Wildcard Blog Tour Favorite Quotes

Wildcard by Marie Lu (2nd in the Warcross series)
Rating: 5 out of 5

Description:
Return to the immersive, action-packed world of Warcross in this thrilling sequel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu

Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems--and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

Review:

(Disclaimer: All quotes are from an Advanced Readers Copy so they might not be 100% accurate.)

This has to be one of my favorite books of all time. It's as amazing as Warcross if not more so. Every time you think you have a grasp on the situation there's a new plot twist that you never saw coming. The characters are even more dynamic then they were in the first book and we get to know them on an even deeper level.

My favorite part of any book (besides the romance of course) are the quotes that hit you deep and pack a punch. Here are just a few of my favorites from Wildcard. A forewarning there will be spoilers, these are direct quotes from the book and most of them come from the end. Read on at your own risk.

4. "When the closing ceremony game starts, everything will either end or become a living nightmare."

        I love this quote! It's so ominous and enticing. It pulls you forward and makes you want to keep reading.

3. "'I'm terrified,' he whispers back. 'Of what you're capable of. Because you're here, walking on a razor-thin line. I've been afraid ever since I met you, when you looked me straight in the eye and broke down my system in a matter of minutes. I spent hours afterward studying what you did. I remember everything you've ever said to me...I'm afraid that every time I see you might be the last'...His voice is low and raw. 'Because every time I see you, it takes everything in me to turn away.'"

      I promise you I didn't just include this quote because it's romantic (although that might be part of it), I also added it because it shows so much depth in Hideo. He's typically emotionally vacant. Even with Emika in Warcross he's distant most of the time. This is one of those few rare moments where we get to see how deeply Hideo feels things. He feels so deeply but has gotten so good at hiding it. I appreciate how in this moment the author breaks down his walls, even to someone who he doesn't completely trust. And okay, it's stupidly sappy and romantic, the perfect combo for any hopeless romantic.

2. "Even though Sasuke isn't here, I can sense his presence in the room, as if the boy who had disappeared has finally, in Jax, found a voice for his story."

      This is perfect for anyone who has lost a loved one. The people we love are never really gone, they live on in us. Whenever we talk about them or stand up for something they believed in you're carrying on their legacy and keeping their memory alive.

1.  "Every problem has a solution. But after every solution, there's a new problem to tackle, some new challenge to take on. You don't stop after you solve one thing. You keep going, you find a new way and a new path, try to do better and create better. Tearing something down isn't the end; doing something great, or better, something right, is. Or maybe there isn't such a thing as an end goal at all. You accomplish something, and then you shift, ready to accomplish the next. You keep solving one problem after another until you change the world."

      It's so true! Life keeps moving and you're goals and motivations always shifting. It really gives you something to think about.

Guys, I totally recommend this book. It has action, romance, comedy. It's a great fit for people who love a variety of things.

AUTHOR BIO

Marie Lu is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites series, as well as the blockbuster bestselling Legend series. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing games, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles with her illustrator/author husband, Primo Gallanosa, and their dogs.

BONUS QUOTE: "Hideo narrows his eyes. Through our link, I hear him send a quiet, unspoken command to Taylor.

DIE."

The Game Can't Love You Back by Karole Cozzo

Title: The Game Can't Love You Back
Author: Karole Cozzo
Genre: Romance, Teen/YA
Rating: 5 out of 5




Bitter sports rivalries and swoon-worthy romance intertwine, in Karole Cozzo’s classic enemies to lovers story where two former nemeses blur the lines between love and hate.

Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school's baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she's learned to focus on one thing and one thing only—being the best pitcher she can be.

But when a freak accident forces her school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren't used to having a woman on their team. And the new team's star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can't afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher—especially to a girl.

As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played?

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Game Can’t Love You Back follows Eve as she is forced to join a new baseball team and contend with the insufferable (and cute) rival pitcher.

The Game Can't Love You Back is a perfect book that combines sports, romance, and competition. I love the characters in this book. Especially the two main ones, Eve and Jamie. 
Starting with Eve. I love how she doesn't play baseball instead of softball to prove that girls are just as good as boys or that she has what it takes. She plays because her brothers played and that's what she grew up with. Of course she has to prove herself to the boys on the team but so does every single new player that joins. Maybe her a little more then the others but she doesn't complain and she never backs down from a challenge. She's strong and fierce and not afraid to play a little dirty. Despite being fierce, on and off the field, she's not afraid to admit she needs help.

Now Jamie is your stereotypical jock, arrogant and narcissistic. Except that's only a front. There's so much more to him then what meets the eye. He's actually quite caring, sensitive, and kind. He does whatever it takes to protect those he cares about. Even if it means getting in a bit of trouble.
When you put them together you get some hilarious banter. Their back and forth has to be my favorite part of the book. Their both witty and clever and can crack a joke is even the most uncomfortable of situations.
The title fits the book perfectly. It's a major concept throughout the book although it's not necessarily said or mentioned until you get toward the end.

This is such an amazing and heartwarming book. It's easily one of my favorites.

Warcross by Marie Lu Book Review

Title: Warcross
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Sci-fy, Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 5 out of 5

I have to say I was a little wary about this book. Don't get me wrong I love Marie Lu's writing. Legend is one of my favorite book series of all time. But the ending to the series tore me apart. I swore up and down after that book that I'd never read another of her books again. Then Young Elites came out and I said sure why not. It wasn't my favorite book and I never finished the series (although it had nothing to do with the writing and everything to do with lingering resentment for Legend). Then Warcross came out with it's beautiful cover and stunning description and stellar reviews... I couldn't just pass it up! So here I am admitting defeat. Now lets get on with the actual review. Just a forewarning the end of this post will include me ranting about the end of the book so I will be giving a spoiler alert warning before that.

The characterization in this book is amazing. The main character, Emika, is an incredible hacker and technology wiz. Throughout the book she learns what it means to be connected to other people in a way she hasn't experienced since she was eleven. Then you have Hideo, who I have to say is my favorite. He's mysterious, and smart, and charming. His past is littered with secrets and he's definitely a puzzle that needs to be solved. Most of my opinions on Hideo, however, will be in the spoiler section of this post.

I have to say that my favorite part of this book was the technology. It reminds me a lot of the tech Antarctica used in Legend. I have a felling (I can't be sure but) I feel like she took the idea from Legend and worked a whole new plot line around it, which is amazing. I loved this technology when it was in Legend and this book delve into and develops it even further. It's creative and innovative. It's original, and nowadays it's hard to find something that you haven't read a million times.

I could rave about so many other amazing things in this book but the last one I'm going to talk about before rant time is the ending. No spoilers yet. I promise. The end of this book is surprising. It's so unexpected. With how many books I read it's hard to catch me off guard but... wow. This ending threw me for a loop.

Now the moment I've been waiting for.... caution SPOILERS ahead.
I love the conundrum the author presents at the end. The moral dissonance. The huge controversy revolves around Hideo controlling peoples minds to not break the law. There's two sides to this. One, he's keeping people safe. With this tech in place people won't get murdered, or steal, or kidnap children like what happened to Hideo's brother Sasuke. Two, is it wrong to make someones mind up for them? Where do you draw the line between control and protection? While Hideo's intentions are good he could potentially be stripping people of their free will. Although should someones free will mean the death or harm of someone else. Again I love that Marie Lu is facing down this morale conundrum.
And by the way I totally called the Zero is Hideo's brother, Sasuke.

SPOILER ALERT OVER

Now that I'm done with my rant I just have to say that I can't wait for the next book in this series. Hopefully this series will end a lot better then Legend. And yes I'M STILL BITTER!
I might be bitter but I wont let it turn me away from a good book.

ARC Tell Me No Lies Review

Title: Tell Me No Lies
Author: A.V. Geiger
Genre: YA Mystery
Rating: 5 out of 5


Tell Me No Lies picks up with Tessa right after the events of Follow me back. Such an astonishing sequel. This book lives up to the first one and maybe even surpasses it. It contains more suspense and more romance. After the cliff hanger I was awaiting the day when the second one would be here. I was also dreading it because sequels are almost never as good as the first book. But this book breaks that mold and goes above and beyond expectations.

Fist of all, the character development is fantastic and a lot more intricate then the first book. Not only are new characters added to the mix that really make things crazy, we get to see new sides of old characters and more back story on them growing up and what brought them to this point. The context that gets added in help us to understand the characters even more.

Next, the plot twist actually do their job and take you by surprise. I can't tell you how many books I've read that I totally saw the "plot twists" coming or the ending was way to predictable. I've read a lot of books so I can often guess at whats going to happen. But this book totally threw me for a loop. The puzzle pieces in the mystery didn't fit together until the very end. It was a totally unpredictable ending which is what mysteries are supposed to be.

There are numerous other things that make this book excellent but if I said them for all this post would be way to long. A.V. Geiger is such an amazing author and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Ignited Book Tour

About The Book:

Title: IGNITED (Dance of the Elements, #1)

Author: A.M. Deese

Pub. Date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: RadiantTeen 

Pages: 354

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Google Play Books, Goodreads

Rating: 4/5

A NOBLE DAUGHTER.

A FORMER SLAVE.

SCORCHED EARTH AND DANGEROUS GAMES.

“Jura imagined it sounded like rain.”


Juggling death is nothing new for seventeen-year-old Jura, daughter of the First of the Thirteen, successive rulers of the Republic of the Sand Sea. However, when a blood chain ensnares her father, she is thrust into the seat of power and forced to rule her elders.

“To Tylak, water had never tasted sweeter.”

Jura must track down her father’s assassin and balance a country on the verge of collapse. To find the Prince of Shadows and uncover the truth, Jura puts her trust in Tylak, a former slave accused of stealing from the Everflame—a man she once condemned to death.

In a world where water is currency and enemies lurk around every corner, Jura will use her wits or risk igniting a world war.

Review:

I loved this book so much! What first caught my eye was the cover. I know they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but it doesn't hurt to have a stunning cover. The other thing that made me want to read this book is the summary. It's so intriguing. I've always loved stories of the high-class girl and the peasant boy. Especially when they start off absolutely hating each other.

The format of the book is a little interesting. The point of view switches between five characters. At first it was slightly confusing but it was amazing to see these five, seemingly unconnected, stories come together. It's not something I personally would have done but Deese pulls it off without a hitch.

I love the characters in this story. The main character is Jura, who is mentioned in the summary. Defiantly a strong female character who knows how to get what she wants. 

Next, there's Tylak, also mentioned above. Not to choose favorites or anything...but Tylaks my favorite. He's smart, clever, and brave. He also knows how to get what he wants but he goes about it differently then Jura. 

Thirdly, we have Ash, a retired gladiator. I have to be honest I hated him at first. He grew on me throughout the book. 

Then we have Beshar. Have to admit, he's my least favorite character. He's cunning and deceitful. He like's to hold his power over others. 

Last but defiantly not least, a little girl named Kay. She's seven years old and the daughter of a Dragon Breeder. Yes there are dragons in this book and yes it is awesome.  She's strong willed and strong tempered, but adorable as well. She is very obedient to her parents but only when it suits her. 

Overall this is an amazing book and I can't wait for the next one. Defiantly recommend for anyone who loves fantasy. And if you read The Winner's Curse trilogy and loved it (I did too) then you will love this book.

About the author:  Alexis Marrero Deese is an avid reader of young adult and fantasy. Her favorite authors include Brandon Sanderson, Jaqueline Carey, and Orson Scott Card. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and a sun tan she misses dearly since her move to northern Georgia. She has a passion for cooking, spends entirely too much time on Pinterest, and is a self-proclaimed dog training expert to her family’s legion of dogs.

Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Giveaway Details:

Win one signed paperback of Ignited by A.M. Deese, one glow-in-the-dark dragon pendant, one leather-bound dragon journal, and a $5 Amazon gift card! This is a pre-order giveaway but you do not need to buy the book to enter, buying the book just gives you more entries.

Giveaway Link:

https://gleam.io/TbBiM/ignited-preorder-giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/19/2018- QUITE THE NOVEL IDEA- Excerpt

3/20/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

3/21/2018- Margie's Must Reads- Excerpt

3/22/2018- Fan-Girl-Tabulous- Review

3/23/2018-Novel Novice- Guest Post

Week Two:

3/26/2018- History of Royal Women- Review

3/27/2018- Wonder Struck- Review

3/28/2018- Lilly's Book World- Review

3/29/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview

3/30/2018- Book Briefs- Review

Inamorata by Randi Cooley Wilson

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Published February 9th, 2018

Buy: Signed Paperback

ibooks

Amazon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36746294-inamorata

Two houses. Two hearts. One fate.

Growing up in the prestigious Fairchild house seems like the perfect life, but for Julianna, it isn’t always easy, especially as the granddaughter of a prominent Seelie Court elder. When Julianna’s grandfather passes away, her parents are summoned to the Fae island of Tir Na Nog. Not wanting to miss her senior year of high school, Julianna decides to remain in Havenwood Falls with her human grandmother, unaware this one choice will forever change her perfectly planned future.

Lies, secrets, and betrayals rule in the Bishop house, and Rowan Bishop, the youngest of the brothers, is no exception. Unpredictable and uncontrollable, he’s been kicked out of eight private boarding schools. As a last-ditch effort to set him straight, his oldest brother enrolls him in Havenwood Falls’ Sun and Moon Academy—a private school for residents with supernatural gifts.

After several chance encounters, Julianna and Rowan discover a connection full of attraction, mystery, and danger. A connection that lands them right in the middle of a centuries old feud between the Bishops and the Fairchilds. And when it comes to choosing sides, the cost of their forbidden love will be higher than they ever expected.

This is a Young Adult paranormal tale in the Havenwood Falls High series of Young Adult fantasy stories featuring a variety of supernatural creatures. The series is a collaborative effort by multiple authors. Each book is generally a stand-alone, so you can read them in any order, although some authors will be writing sequels to their own stories. Please be aware when you choose your next read.

About the Author:

Randi Cooley Wilson is the bestselling author of The Revelation Series, The Royal Protector Academy Novels, The Dark Soul Trilogy, “Covetousness” a Havenwood Falls Novella, and “Inamorata” a Havenwood Falls High Novella. She resides in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter. For more on Randi, please visit her website, www.randicooleywilson. Or connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/authorrandicooleywilson and/or Twitter @R_CooleyWilson.