It’s another Bookanista Thursday! This week I’m talking about 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil. I had the privilege of reading the ARC of this novel and was sucked in yet again to one of Gretchen’s twisty plotlines. For those of you who are a fan of Gretchen’s horror novels, this is a bit of a departure. That’s not to say that there aren’t some paranormal creatures that won’t scare you! But it is not a straight horror novel. And it is a fabulous, fast-paced read!
Synopsis:
Josie Byrne’s life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she’s betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can’t get worse.
Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.
Jo’s life is everything Josie wants: she’s popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they’re just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.
Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo’s perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.
But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo’s boyfriend, he hates her. Jo’s mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.
By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?
From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you
What I Loved:
I loved the glimpse into these alternate realities and the concept that the choices you make can affect so many other things around you … the butterfly effect if you will. It was great to follow Josie’s character development as she really learned what mattered most in her life – the life she was fighting hard to get back to. I think the only negative thing I can say about this novel (and I already told Gretchen!) was the ending. I won’t tell you why or spoil it. But I am a particular sort of reader :) I’ll leave it at that.
Sites:
Add 3:59 to Goodreads | Check out Gretchen’s website | Follow Gretchen on Twitter
Elsewhere, the Bookanistas are talking about:
- Lenore Appelhans wonders at ALL YOU NEVER WANTED by Adele Griffin
- Shari Arnold loves SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL by Trish Doller
- Tracy Banghart embraces IMPOSTOR by Susanne Winnacker
- Shelli Johannes-Wells delights in Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER and HOMELAND\
- Stasia Ward Kehoe, Carolina Valdez Miller & Debra Driza sing out for the cover of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO
- Jessica Love raves about ROAD TO TATER HILL by Edith M. Hemingway
- Katy Upperman celebrates THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay – with giveaway!
This week The Bookanistas have a special surprise: we are relaunching our blog, hosting a contest, and sharing special content for the summer! Summer is the time I get caught up on most of my reading – what with vacations, the kids home from school (meaning it’s more difficult to write, easier to read!) and lazy evenings with only re-runs to watch on TV. Here are just a few of the books I’m looking forward to reading this summer:
Not sure what you’re going to read? Well we are here to help with a TON of books and prizes!
Click Here to Enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway
THE WINNER OF THE BOOKANISTA RELAUNCH GIVEAWAY OF AWESOME WILL RECEIVE
Signed copies of these Bookanista-authored books…
- IF I LIE and TOUCHED by Corrine Jackson PLUS ARCs of JUST ONE DAY and SPEECHLESS
- LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger
- BY BLOOD by Tracy Banghart
- POSSESSION, SURRENDER and ABANDON by Elana Johnson
- TOUCHING THE SURFACE by Kimberly Sabatini (plus a swag surprise)
- BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris
- AUDITION by Stasia Ward Kehoe
- THE GIRL GUIDE by Christine Fonseca (plus sweet swag)
- MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza
- LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans
AND A SECOND WINNER WILL GET A BOX FILLED WITH Bookanista-beloved reads including WILL GRAYSON WILL GRAYSON (signed!) by John Green & David Levithan, DITCHED by Robin Mellom, JELLICO ROAD by Melina Marchetta, TAKEN by Erin Bowman, CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare, MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama and SPARROW ROAD by Sheila O’Connor.
You can find lots more Bookanista Relaunch Book Love at our sites around the interwebs: Carolina Valdez Miller, Carrie Harris, Christine Fonseca, Corrine Jackson, Debra Driza, Elana Johson, Jessica Love, Katy Upperman, Kimberly Sabatini, Lenore Appelhans, Rebecca Behrens, Shannon Messenger , Shelli Johannes-Wells, Stasia Ward Kehoe, Tracey Neithercott , Tracy Banghart
It’s another Bookanista Thursday! This week I’m talking about The Grave Winner by Lindsay Loucks. I actually had the privilege of reading some of this novel back when Lindsay entered a contest on Oasis for YA and we critiqued her first chapter. I immediately fell in love with the eerie ambiance of the novel and asked her to read more!
Synopsis:
Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.
While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.
She should have listened.
Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.
With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.
Bio:
Lindsey R. Loucks works as a school librarian in rural Kansas. When she’s not discussing books with anyone who will listen, she’s dreaming up her own stories. Eventually her brain gives out, and she’ll play hide and seek with her cat, put herself in a chocolate induced coma, or watch scary movies alone in the dark to reenergize.
She’s been with her significant other for almost two decades.
Add The Grave Winner to Goodreads | Check out Lindsey’s website | Follow Lindsey on Facebook | Follow Lindsey on Twitter.
Elsewhere, the Bookanistas are talking about:
- Lenore Appelhans is blown away by REBOOT by Amy Tintera
- Carrie Harris adores BEYOND DINOCALYPSE by Chuck Wendig — with giveaway!
- Tracy Banghart & Debra Driza join THE GIRL GUIDE by Christine Fonseca book blitz!
- Corrine Jackson is stunned by BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
- Gretchen McNeil talks TRUTH OR DARE by Jacqueline Green
- Elana Johson admires INSOMNIA by Jenn Johannson
- Tracey Neithercott celebrates THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS by Jacqueline Moriarty
- Katy Upperman fawns over FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta
- Rebecca Behrens is wowed by THE FIFTH WAVE by Rick Yancey
It’s another Bookanista Thursday! This week I’m talking about Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard. I loved nearly everything about this book – the historial zombie love story!!
So what did I love?
- The Characters. So many great characters in this novel. Eleanor’s unyielding determination and snarky voice. Daniel as the sullen (but hot) inventor with a dark past. Jie and her fierce but loyal friendships. I could go and on!
- The Setting. I loved all the details and immediately could sense the sweltering heat of a parasoled, corseted summer in 1876 Philly.
- The Twist. I’m not really a fan of zombies (I know, I know … how is that possible?) The only other zombie book I’ve ever liked was The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Now there’s a second on my list – and it’s this one.
Definitely pick this one up and let me know your thoughts!
Goodreads Synopsis:
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Elsewhere, the Bookanistas are talking about:
- Jessica Love covets the cover of THE LOST PLANET by Rachel Searles
- Tracey Neithercott is pepped about PIVOT POINT by Kasie West
- Shari Arnold marvels at THE REECE MALCOM LIST by Amy Spaulding
- Katy Upperman raves about some recent reads