Blog Tour + Review: ON A DARK WING by Jordan Dane

Welcome to the ON A DARK WING by Jordan Dane Blog Tour hosted by YA BOUND! The tour runs from December 19th to January 2nd, followed by a live chat with Jordan Dane on January 5 at 7:00 PM EDT to announce the winners of the giveaways. And get this, the Grand Prize is A KINDLE FIRE. (see below for details)

GRAND PRIZE: Jordan Dane is giving away a Kindle Fire to one lucky person!!! Contest rules are posted using the Rafflecopter entry form. Please click along the form to enter.
ENTER ON THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM HERE. <--- (Yes, I mean literally click the work "here")

PRIZES: Ten blog stops along the tour will be hosting giveaways for signed copies of ON A DARK WING with a secret gift from Abbey Chandler. Rules for each giveaway will be posted on the blogger's site using Rafflecopter. 

WINNERS will be announced at the live chat with Jordan Dane on January 5, so make sure you're there! (link to chat program will be available shortly. Please check back soon.)

From Goodreads:  

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher."

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

******

Title: ON A DARK WING
Author: Jordan Dane
Publisher: Harlequin Teen (2012)

ISBN: 978-0-373-21041-1
Source: Netgalley for review

Review:

I really, really enjoyed ON A DARK WING. It has a different feel to it than most of the YA books I’ve read lately. And I mean that in a really good way. Abbey Chandler is your somewhat typical teenage outcast. She has exactly one friend, Tanner, who is also an outcast due to him being in a wheelchair. Abbey also has a crush on the ever popular Nate Holden, who doesn’t even know she exists. Sounds typical right? But that’s where typical ends. You see, Abbey blames herself for her mother’s death, and the pain and guilt she carries will astound you. Dane examines the effects of “survivor’s guilt” while adding a supernatural element that creates mystery and an intense inquisitive connections with her characters. Her image of Death and his ravens was beautiful and horrible at the same time. The disconnect she creates between Death and humanity drew me in and held me tight throughout the book. His desire to experience was simple yet also perplexing, like a child fascinated by and exploring the question, “Why is the sky blue?” I simply flew through this book and never wanted to put it down. This is one you will definitely want on your bookshelf.

BUY THE BOOK: IndieBound | Amazon | Amazon Canada | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

Press Release for On a Dark Wing

Connect with Jordan Dane:
Website: http://www.jordandane.com/YA/index.php
Blog: http://jordandanebooks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jordandane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jordan-Dane/1464946740
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/940521.Jordan_Dane
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jordandanebooks?feature=mhee

Tour Schedule:

Musingsfromatoz.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Everafteresther.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Character Interview (Tanner)

Redhousebooks.blogspot.com : Dec. 19 – Review

Cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 20 – Review

Avidreadermusings.com/ : Dec. 20 – Review

Abeautifulmadness.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Review

Behindamillionandonepages.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 20 – Author Interview

Theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com : Dec. 20 – Quote Battle (To be announced)

Living-fictitiously.blogspot.com : Dec. 21 – Review

Fictitiousmusings.com/ : Dec. 21 – Review

Ftbotbblog.blogspot.com : Dec. 21 – Character Interview (Abbey)

Stuckinbooks.com/ : Dec. 21 – Review

Basiasbookshelf.com : Dec. 22 – Review

Rhireading.blogspot.com : Dec. 22 – Review

Bookbriefs.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 22 – Review & Dream Cast

Jlwylie.wordpress.com/ : Dec. 22 – Parody Questions (Jordan Dane)

Booktwirps.com : Dec. 23 – Review

Fantasysink.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 23 – Review

Frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com : Dec. 23 – Review

Bookish-Delights.blogspot.com : Dec. 24 – Review

Roroisreading.blogspot.com : Dec. 24 – Review

Onceuponatwilight.com : Dec. 26 – Review

Mochalattereads.blogspot.com : Dec. 26 – Author Interview

Bookstothesky.com : Dec. 26 – Guest Post (Character Tweets)

Thefictionfairy.com : Dec. 26 – Review

Sarahsbookslife.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Guest Post

Twochicksonbooks1.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Review

Tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com : Dec. 27 – Review

Safaripoet.blogspot.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Sarahliveslovesreads.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 28 – Review

Thetravelingreader.wordpress.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Dougsolter.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Whatsyourthoughtonthat.blogspot.com : Dec. 28 – Review

Thefairytalenerd.com/ : Dec. 29 – Character Interview (Death)

Zoeysuncreativelytitledblog.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

http://kfwwriters.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

Lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com : Dec. 29 – Review

Handsandhome.ca : Dec. 30 – Review

Bookyurt.com : Dec. 30 – Review

Speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com : Dec. 30 – Guest Post

Bookswithbite.net : Dec. 31 – Review

Ficbookreviews.blogspot.com/ : Dec. 31 – Review

Thebookcellarx.com : Dec. 31 – Guest Post

Ashleysuzanne.com/ : Jan 2 – Author Interview

Ataleofmanyreviews.com : Jan. 2 – Review

Xpressoreads.blogspot.com : Jan. 2 – Review

Author Interview: Annie Oldham, THE BURN

Please join me in welcoming Annie Oldham, author of THE BURN to the blog today.

Thanks so much for joining us Annie!

To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm a mother and a wife. Those are the two most important jobs I have right now. I have two young daughters and they are feisty to say the least! They keep me on my toes. Writing came as a way to stay sane for me. It's my own little world away from the craziness that can take over my house.

I can totally understand how writing would be an escape for you! We all need our little escapes. :)

Can you tell us a little bit about The Burn and what it’s about for those out there who haven’t heard of it yet?

The Burn was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's “A Little Mermaid.” The original fairy tale is much darker than the Disney version, so you'll be disappointed if you're expecting musical numbers and happy endings! It's the story of a girl who's not happy living a regimented life in a colony at the bottom of the ocean and would do anything to find a way out. She pays a pretty hefty price to escape, and while the Burn (what the colonists call the land) isn't everything she dreamed it would be—in fact it's pretty nightmarish—she finds out a lot about herself, she finds love, and she finds friends. Though it's not always a convenient package.

I really loved Terra! What 5 words would you use to describe her?

Brave, kind, determined, naïve (hey, she's lived at the bottom of the ocean her whole life—she has a lot of learning to do), and free

Can you tell us a little about what you have planned for Terra in the future? Will there be a series and if so, do you know how many books will be involved?

Right now I have plans for one more book, which should be out in the fall of 2012. It'll pick pick up just a few months after The Burn ended, and yes, sweet Jack plays a big part. I don't have a third book planned, but after the second, we'll see if Terra needs more of her story told.

I cannot wait to find out what happens! I'm kind of a fan (a really big fan) of Jack!

What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write (humorous, action-packed, romantic, etc.) and why?

Though it changes depending on the day and my mood, most often I like writing action scenes. I just like scenes where things happen. I like the excitement.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love singing and playing the piano, I like running, and I love watching movies with my hubby.

Where and in what type of setting do you like to write?

My computer is smack between my family room and my kitchen. Some day I will have a dedicated office for writing, but now it's easier to keep an eye on the kiddos when I'm out in the thick of it all.

What are the first three YA books that come to mind when you think of The Burn?

The Hunger Games, Divergent, and and...hmm...I'm kind of drawing a blank.

What writer, book, or series has been a big inspiration to you and your writing?

I love Shannon Hale. She's a master of beautiful language that doesn't overwhelm a story. Also Robin McKinley. She writes stories that are laced with the everyday. It makes for such fantastical stories that seem so grounded in reality.

What was the last book you read that you really fell in love with or that blew your mind?

I recently read Robin McKinley's Deerskin. It's an amazing story of a young woman's redemption after being horrifically abused by her father. So I both loved it and it blew my mind :)

What are you reading right now and what book(s) have you had your eye on lately but haven’t gotten to read yet?

I'm reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It's so well-written so far, though I'm on page 200 and waiting for something a little bigger to happen.

If you could be asked any question, what would that be? What would your answer be?

I love your books! Where can I find out more?

You love my books? Why thank you! I'm so glad you read them. You can go to my web site (www.annieoldham.com) to find out more.

(Totally cheesy, I know, but you don't understand the euphoria I get when people take the time to tell me they like my books. It makes the hard work of an author totally worth it. Because let's face it, if no one reads it, I'm not really an author.)

Not cheesy at all! If I were an author I would feel the same way! Thanks so much for answering our questions today Annie!

You guys can read my review of The Burn HERE. I absolutely loved it! Did I mention I like Jack? :) Well, I do!

You can find Annie in the following places (in addition to her website listed above):

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

REVIEW: THE BURN by Annie Oldham

Summary from Goodreads:

The Burn is full of nuclear fallout, roving gangs, anarchy, unreliable plumbing. That's what Terra's father tells her. She has lived her whole life in comfort in a colony at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. She hates it. And she would pay any price to leave. But when Terra finally escapes the colony, she finds out her father is right.

She finds a group of survivors that quickly become friends, and every day with them is a race for survival. When she witnesses and commits unspeakable acts, she has to decide where her loyalty lies: with the colony she despises or The Burn, where every day is filled with nightmares.

Review:

The Burn is a fantastic novel that takes place in a war-torn future where underwater colonies exist and the United States is now New America, where it is illegal to live outside of the cities controlled by the government. Where food and medical supplies are rationed and people fight each other to survive. Terra chooses to leave the safety of the colony to live on the Burn, but pays a dear sacrifice.

This book really appealed to my love for dystopian novels. I enjoy seeing the world turned upside down, as strange as that might sound. I could relate to Terra’s desire to escape the controlling world of the colony, because I’m a Leo and I like to be the one in control. I admired her determination and bravery in both leaving the colony and living on the Burn. She’s a character that has faults, which I love! A good character isn’t perfect, in fact, she’s pretty naive.  I mean, come on, she’s lived at the bottom of the ocean her whole life! She’s never even had to FIND her own food! But she also isn’t weak. It takes a pretty strong person to venture out into the unknown. But what I’m really looking forward to in the future (other than finding out what happens to Terra) is Jack! Yes, he may not seem too significant at the moment, but I have a VERY strong feeling he is going to become a favorite.

FANTASTIC! Fans of THE HUNGER GAMES, DELIRIUM, MATCHED and similar books will love it!

Buy the book HERE.

Check out my interview with author Annie Oldham HERE.

Connect with the author:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon

COVER REVEAL: Sleepers by Megg Jensen

Introducing the new artwork for Megg Jensen’s bestselling novel SLEEPERS. To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.

Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

Ready?

Here

It

Is...



Isn't it just gorgeous! I love the colors, and the model's pose! With the water and the clouds and the moon in the background! Just beautiful!
SLEEPERS is on sale now for only 99 cents!

You can check out some reviews of SLEEPERS here.

Purchase SLEEPERS:
http://meggjensen.blogspot.com/p/where-to-buy-meggs-books.html

Find Megg on the web:
Website: http://www.meggjensen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen

REVIEW- The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

You can review the synopsis for The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title.

First of all, I have to exclaim that The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is my favorite stand alone, YA contemporary novel thus far. The story was extremely well written and had fantastic descriptive dialogue. There was grief, there was desire, there was conflict, there was closure, then there was gratification. This novel completely swept me off my feet. It was amazingly captivating. So much emotion. I cried because I was grief stricken and I cried because I was filled with joy. (Have a box of tissues on standby.) If you interrupted me while I was reading… I wanted to CHUNK something at you.

Second of all…. BAT, BAT, BAT!!! I wanna marry a Fontaine boy in my next life! Luckily in this life, I am married to a guy named Toby! SCORE!

Heathcliff loving Lennie suffers the unexpected loss of her sister that she absolutely adores. Since her sister’s funeral, Lennie is suddenly boy crazy. She writes memories and past convo’s she had with her sister on random pieces of scrap paper, then she buries them, or trashes them, or they’ll fly away in the wind. I felt her loss; choked up each time I read these and in the end, I felt her happiness, and I smiled.  

(*WARNING, after reading description about said boy, you are likely to become Joelirious! It’s a condition most of us suffer from.) A new student, American born, French raised, musically inclined, full of whoa hotness, super long eyelashes over bright green eyes, brown curly hair and last, but definitely not least, a luminous smile- Joe Fontaine arrives at Lennie’s school. He and Lennie meet. She immediately wonder’s what it would be like to kiss him. AND SO DO I!!

Oh dears… we haz a problem! So, Lennie’s sister… that died, well, she had a boyfriend, Toby. He is/was a devoted boyfriend who is up there on the LUST O METER and has surfer hair, and is a skater cowboy (seriously) AND he er… has quite a package.  Like Lennie, he mourns the girl he loved. Well, he and Lennie hang out for the first time after her sister’s death… and well, something rather unexpected happens.

Lennie mourns. Lennie experiences guilt. Lennie’s torn between two boys. One who helps her hold on to memories, one who helps her progress forward.

Oh, and beeee careful when you enter Gram’s garden full of aphrodisiactic roses!

You don’t want to miss out on reading The Sky is Everywhere, a truly beautiful story of grief and what it takes for Lennie to overcome it.

I give The Sky is Everywhere 5 eyelash batting stars!

Kimberly

REVIEW- Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot

You can review the synopsis for Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title.

Well, well, well! I had no clue when I opened Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot that I’d be in total hottie heaven!! There are hot boys everywhere in this book. And Katie, well she um, had herself in a pickle and I was all like, “Hmmmm, guh definitely got her pants on fiyah.” But no, it wasn’t really like that. Her pants were on fire because girlie mae there, has a problem with telling the truth.

But seriously, if you were macking with a gorgeous all-star football player who is your boyfriend and is totally committed, PLUS a handsome, charming local celebrity behind boyfriend’s back, PLUS a mighty fine, red-headed, ab-er-iffic ‘secret’ friend from back in the day, well… I guess you’d be devious too.

So anyway, secret friend that isn’t exactly welcomed back in town pops up, and Katie hasn’t seen him in years. She’s shocked at how utterly hot he is. He totally busts her making out with actor dude behind her boyfriend’s back and teases her.

Yeah, so with this great storyline and all, Katie decides to spill how she truly feels and has a decision to make. Find out her secrets and who she decides she’ll mack with—exclusively!   

I give Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot 4 MACKING STAR LIPS!

Kimberly

Author Interview: S.R. Johannes

Please welcome author S.R. Johannes to the blog today. She has graciously given her time to tell us a little about herself and her debut novel UNTRACEABLE, being released TODAY! I'm so excited to share this interview with all of you, and I'm super excited about UNTRACEABLE!

Britney: To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Shelli: I have an MBA in marketing and worked in corporate America for over 15 years doing marketing, communication, and training. I walked off the job in 2006 and have been doing freelance marketing ever since. I own my own marketing company and have worked with Spanx and Goody Hair. I have a hubby from England, 2 kids and a Goldendoodle. I’m actually very boring, which is probably why I write thrillers. J I love being at home, doing yoga, reading and playing with my kids. That’s my everyday.

B: Can you tell us a little bit about Untraceable and what it’s about for those out there who haven’t heard of it yet?

S: Grace grew up in the woods. When her forest ranger dad disappears on patrol, she fights town authorities, tribal officials, & nature to prove he’s alive. Torn between a hot boy and cute ex, she heads into the wilderness to find her dad. Soon, Grace is caught in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. It will take more than a compass and motorcycle for this tough heroine to save all she loves.

B: What 5 words would you use to describe Grace?

S: Dependable, funny, intense, outdoorsy, caring, stubborn

B: Can you tell us a little bit about these two hot boys? We LOVE hot boys. J

S: Mo is from the UK and loves the woods as much as Grace.  He is very straightforward and doesn’t play games or hard to get. If he feels something he puts it out there. So much that it shocks Grace at times. He loves geology (kinda dorky right?) and astronomy. He’s very family oriented – like Grace. He reminds me of Brodie Jenner.

Wyn is a long time friend. He’ s silly and banters with Grace. That is his way of showing her he still cares about her. He’s not as straightforward as Mo is. He’s leaner but tries to overcompensate by pretending he’s tough. He’s more of a city boy at heart and not that into nature even though he lives in a mountain town. He reminds me of Shia Lebeouf in Transformers.

B: What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write (humorous, action-packed, romantic, etc.) and why?

S: The action scenes are fun. They play out in my head like a movie so I can see each frame. Sometimes I can’t write fast enough and I love that feeling. Course the kissing scenes are fun too J And I don’t try to write humor – if a line is funny – it wasn’t thought out. IT was probably a snarky comment that I would say in a situation.

B: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

S: I love to write. Any free time I have is doing that. But I love playing with my kids and doing yoga. Other than reading and movies – I’m boring.

B: Where and in what type of setting do you like to write?

S: I have to write in my office. I can’t write at bookstores b/c I start shopping. And I can’t write in coffee shops b/c I get too jacked up on coffee and end up eating.

B: What are the first three YA books that come to mind when you think of Untraceable?

S: Hatchet by Gary Paulson; Kiss the Girls by James Patterson; Gone Wild by James Hall

3 of my top books and the influence for Untraceable.

B: What writer, book, or series has been a big inspiration to you and your writing?

S: James Patterson (his adult stuff) has been my biggest influence. It’s all I read when I was in high school – I used to sneak his books from my mom. I’d love to be the contemporary thriller author of the YA genre like he is in his adult work. I’ve studied his work and writing. There is a reason people love his books. He keeps the tension. I also love James Hall b/c he always has issues in his book that aren’t preachy but serve to educate while still being fun to read.

B: What was the last book you read that you really fell in love with or that blew your mind?

S: Carrie Ryan’s Forest of Hands and Teeth series. I love it. The setting and the tension is amazon. But more – she has such a way with words and voice.

I also loved The Sky is Everywhere. The way the author interjects humor with tragedy is beautiful.

B: What are you reading right now and what book(s) have you had your eye on lately but haven’t gotten to read yet?

S: Impossible to answer. I’m looking forward to reading Body Finder 3 by Kimberly Derting (The Last Echo) but I love reading all books and have a stack I look forward to reading.

B: If you could be asked any question, what would that be? What would your answer be?

S: Wow! Intense stuff. I guess I would love it if someday someone asked me: Have you found your purpose? And I answered: yes.

******

Thanks so much for joining us today Shelli! Untraceable is a fabulous book I would recommend to anyone! Check out my review HERE..
Buy the paperback
Buy a Kindle copy

Connect with the author:

Author newsletter: http://blogspot.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=114def4ad4e805b98ea071bff&id=68312804dc

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/srjohannes

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SRJohannes/249888602550

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes