Review: Solving For Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans+ Giveaway

Title: Solving For Ex

Author: LeighAnn Kopans

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 300 pages

Expected Publication: Feb.11, 2014

Cover Designed: Hafsah Laziaf of Icey Designs

Blurb:

1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.
Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy. 

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the
battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.

SOLVING FOR EX is a YA contemporary romance that remixes Mansfield Park as Clueless meets Mean Girls in a crazy mix of high school society, mathletic competition, and teenage romance.

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Review

Though this is not the first time I've heard Leigh Ann Kopans name in the blogosphere or on twitter, because I have friends who've read her books--One & Two--this is the first book I've read a book by her and  I must say it is a fresh and good start to know a author. 

The whole idea of friendship turns into something more is one of my favorite concept in reading a book.  Ashley and Brendan relationship as a friend was showed thoroughly in the whole story. Leigh Ann built their relationship with right amount of justice that doesn’t interfere with forming a different relationship between them.

What makes me love this book more is the math, well not the Math, because I don’t think I would ever love that (hehe) but the little snippet of math letters between Vincent and Ashley, was cute.  

The geekyness of Ashley and Brendan was also cute, the point of being smart and witty at the same time is right for them.  Vincent and Sofia was also not only a trouble, but they made the whole story more exciting. At some point I don’t know who Ashley would end up with because there’s Vincent, who’s perfect ;) and Brendan who I also really like for Ashley.

The ending of the whole story was good; I can’t say it was perfect because there are parts that I feel there should be more. And I felt that the conclusion of Ashley and Brendan feelings for each other were a bit hurried.

But all in all Solving For Ex is the right book for you if you’re into easy yet fun book to read. It will make you fall in love in the geekiest way ;)

.5

Praise for SOLVING FOR EX by LeighAnn Kopans

“Amazing! If you like Sarah Dessen you will LOVE this.”

-          Emma Pass, author of Acid and The Fearless (Random House)

"Putting a modern spin on a Jane Austen classic, Solving for Ex proves that brains can be sexier than brawn. In this complicated equation of high school drama, mean girls, mathletics, and romance, LeighAnn delivers yet another beautifully written young adult novel that authentically captures teenage emotions while also capturing the reader's heart."

-          Nikki Godwin, author of Chasing Forever Down, American Girl on Saturn, and the upcoming Falling from the Sky

“Ashley is the kind of girl you want to root for, smart and capable and self-assured, despite of, or maybe because of, her vulnerabilities. And in Brenden, LeighAnn has crafted a boy worth of such a girl. Through all the heartbreak and angst of high school, their connection is undeniable and pressing. It's elementary, dear readers - Solving for Ex is one must-read romance.”

-          Jenny Kaczorowski, author of The Art of Falling (Bloomsbury 2013)

“If you only read one book in 2014, make sure it's Solving For Ex! I sincerely doubt that you'd regret reading it; it's intelligent, hilarious, intense and touching…Honestly one of the most amazing books I have ever read.”

Luciana Scath, blogger at Figments of our Imagination

Author Bio

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature.  As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen.  Solving for Ex was born of her love for Jane Austen’s classics, and how they taught her that love stories could be funny and wickedly smart.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

Connect with Leigh Ann: 

 

Giveaway

Win (1) "Mathlete" Tee (US Only)

Win (1) "Maths" Tee from Threadless (US Only)

Win (1) "I <3 u" equation coffee mug (US Only)

Win (1) signed paperback of Solving For Ex by LeighAnn Kopans (US Only)

Win (1) of (3) e-copies of Solving For Ex by LeighAnn Kopans (INT)

Win (1) "Reading Is Sexy" Tee (US Only)

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Cover Reveal: The Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings

Title: The Fires of Calderon

Author: Lindsay Cummings

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 352 pages

Expected Publication: Sept.23, 2014

Blurb:

The first book in an epic middle grade fantasy adventure series that takes place in an underground society at the center of the earth. Packed with action, humor, magic, and mystery.

After following a mysterious map into the woods and then under the woods, eleven-year-old Albert Flynn learns he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for fixing problems in three underground Realms at the Core of the earth. His new job is important; if the realms fall out of balance, the world above could be in great danger.

Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy arrive in the Core not a moment too soon. There’s an Imbalance in the Calderon Realm and it’s threatening to bury Albert’s hometown of New York City in a mountain of ash.

The three must train hard completing mental and physical challenges, but above all, they must harness the power of their Tiles—unique superpowers given to each Balance Keeper. So far, Albert’s mastered the art of not mastering his Tile....

With the situation in Calderon growing worse every day, can Albert, Leroy, and Birdie restore balance before New York is destroyed forever? Will Albert master his Tile before it’s too late?

Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, The Unwanteds, and the classic Journey to the Center of the Earth.

International at The Book Depository

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Author Bio

 

Lindsay Cummings is the 20-year-old author of THE MURDER COMPLEX, as well as its sequel, coming 2014 from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, and the MG trilogy THE BALANCE KEEPERS, coming Fall 2014 from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins.

Lindsay deals with chronic fatigue, can’t get enough of her two pesky German Shepherds, wolf cub, and two horses. She's still waiting on her letter from Hogwarts--it was probably just lost in the mail. You can follow Lindsay on twitter @lindsaycwrites

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Promo: Alabama Sons by E.A. Whitehead

Title: Alabama Sons

Author: E.A. Whitehead

Series: The Sons Trilogy#1

Genre: New Adult

Expected Publication: Jan. 19, 2014

Blurb:

Penny Wilmot leads a simple life. Together with her widowed father and best friend Boone they run a small U-Pick farm. She never asked for much, and certainly wasn't looking for him... Jackson Hawkes lives his life at one steady speed: fast. On a mission to find his father, he takes a road trip and ends up finding himself with a new band, a new job and a new dream. 

The two meet by accident and begin a romantic adventure in the summer heat of Alabama. But what happens when the pair find out that they have the one thing in common that took their whole worlds away from them? Death. 

It takes things away, but can it bring the two together? Join Penny and her sons of Alabama in a turbulent journey of love and loss..

Read the first chapter of Alabama Sons here

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Author Bio

E.A. Whitehead is the author of Alabama Sons, book one of The Sons Trilogy. She spends an unhealthy amount of time ‘pinning’ things and getting lost in a fantasy world where everything is DIY and she owns a 12-room house to decorate. 

She obsesses over hockey (go Bruins!), all things Harry Potter, and her cats Little Bear and Baby Girl. She also believes that Wanderlust will cure your soul, live your dreams passionately!

Connect with Sasha:

 

ij

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Release Day Blitz: Cowboys & Kisses by Sasha Summers

Title: Cowboys & Kisses

Author: Sasha Summers

Expected Publication: Feb. 1o, 2014

Publisher: InkSpell Publishing

Blurb:

Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn't part of it.

1. Get out of Black Falls Texas - aka Redneck Hell (Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.) 

2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs. (Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot-and a really nice guy.) 

3. Avoid her parents. (Shouldn't be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)

 4. Stop thinking about Wyatt. (Which would be a lot easier if he wasn't so sweet... and he'd keep his shirt on.)

 5. Decide what she really wants. (Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)

ij

Excerpt

  He froze, completely surprised. If his breath hadn’t hitched, I wouldn’t have known he’d heard me. He just stared at me, until I felt like a complete idiot. I stepped back then, lifting my hand from his arm. It hurt. I hurt. I suspected his life was a lot more complicated than I knew, but I thought…I hoped…he cared about me too. 

Maybe I just wanted him to? “Night.” The word was a garbled mess and I headed back in the direction I’d come. “Allie,” he ground out, taking my hand and pulling me down one of the alleys between empty pens. It was darker, but I held on to him, my heart thumping in my chest. He stopped and turned, his hands sliding up my bare arms to my shoulders, causing wicked delicious shivers the whole way. His hands, callused and rough, were feather-light along my neck, cupping my cheeks and tilting my head back as he bent low. His lips were so soft against mine. 

I hadn’t expected that. Or the way his breath mixing with mine made me dizzy. I swayed into him, gripping his dusty shirt tightly. His lips grew firm, a little demanding, and it was perfect. All I wanted was this—and more. When his lips lingered, the heat between us took over. Pressed against him, his heartbeat bounced with mine. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer. His hand pressed against my bare back, hesitant…uncertain.

 My hands moved, pressing against his hard chest and sliding up to cup his neck—knocking his hat off—keeping him there. Why can’t I stop shaking? It was okay. He was shaking too. I parted my lips, sucking in a ragged breath. His lips followed. He pressed us against the metal pens at my back, keeping us upright and tangled in each other.

 I didn’t think, couldn’t think. Feeling was everything. Hot and sweet and happy, I ran my fingers through the close-cropped hair at the base of his neck, pulling him in. The tip of his tongue brushed my lower lip. I made a strange noise, tightening my hold on him, pressing myself flat against him. There was no room between us, none. And it still didn’t seem close enough. One of his hands traveled down my back, resting against the base of my spine, fitting me against him. Holy hell.

ij

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Author Bio

Sasha is part gypsy, stories have always played an important role in her life. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. 

Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so.

 Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Connect with Sasha:

ij

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Cover Reveal: Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS

Today is the day! The cover of Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS is here! We're so excited to be able to share this with you as it joins an already stunning set! Ready to see it? Not quite yet lets take a look a the first two covers in the series!

First there was ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND...

Then came THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS...

Now get ready to EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!!!

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Title: The Queen of Zombie Hearts

Author: Gena Showalter

Expected Publication: September 30, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Blurb:I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

Official White Rabbit Chronicles website

Pre-order your copy!

Author Bio

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Follow her on these sites
  

Website 

Giveaway Details:

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada Only

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