe it's not where Ellie wants to be, but if you have to start at a new school, Avalon High is typical enough: There's Lance, the jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.

But not everyone at Avalon High is who they appear to be . . . not even, as Ellie is about to discover, herself. As a bizarre drama begins to unfold, Ellie has to wonder, what part does she play in all this? Do the coincidences she's piecing together really mean—as in King Arthur's court—that tragedy is fast approaching for her new friends?

Ellie doesn't know if she can do anything to stop the coming trouble. But somehow, she knows she has to try.

Check out Avalon High!

Logan from The Summer I Became A Nerd.

Synopsis: On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

Check out The Summer I Became A Nerd!

We're sure there are many more but we better cut it off before we wind up fainting from all the swooning *wink*

So what do ya'll think? Who would you add to the list?

Swoon Worthy Wednesday: Logan Scott (The Summer I Became a Nerd)

The Summer I Became a Nerd

Synopsis: On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

Name: Logan Scott

Age: 17

Description: Adorkable nerd with a sexy voice, pure blue eyes, brown hair, scattered freckles on his nose and cheeks and irresistible smile.

Likes: calculator watches, comic books, anime, cosplay

Dislikes: cheating, lying, being taken for a fool

Why We Love Him: Logan is the sweetest nerd you'll ever read! He's got such a good heart and such a charming personality, you fall for him the moment Maddie walks into the Phoenix comic book store. He's so patient and understanding and wears his heart on his sleeve. He owns who he is without apologizes and let's his nerd flag fly without caring what other people think. He never gives up on Maddie and helps her to accept her inner nerd and be proud to just be herself. How could you NOT fall for a guy this nerdalicious?!

SNEAK PEEK

I take another fortifying breath and walk up to the counter. The guy is bent so far over a comic I can only see the top of his head, which is covered with brown, messy hair. I make an “ahem” noise to get his attention, but he doesn’t look up. I raise my sunglasses up a little to glance at the book he’s reading. I see a full splash page of Marcus. His whole body is contorted in agony as he screams—and I know he’s screaming because the speech bubble next to his head is all pointy—“NOOOOOO!!!!” I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting the book to be spoiled for me, but the damage is already done. I’m at the end of my rope.

“Do you have a copy of The Super Ones #400?” I say, abandoning my faux-guy voice.

He finally looks up, and I recognize him. Not only do I recognize him, I know him. I could probably tell you what shoes he’s wearing (black and white chucks with frayed laces) even though his lower half is hidden behind the counter. I know this because he’s kind of my geek idol for a while now and I’ve . . . paid attention.

Last year, he got in trouble at school because he was wearing pornography. At least, that’s what the students were told, when in reality, he was just wearing a T-shirt sporting an Adam Hughes drawing of Power Girl. Ridiculous, I know. I mean, Adam Hughes is one of the best purveyors of the female form in comics today, even if he has a tendency to over exaggerate certain body parts.

Ever since then, I’ve had a thing for Logan Scott. Not an actual thing since I have a boyfriend and that would be bad, but he’s got these cute freckles on his nose and cheeks, probably from playing soccer—he’s the Natchitoches Central High School’s goalie—and he’s always reading, comics mostly, but every once in a while, I’ll catch him with a high fantasy book with dragons or elves on the cover. Not that I’m stalking him or anything.

He has really nice eyes, though.

His brow furrows when he looks at me. “Sorry, we’re all out.”

“Really? What’s that?” I point at the book he’s currently stuffing under the counter.

“It’s . . .” He trails off as he takes in the way I’m dressed. He tilts his head to the side like he’s trying to see behind me. I whip around, thinking someone else is there, but the store is still empty. When I turn back, a knowing smile plays at the edges of his mouth. Sighing right now would be bad, but he has perfect boy-lips—not too full, not too thin.

He props his chin on his fist. “Do I know you?”

“Uh, no, I mean, I don’t think so. I’m just passing through town. I mean, I don’t live here or anything so how could you know me?” I say in a rush.

“Okay.” He squints like he can pull a confession out of me with his eyes alone. “That’s too bad, because this is the last copy.”

He pulls #400 out and waves it around, which sends electricity shooting through me because 1) it’s right in front of my face, and I can see the amazing cover, and 2) the he’s flopping it around is breaking the spine, which breaks my heart. You’d think a guy who works at a comic shop would be a little more careful.

Instinct kicks in, and I throw out my hands like he has a gun pointed at a puppy. He stops and lays the book on the counter between us.

“Why is it too bad?” I ask. “I’m paying customer. I give you money, you give me #400. That’s how these things work.” I tentatively reach for #400, but he slaps his hand down flat on top of it.

“It’s too bad you’re just passing through, don’t live here, and don’t know me, because this is my copy, and if you weren’t just passing through, lived here, and knew me, I might let you borrow it.”

He smiles that knowing smile, and more of that electricity shoots through my body, but for completely different reasons: 1) that smile is the irresistible kind I can’t but return, and 2) his voice has a soft, smooth quality that makes my brain turn to jelly.

I shake these thoughts from my mind when a voice in the back of head shouts, “Quarterback boyfriend!”

“Well, by passing through, I meant visiting. I’ll probably be around for the next couple of days so I could have it back to you pretty quick.”

He scratches the back of his neck. “Hmm.”

“I promise,” I blurt out, my hands clasped together. I can’t believe I’ve been reduced to begging. “I’ll have it back to you in a couple of hours even.”

There’s that smile again. He might adorkable, but he’s not being very nice, teasing me like this.

“We’ll be closed in couple of hours, so I’ll give you my number, and you can call me when you’re done.”

“Perfect. No problem at all.” I nod again and again until I think I’ve given myself whiplash.

He presses a button on the cash register, and blank receipt paper rolls out of the slot on the top. He hands me #400. I devour the cover with my eyes as he rips the receipt paper off and jots down his number. When he reaches for the book again, I jerk it away, thinking Mine!

“I just want to put this in there so you don’t lose it,” he says slowly, like he’s trying to calm a hostile beast.

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase on Barnes & Noble and Amazon!

Check the author out on her website, Twitter and Facebook!

Book Blitz: Spotlight + Sneak Peek + Giveaway: Steel Lily (Periodic Series, #1) by Megan Curd

Steel Lily (The Periodic Series, #1)

Author: Megan Curd

Check out on Goodreads!

Purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Synopsis: AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued. But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

Check out Annabell's Review for Steel Lily: 5/5 stars: "I am GIDDY with EXCITEMENT for this book! There aren’t a lot of dystopian novels I have really enjoyed and I haven’t read too many steampunk books that have gained my interest, but Steel Lily won me over! I ASBOUTELY LOOOOVE this book! ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I’VE READ IN 2013!

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Running around on a day when the filtration system is off with one mask? That makes me think you have a death wish.” (Jaxon)

‘Being willing to watch someone die leads me to think you’re an ass.’” (Avery)

“Another perfectly acceptable place to breathe, since the alternative would be you suffocating to death. I’d really prefer that not happen. That’s not fun for anyone involved, and it’s extra paperwork for me.” ~Jaxon to Alice when she exclaims that they’re outside, breathing without masks on.

“Are you sure you two aren’t being stupid just to test me?” ~Jaxon to Avery and Alice who keep asking questions Jaxon refuses to answer.

“He’s a guy after your own heart. Overconfident, good looking, and witty. It’s like you in male form.’ (Alice)

‘I am not like him.’ (Avery)

‘Uh-huh. Don’t look now, but I think I can already see your dreads growing in. Which, by the way, would be disgusting. I bet his are moldy inside.’ (Alice)

‘I resent that. There’s no mold in my dreads. They’re probably cleaner than the grease ball you call a hairdo.” (Jaxon)

“Have you heard of morale?’ (Jaxon)

‘Where we’re from, we don’t have time for morale. Surviving is priority number one, and if you don’t see life for what it is, how do you expect to survive the ugly when it’s thrown at you?’ (Avery)

‘You’re just a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?’ (Jaxon)

‘Sure am. But you know what? If I piss in your Wheaties, you’ll know it. I won’t try to hide it with a hologram.” (Avery)

“Say, why are your eyes two different colors?’ (Jaxon)

‘Got into a fight.’ I replied. ‘Guy punched me, and they said he permanently altered the color.’ (Avery)

‘That’s not possible,’ he said argumentatively. (Jaxon)

‘What isn’t possible is that I won’t punch you and do the same thing,’ I said without a hint of jest in my voice.” (Avery)

“I like having you around about as much as sitting in a tub full of rusty scissors.” ~Avery to Jaxon

SNEAK PEEK

I was moving double time to keep up with his long strides. He seemed so sure of himself, so in control of his destiny, even in this place, where he claimed we were imprisoned. I didn’t have a shred of doubt that what Jaxon wanted, Jaxon got. He owned his life. I so desperately wanted to own mine as well. Could he help me take control of it, or would he cause it to crash around my feet? For some reason, it felt like either option would be exhilarating if he were involved.

Exhilarating and dangerous.

The back of his shirt was soaked. The small “v” of muscles at the base of his spine flexed as he craned his neck to make sure I was still behind him. Why did that give me butterflies?

He turned and smiled. “Are you even listening to me? You’re way past your ogling allotment.”

“I’m not ogling you.”

“Trust me, I’ve experienced enough ogling to know it when I see it. If you’d prefer to ogle in peace, I’ll turn around again. There have been contests where my ass took first place in squeezability.”

“You must have been the only person in the running.”

He grinned mischievously. “And the only one to vote, but a win is still a win, right?”

About the Author: Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college. 

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Traveling and snowboarding are hobbies she loves, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

Where to Find the Author: Website/Goodreads/Twitter/Facebook

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