Cover Reveal: Two Truths and One Liar by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Two Truths and One Liar
Deirdre Riordan Hall
Publication date: December 28th 2021
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying with a hint of the Inheritance Games. Like the original whodunnit, Clue, this suspenseful mystery also has three possible endings explaining what could have happened.

They all have secrets. They all have motives. They all tell lies.

Every year, at a prestigious boarding school, Professor Groff hosts the Midnight Masquerade. But this year, before the festivities, he’s discovered dead in his office. Yet six students still receive invitations. The same six students who’re questioned about his murder.

The show must go on. At the Masquerade, two additional students claim to know the truth. The lights go out and when they come back on, one of them is dead. Anyone could’ve been at fault.

Francisca blind in one eye and deadly on the rugby field. Toshi a number ninja and the campus punching bag. Taz who struggles with anxiety and lingers in the shadows. Fish the golden boy hiding wounds and not only in his heart. Caroline the heiress and the image of perfection. Gorgeous George the resident Greek God with nothing to lose.

The six receive anonymous notes, making them question themselves and the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Brought back together, they must prove their innocence before the all-school meeting the next morning, otherwise, they risk humiliation if their secrets are exposed exposed—and worse, if they’re found guilty.

It’s a long night of theft, danger, and threats by a secret society that shows Professor Groff was right during his final lecture.

Everything that can go wrong will.

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Author Bio:

Deirdre Riordan Hall is the author of the contemporary young adult bestsellers Sugar and Pearl as well as the High School Murder Mystery series. She’s in an ongoing pursuit of words, waves, and wonder. Her love language involves a basket of chips, salsa, and guacamole, preferably when shared with her family.

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Book Blitz: What Happened to Coco by VB Furlong

What Happened to Coco
VB Furlong
Publication date: December 4th 2021
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

When a girl disappears, long-buried secrets resurface…

Coco is missing. Her room’s a mess, and her phone is left behind in her dorm at Lainsbury Hall School

Ella, Coco’s childhood best friend, is desperate for her to return, although she knows that if she ever sees Coco again, there’ll be a lot of explaining to do.

Bea knows that her new group of friends attracts drama, and she thinks she has the last shred of common sense between them all. Only, if that was true, she would leave Genevieve, her toxic ex, well alone.

Conrad is confident that Coco will return safe and well. Only, the way his secrets are unravelling, he’s worried he won’t be when this is all over.

Harrison and Coco are the perfect couple. Everyone knows that. But looks can be misleading. Even the smartest boy in school can make a terrible mistake.

In order to navigate the web of secrets and lies that Coco leaves behind, her circle of friends needs to unravel a few of their own.

But the question remains: What happened to Coco?

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

In the misty darkness lit only by a blue streetlamp, Ella knew that she was not alone. She turned and saw the faceless figure far down the drizzly street. It came towards her at speed. It didn’t seem to be moving, but she knew that it was gaining on her. She started to run, but her legs would not move. She was stuck, as though in quicksand.

When she dared check over her shoulder once again, the figure was only about five steps away, and she could see raspy breaths escape the black silhouette in a wispy white cloud. The scene whirred in front of Ella as she pulled on her legs, sobbing, begging them to move. But they would not. All she could hear was the breathing, slow and rattling, as though it was the figure’s very last. Four. Three. Two.

It was the skeletal hand on her shoulder that woke her. In the darkness of her room, she was alone. She turned her alarm off and felt uneasy in the silence. She was soaking wet, her back from sweat, her face from tears.

She washed her face, hardly daring to open her eyes and look into the mirror above the sink. She felt watched, hunted. As she brushed her teeth, she turned on all her lights and opened the dreary brown curtains that Lainsbury Hall School had placed in all the dorms. But even in her bright vanity lamps that took over her dressing table, drowning her in bright white light as she did her make up, her eyes darted around the corners of her mirrors, checking all angles of the room in the reflection for the faceless spectre. She was not herself today. Then again, she hadn’t been herself yesterday, either.

Author Bio:

VB Furlong is a trainee lawyer and writer of young adult novels living in Berkshire, UK. She wrote her first “novel” at aged ten and has not stopped since then. Through her writing she aims to explore many of the issues she faced herself growing up, in the hopes that others facing the same issues feel some solidarity. Her friendships are a huge part of her life and consequently is a major theme in her writing, exploring the way in which we interact with each other, especially in difficult times.

Originally from Mumbles, Swansea, VB Furlong enjoys the sun and the sea, and walking her three dogs across the cliffs. These walks have offered her inspiration for many pieces of writing, including What Happened to Coco which she is excited to introduce as a coming of age boarding school thriller.

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Book Review: Radiants by David B. Coe

Dede has a secret that she’s been keeping her whole life. After a traumatizing event, she’s successfully pushed down the part of her that makes her unique, that is, until now. See, Dede can force her own consciousness out of her body and into others, essentially turning them into a puppet. And she’s going to be learning to use it a lot, apparently.

4/5 Stars 325 Pages Published October 15th 2021 by Bell Bridge Books

After using her power at school to protect and get revenge for her her friend Kyle from bullies, she comes home and tells her mom. Little does she know that her family will change forever, from that day on. Hunted down by the government, Dede and her little brother Miles are eventually separated from their mother and forced to work alone to save everyone involved, including themselves. They’re on the run, because if they stop, they’re facing incredible tests from the government to essentially map out every aspect of their unique abilities. At whatever the cost.

A good book, ,they story was more about finding yourself and staying strong in tough situations. From sticking up for your friends, to being blamed for murder and finding out your little brother’s powers, you have to do what you know what’s right, even if it’s scary and hard to achieve.

I enjoyed the book, but it’s not my new favourite. That being said, I would read more from the author in the future. It was written very smoothly, and suitable for readers fourteen an up, due to violence. Check it out if you think it would be something you’d like!

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here on Twitter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well, and staying happy. What power would you want if you could choose?

Book Blitz & Excerpt: Double Negative by Susan Marshall

Double Negative
Susan Marshall
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: November 12th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Injured competitive swimmer Reece never wanted to be Vice Prez of West Hill High. It was her brother Jamie’s idea, just something to do until she could get back into the pool.

She knew that Jamie—who led his campaign with a striptease “election speech”—would be a complete “President Dumbass.” But Reece didn’t foresee that she’d fall hard for Jamie’s Student Council rival, Zain.

Zain is hot and intense, plus an amputee and a basketball star. Between Zain’s disability and Reece’s surgery, they have their challenges, but that deepens their connection—until he drops a bombshell about his accident. Suddenly, everything important to Reece starts to implode.

Struggling with issues of family loyalty, secrets, and scars, Reece must decide if real relationships are worth the heartache.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

The atmosphere in the auditorium was near electric. The students were gobbling up the performance, knowing Jamie’s “speech” could be stopped at any second. As he started to lower his swimsuit, DiFran suddenly—finally—stomped onstage. I momentarily covered my eyes with my good hand, and when I peeked through my fingers, I exhaled in relief. His flesh-colored t-shirt was part of a unitard. No frontal nudity today, folks.

Fists and jaw tightly clenched, DiFran leaned in and whispered insistently into Jamie’s ear. But like a pole dancer resisting the grand finale, Jamie shook him off.

High-bun girl leaned forward as my brother turned ass backward to the audience. Large black letters were written across his butt—Free on the left cheek, Ice Cream on the right. High-bun girl— and pretty much the entire student body—went insane as the dance music morphed into a conga drumbeat.

As Jamie thrust out one butt cheek, everyone yelled, “Free!” He pulsed out the other one to a refrain of, “Ice cream!” Even my gym teacher Ms. Walker started shouting along, while Jamie wiggled one cheek and then the other. “Free ice cream!” I gripped the armrest with my good hand. Very presidential.

Moving to the speed of Jamie’s bum, the chanting accelerated to a fevered pitch. Riding an ice cream vendor bike, Dean blasted through the backstage curtain, skidding to a stop. He opened the cooler, pulled out a few boxes of cones, and lifted them up high like a trophy.

DiFran took center stage, waving his arms furiously, trying but failing to halt the deafening noise.

“Are you quite done?” he huffed into the mic. Jamie, who was suddenly in his trunks and at his side, shook his head. “Wrap this up pronto,” DiFran spat.

Jamie tilted the microphone toward his mouth as the auditorium quieted down. Here comes the big speech. Despite all the shenanigans, or maybe because of them, everyone seemed ready to listen. It was almost a dead silence when Jamie leaned in and spoke his first words, slowly emphasizing each letter.

“For free ice cream, vote Jamie and Dean.” He paused. Everyone sat quietly, waiting for more. But instead, Dean ripped open boxes as Jamie reached over and started firing ice cream cones at the audience. Even though I was way out of range, I ducked. A mad scramble ensued. The bull had been released.

Author Bio:

A lover of libraries, Susan obtained a Masters Degree in Library Science but found that she was too disorganized for that field. Instead, Susan worked at The Globe and Mail newspaper and then Seneca College. Four kids later, she decided to stay-at-home, spending her quiet moments indulging her love of writing.

The old adage is to “write what you know.” In Double Negative, Susan channels her experience as a parent of a teen amputee and her misguided belief that she was once an athlete. The inspiration for NemeSIS was the complicated sister dynamic in Susan’s estrogen fuelled household in Hamilton, Ontario. An avid reader, she loves e-books and falls asleep nightly to the soft glow, oblivious to what happened on the last page.

Susan lives in Toronto with her husband, three sons, a daughter, rescue dog Bean and Indy the cat.

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Book Review: Project Ele (Ele #1) by Rebecca Gober & Courtney Nuckels

5/5 Stars 334 pages
Published December 24th 2013 by Clean Teen Publishing

Imagine you’re standing in line in the hot sun. Now imagine that, but for a week straight. Not only is the sun hot, but everyone is very stressed out. You’re not waiting for a new phone, or to get into the store to get your groceries. You’re waiting for your spot in an underground vault. A massive bunker. And there’s a plague spreading fast. If you didn’t think it could get any worse than that, you’re dead wrong. There’s no actual guarantee that you’ll get in, and the weather is only going to get more extreme. This, and more, is what fifteen year old Willow is facing with her family.

A very unique take on a classic apocalyptic fiction story, as an insane last resort to contain a virus that’s taking over the world, the world leaders are planning on heating the planet hot enough to wipe it, and anyone who’s infected, out. The rich and most important people are ushered into the vaults, leaving the poor people and the infected people scrambling trying to get in, or face to deathly hot conditions outside.

Now if you know me, you’d know I’m a huge fan of the game series, Fallout, as well as almost any book featuring the apocalypse. So of course this was right up my alley. I loved the story, the characters, and the setting. I think it’s perfect for all ages to read, and I can’t wait to read more. Kind of an X-Men meets Fallout 3, but not the entire game. Just the beginning where you’re growing up in the vault. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, you can here!

And you can follow the authors, Rebecca and Courtney, on Twitter!

Thanks for reading, hope you have a great day! Did you play the fallout games? I could talk about them all day.

Book Review: Spacevault by G.W. Smith

Although this was an interesting idea, as a book, it wasn’t really for me. Set on world that’s doomed to perish because of an asteroid, Xel, the main character is destined to save it. Unfortunately there is also insta-love, and too little description for me to be able to follow all the different species of characters in the story. Basically, it wasn’t for me.

2/5 Stars 117 pages
Published January 21st 2012

The beginning of the story starts with a mass gathering of scientists. In the next fifty years, asteroid “Black Rock” is going to come and mess up their entire planet’s orbit by coming too close, dooming their home. They’ve been working on a solution, a way to teleport to a safe location, but nothing has really become of it because they would have to move their entire population. After ten years, they’re running out of options. So they’ve come up with a new idea, taking the world’s most intelligent people and children, giving them special schooling so they may go on to save their people. And Xel is one of those children.

Was he a child or was he a teen? Was he fully grown? These are some of the questions I have. How did he change his relationships with the other characters in the story so fast? Why were the children basically test dummies? There are just so many things I didn’t really understand, and I couldn’t really stay invested in the book.

I think that although I thought the book was confusing, not everyone will think that. It does have a great and unique scifi base to build off of. If you think you would enjoy it, check it out!

Thanks for reading. Hope you’re doing well and there’s no asteroids headed for our own planet!

Book Review: Windchaser (Phantom Island #1) by Krissi Dallas

Switching it up a little bit with Windchaser, we have a book from an author unknown to me until now, about teens at a camp who stumble upon something more than a good vacation.

4/5 Stars 288 pages
Published December 13th 2011 by Tate Publishing

Whitnee lost her dad when she was young, and it’s something that still effects her to this day. But after going to a troubled youth camp when she was a child, she returned with two new best friends, Morgan and Caleb. But will they stay best fr5iends when they come back to the camp as teenage mentors to a whole new set of trouble kids?

The book begins with a lot of reminiscing about their previous camp experience as children, which really reminded me of my own school camp experience. Although Whitnee and Morgan are more interested in meeting cute guys than actual camping. Under no circumstances are they supposed to cross the river. However, after thinking she sees someone on the other side, Whitnee just has to go and check it out for herself.

A fair warning, this book contains a lot of teenage boy drama. Just the hard part of being friends with boys, I guess. But despite all of that, Whitnee is determined to go find out what’s really going on, on the other side of the river. With or without her friends. And what she finds will change her life forever.

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Overall I really enjoyed this unique story. I liked the characters, and the setting, and just the book in general. It’s something that I would love to continue reading, seeing as it’s a series. The story was just very different from the things that I’ve been reading lately, and it was needed. It’s not my new favourite, but not every book can be a new favourite, you know? Definitely check it out if you get the chance and you like teen books about camps with a fantastic twist!

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author on Twitter, you can here!

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re doing well, and remember, something as small as crossing a river could change your life!

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Book Blitz & Excerpt: Pretty Savage by T.A. Kunz

Pretty Savage
T.A. Kunz
Publication date: July 13th 2021
Genres: LGBTQ+, Thriller, Young Adult

“An intriguing mystery, Pretty Savage is a tension packed, wild journey with engrossing characters. A true page turner.” – #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bad things never happen in the picturesque town of Haddon Falls … until now.

It all starts with a killer party.

It will end with a savage crime spree.

Seniors Donovan Walsh and Drea Sullivan attend a high school party for very different reasons. But after discovering the body of one of their classmates, they find themselves thrust into the same waking nightmare. From that moment, their lives become intertwined in a search for answers to questions they never should have asked.

As bodies pile high, the unlikely pair dig into Haddon Falls’ past and uncover secrets someone would kill to keep hidden. In a small town where every face is friendly and every door unlocked, Donovan and Drea must unravel who is an ally … and who is willing to bury them-and the truth-six feet under.

“Pretty Savage is a gripping, fast-paced YA thriller featuring a savvy gay male protagonist and his kick-ass female counterpart! Readers who love hints of horror with a blood spatter of romance mixed with page-turning mystery will be left gasping by this wicked masterpiece by T.A. Kunz.” -Bestselling and award winning author Raine Thomas

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

Donavon

There he is.

Mr. Filthy Chai Tea Latte.

I mean, that’s obviously not his real name. It’s his usual drink order. Chai tea, steamed milk, and two shots of espresso. A rebel’s drink for sure. And since I haven’t gotten up the guts to ask him his name yet, he remains Mr. Filthy Chai Tea Latte.

It’s at times like this I wish we were like most coffee shops and requested a name for each order rather than just the to-gos. But the owner refuses to switch from the ever reliable—his words—order number system. Today, Mr. Filthy is number twenty-one.

My lucky number. Kismet?

At least once a week he meets here at The Pour Over with a group of similarly aged teens and they chat for hours. About what? Beats me. I’ve contemplated lingering by their table, performing menial tasks like restocking the oat milk at the drink prep area or wiping down nearby tables, in order to eavesdrop. But every time, I chicken out.

“A large filthy chai tea latte?” I ask before he has a chance to utter a word.

His eyebrow—pierced by the way—quirks up, and I realize I must’ve sounded like a major creeper for committing his order to memory.

A hint of a smile breaks the corner of his mouth. “Yeah. Thanks, Donovan.”

I die.

I die.

I die.

My name rolls off his tongue like caramel sauce dripping down the side of a hot latte. I’ve clearly been working here too long if I’m making coffee metaphors already … and it’s only my second month.

Wait, he knows my name. How does he know my name? Has he asked about me?

I glance down at my apron and see my name tag resting there. The bright white letters radiate against the dark background. You could probably see it from space. Makes sense.

He pays with his phone and then, just like clockwork, drops a folded five-dollar bill into the tip jar. He’s so intriguing, paying for his drink electronically but also having cash on hand. And when I’m at the register, he leaves five dollars. Every. Single. Time. He might do the same for everyone else, but I enjoy living in the fantasy that I’m his chosen recipient. I imagine them as little love notes he leaves behind for my eyes only.

Okay. Pull it together, man. Composure.

I take in the show as he strolls off to join his group at a table near the back of the café. His tall, dark, and mysterious routine never fails to work on me. I sigh internally, but I’m not convinced a little didn’t seep out by accident.

“Smooth.”

My co-worker Marcus stands there grinning like a fool. A ridiculously gorgeous fool, but a fool nonetheless. His slicked-back chestnut brown hair is perfectly shaped to accentuate his chiseled features. The solitary dimple on his left cheek adds an extra kick to the impish grin he sends my way.

I laugh. “Yeah, definitely not my best work.”

“Nah, you did great. A real pro,” he teases. “Hey, why don’t you go talk to him? We’re slow right now and someone does have to bring him his drink, you know.”

He wriggles his brows at me. I roll my eyes.

Marcus is no stranger to affection. Unlike me, he probably hasn’t been rejected by anyone. He exudes confidence, which comes in handy when he dons a dress and a wig to perform in drag on the weekends at the one and only gay bar in Haddon Falls, Mae’s Lounge. Marcus becomes Miz Markie Marc. And yes, he does have a slight unhealthy obsession with Mark Wahlberg. Hence, the drag name. And he loves to refer to me as Donnie for the same reason.

“I don’t even know if he’s into guys like that,” I say. “Besides, he’s sort of out of my league. I mean, will you just look at that jawline?”

“With the perfect amount of scruff too,” adds Marcus.

“Exactly. And he has at least four or five inches on me in the height department.”

“What a shame, Donnie.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, nothing.”

I know that’s not all he wants to say. He has more. Marcus loves to give input … and constructive criticism.

“It’s just….”

And there it is.

Author Bio:

T.A. Kunz is the pen name for Adam Kunz, who lives in Orlando, Florida. And unfortunately a lot of the rumors you’ve heard about his state are true. When he’s not writing, Adam spends his time reading, playing video games, watching anime and Korean dramas, and spending time with his partner while cuddling with their two dogs, Nicky and Rusty. Since childhood, he’s had a great fondness for reading and writing. His fiction genres of choice are eclectic, but mainly are in the YA, MG, and NA categories. So, it was no surprise when he decided to write his own books that he’d be a grab bag kind of author in terms of story ideas. And he just loves mashing up genres. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Adam advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. He may or may not have a coffee addiction, the jury’s still out on that one. And his hands-down favorite holiday is Halloween, which holds a very special place in Adam’s heart.

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Things that Make Me Uncomfortable in Teen Fiction

Photo by Kei Scampa on Pexels.com

If you, like me, are an adult who reads young adult fiction and still loves it even though technically you should have probably moved past it by now, you might have noticed a few things have changed since you read it when you were a teenager. And one of those for me, is the romance.

Although I never noticed when I was a teenager, I think that the idea of teen romance is so cringe, especially when there are um, more than just kissing scenes? I’m talking, teen sex. And I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure that there are more people than just me who find it uncomfortable.

Not only are we reading about literal children doing it, but we’re reading it from an author that wrote about children doing it, which is also weird to me. Or do other people not think about it that way? I’m not sure. But I know I’m uncomfortable and end up skipping past those kinds of scenes completely.

I love teen fiction, I love the idea of it, I love how imaginative it is, but here’s the thing, I don’t want to have to imagine that. And I just want to know if other people are reading teen books and also thinking about this.

Anyways, hope you have a great day! I have some interesting posts to put up after this, so I’m going to go and get started on that. Thanks for reading.

Book Review: Paradigm by Helen Stringer

5/5 Stars 396 pages
Published July 13th 2013 by Mediadrome Press

In a fully established yet still broken down post apocalyptic world, Sam has been alone for a long time. Full of gut wrenching action and badass characters, this book easily became my new favourite. Very different beginnings and endings, the story is seamlessly blended in the middle. If you like post apocalyptic, young adult, science fiction books, this might be just what you need to pick up next.

Sam’s only friend in the world is Nathan, a boy he picked up one day about the same age as him. He usually has rules about not doing those things, but I think it has to be a lonely life, and it weighs down on him a lot. So now it’s just two teens fighting to survive day to day, until they decide to go into the city for supplies to trade, so that they can keep travelling. On the way they meet Alma, an insanely strong warrior badass teen girl who just happens to save Sam’s life. But there’s more to Sam than meets the eye, after all. He gets really bad headaches being in the city and just around a lot of people in general. The pills that he takes to suppress them would knock anyone else out. And maybe just also the fact that he can create a mini EMP from his own body.

These events, among many, many others, really set the pace for the entire book, making each chapter more intriguing than the last. Once I started it, I knew very quickly that it was going to be something that was perfect for me. There was just something about this book that made me obsessed with it, you know? Reading it just made me feel really good, through the good times and the bad, violent times. This book really just had a spark to it.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My favourite characters were, of course, Sam, Alma and her razor blade hair, Carolyn Bast just because of how evil she was. and of course, the old man living in the abandoned observatory. Something about him really just speaks to me. Overall, I really just enjoyed this book thoroughly. The beginning and the end are so different from each other. You really think it’s headed in one direction, and it pulls you in the complete opposite way. What more could you ask for? Definitely one of my new favourites, and if you’re looking or an amazing spin on the classic “Teen finds out he’s different and has to save the world” story, this will be perfect for you too!

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, you can here!

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re doing well!

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