Book Blitz + Giveaway: Sunset Rising Trilogy by S.M. McEachern

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Sunset Rising Trilogy
S.M. McEachern
(Sunset Rising #1-3)
Publication date: December 25th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Limited Time Preorder price of just $4.99! Have it delivered December 25th!
Special edition of the ebook set of the Sunset Rising Trilogy, which includes: Sunset Rising, Worlds Collide, New World Order, and—available in ebook format for the first time—all seven satellite stories!
Sunset Rising: Born a slave inside a government biodome, seventeen-year-old Sunny O’Donnell becomes a pawn in a political plot that sparks a rebellion. Accused of treason and facing execution, she escapes with a man she considers an enemy and discovers she not only has to work with him to survive, but also lead the revolution.
A Readers Favorite 2015 Book Award Gold Medal winner!
Worlds Collide: Sunny and Jack must continue a life of subterfuge in order to stay alive and find a way to free the Pit. But in their attempt to save the urchins, they uncover the horrifying truth about President Holt and the evil he could unleash on the world.
New World Order: While Sunny and Jack struggle to find each other in the lawless post-apocalyptic world, tensions between the Pit and the Dome escalate. In the action-packed conclusion of the Sunset Rising Trilogy, friends will become enemies and enemies will become friends on a journey that will lead to a new world order.
Satellite Stories: For the first time in ebook format, the seven satellite stories are included with the trilogy. Find out what’s happening in the Pit between books one and two, and get a closer look at some of the other people in Sunny’s life.

Goodreads / Amazon

The Sunset Rising Trilogy ebook boxed set is up for the special pre-order price of $4.99 and includes seven satellite stories.


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EXCERPT BOOK 1 – Sunset Rising:

(Sunny O’Donnell and Jack Kenner on starting a rebellion)

I went at him as fast as I could, and when I saw the nose of the gun come up, I pushed it down and used it to give me balance. I raised my leg and kicked him in his side. His grip on the gun loosened for a second, and I grabbed it with both hands while swinging my leg in a backward arc that brought me behind him. I brought the gun up under his throat and held it there. I heard people clapping and looked up to see them staring at me.

“You do catch on quickly,” Jack said, smiling.

I loosened my grip on the rifle, and he lowered it. “Am I scaring you, Jack?”

Suddenly Jack’s hands were on me, and he threw me over his hip. I hit the floor with an ungraceful flop.

“A little bit.” He stepped away and left me to pick myself up. “It’s going to be lights out soon, so we should wrap it up,” he said to the room.

“Can we try again tomorrow?” Raine asked.

Jack looked around the room to see if anyone else was interested. Most people wanted to come back. Jack asked the guards, and they agreed as well.

“You were amazing tonight,” Jack said once we were alone. “You blew me away.”

“I guess it went well.”

“You were great, but we only had maybe fifty people in that room, not nearly enough to take on the few hundred guards that patrol down here. I told you before, power comes with numbers, and we don’t have numbers.”

“I don’t think we stand much of a chance anyway. I expect someone in that room will gladly turn us in for the four hundred credits Holt is offering.”

When we arrived at our apartment, I scanned my hand across the lock and went in.

“I know. I think that too.” Jack shut the door behind him. Then he picked up one of the chairs and put it under the doorknob. I gave him an inquisitive look. “At least it will give us a little notice if someone comes.”

“I’ve always known we’ll be caught eventually, but now that it might be real, I’m scared.”

I didn’t want to die now that I had found a reason to live. I wanted to see this rebellion through and free Summer from Holt; have the chance to find my father if he was still alive; help liberate the Pit from centuries of slavery. I wanted time to finish what we started.

“You’re scared?” he asked in surprise. “I can’t believe the girl who stood up on a chair and convinced an entire room to start a rebellion is scared.”

“And you’re not?”

“Terrified. Hey, what was wrong with Raine’s wife? She seemed a little out of it.”

“Women get that way after they’re sterilized.”

“After they’re what?”

“Sterilized.” He had an odd look on his face. “You must know about the Sterilization Program. Your government came up with it ten years ago. If a couple doesn’t qualify to have a child, the woman is sterilized, and whatever they inject her with makes her go… blank. The injection changes a woman. She’s not as full of life as she used to be.”

Jack was staring at me with a horrified look on his face when the lights went out, leaving us in darkness. Maybe he didn’t know about that program.

“We should get some sleep,” I said.

“I’ll take the chair.”

“No. We shared last night, we can do it again tonight.” Considering the way I responded to his kiss this morning, it probably wasn’t a good idea. But we both needed a decent sleep. Jack was exhausted from sleeping in the chair, and I couldn’t afford to be tired and sloppy with Madi as my supervisor.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Just stay on your on side of the bed.” But I didn’t really mean it. I walked toward the bedroom.

“That bed isn’t big enough to have sides.” He stumbled after me, knocking a chair over.

“You really can’t see, can you?”

“And you’re surprised? It’s pitch black in here.”

I took him by the hand and guided him toward the bedroom. He took off his t-shirt and flopped down on the bed. Since he was blind in the dark, I stripped off my vest and put my t-shirt back on before I climbed in.

“It’s not pitch black in here. The guards use nightlights, and it leaks into the apartment.”

He opened his eyes as wide as he could and looked around the room. “I guess you have to born in the Pit to find light where there isn’t any.”

I rolled that thought over in my mind and realized just how true it was.

 

 

Author Bio:
S.M. McEachern (also known as Susan) comes from the rocky shores of Canada’s East Coast. As a resident of Halifax during her early adult years, she attended Dalhousie University and earned an Honors Degree in International Development Studies with a focus on ocean development. Throughout her academic studies and early career, Susan had the privilege to study and work with Elizabeth Mann Borgese (daughter of nobel prize winner, Thomas Mann). An author in her own right and a political activist for world peace, Mrs. Mann Borgese played a significant influence on Susan’s view of the political world stage.
Sunset Rising is Susan's debut novel, which was published in November 2012. The second novel of the series, Worlds Collide was released in March 2014 and she is currently working on the third book of the series titled, New World Order, due to be released January 2015. For writing inspiration, Susan likes to go on long walks with her iPod (Keane and Moby are among her favorites). A few fun facts about Susan: she loves lattes, red wine, snorkelling, hiking and talking about herself in the third person.
If you'd like to read some satellite stories on the Sunset Rising series, visit her website: http://smmceachern.com/category/satellite-stories/

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ARC Review: Endure by Sara B. Larson

Endure

ENDURE

 Sara B. Larson
(Defy #3)
Published: January 5th, 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

The remarkable third novel in Sara B. Larson's bestselling Defy series!

At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.

When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers, and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?

Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson has woven a stunning, romantic, and evocative finale to the Defy trilogy, that is sure to leave readers breathless until the very last page.

{AMAZON} {BARNES & NOBLE}


Check out my review of book #1, DEFY HERE & book 2 #, IGNITE HERE!

Check Out The Rest Of The DEFY Series HERE:

    

NOTE:

If you have NOT read book #1 or #2, then there WILL be spoilers!!!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK OF SPOILERY FOR BOOK ONE AND TWO!!!

ENDURE was everything I dreamed it to be and more. Sara B. Larson never ceases to amaze with each sequel she pack a powerful punch that does not hold back one bit! I fell deeply in love with this series back in book one, with a kingdom in turmoil and one girl—forced to disuse as a boy, destined to be the kingdoms redemption. And each book just gets better and better.

In this thrilling conclusion, Alex goes through a whole new level of bravery and sacrifice, determined to save her best friend from a horrible fate at enemy hands. She plunges head first into enemy territory, ready to face the unthinkable to save the friend she loves and make it back in time to save the man she loves and the kingdom she's sworn to protect.

Theirs so many reasons why I enjoyed this book that I don't even know where to start. Should I start with how amazing it was to see all the other kingdoms, especially the evil kingdom of Dansiian? Or how the romance was to minimal, but was still just as desirable as the other books in this series? Or how fast my blood was pounding when Alexa plunged head first into the enemy hands, regardless of the horrors that awaited, or the pain she'd endure. Or how it had so much action and adventure that I could hardly get a breath before it started all over again? Or, lastly, how the middle/ending was soooo painful to endure, all the heartache they—NO, I suffered when this book came to a close, and how complete and utterly satisfied I was at the same time. With any developed book, you have losses and gains, and at the end of this book their was a lot of both!
  
Yes, this book had all that and some!! Lets talk about the characters and how much they've grown from book one. Alex is the perfect example of my favorite female protagonist. If all the female characters I read were all like her, then I would always fall in love with the books I read! ;) Alex's has come a long way from being the boy-girl, hidden behind her breast wraps and short hair. She's now engaged to the king, and to be the future queen of Antion. Alexia is a selfless character that always puts the ones she loves first. She's strong even when the odds are stacked against her, and is such a bada** with her hands, and even deadlier with weapons.

And Damian has also come a long way from the man he was forced to be in the face of his tyrant of a father, to the man he's free to be now. Forced to portray a spoiled prince in order to keep his father from discovering his most deadly secret about the sorcery running through his veins, Damian has had little time to be himself. But now that he's finally defeated the evil tyrant king he's able to be himself, embracing his country and righting all the wrongs his father inflicted on the people of Antion. I think him and Alex made a great couple, strengthening each other with their fierce devotion to their country  and genuine love for each other. It's definitely hard saying goodbye to them!! Sniff, sniff!!

I only had a few issues with this book, and really they were minor and nothing too serious. One being that their wasn't enough scenes with Damian. I REALLY wanted more from the romance department too. I think Alexa and Damian make a wonderful couple, but we didn't get enough of them together for them to really develop a more in depth relationship. Because almost the whole second book was filled with them fighting and acting like they hated each other when they really didn't. So in this book I was hoping for a chemistry and attraction that was more action and less talk and feeling! And then mending and molding their new lives together! But we get very little of them actually together, and even less of them acting on their desires. Which was a BIG let down and made it even harder for me to wrap this series up and let go.

The other issue was that it wasn't long enough to feel complete. It seemed like everything flew by so fast and then BAM, it was all over. I wanted more closure and a thorougher wrap up of this series. And a more developed epilogue that fit the pieces of their new life together better. It felt rushed at some parts and dragged in others. The final battle went too fast and ended way too easy. And as soon as the battle was over, so was the book. Well besides a short epilogue that really didn't give us that much into the future of their world, or the developed closure like I was hoping for.

THE PLOT:

After saving her kingdom from the ruthless tyrant of a king, Alexa has waged wars and defeated battles only to have them return full circle, quickly taking down their defenses and striking when they're at their weakest. 


 


 War is finally on Antion's door, waging on all sides and forcing them to their knees. With all their sorceress executed by their former king, and a now depleted army, Antion is more weaker then ever, and the rival kingdom of Dansiian knows it.

 

It's only a matter of time before the real army marches on them, lying fire and waste to the kingdom they only just gotten back.




But that's not the only problem weighing down Alexa. She manged saved her kings brother only to loose her best friend to the enemy in the process.



Engaged to King Damian and wanting nothing more then to give in to her desires and finally be his, something Alex has secretly longed for since she's come to know the real Damian. 




 But unfortunately that's something that must wait as she travels into enemy territory with only one ally by her side to save the best friend she fears may already be lost.


 

 Now with her kingdom plunged into chaotic war, and nothing for certain only that death and body count are rising, Alexa is unsure of what or where to go next. Only that she can't bare to leave her only true friend to his horrific fate, even if it means sacrificing her own life for his.


 

But once they arrive in the blood-thirsty kingdom of Dansiian, Alexia realizes something they never could of imagined, something that could shatter their world more then just the few black sorcerers they've been preparing for, but a whole army of black sorcerers, and more in the making...



 


And Dansiian thinks Alexa is their kingdoms greatest hope of destroying both her kingdom of Antion, and the kingdom they really want, Blevon, and all the magical secrets it hold...



Alex will have to look deep inside herself and find the strength and courage to face the demons that haunt her in Dansiian, and all the horrifying things she'll endure at their hands. But if it's one thing Alex has, it's the strength and determination to fight these monsters head on, but her willingness to save the ones she loves may also cost her the very thing she promised to her king, her life . . .

Since reading DEFY last year this series has quickly become one of my new favorites. Their was something about this series that I instantly liked and was quickly ensnared me into the world. The world building is one of my favorites, set in a kingdom in turmoil and war on the horizon. The plot was more then thrilling and filled with plenty of action and adventure, and we FINALLY get all the answers that we've been desperately craving from the very beginning!! The characters have all grown from book one and have endured much. They're loyal, determined, and willing to face whatever necessary to save their kingdom and the ones they love!! The writing was flush and suspenseful, filled with a lot of pain and tons of death.

Overall, ENDURE was a great book that had just the ending I was hoping for, even if it wasn't as developed as I hoped it would be. Regardless of the minor issues I had with it ENDURE, it was still an amazing book that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if it didn't give me all the info I wanted. I am definitely satisfied with this series and the ending, and would HIGHLY recommend this book and series to anyone that enjoys Young Adult Fantasy with an epic world-building, wonderful characters, and a thrilling plot that takes us through three kingdoms and back!!

NOTE: I received a physical ARC from Scholastic Press for reviewing purposes! All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

4 Bone Hearts

Sara's debut YA fantasy novel, DEFY, released in January of 2014 from Scholastic. The sequel will come out in early 2015--stay tuned for announcements about the title, cover, and synopsis! Sara lives in Utah with her husband and three young children. She writes during naptime and the hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." On occasion you will find her hiding in a bubble bath with a book and some Swedish Fish or some mint chocolate truffles. She is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

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The Uprising by Lisa M. Stasse Audiobook Review

The Uprising #2

THE UPRISING
Lisa M. Stasse
(The Forsaken #2)
Published: August 6th, 2013
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian

In this dystopian sequel to The Forsaken, Alenna has survived the brutality of life on the wheel—and now she’s going back for more.
Alenna escaped. It was expected that she would die on the wheel, the island where would-be criminals are sent as directed by the UNA—the totalitarian supercountry that was once the United States, Mexico, and Canada. But Alenna and her boyfriend, Liam, made it to safety. Except safety, they will soon learn, is relative.

In order to bring down the UNA, they must first gain control of the wheel. If the mission succeeds, the wheel will become a base of revolution. But between betrayals, a new Monk leading a more organized army of Drones, and the discovery of a previously unknown contingent, Alenna, Liam, and their allies might be in over their heads. One thing Alenna knows for sure: There will be a reckoning. And not everyone she loves will make it out alive.

{AMAZON} {BARNES & NOBLE} {AUDIBLE}
  

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE COMPLETE SERIES HERE:

 

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF BOOK ONE, THE FORSAKEN, HERE!!!

How do I even express my love for this book? Lisa M. Stasse is a brilliant story teller and a PHENOMENAL world builder!! I was instantly sucked back into this world after reading the first book almost two years ago and loving it to pieces. Stasse made it easy to merge back into this world without too much difficultly, and held my interest with the thrilling plot, and heart-pounding action and adventure that took this book to a whole new level of awesome!!!

I LOVED the cast of characters Stasee created, every single one of them!! Even the villains were pretty hardcore!! Alenna, the main character and only POV was one of the best female protagonist I've ever read. She has all the character traits I love. Fierce, strong, a bada** fighter, caring, willing to fight until the end, and determined to bring down the corrupt government that stole everything from her and the ones she loves. But what I loved about her character was the growth she developed since book one. When she first arrived on the island, she was unsure of herself, naive, I wouldn't call her weak, but she didn't know how to fight or to handle the stress of the island. But throughout book one and two she built up to the be strong, fierce, lovable, and determined character that she is in this book!!

This dystopian is definitely one of the better ones that I've read. I loved the world-building and the prison island where life expectantly is only 2 years after you arrive. The twist and turns of this series is just so thrilling and non-stop, that it keeps you literally on the edge of your seat anticipating the next twist! I enjoyed that it always kept me second guessing what would come next!

THE PLOT

Choose A Tribe.
Watch Your Back.
And Don't Stop RUNNING....

THE UPRISING HAS OFFICIALLY

BEGUN...

Alenna never imagined she would be one of the kids who would be sent to Island Alpha—AKA The Wheel, a prison Island for kids who test positive for a high capacity of brutal violence. But she was, and now she finds herself fighting against the same people who ruined her and her families lives. But being sent to the wheel was really a blessing in disguise. Even with the tortures obstacles she endured and conquered, because what she found on Island Alpha changed her world, forever!

After barely escaping Island Alpha alive, Alenna and her boyfriend Liam crashed on Destiny Station, and right into the hands of rebel scientist who are secretly working to overthrow the UNA, better known as United Northern Alliance and reinstate freedom back to the people. Her and Liam are reunited with other kids from the Wheel who too have been rescued by the rebel scientist looking to recruit and build their numbers.

Their plan is simple:

Bide their time, prepare scientifically to go against the UNA, regroup with other rebel bases, and then when all is set in motion and ready to go, return to the wheel and take control over it. And then build their numbers with the kids they recruit on Island Alpha, and then eventually, when their ready, return to the UNA and destroy their corrupt government and bring them down once and for all!!

Simple right? I think not.

All does not go as planed for their group, and they will have to fight every step of the way just to stay alive. Returning to the wheel was not as easy as they hoped, and when they return to find a new leader, one even more malicious and organized then the Monk, the drones last leader, they know they have their work cut out for them, and that hope of ever making it off of Island Alpha again, is looking to be slim to none...

Overall, THE UPRISING was a fantastic second installment that had my blood pumping and heart racing the entire time. THE UPRISING has left me eager in anticipation to dive back into this series with the conclusion that I know if it's anything like this book will be beyond EPIC!! If you love the dystopian genre, with plenty of Sci-f twist, and a county on the brink of civil war, fighting to regain their freedom, with tons of action and adventure to keep you reading late into the night, then THE UPRISING is one sequel you DON'T want to miss!!!

4.5 BONE HEARTS

Lisa M. Stasse was born on a farm in a small town in upstate New York. Bitten by the travel bug, she has since lived in twelve different states and four different countries. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Political Science and English literature, and is currently a digital librarian at UCLA. Lisa loves watching science fiction movies, cooking Spanish food, and dancing around her house to 80's music (when no one is watching). She lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband and their two-year-old daughter. All three of them are learning how to surf.

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