Blog Tour: The Uninvited by Cat Winters {Review + Giveaway}

Synopsis:

Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.

But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.

Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.

For an excerpt of The Uninvited, please head over to USA Today’s Happy Ever After post → click here

Review: 

I've been craving Historical Fiction lately so I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis. Okay, the cover had a little bit of an influence as well.  Add the fact that the main character can see ghosts and I was over the moon excited to start this book. The one thing I didn't take into consideration was how nightmare inducing it might be if you read it before bed. So, starting this at night was NOT a good idea in more ways than one. 

I didn't want to stop reading this (even though I was reading it on my kindle and my room was dark and spooky). That's a sign of a good book right there. The characters are fantastic, the creepy factor is through the roof, and the plot keeps you guessing.  Also, the time period was executed perfectly. I felt like I was there and that tells me that Cat Winters did her research. I don't want to say too much because this is the kind of book that you shouldn't research at all before you read it. All you have to know is that I enjoyed the reading experience and I would pull an Oprah and gift this book to everyone if I could. 

The Uninvited is atmospheric, creepy, and extremely enjoyable. If you're looking for something a little different, definitely pick this one up! 

About Cat Winters:

Cat Winters’s critically acclaimed debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, was named a 2014 Morris Award Finalist, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2013, a 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, and a 2013 Bram Stoker Award Nominee. Her second novel, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, was named to the American Library Association’s 2015 Amelia Bloomer Project, the 2014 Tiptree Award Longlist, and VOYA’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2014. Her upcoming books include THE UNINVITED (William Morrow/August 2015), THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY (Amulet Books/March 2016), and YESTERNIGHT (William Morrow/Summer 2016), and she’s a contributor to the 2015 YA horror anthology SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS. Winters lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two kids.

Connect with Cat Winters:

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Giveaway: 

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Review: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

448 pages

Expected publication: June 2nd 2015 

Published by: William Morrow & Company

Source: Edelweiss 

Rating: 5/5

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding--but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone--especially herself--that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

The best way I can describe this book is: like behind reunited with a long-lost friend. 

The Princess Diaries series was huge for me when I was younger. I grew up with Mia and she's my age in this book so my mind exploded and I was in heaven reading this gorgeous book. I never expected a new book in this series so now I want Meg to write a few more. Is that too much to ask?!

"I'm surprised this book is hilarious," said no one ever. If you're familiar with The Princess Diaries, this baby is more of the same. I had no idea that something was missing in my life until I picked up this book. Mia, I'm never leaving you again. 

This time, Mia is taking the next step with  the love of my life Michael. But a PD novel wouldn't be a PD novel without some drama and Meg Cabot totally delivers! And let me tell you, I didn't see the "royal secret" coming at all! Overall, this novel is my everything. I'm so glad that this exists and I get to read it over and over again in the years to come. 

All I want to do now is reread the entire series so I'm going to be busy for quite a while. 

Cora Carmack's ALL LINED UP Release Day Launch!

We are thrilled that Cora Carmack's highly anticipated ALL LINED UP is finally here!! ALL LINED UP is a New Adult contemporary romance novel being published by HarperCollins’ William Morrow Impulse imprint and is a part of Cora Carmack’s Rusk University Series!!

ALL LINED UP Synopsis: 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights. In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both. Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past. But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again. Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated. Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter. And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.  

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Excerpt:

There’s only one thing in the world I despise more than football, and he’s making his way down the stairs toward me.

My eyes flit around me like I’m scanning a battlefield instead of a blowout:fraternity banners, litter of red Solo cups, and a freshman pledge dragging around a trash bag playing reluctant maid. Part of me wants to keep doing that, to pretend like I didn’t hear him.

But I can’t. If I ignore him, it will only prove to him that he still bothers me.

I face him as he steps off the last stair, crossing his arms over his broad chest and grinning at me. Levi. My ex.

He leans his hip against the banister of the grand staircase, and I spy not one but two girls sitting halfway up the stairs, obviously upset that they’ve lost his attention.

Behind me I hear someone shout, “Ready. Aim. Fire!” and I know the beer guns are back in play.

“Alcohol and bad decisions, Levi? Can’t say I’m surprised to find you smack-dab in the middle of that.”

He kicks off from the banister, swaggering a few steps closer. His dark hair and eyes are as striking as always. I’d fallen for him so hard my freshman year of high school: doodling our names together in my spiral, watching him play from the bleachers, wearing that monstrous mum he gave me for homecoming, beaming on his elbow at his junior prom.

The memory of all that just makes me nauseated now. But as Stella always says, hindsight is a pretentious, know-it-all bitch.

“You come here to make some bad decisions?” He moves closer, his voice pitching lower. Intimate. His gaze drifts down my body with an arrogant familiarity. “Because you know I can help you with that.”

Levi Abrams has been the cause of enough bad decisions for a lifetime.

Stella steps in, her voice colder than I’ve ever heard it. “I’m fairly certain she’d rather sandpaper her own skin off.”

I nod and plaster on the fakest smile in my arsenal. “And then take a bath in lemon juice.”

Levi smiles back, and I’m pretty sure the bastard is enjoying this.

He’s bigger than when I last saw him. Bulked up. I guess that’s the difference between high school and college ball. But it’s not just muscles… he reaches out a hand like he’s going to touch my hair, and as I jerk back, even his hands seem bigger than I remember. A man’s hands, rather than those of the boy I knew. Or maybe his head got so big that his inflated ego overflowed to other parts of his body. Also a possibility.

I knew Levi was here when I chose Rusk University—hard not to when he’s the starting quarterback—but I didn’t think I’d ever have to see him. Since Dad wouldn’t let me leave Texas, and only a handful of universities here actually have a true dance major, Rusk was the best option out of the schools to which I was allowed to apply.

Levi lets his hand fall away and turns to leave, but then stops to say over his shoulder, “You don’t have to pretend to hate me so much, you know. I’m here. You’re here. We could start fresh, D.”

Why does no one get that it’s impossible to have a fresh start when nothing has really changed? God, I knew that better than anybody because no matter how many new coaching jobs Dad took, every school ended up the same.

Levi is still a douche-bag who only cares about himself.

Dad still approaches parenting like I’m a member of his team.

And I… I’m still stuck. In my father’s shadow. In Texas. In this lame state school with a joke of a dance program. 

And now I’m stuck at my first frat party with the ex who broke my heart.

Yay college.

 

Cora Carmack Bio: Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.     

    

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ARC Review: Help for the Haunted by John Searles

368 pages

Expected publication: September 17, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow

Help for the Haunted takes us on a psychological and emotional journey into the bizarre family lifestyle of fourteen year old Sylvie Mason. After losing her parents in a horrific way, Sylvie must come to terms with what she witnessed that tragic night while also looking for clues in her parents' past. Between her parents and their strange career as helpers of haunted souls, the aftermath of their murders, and Sylvie's unpredictable and rebellious sister Rose, Help for the Haunted is a thrilling new novel that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

This novel is not only beautifully written but it is also fast paced, interesting, and slightly terrifying. Searles used a nonlinear way of storytelling, which kept me at the edge of my seat. Her sister Rose is insufferable but her demons slowly come to the surface leaving us with a clear picture as to why she was always the odd one out. While the characters are complex, the short span of time presented in this novel is surprisingly enough for some character development. The dynamic between the sister adds a twisted--at times rather chilling--element to the story. My only negative note is that the end didn't feel like a good fit as far as the tone of the rest of the book. The way the story played out in the last fifty pages left me a little dissatisfied. However, it did not by any means ruin the novel for me.

The frightening aspects of Help for the Haunted are sometimes so subtle that you won't know you're terrified until after you turn off the light.  Even though the novel's theme is at its core pretty dark, at the end of the day this is the coming of age story of a young girl trying to make sense of her life after it has been turned upside down.

Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.