Blog Tour: Masked by J.D. Wright...Review & Giveaway!

Have a SUPER book to tell you about today...sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyway, keep reading to learn more about Masked & its author, J.D. Wright plus read my thoughts...

And don't forget the awesome giveaway!

Masked
by J.D. Wright
Genre: Upper YA Paranormal/Superheroes
Release Date: August 15th 2017
Limitless Publishing

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Summary:

Vada’s To-Do List:

- Turn 18 (check!)

- Register super name

- Order supersuit

- Attend superhero indoctrination

- Graduate high school

- Start kicking criminal tail

Vada Lawson can’t wait to be a superhero. Born into a family with special powers, she’s been training to fight criminals and villains her whole life. But her indoctrination into the underground super community is derailed when normals start breaking out in superpowers themselves.

Not trained to control their new abilities, the normals are frightened and vulnerable. Then their mutilated corpses begin turning up all over town. What the heck?

Somehow, with the help—and hindrance—of an annoying newly-minted super named Orion, Vada has to stop the chaos before it destroys her and everything she holds dear…and ruins her superhero debut.

No one ever said that being a superhero was easy…  

About the Author
J.D. Wright is a military wife, mother of four, and author of paranormal and fantasy romance books filled with strong-willed heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and sprinkled with humor and adventure. J.D. creates artistry in many ways, as a baker and cake artist by day and author by night. You can usually find her typing away at the computer or covered in frosting.

Since discovering she has a knack for writing, J.D. has so far written and self-published eight books of the Everealm and Songs of Everealm Series and is now venturing into the world of paranormal with her new superhero-themed series. She is an avid reader and lover of all things romance so she always includes a good love story in her paranormal and fantasy novels.

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Title : Masked

Author: J.D. Wright

Format: Digital

Source: Blog Tour

First, I want to say that I am a huge fan of superhero stories…movies, tv shows, books, etc. As a kid I dreamed of having superpowers and there are even some days now that I wouldn't mind having one or two or twenty.  But please know that none of this affected my review of Masked.  However, if you are like me or even if you enjoy superhero things just a little, then you won't be disappointed reading this book.  Masked is such a fun read featuring super heroes and villains, something you don't see a lot of in books that aren't comics or graphic novels. And I found this to be a refreshing change from the other fantasy books I've been reading lately.

With Masked, J.D. Wright has created a world where super heroes and villains exist alongside “normals” or rather people with no powers. Vada, our main character, comes from a family of superheroes and has looked forward to the day when she'd officially become a super complete with superhero name, suit, and a job with Superheroes Undercover, or S.U.C. (Yep, that's their acronym).  However, things don't quite go as Vada planned as an unexpected crisis derails everything and affects those around her.

You see, normals have suddenly started developing powers for some unknown reason and now someone appears to be hunting them down. Vada A.K.A. Majestic finds herself reluctantly working alongside one of the newly-made supers, Orion, as they try to stop the chaos that threatens everything Vada cares about.

After a bit of a slow start, Masked develops into an entertaining read with many likable and memorable characters that you can't help but sympathize and root for throughout the twists and turns of the story.  The main character, Vada is a strong, focused heroine who has a lot resting on her shoulders.  And I loved getting to see events unfolding and this world through her eyes.

But we also got a glimpse into the minds of several other characters such as Vada’s classmate, Nick, a normal who unexpectedly develops powers of his own.  And there’s Henley, Vada’s best friend who starts acting out of character which worries Vada.  And James, Vada’s tech-savvy sidekick (for lack of a better word) who has an amazing superpower.  And let's not forget Victor, another of Vada’s classmates who has some dark secrets that change everything.  There are many more characters as well and a lot is going on in this story, but I don't want to say too much more.  Let's just say that there quite a few characters and each character plays an important role in the story as their individual storylines converge or overlap.

Not only does Masked have interesting characters, it has also has an intriguing plotline featuring normal humans developing powers.  I can only imagine how scary it would be to suddenly wake up with a power you have no idea how to control or where it came from…a power that you could accidentally hurt yourself or a loved one with…physically or emotionally.  Wright did a good job of showing the characters’ confusion as well some of the reactions of those close to them, but I wish there was a bit more.  It's definitely a complex story, yet it was still entertaining and I looked forward to seeing where the author would take us.  And there were definitely some surprises along the way.

The entire idea behind the book with all types of superheroes, villains, superpowers, fascinated me and I wish there were more books like this out there.  Masked reminded me of some of my favorite superhero movies such as Sky High, The Incredibles, and many more...with a bit more sexual tension.  Wright managed to create an interesting and unique story with a subject or genre we rarely see in book form and with characters that were intriguing.  I would definitely love to read more superhero books and books set in the world of Masked.

*I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

You can check out the other stops on the Masked Blog Tour by clicking here!

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Blog Tour: The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount...Review & Giveaway!

Today I get to tell you about Patty Blount's latest release, The Way it Hurts.

Keep reading to learn more...

In Patty Blount's THE WAY IT HURTS, two teens’ quest for fame goes terribly wrong when a single tweet goes viral and the online backlash follows them into real life. Fans of Gayle Forman's If I Stay will like how main characters Elijah and Kristen bond over their music in this edgy, real world contemporary young adult read that examines the impact social media has on the lives of today's youth.

Title: The Way It Hurts

Author: Patty Blount

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Pages: 352 pages

Format: Paperback and Digital

Print ISBN: 978-1-492632-788

Digital ASIN: B06XR172ZD

Synopsis:

There may be two sides to every story, but sometimes there's only one way to set things right...

Music is Elijah's life. His band plays loud and hard, and he'll do anything to get them a big break. He needs that success to help take care of his sister, who has special needs. So he'd rather be practicing when his friends drag him to a musical in the next town...until the lead starts to sing.

Kristen dreams of a career on stage like her grandmother's. She knows she needs an edge to get into a competitive theater program--and being the star in her high school musical isn't going to cut it. The applause and the attention only encourage her to work harder.

Elijah can't take his eyes off of Kristen's performance, and snaps a photo of her in costume that he posts online with a comment that everybody misunderstands. It goes viral. Suddenly, Elijah and Kristen are in a new spotlight as the online backlash spins out of control. And the consequences are bigger than they both could have ever imagined because these threats don't stay online...they follow them into real life.

Add to your “Want to Read” shelf:  Goodreads

Available at: Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

***

Advanced Praise for The Way It Hurts:

"Blount writes authentically; both protagonists’ voices are distinct. The author explores the rapidly consuming world of social media and how it affects relationships online and in real life. A relevant read and must-have for all YA collections." – School Library Journal

"THE WAY IT HURTS draws our attention to the joy, heartache and confusing contradictions that arise as we try to find our place in the real world and the virtual one." – Kimberly Sabatini

“Elijah and Kristen’s personal evolutions through the novel, along with their chemistry, feel as authentic as the conflicts they face. A genuine plot filled with steady tension that will keep readers hooked.” – RT Book Reviews

“This book sensitively covers topics such as sexism, handicapping conditions, communication, and ageism. Agency is also shown when Kristen says she wants to pursue studying in a conservatory rather than continue in the band and the three young men acknowledge her wish. Talking about what bothers us rather than trying to guess another person’s feelings is demonstrated through the actions of the characters. The characters’ issues are eventually resolved through hard work and understanding, making this an interesting and informative read." – School Library Connection

Native New Yorker Patty Blount is the award-winning author of several critically acclaimed internet issues novels for teens as well as a few adult contemporary romances. She is inspired to write by such greats as Judy Blume, JK Rowling, and Gayle Forman. In fact, Judy Blume is the reason Patty elected to write under her real name…so she’d appear on shelves next to her idol. Patty adores writing; she’s written everything from technical manuals to song lyrics (see THE WAY IT HURTS, coming August 2017). Patty wants you to know she loves chocolate…really, really loves chocolate.

When not crushing on actors Gilles Marini or Sam Heughan, Patty can be found sitting in traffic somewhere on the Long Island Expressway, listening to audio books or talking wildly to herself about plots and characters. Prone to falling madly in love with fictional characters, Patty suffers frequent broken hearts when they all invariably prefer the heroine to her… go figure. When she’s not writing, Patty loves to watch bad sci-fi movies and live tweet the hilarity, and scour Pinterest for ideas on awesome bookcases. Patty lives on Long Island with her family in a house that, sadly, lacks bookcases.

Connect with Patty:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub

Title: The Way It Hurts 

Author: Patty Blount

Format: Digital ARC

Source:  Blog Tour

In The Way It Hurts we meet Elijah and Kristen, two very talented teens each with their own distinct styles and complicated lives.

Eli sees his music as an escape and a way to possibly help his family take care of his sister with special needs.  All his band needs is their one big break. And when Eli catches one of Kristen’s performances, he believes he may of found just what his band needs to succeed.

The granddaughter of a famous stage actress, Kristen been raised to believe she's destined for Broadway.  But a rejection letter from one of her dream summer music programs leads her to believe she may need to diversify and try new things. Enter Elijah and his band.

However, a picture of Kristen and tweet by Elijah goes viral causing all kinds of problems and misunderstandings for Kristen and proving you should think before you post…in fact, this whole story is an excellent example of this as characters engage in an anonymous and sometimes hurtful battle over musical tastes and misogyny from the very beginning of the book.

Yet despite Elijah’s tweet and their obvious musical differences, Kristen decides to give Elijah and his band a chance.  But once again, things don't go as they hoped or planned.  And once again, Kristen is subject to online harassment because of a tweet.  But things definitely take an unexpected turn when Kristen turns out to be different than what Elijah and his bandmates were expecting and a battle of the sexes heats up. You’ll have to read for yourself to see how it all plays out…but there is definitely plenty of drama in this one.

As you would expect with drama, there are many ups and downs in this story. The Way It Hurts is an interesting story and example about how the internet and social media can affect someone’s personal lives and relationships with others.  You never know who you might be talking to when you post that “anonymous” comment or tweet and how it might affect them or how they'll react...or even how others will react. Neither character knows exactly how to deal with the situation and could have done better. It's definitely a learning experience for all involved.

Patty Blount has managed to create a story that not only conveys this message, but also provides readers with complex and somewhat interesting characters including Eli and Kristen’s friends and family.  Eli and Kristen’s story also takes on several other important and heavy topics such as sexism, family issues, peer pressure, special needs, and more.  All handled in a way that fits the characters and their story.  So, as I said, there is plenty of drama in this one.

I do have to say that Elijah and Kristen’s initial meeting had a little too many coincidences for me at the beginning and it took me a bit to get into the story and the characters, but I did enjoy seeing how things played out.  I did not, however, enjoy some of the secondary characters and even at times Elijah became annoying as he became too focused on the band’s success to consider other people’s feelings. 

And I guess it's a testament to Blount’s writing that I was upset and angry at the sexist and hurtful tweets and comments directed at Kristen as that is how one might react in real life.  The way some of the characters chose to respond irked me a bit, however.

Anyway, The Way It Hurts was an entertaining book with an important message, but at times it felt a tiny bit too dramatic or heavy…I could have used a teeny, tiny bit more levity to help balance things, but that's just my opinion.  Overall, it was a good, emotional read for me.

*I received a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

Patty Blount is offering one (1) lucky winner a $50 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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Blog Tour: League of America Traitors by Matthew Landis...a Letter to Readers & Giveaway!

Today it's my turn to tell you about the exciting new book, League of American Traitors!

Keep reading to learn more and to read my letter to readers everywhere...

League of American Traitors

by Matthew Landis

Publisher: Sky Pony

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Historical

Synopsis:
Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it. . . . 

When seventeen year-old Jasper is approached at the funeral of his deadbeat father by a man claiming to be an associate of his deceased parents, he’s thrust into a world of secrets tied to America’s history—and he’s right at the heart of it.

First, Jasper finds out he is the sole surviving descendant of Benedict Arnold, the most notorious traitor in American history. Then he learns that his father’s death was no accident. Jasper is at the center of a war that has been going on for centuries, in which the descendants of the heroes and traitors of the American Revolution still duel to the death for the sake of their honor.

His only hope to escape his dangerous fate on his eighteenth birthday? Take up the research his father was pursuing at the time of his death, to clear Arnold’s name.

Whisked off to a boarding school populated by other descendants of notorious American traitors, it’s a race to discover the truth. But if Jasper doesn’t find a way to uncover the evidence his father was hunting for, he may end up paying for the sins of his forefathers with his own life.

Like a mash-up of National Treasure and Hamilton, Matthew Landis’s debut spins the what-ifs of American history into a heart-pounding thriller steeped in conspiracy, clue hunting, and danger.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository 

I love history, but not in the old, awful, kill-me-now-please kind of way. My passion is convincing my students that the past is actually hilarious, shocking, tragic, disturbing, and altogether UN-boring. While getting my graduate degree in History at Villanova, I realized that there was yet one more way to do this: write contemporary young adult books laced with history to convince my students that past isn't as awful as they think. That’s a huge reason why I wrote The Judas Society.

Some other stuff: I love poetry but don’t understand it; I want Gordon Ramsay to give me a fatherly hug at some point; I tend toward the unapologetically dramatic; and (to my great shame) I didn’t read the Harry Potter series until last year. I’m also really good at covering up patent insecurities with self-deprecating humor (like this joke).

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A Letter to You from Me!

Hi, it's me, Jennifer! I wasn't quite sure exactly what I wanted to do for my post today.  I had so many ideas running through my head and as I read Matthew Landis’s book, I was even more inspired.  I wanted something that would convey the intrigue of League of American Traitors as well as entertainment packed within its pages. But honestly I knew I could never do this book justice...it's like it was written for me!

However, I finally decided on a letter to YOU…my fellow readers...about a subject I love and one this book features wonderfully: history!  So here we go!

Dear Reader,

You don't really know me, but I hope you’ll read this letter anyway.

If you're like me you love history and realize how fun and fascinating it can be.  Okay…I can see some of you rolling your eyes, but trust me on this.  Our past is filled with many fascinating stories and interesting people who led extraordinary (and not-so-extraordinary) lives.  Some of these people we may never even have heard of and others are names that live on in history books (and broadway musicals) forever.  Each one has had some impact on who and what we have become...which is pretty cool if you think about it.

But history doesn't have to be dry facts, figures, and dates.  Believe me if it were, I'd be with the eye-rolling crowd.  Instead, it's all in how it's presented or how you look at it.  Author Matthew Landis understands this and demonstrates it perfectly in his book League of American Traitors.  Even though the book and its characters are fictional, there are plenty of historical figures mentioned that might make you want to learn more…well, I wanted to know more anyway (but we’ve established I'm a history nerd)…but this book is so entertaining.

You see, history affects everything (Well, obviously, Jennifer, plus you kind of said that already. What's your point?).  History can even have direct impact on individual lives for years and years and years. What if you discovered you were the descendant of a major historical figure…perhaps George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? Not bad, right? But what about a more notorious figure such as Benedict Arnold or John Wilkes Booth?  Would you be proud? Ashamed?  Would you tell people? Would you want to be treated different?  Would you join or believe in a secret society made up of descendants of heroes or traitors from American history?

In the fictional League of American Traitors, Jasper, the main character, must face some of these questions when he learns he is the last living descendant of Benedict Arnold, one of America's most notorious traitors.  Suddenly he’s thrust into a world he never knew existed, a world filled with secrets, duels, action, and adventure. Oh, and by the way, there are people who now want him dead...no big deal.  All of this just because of something his ancestor did and the secrets his father kept hidden from him.  Along the way, Jasper also meets the descendants of other traitors and heroes whose current lives have been affected by the actions of their ancestors.  

As you typically discover when you delve into the past, not everything is sunshine and roses. However, league of American Traitors still manages to be a fun and fascinating history-inspired adventure reminiscent of National Treasure.  And I hope you’ll read it because it's an awesome example of how history can be highly entertaining (and if I'm being completely honest, a little heartbreaking...yep, I cried a little...I'm a history nerd AND a sap).

In fact, there are many examples today of how history can be entertaining and make you want to know more as it affects or interests you in various ways. There are books, music, tv shows, broadway musicals, video games (Oregon Trail, anyone?), and more.  And while many of these might be mostly fictional versions, there is still a little bit of truth or inspiration in them that I encourage you to learn more about.  You may not even realize you are learning something as you watch, read, or listen (But later when a question pops up in Trivial Pursuit and you know the answer, you'll know where it came from).  So, before you turn your nose up at learning a little history remember, it's all in how you look at it.  Any historical story can be entertaining if told the right way.  

Anyway, if you've made it this far in my letter, Yay!  And remember we can't go back and change what has happened in the past (no matter what our favorite time-traveling shows tell us), but we can learn from it.  Plus history is being made everyday.  Just as we remember the past, what happens today will affect and be remembered forever by future generations (sorry, kids).  I mean, do you really think that Jane Austen or William Shakespeare thought we'd be reading and studying their work still today? Or that Alexander Hamilton thought he'd be the main character in a musical...especially one featuring such a diverse cast?

So how do you want to be remembered?  What impact do you want to have on those who come after you? 

Still think history is boring?

Sincerely,

Jennifer 

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2 copies of LEAGUE OF AMERICAN TRAITORS by Matthew Landis

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