Tour Invite: Click to Subscribe

I am a huge fan of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a vlog (video blog) series on Youtube that's utterly hilarious and romantically consuming :)

So when I stumbled upon CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE, a Young Adult contemporary novel about a famous video blogger and the girl he falls in love with over the Internet (who happens to be his best friend under a screen name), I knew that this was a book that I'd love to read! I'm pretty sure that there are loads of contemporary-lovers who will want to join me on promoting this book. 

And thanks to the amazing author, L.M., we've now come up with a really fun blog tour for everyone anticipating the novel. Take a look at the blurb and sign up below ;)

135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them. 

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

Published May 9th 2013.

Sign up here to be part of the tour.

The tour will run from May 13th to May 24th and tour hosts will be selected on a first-come first-served basis.

Note: This tour will be largely review-based and only has a limited number of interviews & guest posts.

Join in on all the fun!

xoxo,

Sel

Review: Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin, #2)

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin, #2)

Author: Robin LaFevers

Summary:

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.

Published April 2nd 2013.

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Song of the day: Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey (Listen while reading the review)

Robin LaFevers once again astounds with her flair for writing heart-warming romance coupled with her skill for spinning an ambitious web of deceit and scandal. 

A seductive yet redemptive tale of Sybella-- a girl who harbours twisted secrets and dangerous vendettas, this story shines with both the haunting horror of the traditional Bluebeard folktale and the breathless magic of Beauty and the Beast.

The Bluebeard of the novel is D'Albert, a cruel, unscrupulous father to Sybella and also one of the suitors for the Duchess' hand in marriage. The thought of that in itself is repulsive as D'Albert could as well as be the father of the Duchess of Brittany with both a middle-age paunch and a leer characteristic of a greedy fifty-year-old man. Much of Sybella's emotional turmoil revolves around D'Albert as she first yearns to escape from the confines of his residences and then plots to take her revenge by assassinating him. However, the truth behind Sybella's motivation for revenge is shrouded behind a fog as we know close to nothing about her childhood and the real reason which propelled her to escape into Mortain's convent.

Yet, Sybella's carefully planned strategy is thwarted by the appearance of a new prisoner in the dungeons of D'Albert's castle-- Beast, our hero of the tale and the strongest knight in the realm. As she is currently undercover as one of the Daughters of Death to aid the rescue of Beast, she struggles between her duty to the convent in carrying out the rescue and her desire to stay and take the life of D'Albert.

A series of heart-pounding events follow, as Sybella gets thrown off her original track of plans into a whole new adventure. The dark and frightening thoughts that plague Sybella's mind are at times disturbing, but mostly fascinating and illuminating. We are repulsed-- not by her, but by the hands which administered the brutality of her childhood. But, ultimately, we are empowered with the beautiful strength of Sybella, rising from the dust and walking out of the shadows into a future that she never once imagined was hers to be blessed with.
    

While Grave Mercy was of epic proportions, covering the courtly intrigue, political scandals that plague 15th century Brittany, Dark Triumph was a more intimate experience, a story of a girl's personal journey.

Addictive and brilliant, Sybella is a true triumph of a character, in every sense of the word. Dark because of the past; triumphant because of the present.

Source: For review purposes from the publisher

Via Netgalley.

xoxo,

Sel

Author Interview + Giveaway: Jennifer E. Smith (author of This Is What Happy Looks Like)

Hi guys! 

Hope you enjoyed Easter and April Fool's :) I know I managed to fool some of you with my Harry Potter joke (see here, scroll to the end of the post).

Today's post is about one of my most anticipated releases this year, THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE. The book and its amazing author, Jennifer E. Smith, have both made several appearances on this blog. HAPPY was on my Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2013 list while Jennifer's previous book, THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, had a place on my Top Ten Books I've Read in 2012 list (you can see my raving review of it here). And the best thing is that I've even interviewed Jennifer previously, with a lot of rants about true love and hot British boys (read the interview here).

Since Jennifer is no stranger to this blog, let's welcome her back again with a short and sweet Q&A about HAPPY, which released yesterday (2 April 2013)!

You also have a chance to win a copy of the book, thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ;) Try your luck in the Rafflecopter at the end of the post. Before that, get to know a tad bit more about the book!

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Describe HAPPY to us in a sentence.

It's an unlikely love story between two very different teens who meet after an email goes astray...

Tell the readers, why should we read this book?

I think readers who enjoyed my last book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, will like this one too.  It's another love story that explores themes of fate and chance. Only this time, the boy is a teen movie star!

Many readers and bloggers have commented that they love how HAPPY sounds like Sleepless in Seattle meet You've Got Mail. What is your opinion on this interpretation? Did these two films inspire you in any way?

I adore those two movies -- especially You've Got Mail -- so I'm thrilled with the comparison.  I think most writers of these types of stories owe a great debt to Nora Ephron. I know I certainly do.

Which movie star did you picture Graham to be like?

I actually didn't have someone specific in mind, though I've already heard from a lot of people who pictured various actors while they were reading, so I'm excited to hear more theories as they roll in!

Anything you want to share about Graham's pet pig? Or why Ellie doesn't want to be in the media's spotlight? 

Graham's pet pig, Wilbur, doesn't actually make an appearance, though he's referenced quite a lot, and he's actually one of my favorite parts of the book.  As for Ellie's secret, you'll have to read to find out!

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Thanks for dropping by, Jennifer! Is it just me or does this book remind you of a Disney Channel movie, Starstruck (but wittier, funnier and deeper)? :) Anywho, I just can't resist pigs called Wilbur *grins*

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

GIVEAWAY (US ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


If you are one of the international peeps like me who can't take part in the giveaway, head over to The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble to order the book today!

Even if you are not taking part, I still have an interesting question for you:

If you could be pen pals with any superstar/singer/teen heartthrob, who would it be?

xoxo,

Sel