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The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22nd, 2009)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 372 pages
Source: Won from author
Series: The Dark Divine #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret… and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.
Review: I don't know why I waited so long to read this. I'm a big werewolf fan and this is a book I have wanted to read for a long time. The Dark Divine is from Grace's POV. She is a"good girl" with a loving family and her father happens to be a pastor. But, there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

Grace recalls the odd events that happened around the time her childhood friend Daniel disappeared. Suddenly, Daniel is back and he isn't exactly the same person who left 3 years before. Grace's family is desperate for her to stay away from him but she can't. She is determined to have him in her life and to find out why he went away.

I will say that nothing in particular about this book blew me away; however, it was a very well-rounded story. I enjoyed the characters. I never wanted to put the book down and I had no idea where the plot would take me. Grace was a good girl but she took a lot of risks. Daniel was just fascinating. I was curious to find out more about him because he started off as being very closed off and sad.

Another aspect of the story I really enjoyed was the fact that Grace's family was a critical part of the plot. That is often rare to find in YA books so I liked the fact that we get to know her father, mother, and older brother on a deeper level. It also allows the readers to see why Grace is who she is.

With Daniel's arrival, a lot of bad things start happening around town and people are blaming Daniel. Grace knows something evil is out there but she just can't believe Daniel would be the one causing the problems. The plot in this story was very creative and mysterious. I honestly didn't know what would happen and I was completely surprised many times.

Bree Despain is a fabulous author and The Dark Divine series is one that easily hooked me. Everything about this novel helped to bring the story to life and Bree's writing made me an immediate fan.

Recommended: In case anyone hasn't read this so far — paranormal/werewolf fans who like a good mystery.

The Savage Grace, the final book in The Dark Divine series, was just released March 13th. Bree is here today to tell us a little more about herself and her writing.

Fill out the form below for a chance to win a copy of The Savage Grace.
3 winners will be picked.

1. How has your writing style or strategy changed as The Dark Divine series has progressed?
Before being published I could write whenever I wanted and be as slow as I wanted--which means that it took me 4 years to write the first book. Now that I write on contract, I've had to learn how to compress my writing process into a much shorter period of time (usually 5-6 months). I strive to find the balance between being a mom and making those tight deadlines--which means I end up putting in a lot of late nights.

2. What are a few of the most surprising things your fans of the series have done?
I always find it funny when fans paint their toenails to match my book covers and then tweet pictures of their feet to me. It's a good thing I am not someone who is grossed out by toes!

3. Can you tell us something that most people may not know about you?
I went to a royal ball in an Austrian palace when I was 17--and all I had to wear was a little red gingham dress. I'm totally going to use that experience in a book someday.

4. You had a pretty scary accident happen to you years ago and it made you want to start writing again. What would you like to tell people who may be putting off their dreams in order to deal with the stresses of life?
I always tell people to think about this question,"If you died tomorrow, what would regret not having done in your life?" Then I tell them to go out and try to work towards that thing. Most dreams take a lot of time to achieve, so the longer you put off trying to strive towards them, the greater you are running the risk of running out of time.
5. What are some of the things that help you if you are having a difficult time writing a certain scene?
I like to go for walks around the lake near my house. I call them"plot walks." Sometimes I go alone just to think, and sometimes I bring my husband along and we talk through the issue. I've also been known to cover my family room walls with giant post-it notes and work the problem out on paper in visual way. Scribbling on the walls always makes me feel a little giddy like a mad scientist.

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA (March 13th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 488 pages
Series: The Dark Divine #3
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

Prize:

• 3 winners will receive a copy of The Savage Grace

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 13th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Nobody by Janenifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Egmont USA (January 22nd, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 393 pages
There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

Every Other Day by Janenifer Lynn Barnes Summary: Every other day, Kali D’Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She’s human.

And then every day in between.. she’s something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, and unfortunately she’ll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive.. and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

Prize:

1 winner will get a hard back copy of NOBO DY and one paperback copy of EVERY OTHER DAY by Janenifer Lynn Barnes.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends March 24th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Guess what everyone? It is almost time for The Hunger Games movie!! Who's excited? *raises hand!!* To celebrate this epic movie release, EgmontUSA will be doing a lot to introduce people to another wonderful book and series, ASHES by Ilsa J. Bick. Like many of you, I will be at my local movie theater on Thursday night, March 22nd but I will be there for an extra reason as well. I'll be handing out some copies of ASHES to some lucky Hunger Games fans. Cool, right?! I'm sure they will be super surprised: )
If you are thinking"Well darn, I want a chance to get a copy too" this is your lucky day! EgmontUSA has been kind enough to provide me with an extra 2 copies for blog readers. YAY! I'm going to make entering super easy and fun (details below).

SHADOWS (the 2nd book in the ASHES series, will be out September 11th, 2012.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Publisher: EgmontUSA (September 6th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 480 pages
Series: Ashes Trilogy #1
It could happen tomorrow..

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

Prize:

• 2 winners will receive a copy of ASHES.

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
• Email must be provide.
• Contest is US Only and ends March 23rd.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER.