An Honest Review of Book 2 in the Arc of a Scythe Series Thunderhead by Neal ShustermanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars I was nervous going into this one because I LOVED Scythe so much, and sequels usually fall short for me. This was the exception. I really didn't know if Shusterman would be able to up the game in the second book in this awesome young adult series... but he did. Thunderhead follows our beloved characters from book one, Citra and Rowan. They have gone very different paths in this book; however, as the book progresses, you realize that there is still a deep connection between them in more ways than one. I loved watching both of their journeys to identity and finding their place in this odd world. Shusterman further develops the world of scythes in this sequel, adding details and dimensions that weren't fully explored in part one. Mainly, this book (as the name suggests) delves much deeper into the concept of the Thunderhead. Diary entries from the Thunderhead give a unique glimpse into this futuristic technology and allows the reader to understand the purpose of it, the benefits, and of course, the downfalls. This book ends with a huge cliffhanger that left me wanting more. I cannot wait until 2019 to read book 3 in this series. New heroes are named in this book, and I can't wait to explore their story. Also, major shifts have happened by the end of this book, and I know book 3 is going to be epic. Kudos to Shusterman for again delivering an imaginative, fully-developed world that really makes readers think about technology, what it means to be alive, and what the purpose of this thing called life really is. View all my reviews
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Love sexy, seaside romances? Scroll down for an excerpt from my next release AND find out how you can get a party invite to win big!
One hundred more miles until I am the new Avery, the woman I’ve always wanted to be but was too afraid of. One hundred more miles until I’m a brand-new woman without a past to haunt her, without pitying stares and questioning looks. One hundred miles until I can shake off this coat of expectations and social requirements for my life. One hundred miles until I break out of the perfect square constructed for my life. One hundred miles until I start fresh with new people, with a new town, with a new life. Only Henry knows where I’ve been, and I don’t think he’s telling anyone anything.
And the first thing I vow to myself in this new version of life? I won’t let a man change that again. I won’t let a man control me, own my heart. I’ll live for myself this time, wild and free, a girl of the unpredictable wind. Pre-order Inked Hearts for HALF PRICE and then get an invite to the VIP Pre-order Facebook Party!
Your Next Must-Read Thriller, Into the Water Into the Water by Paula HawkinsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars "I didn't have to be fixed, I could be fluid. Like the river. Perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult, after all." Although many readers were obsessed with The Girl on the Train and Paula Hawkins had high expectations to live up to, I think she did the unthinkable with this book: She surpassed even her own writing. For me, I thought The Girl on the Train was just an okay read. I loved the narrative pattern and the whole concept. I just thought the middle of the book lost its edge. Into the Water, however, was completely different in the fact that it never lost my attention for a second. Hawkins weaves together an intricate tale of family secrets, love, power, and revenge. Her expert writing kept the plot moving the entire time. I was stunned by the book and the secrets revealed up through the last paragraph. The book focuses on a small town rocked by tragedy after tragedy, all centered around a cliff by a particular river. The book opens with a second death that has just happened. Lena's mother and Jules' sister has just died in what seems to be a suicide. However, questions surface as to what really happened on the cliff and if her death could be linked to the death of Lena's best friend, Katie, who died in a similar way. The characters were lovable in this book and really easy to connect with. I liked that both Jules and Lena, although family, are very distant from each other and very flawed. I liked that they were not perfect characters in any way and both suffered great loss in life. Their relationship and the changes in it was a nice backdrop to the horror of the book. There are a lot of narrative perspectives in this book, which was hard to keep track of at times. However, I think that is the lure of Hawkins' books; they are complicated to the point that when you finish, you are in awe that she pulled it all together. I liked that I never had everything figured out. I loved the dynamic characters and relationships. I also loved how everything, even flashbacks, came back to the water. It became not just a setting and plot element, but almost a character in itself. This book is definitely a must read for 2017. Hawkins shows us again why she is one of the greatest writers of our time with this novel. View all my reviews 
All Books on Sale at Hot Tree
To celebrate World Book Day, Hot Tree Publishing is having a Mega Sale! All titles, including my popular chick lit series Then Comes Love and my latest Who We Were, are on sale! Sale price is reflected once you add to your cart. Right now, To Say Goodbye is only $2. Get your reading on this weekend with a slew of romances from sweet to spicy.
Happy reading! www.hottreepublishing.com/lindsay-detwiler  Author, English Teacher, and Bookworm Lindsay Detwiler recommends her top picks. A book with a * is one of Lindsay's top ten favorite reads!
Funny Reads: 1. The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich 2. Nosy Neighbors by Janet Evanovich 3. Wife for Hire by Janet Evanovich * 4. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 5. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes 6. The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris Historical Fiction: *7. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 8. At the Water’s Edge by Sarah Gruen 9. Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen 10. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys *11. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 12. The Book Thief by Marcuz Zusak Teen Reads Still Relevant: 13. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han 14. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 15. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page 16. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight 17. What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen 18. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher 19. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 20. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Love stories 21. Reckless Abandon by Jeanine Colette 22. Pure Abandon by Jeanine Colette 23. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks 24. Where the River Ends by Charles Martin 25. The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes 26. Lady Sun by Marni MacRae 27. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire 28. Larkin’s Letters by Jax Jillian *29. Inconceivable! By Tegan Wren 30. First Sight by Danielle Steel 31. The Beach House by Jane Green Dealing with Women’s Issues: 32. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty 33. The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty 34. The Sweet By and By by Todd Johnson *35. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 36. A Good Yarn by Debbie Maccomber 36. Tempting Fate by Jane Green To Make You Think: *37. Room by Emma Donoghue 38. 1984 by George Orwell 39. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 40. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy *41. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 42. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 43. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo 44. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 45. Life of Pi Yann Martel 46. Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes 47. Sundays at Tiffany’s by James Patterson 48. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Memoirs: *49. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerrman *50. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah 51. Randy Pausch The Last Lecture 52. Dream New Dreams by Jai Pausch *53. Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius 54. The Bite of the Mango by Mariatsu Kamara 55. I am Malala Tragic But Beautiful *56. The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley 57. The Good Wife Stewart O’Nan 58. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes  The Nightingale by Kristin HannahMy rating: 5 of 5 stars "She gave herself over to the sensations of the kiss, let it become the whole of her universe, and knew finally how it felt to be enough for someone." I wish I had read this book sooner! The Nightingale is one of the best books I've read set in the WWII time period. It follows the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during WWII in France. Vianne and Isabelle are foils of each other. Isabelle is a rash, bold girl not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. During the war, she decides to resist the Nazis, wanting to do something brave. Vianne, on the other hand, is more reserved. Her wartime goal is to survive, so she is much more cautious. Through the story, both women face impossible choices and tragedy. Throughout the book, they come to realize that there is no correct answer to how to survive a war. I love the many facets of this book. There is a love story interwoven in the tale. There is a focus on the sisterly bond and how that changes through life. There is also the focus on how war doesn't leave anyone unscathed. Finally, the book focuses on the concept of courage and how it takes so many forms. The writing was gorgeous. Hannah weaves emotional imagery into her story, leaving every scene painted in the reader's mind. I also felt like the plot was expertly crafted. There was never a point where I lost interest. Every passage had a purpose in the story. The ending was satisfying and poignant. This is a must read for really anyone. It reminds you that life is fragile and family is what matters most. It also reminds you that behind every person is a story. View all my reviews  Summer is HERE! This means I've got extra time for reading, reviewing, and being the ultimate #bookworm I am! Here's what's first up on my TBR pile. I plan on revisiting my Youtube channel this summer now that I have extra time, so be watching for reviews coming soon. Subscribe to my newsletter if you haven't already for regular updates, and feel free to comment with suggestions below :) 1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children3. Gen Ryan's Beautiful Masterpiece4. Jeannine Colette's Wild Abandon5. MJ Greenway Sarah Starting Over6. Uncle Tom's Cabin7. Outlander
►►► #NewRelease ◄◄◄
FALLBACK (The Dead Survive Book 2) by Lori Whitwam, Author is now available for purchase on Amazon!
► #oneclick →→ http://amzn.to/1NicBG5
► Publisher: LIMITLESS PUBLISHING
►►► SYNOPSIS ◄◄◄
After being rescued from a brutal band of marauders, Ellen Hale rebuilt her life in the fortified neighborhood that became her home. A heartbreaking decision and devastating loss pushed her to become a fierce fighter, because weakness only got you and those you loved killed.
Now her community is facing a deadly threat, and Ellen has another choice to make.
Ellen volunteers as a member of fallback team three, tasked with establishing a temporary refuge for their citizens in the event their community is overrun by the enemy. As the danger intensifies, she and her adopted sister, Melissa, set off with the rest of their team on the road trip from hell.
Their mission is cloaked in secrecy, but suspicions of a traitor arise.
Something is affecting the zombies’ migration patterns, and when blacksmith Tyler Garrett is discovered trapped in a farmhouse, the team refuses to trust him. But Ellen believes his story, and it’s not just because of his rugged, blond good looks and soft-spoken manner—his skills can greatly benefit their team.
As the team struggles to reach the fallback, previously secure locations are overrun, and their chances of success seem remote. With the likelihood of a traitor nearly certain, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, Ellen must figure out who to trust before the traitor—or the zombies—destroy them all.
Is there a spy among the fallback team,
or is there another threat lurking in the Kentucky hills?
►►► Meet the author ◄◄◄
LORI WHITWAM
Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.
She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as the Managing Editor for Limitless Publishing, as well as editing for a select group of indie authors.
Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.
She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.
Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.
You can find her online at http://www.loriwhitwam.com.
Her Facebook author page is http://www.facebook.com/loriauthor
First there was Corbin. Based loosely on my husband’s characteristics, he is the heartthrob in Voice of Innocence who is wrongfully convicted. So many readers felt complete sorrow for him and loved his sense of humor. Next came Camden. The man with the big heart, he’s Jenna’s main squeeze in Without You. A gorgeous body, a penchant for video games, and handy with any tool, he’s loyal and romantic. Then came…Owen. I truly do love Corbin and Camden…but I have to admit Owen is my favorite male protagonist to date. He is my book boyfriend choice from my own writing. Owen’s a bit of the rebel compared to the other men. Tattoos, a tendency to say what he’s thinking, and a passion for life that’s unbeatable all characterize this spiky haired, Adam Levine lookalike. He’s funny and warm. He’s messy and loves takeout pizza. He’s fearless, he’s confident, but he’s also got a soft spot for family. He’s a personal care aide by day, a rocker in his dreams. He’s the perfect mix of badass and sweetheart with some gorgeous attributes mixed in. There are quite a few men in Then Comes Love, but I’m confident Owen is going to steal your heart. He certainly steals Amelia’s.  |
 
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