The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Virtual Signing & Giveaway!

Hey GCReaders!!!

We are sooooooooooooooo superrrrrrr excited to bring you this virtual signing!!!

I read The Cruel Prince back in June and absolutely loved it!!!!!!! I loved it so much that for about two months I was not able to read anything else. This is definitely my favorite novel of 2018! I will be writing a full review closer to publication. 

For this virtual signing we decided to do things a little different. 

Because I've read and loved this book so much, I decided to also host a giveaway with this virtual signing. Full details can be found at the very bottom of this post. 

PLEASE PLEASE READ ALL TERMS & CONDITIONS BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER OR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY.

Review & Author Interview/Giveaway: Devils & Thieves by Jennifer Rush

Devils & Thieves
by Jennifer Rush
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: October 3rd 2017
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

A thrilling new urban fantasy filled with magic and motorcycle gangs from Jennifer Rush, author of the Altered saga--perfect for fans of Beautiful Creatures.

Eighteen-year-old Jemmie Carmichael has grown up surrounded by magic in the quiet town of Hawthorne, New York. In her world, magic users are called "kindled," and Jemmie would count herself among them if only she could cast a simple spell without completely falling apart. It doesn't help that she was also recently snubbed by Crowe, the dangerous and enigmatic leader of the Black Devils kindled motorcycle gang and the unofficial head of their turf.

When the entire kindled community rolls into Hawthorne for an annual festival, a rumor begins spreading that someone is practicing forbidden magic. Then people start to go missing. With threats closing in from every side, no one can be trusted. Jemmie and Crowe will have to put aside their tumultuous history to find their loved ones, and the only thing that might save them is the very flaw that keeps Jemmie from fully harnessing her magic. For all her years of feeling useless, Jemmie may just be the most powerful kindled of all.

Jennifer Rush has taken two of my all time favorite genres to read and combined into one! I am a huge MC Romance lover and love ANYTHING to do with Witches. The minute I read the blurb to this book I knew it was something that I was going to love. I tried not to jump into it with high expectations, but I did anyway and I was not disappointed. Jennifer Rush delivered everything I wanted and some!

The book starts with your usual introduction of characters, which I think Rush did an excellent job breaking it down. She did not waste page after page explaining this new world. It all flowed smoothly. From the first two chapters you get magic and laughter. I was hooked. I could not put the book down. This story is so unique. I have not read anything like it.

Devils & Thieves is filled with magic, suspense, twist, friendships and romance. I hope that there is more to come in this series. It was a huge refresher for me and I am so glad I was lucky enough to get an ARC of it.

We also got the chance to interview Jennifer Rush recently and wanted to share it with you all. Check out our interview below and enter for a chance to win a copy! :)

5 Stars!!!

DEVILS AND THIEVES NOW AVAILABLE ON...

Amazon † BN † Kobo † iBooks

I am a HUGE fan of witches and MC romance, so when I read what Devils & Thieves was about I knew I had to have a copy. I’m sure you get asked this all the time, but what inspired you to write Devils & Thieves?

It definitely started with my love of Sons of Anarchy. I didn’t know much about motorcycle gangs before watching that show, and I was immediately intrigued by the lifestyle and culture. I loved the loyalty between members and how they become like family.

While watching SoA (and honestly, I think this about a lot of shows), I found myself wondering how Jax Teller would navigate the danger or risky situations he found himself in if he had magic at his disposal.

How did you know mixing Witches & Motorcycle Club Romance together would be a good idea?

I thought the danger and intrigue of magic would marry well with the danger and familial bonds of motorcycle clubs!

Will this be a series or duology?

Duology --- book 2 will hopefully release around the same time next year!

If you could pick a soundtrack to match your main character’s life, what would it be?

I really, really love the music from the Teen Wolf TV series. Any of that music would go well with Jemmie’s life! In fact, a lot of the songs currently on my D&T playlist I found via Teen Wolf.

If you could bring one of your characters to life, who would it be? And why?

Crowe. A MILLION PERCENT. He’s smart and cunning and capable. Not to mention, tall, dark and handsome and covered in tattoos. All the things I love about a guy! I feel like Crowe Medici is the kind of person you would judge based entirely on his looks and his role as club president. But he would surprise you again and again.


Without sharing any major spoilers, can you share a small teaser from the book? 

Of course! This is the first encounter with Crowe in the book. Alex is his little sister and Jemmie’s best friend. :-)

If Alex was a black pearl, then her brother was obsidian. Black volcanic glass. Pretty and shiny, quick to cut. As our eyes met, it all came back, his hands and his mouth, and then the moment I realized he had used me as a momentary distraction. I hunched in my seat, once again wishing I could disappear.

The jukebox switched albums, and something loud and bass-heavy started up, allowing me to pretend that the thumping in my chest was the music and not my traitorous heart.


Thank you so much for joining us today!!! We cannot wait for the world to read Devils & Thieves! I loved it! It’s a definitely Good Choice for Reading! 5 STARS! 

Thank you so much for having me!!!

Find Jennifer Rush on...

Twitter † Website 

Good Choice Reading is giving away ONE copy of DEVILS & THIEVES to one lucky reader!

- Open to U.S. Residents Only

- Giveaway ends October 8th 

- Winner will be announced on our Facebook & Twitter account. An email will also be sent. 

- Winner will be chosen at random via the comments.

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter leave a comment below telling us why you want to read this book.
Please include a way for us to contact you. i.e. Twitter handle, email, etc. 

Review: The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Hardcover, 400 pages
Publication: August 8th, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

When Dee Moreno makes a deal with a demon—her heart in exchange for an escape from a disastrous home life—she finds the trade may have been more than she bargained for. And becoming “heartless” is only the beginning. What lies ahead is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she could have ever imagined.

With reality turned on its head, Dee has only a group of other deal-making teens to keep her grounded, including the charming but secretive James Lancer. And as something grows between them amid an otherworldy ordeal, Dee begins to wonder: Can she give someone her heart when it’s no longer hers to give?

Purchase

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You know how sometimes you come across a book and you LOVE the premise and you like the cover and you LOVE the title, but then you don't love the book? Like you walk away feeling like you enjoyed the idea of the story more than the actual story?

That's how I feel about The Hearts We Sold. I don't want to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did. However, I didn't love it, and I really wanted to love it. I think this book had the potential to be a lot darker, but ultimately lacked the angst (for lack of a better word) to bring it all together. Given the premise, I expected the story to feel a lot heavier than it did.

Ultimately, though, I think my (mild) disappointment is due to the lack of development for the secondary characters. I liked Dee and James well enough, don't get me wrong. The book is written in third person, so we're given a taste of where the other characters came from...but that's just it. A taste. Not enough to flesh them out. Not enough for them to feel real. The cast is more diverse than most I've read lately (yay!) but at the end of it all they just felt flat. So much potential there that just never came to fruition, and that has clouded my view of the book, a bit. 

Overall though, I did enjoy The Hearts We Sold. It kept me interested from start to finish. Underneath my personal issues with the book there is a story about friendship, love, and sacrifice, and I recommend everyone give it a shot! 

Cover: 4 | Characters: 3 | Plot: 4 | Pace: 3 | Creativity: 4

Review & Giveaway: #DefyTheStars by Claudia Gray + $25 Gift Card!

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
Hardcover, 512 pages
Publication: April 4th, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that's now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth's robotic "mech" armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel's programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis--even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel's devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

"Sometimes she wishes she could turn herself inside out. That way people would see the good in her before they saw the bad."

Defy the Stars was a lot of fun! It didn’t blow me away, but I did enjoy it.

Defy the Stars is written in alternating perspectives. Claudia Gray does a good job of creating characters that are realistic for both their circumstances and their ages. Though this is YA, neither of the main characters are your typical teenager, and they both have responsibilities that you obviously aren’t going to find in reality. However, she does a good job of capturing the youthfulness of their ages, and balancing that with their motivations, which are dictated by their circumstances. I enjoyed both of their perspectives, and enjoyed watching them grow as characters.

Though the world-building and story didn’t absolutely blow me away, I did enjoy following these character from one planet and culture to another. Noemi and Abel are on a mission, while also running for their lives, and this made for a lot of juicy tension.

I enjoyed the start to this new series by Ms. Gray, and I look forward to seeing where else it takes us.

 

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Want to a chance to win a copy of DEFY THE STARS & a $25 gift card? (thanks to Big Honcho Media!)

Comment below and let us know what YA Sci-Fi novels you would recommend we pick up!

Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you! If you're uncomfortable leaving your email, let us know where we can find you on Twitter!

Good luck! :)

LEARN MORE

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#DefytheStars

Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Hardcover, 544 pages
Expected publication: March 28th, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

A new epic fantasy by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around— and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.

Purchase

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Strange the Dreamer is a difficult book to review. There’s a part of me that really enjoyed it, and part of me that really didn’t.

Taylor has a knack for world-building that isn’t easy to find, and the same can be said for her character development. She makes you want to live her in worlds, and know her characters personally. If you can sit back and take your time with the book, Strange the Dreamer will slowly come alive for you, and you may find yourself in awe.

All that said, the attention to world-building and character development makes the writing incredibly heavy. So much is devoted to those two aspects that there isn’t much of anything else until you're halfway through the book, and even then, the story takes its time. There were several times I would find myself having read several chapters in a row, and couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in them. Not because it was forgettable, but because nothing happened in them. I truly believe this book could have been at least 100 pages shorter, and you wouldn’t have lost anything. On the contrary, it would have been absolutely fantastic. But, as it is, you have to dig deep for the story and I have a hard time imagining that the intended demographic will have the patience to get through this book.

But goodness, the story. My. What story there is, when you finally reach it, is so good. But the pacing in this book, and the time it takes to get there is just…unfortunate. I recommend everyone give Strange the Dreamer a shot. I imagine you’ll either fall asleep, or fall in.

Cover: 4 | Characters: 4 | Plot: 4 | Pace: 1 | Creativity: 5

Review: Frostblood by Elly Blake + #Giveaway!

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Title: FROSTBLOOD

Author: Elly Blake

Pub. Date: January 10, 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 384

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a fireblood who must hide her powers of heat and flame from the cruel frostblood ruling class that wants to destroy all that are left of her kind. So when her mother is killed for protecting her and rebel frostbloods demand her help to kill their rampaging king, she agrees. But Ruby's powers are unpredictable, and she's not sure she's willing to let the rebels and an infuriating (yet irresistible) young man called Arcus use her as their weapon. 
All she wants is revenge, but before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to take part in the king's tournaments that pit fireblood prisoners against frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her and from the icy young man she has come to love. 
Fast-paced and compelling, Frostblood is the first in a page-turning new young adult three-book series about a world where flame and ice are mortal enemies—but together create a power that could change everything.

I absolutely loved this book! You will not get one complaint from me except that I wish the story did not end! I am dying for more! I find that when I loved a book tons, like I MEAN TONS, I don't have much to say about it other than YES! This was AWEEEESOOOMMMEEE! 

When I picked this book up it was because of the cover. It immediately caught my attention and screamed “action packed fantasy” at me. I had to get my hands on it.

Elly Blake takes you on one hell of an adventure!!! My emotions while reading this book were all over the place. I laughed, I screamed, I swooned, and just about bit all my nails off waiting to see what would be the outcome. Though some parts were predictable, I was still very happy with where the story went and the outcome. I truly hope there is more from Elly Blake. She managed to keep me entertained from the beginning to end with Ruby and Arcus. 

The Relationship between Ruby and Arcus was one of my all time favorites! A romance does blossom between the two, but it is not immediate. Their relationship actually starts off bumpy; a love and hate relationship for sure. I also love that Blake does not take away from the story filling the pages with romance. Ruby's journey is just beginning, while Arcus has already lost so much and been through so much. I don’t think there is ONE character in this book that I did not like.

I honestly don’t know what else to say except that this book was everything I LOVE in a Young Adult fantasy book. It has lots of twist and turns, romance, action packed, strong characters… it has it all! It’s definitely one I recommend everyone adds to their 2017 list of AMAZING books to read!

Below is a teaseer I created in 2016 when I was done reading FROSTBLOOD. It is one of my favorite scenes from the book!!

#FROSTBLOOD by @elly_blake -------- #TeaserTuesday 📚📚📚📚📚📚 I pulled a Teaser from FROST BLOOD. It's one of my favorite scenes from the book! I was the weirdo at the airport taking pictures from of pages in the book! Hahaha Learn more: http://ellyblake.com/?page_id=74 @sztownsend81 @littlebrown @thenovl #books #youngadult #bookstagram #booklove #mustread #read #reader #pureawesomeness #romance #yalt

A video posted by Damaris Cardinali (@gcreading) on Apr 26, 2016 at 4:27am PDT

5 Stars!

Elly Blake loves fairy tales, old houses, and owls. After earning a BA in English literature, she held a series of seemingly random jobs, including project manager, customs clerk, graphic designer, reporter for a local business magazine, and library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and a Siberian Husky mix who definitely shows Frostblood tendencies.

Her work is represented by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr |Pinterest | Facebook | Goodreads

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FROSTBLOOD, US Only.

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Review: Harry Potter & the Cursed Child by John Tiffany & Jack Thorne

Title: Harry Potter & the Cursed Child
Author: John Tiffany & Jack Thorne
Publisher: Little Brown UK
Published: July 31, 2016
Hardcover: 343 pgs

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

First of all, do not compare this book to any of the previous Harry Potters. It's like comparing apples to oranges and it just wouldn't be fair to the playwrights. Because this isn't an actual book, you won't get those amazing descriptions of the wizarding world that we were fortunate enough for JK Rowling to create. You won't get to go as in-depth into each character and in fact, some characters will be totally left out (like Albus's brother and sister, who exist but hardly ever make an appearance). And the biggest difference is that the focus of this book is not Harry. That may be hard for some of you to swallow, but once you get past that, it's actually a rather great play.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues right where the last book left off. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are older now, more established in their careers, and have children of their own. On the day of Harry's second son, Albus's trip to Hogwarts, he befriends none other than Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco Malfoy (Harry's sworn enemy, for those of you who have read/seen nothing of the books).

This play is a really quick read and I'm happy to say that I'm impressed with the way it turned out. As with so many pop culture icons nowadays, there is such a thing as beating a dead horse. I thought for sure that this book would be nothing like the originals. That I'd get so frustrated with the plot line or character dialogue that I'd throw it out the window. Fortunately for me, my windows stayed intact.

The play actually goes into the father-child relationships that exist in this new world. Harry & Albus; Draco & Scorpius, Cedric & Amos Diggory; and one other that I can't tell you about without spoiling the book! The entire idea is: who is really the cursed child? Is it the one who's father is insanely famous (I mean, how do you live up to that pressure!)? Or is it the one who's father has an awful reputation as a death eater in world where Voldemort has been vanquished (should you be evil now or good?)? The story deals with adolescence and growing up and learning to make decisions that will affect everyone else more than yourself. Things that we watched Harry deal with as he grew older, and that's so fascinating to watch him deal with as a father.

If you're a fan of the series, I'd definitely recommend these two plays (combined in one book). Nothing will ever live up to the fantasy we enjoyed living/breathing/reading about in Hogwarts, but this is a great second best!

4 out of 5 stars!

Review: Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray

DEFY THE STARS
by Claudia Gray
Hardcover, 512 pages
Expected publication: April 4th 2017
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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In her most epic and ambitious work to date, bestselling author Claudia Gray takes readers on an interstellar journey exploring what it means to be human.

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that's now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth's robotic "mech" armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel's programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis--even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel's devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

I have not read anything like DEFY THE STARS and am so glad I was given the chance to read it before release in April 2017. You are going to devour this one! I promise you!
From page one I could tell Noemi was going to be a strong, well-written character. I immediately connected with her. Noemi was on a mission and would see it through no matter the cost. She was fearless!

The story starts with instant action. I was pulled in immediately and knew that everything else was going to be put on hold until I was done reading. From page one I could tell Noemi was going to be a strong, well-written character. I immediately connected with her. Noemi was on a mission and would see it through no matter the cost. She was so brave! 

One thing I think I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Abel and Noemi. From the moment they meet I felt their connection. The more I kept reading it was like they were best friends. There wasn’t much romance until the near end. It’s a slow burn and I loved it! There were times I completely forgot that Abel was a mech. His struggles as a mech, and all the emotions he was experiencing helped me connect with him. I could not wait to finish the story to see how everything turned out for both Noemi and Abel. I was very happy with how everything ended. I can easily picture this story as a TV series on The CW.

DEFY THE STARS is one story I will not forget. I truly hope there is a sequel because I would love to know more about Noemi and Abel. If you are not a sci-fi fan, I still think you should give DEFY THE STARS a shot! It’s fast paced, and very easy to follow. You won’t feel like you’re in a Star Trek episode, I promise.

5 Stars!

Available for pre-order today!

Amazon † B&N 

More books by Claudia Gray: http://www.claudiagray.com/books/