Living Several Lives - My Blog

Back and on a MISSION

26/10/2015

Hullo internet!

Fun fact about me: when I find an author I love, I tend to marathon their books. Big time. I run to Wikipedia, get the full list of their novels/ series in chronological order, and then I disappear for however long it takes me to finish it.

By the time I come out on the other side, often have a few new best friends.

Usually, this marathon is followed by a couple of months of lighter reading, before another author sucks me back into the spiral (a spiral which, by the way, is never easy on the pocket and leaves me thankful for libraries and reading friends).

But this time, there was almost no break.

This time, Georgette Heyer sucked me in, took me whirling through the ballrooms and country houses of England, and dumped me back on the other shore whimpering for more and dreaming of waltzes in full ball gowns and painted faces and stylish facial patches.

She dumped me. Hard. And still reeling, dreaming of days long gone, I decided to go through some older books the Library has had in storage since my arrival there five years ago.

And I found this.

Which reminded me that I always meant to read the Dragonlance novels... which led to a declaration that I would read them all.

Of course, at the time, I didn't realise that Dragonlance wasn't ten or so books. More like 200.

This... is going to take a while.

Welcome to Science Geek Appreciation Week!

2/8/2015

Welcome to Science Geek Appreciation Week with author Kelly Oram: a fun-filled week of teasers, interviews, games, giveaways, and lots and lots of science! We're going to kick off the week by introducing you to the stars of the Spanish Fork High Science Squad--Club President Avery Shaw and her newest recruit, Grayson Kennedy--in their debut novel The Avery Shaw Experiment.

Title: The Avery Shaw Experiment
Author: Kelly Oram
Publisher: Blufields
Pages:221
Available: Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Teasers:

1. Avery

 I was so out of it that I’d slipped into the bathroom while Grayson was in the shower, and I didn’t even notice until he poked his head out from behind the curtain with a surprised look on his face. “Aves, babe, I’m a little busy here.” He cocked an eyebrow and gave me a crooked smile. “Unless you’re planning to join me...?”

 Just then there was a loud knock on the door, and my mother’s worried voice called out to me. I looked up at Grayson and in a moment of sheer panic didn’t think twice before jumping behind the curtain with him.

 “Whoa! Avery! I was only teasing!”

 I could hear Grayson, but I couldn’t really respond. I leaned my back against the cold tile wall and closed my eyes, letting the hot water rain down on me. There was another knock, louder this time, and then the door opened. “Avery? That you in here, sweetie?”

 I frantically shook my head, praying that Grayson would do the right thing.

 “Sorry, Kaitlin. It’s just me.”

 “Oh. Sorry, Grayson. I thought maybe you were Avery.”

 “Yeah, I get that a lot,” he teased.

My mom laughed and then sighed heavily. “If you see her after you’re done, tell her I’m looking for her.”

 “Will do.”

 The door clicked shut and things got quiet. I stood there for so long that my head started to hurt and I got really dizzy. My knees buckled. Grayson quickly caught me under the arms. “Avery, breathe,” he commanded.

 I took a breath. As oxygen flooded my lungs, I realized it was probably the first breath I’d taken in minutes. Literally.

 “Aves,” a low steady voice said. I felt hands on either side of my face. I opened my eyes, and Grayson’s beautiful piercing blue ones were staring down at me from just inches away, taking up my entire field of vision. “You good now?” he asked.

 I may have been breathing, but I would never be “good” again. I flung my arms around him and began to release gut-wrenching sobs into his chest.

2. Grayson

I always looked at her as sort of a pesky little sister, but that all changed the day my brother dumped her. Why, you ask? Let me put it this way: When a girl lets you be the one to hold her as her entire world falls apart, even though you’re ass naked, it changes the way you see her. The soaking-wet, see-through t-shirt didn’t hurt, either.

...

“You look really nice,” I blurted, unable to hide my surprise.

 The compliment startled her. She blushed and looked at her feet as she mumbled, “I need to blow my hair dry.”

 I grinned. “Don’t want to have to explain to anyone how it got wet, eh?”

 She turned even brighter red but then glared at me. “I just don’t want my hair to freeze.”

 I laughed as I threw my hands up in surrender and then laughed even harder when she stalked past me into the bathroom. I leaned against the door and watched, curiously, as she dried her hair. There was something oddly fascinating about watching Little Avery Shaw primp. She’d never seemed like such a real girl to me before. She wasn’t so little anymore, either. She caught me staring at her in the mirror, so I quickly said, “I thought dorks were supposed to have bad hair and horrible, frumpy fashion senses.”

 “Just because I enjoy learning doesn’t mean I’m a dork,” she said, insulted.

 “Two words for you Aves: science club.”

This week only, The Avery Shaw Experiment is on sale for just $0.99! Make sure to snag a copy while it's cheap!

Amazon * iBooks * B&N * Kobo

For more bonus material, teasers, games, and chances to win things like signed books and swag stop by the Facebook event, happening now through Friday.

Click Here to Party!

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Kelly wrote her first novel at age fifteen--a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat, Mr. Darcy.

Connect with Kelly:

Newsletter * Amazon * Facebook * Twitter

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: SCION, by Kelly Oram (FREE BOOK INSIDE)

14/4/2015

IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE!!!

LONG release day blitz post because there is SO MUCH STUFF plus FREE BOOK plus GIVEAWAY plus this is Russ and he never does anything small when you can make a GRAND PRODUCTION OF IT.

Title: Scion

Series: Supernaturals #3

Author: Kelly Oram

Publisher: Bluefields

Release Date: April 14, 2015

Other books in the series: Chameleon, Ungifted

Purchase link: Scion on Amazon

Russ Devereaux used to have it all—loving father, beautiful best friend, a carefree life in a town he loved, and strong magic. He was the king of his happy universe. Five months ago, that life was taken from him. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.

He’s spent months fighting back and building himself a new life, in a new city, with new friends he now considers family. But suddenly, his new life might be in jeopardy of getting shot straight to hell just like the last one. Literally, this time.

He’s discovered power inside of him—an ancient, dark power that he shouldn’t have, can’t explain, can’t control, and definitely needs to keep secret. He needs answers, but before he can get them, he finds himself arrested and on his way to face the supernatural council. The same council that stole everything from him the first time.

As Russ struggles to keep his new power under wraps, his old life and the new one are about to collide and it’s bound to be explosive. He may not have all the answers he needs, but one thing is certain: he’ll be damned if anyone is taking his new life from him. That is, if he’s not just plain damned.

Bonus time!

Still not sure you want to get into Russ' head? Well check out his POV of this scene from the first chapter in the first book in the series, Chameleon, in which Russ gives Dani a very special birthday surprise...

I was trying to make her nervous on purpose. My whole intent tonight was to make her see me in a new way. What better way to do that than to crawl into bed with her in the middle of the night?

We hadn’t been in bed together since we were kids. Back when the fact that we were the opposite sex didn’t matter. It definitely mattered now. She looked so incredibly sexy at the moment that I could hardly think of anything other than the fact that I wanted to obliterate the word “friendship” from all known languages.

“What happened to the Disney Princess nightgown you wore the last time we were in bed together? That was hot.”

But not nearly as hot as the tank top and panties she was wearing right now. Damn. I hadn’t expected her to sleep so risqué. I’d genuinely been prepared for Captain America pajamas or something, considering her infatuation with Chris Evans. But this…she looked… Double damn. Even if this plan totally backfired on me tonight, right now it felt like the best idea I’d ever had.

As I took a mental picture of her, Dani finally realized she wasn’t wearing a bra and freaked out, pulling her covers up over her chest while glaring at me. If she hadn’t been awake before, she definitely was now. “You’d better have a damn good reason for being here or you’re going to be very sorry.”

She was pissed but it was worth it. I gave her a pout. “Since when do I need a reason?”

She opened her mouth to unleash a verbal tirade but I lifted a hand to stop her. I didn’t need to hear her rant. No lecture in the world was going to make me feel bad for sneaking in here and catching a semi-naughty glimpse of her. Am I shameless? Why, yes. Yes I am. It’s one of my many talents.

Click here to read the entire RUSS POV Bonus Scene from Chameleon.

Or you can get started reading the series now. Chameleon, the first book in the series, is available for FREE DOWNLOAD on Amazon April 14th- 18th!

WAIT... THERE'S A GIVEAWAY TOO?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and a cat named Mr. Darcy.

Connect with her through social media:

Website * Amazon * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * GooglePlus

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ARC Review: The Truth About Us- Janet Gurtler

7/4/2015

Rating: 4/5

Source: NetGalley ARC
Release date: April 7 2015

For a book blogger, there are few things worse than being disappointed by an ARC.

Before picking up The Truth About Us, sadly enough, this is what happened to me. So I was a bit wary. I didn't know this author. The premise was intriguing but so many things could go wrong to ruin it.

I am relieved- and quite a bit excited- to say that my fears were ungrounded.

Jess was a very understandable- and surprisingly likeable- character despite her antics. Possibly even because of them. When you're young, it's so easy to lose your way. Lose sight of who you want to be. To allow your friends and expectations to lead you down paths you never thought you'd take. To forget that some things worth having are worth the fight to gain them. It can happen to all of us, in our dark moments. It happened to Jess. It once happened to me. And her journey back to being a person she could recognise and respect had me in stitches, in tears and cheering for her every hard step of the way.

I would love to hear more about the characters I met in the pages of this one. Janet Gurtler has definitely put herself on my list of authors to watch.

ARC Review: The Summer After You and Me

7/4/2015

Rating: 4/5

Source: NetGalley ARC
Release Date: May 5 2015

As a local girl, Lucy knows not to get attached to the Jersey Shore tourists. They breeze in during Memorial Day weekend, crowding her costal town and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Lucy wants more from love than a fleeting romance, even if that means keeping her distance from her summertime neighbour and crush, Connor.

Then Superstorm Sandy sweeps up the coast, bringing Lucy and Connor together for a few intense hours. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm, and Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and her broken home. Time may heal all wounds, but with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?

This one took me a while to get through. Mostly because I was reading so many other books at the same time, but also because I wanted to savour it. This book was... nostalgic, to say the least, having lived all my life near the beach, much as Lucy did. So there were so many moments where I could just float into the pages and feel what she did (even if I was never as much into marine biology as she is). The author just invited me back into that world I'm so familiar with- even when I was sitting in the back seat of a car miles away.

The story itself was wonderful. I felt so much for Lucy, Connor, Andrew, and even Liam (when I didn't want to smack him in the head). It was a great reminder of what it felt like to be young, and trying to make everyone around you happy. But I was cheering when Lucy finally stopped thinking about everyone else, and started focusing on what she wanted. What she needed. And from that point on there was no stopping her; or stopping me from giving this book all four stars it deserves.

Review: Raised by Wolves- Jennifer Lynn Barnes

18/3/2015

Rating: 4/5

On the cover of Raised by Wolves, author Melissa Marr is quoted as calling it “the most compelling YA werewolf book out there.” The review, as all superlative reviews tend to do, left me apprehensive- mostly, I know now, because I misunderstood Melissa’s statement. I opened the book expecting someone’s attempt at the best YA werewolf book ever written. What I got instead was a book that I read while grocery shopping, while looking for transport home, even while taking care of my 7 week old puppy, Zelda. (I may have some apologies to make to friends who dared to interrupt.)

Compelling is exactly the right word for this book. I went into it with the usual expectations of a somewhat jaded reader of YA fantasy, and I swear I could hear Jennifer Barnes laughing at me as she turned my expectations on its ear, page after rapidly turning page. Callum was a surprise; Chase another. But the biggest surprise of all was Bryn herself.

You know what? I’m not going to say much more about this book. Rasied by Wolves reminds me of TFiOS in that way. Not that it will break you wide open and leave you sobbing. I just think this book is best enjoyed if you go into it knowing as little as possible in advance. So. Do yourself a favour. Mosey on over to your bookseller and pick up a copy (or order the ebook for immediate enjoyment). One thing is certain: Jennifer Barnes has definitely left me, to quote the book’s blurb, “howling for more”.

(Good thing it’s just the first part of a series!)

V is for Virgin: More thoughts

16/3/2015

Some time ago, I wrote a review of the V is for Virgin series by Kelly Oram (hint: it got 4/5 stars). Recently, however, she offered the book for free- prompting me to shove it into as many hands as possible.

Now, If you had told me a couple of years ago that I'd be shoving a book called V is for Virgin at my students, I would have wondered if you were insane. After all, past-me would say, a book with that title could only be one of two things. It's either one of Those Christian Inspirational Books in which the MFC is a virgin and convinces her boyfriend, friend and doubting classmate that virginity is What God Wants. Or it would be one of Those Romances where the Staunch Virgin loses said virginity after much resistance in as much detail as the author could provide.

But I wondered anyway, when I first picked it up during my Oram marathon: this is Kelly Oram. She did Cinder & Ella! The Avery Shaw Experiment! I could trust her not to write like that... right?

So I picked it up. I read about The Virgin, Valerie. I read about her attempt to explain her stand to her boyfriend. I read about him dumping her because she wouldn't put out. I read about said boyfriend's lies. I read her tabletop declaration that yes she was a virgin and unashamed of that fact. I read about her declaration going viral. And I knew this one was going to be different.

Surprisingly, this book was not so much about remaining a virgin until marriage. Sure, that was Valerie's choice, but it wasn't for religious reasons. Nor did she shove her choice down anyone's throat. Instead, Val talks about every girl's right to make her own choices, and not letting ridicule, public opinion or even their own boyfriends make that choice for them. Instead of browbeating you into agreeing with her choice, Val points out how much society focuses on taking that choice away. It's something people tend to forget in this society: that having the right to choose to do something also means having the right to choose not to do it (or even Do It). And Val doesn't Do It with the humour, flair, wicked wit and strength of character I've come to expect of characters created by one Kelly Oram.

Book Review: Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell

16/3/2015

Rating: 4/5

I have been trying to read Eleanor and Park since 2013.

I am such a procrastinator, and there were so many great ways to put off reading it. But finding it in my favourite bookstore in January made me finally open it up- and boy am I glad I did.

There were tons of the expected sweet first love moments: the first time they touched. The first kiss. Their first fight. The struggle to get time alone. But it was, as the best books are, so much more.

It was Eleanor hiding from her stepdad. It was Park, trying to understand this confusing girl. It was Park's mother, wanting the best for her son even when it meant hurting him. His father, trying to understand a boy that was moving further and further away from him. Eleanor comforting her siblings in the middle of screams. Trying to survive two parents who failed to look out for her best interest too many times. Knowing her world will eventually fall apart, and fighting for what little joy she could have before that happens.

Was I in tears at the end? Of course. A little bit in love with several characters? Definitely. Hoping for more from this author? Most assuredly.

ARC Review: Jesse's Girl- Miranda Kenneally

12/3/2015

Rating: 3/5

Source: NetGalley ARC
Release Date: July 1 2015

"Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?"

Jesse's Girl was not one of the most comfortable reads. Don't mistake me: the book wasn't badly written, nor were the characters unrelatable. In fact, I found the opposite to be true.

It wasn't just about a girl trying to hold on to her dream even as it fell apart around her. It was also about a boy who had lost the will to do the same. It addresses the relative importance of acceptance, of trust, of holding on in the face of opposition from those we want to care about us. But it still managed to tell a great story that I think, while it lacked the initial striking power of other books I've read, will linger for long time after the final page is turned.

Still, Jesse's Girl has its faults. It's part of a series, and it reads like it (when I first started, I wondered if my copy was missing the first chapter). Also, while the pacing flows well and you're dragged in to the story, there are moments when you're suddenly jarred right back out. But it's still a great read, and one I plan to add to my school library shelves.

COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY: SCION, by Kelly Oram

11/3/2015

If you haven't read anything from Kelly Oram yet, you can fix that right now in two ways.

1. She's offering V is for Virgin for FREE right now. I'll be posting a review of that as soon as this post is up. (Fair warning: much fangirling ahead for an excellent book that STILL makes me giggle when I re-read)
2. She's also offering for FREE any title from her backlist (including my favourite, Cinder & Ella) simply by signing up on her email contact list. You can do that over here

Of course, using that second method, you can do what I did and get Chameleon, Book 1 in her Supernaturals series. Mostly because book 3 in the series, Scion, comes out on April 14 2015. This series is, frankly, WONDERFUL. Featuring two girls with fantastic abilities (and attitudes), guys worthy of being added to your collection of book boyfriends, best friends you'll want to kidnap for yourself, villains worthy of all the vilification you can heap on their heads and, most importantly, RUSS DEVERAUX. Frankly, I'm freaking out over Scion because this is FINALLY RUSS' BOOK.

And you can now see the cover!

Russ Devereaux used to have it all—loving father, beautiful best friend, a carefree life in a town he loved, and strong magic. He was the king of his happy universe. Five months ago, that life was taken from him. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.

He’s spent months fighting back and building himself a new life, in a new city, with new friends he now considers family. But suddenly, his new life might be in jeopardy of getting shot straight to hell just like the last one. Literally, this time.

He’s discovered power inside of him—an ancient, dark power that he shouldn’t have, can’t explain, can’t control, and definitely needs to keep secret. He needs answers, but before he can get them, he finds himself arrested and on his way to face the supernatural council. The same council that stole everything from him the first time.

As Russ struggles to keep his new power under wraps, his old life and he new one are about to collide and it’s bound to be explosive. He may not have all the answers he needs, but one thing is certain: he’ll be damned if anyone is taking his new life from him. That is, if he’s not just plain damned.

The Russtastic Giveaway!

Kelly is giving away 10 signed posters of the Scion cover, and one grand prize of all three books in the series so far (signed). Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! To enter, help Kelly with her cover reveal by sharing the cover, passing along photo teasers, or making your social media profiles and avatars Russtastic. The more you share, the better your chances of winning!

A collection of graphics (Cover, photo teasers, avatars, Facebook cover, etc...) to share for this giveaway can be found here.

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