GIVEAWAY - The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis by Zoe Ferraris

In the spellbinding first book of middle-grade fantasy-adventure series THE GALAXY PIRATES: HUNT FOR THE PYXIS, award-winning author Zoë Ferraris transports readers on a interstellar adventure to a universe filled with fantastical creatures, merciless villains, and fearless heroes with a family secret. Perfect for fans of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, HUNT FOR THE PYXIS is a swashbuckling adventure with nonstop action, intrigue, and friendship. On the night Emma Garton’s boring parents are kidnapped, she is forced to face the truth: they’ve been lying to her about many things, including the Pyxis, a mysterious amulet that holds the key to saving another world—and they aren’t even from planet Earth. To find her parents, Emma and her best friend, Herbie, must leave Earth and enter the Strands—the waterways of space, where huge galleons ply the intergalactic seas. But a journey through the constellations won’t be easy—not with evil Queen Virgo and every scoundrel in the galaxy determined to find them. 
(Crown Books for Young Readers | On sale August 8, 2015 | Ages 8–12 | $16.99)

Praise for "HUNT FOR THE PYXIS"
Zoë Ferraris’s imagination knows no bounds—HUNT FOR THE PYXIS is an action-packed interstellar adventure in a galaxy filled with pirates, monkeys, and a colorful cast of other creatures that is sure to keep kids reading through the night, wondering if their parents might just be Galaxy Pirates, too. 

ZOË FERRARIS is the author of three critically acclaimed adult novels that have been translated into over thirty languages. Finding Nouf won the ALA-YALSA Alex Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Ferraris received her MFA from Columbia University. She lives in San Francisco. About HUNT FOR THE PYXIS, Ferraris says, “I first created this universe when I was a child— an outer space full of great galleons and pirates and skullduggery, where the constellations are more than just invisible lines in the sky.” 

Giveaways terms and conditions:

No purchase necessary.

You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter.
Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor does not fulfill their giveaway prize.

Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize.

Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dresslink.com Wishlist (Fandom Fashion)

Recently I've really started to enjoy online clothes shopping. And what I mean by online clothes shopping, is putting hundreds of dollars worth of clothes into my shopping cart. Then deleting it all. 

Or I add hundreds of dollars worth of clothes to a wishlist.

Today, I am showing you my wishlist on one of my favorite online shopping sites, Dresslink.com.

Here are some items that I am dying to have on the website:

This Harry Potter inspired bracelet is just too cute! I especially love the owls. It is listed on the website for $2.09 Click to find it on Dressink here

This tank top is super cute. The fabric it's made out of is Chiffon, which is definitely a pro! It is listed on the website for $4.48 Click to find it on Dressink here

This jacket is also super cute! It's very unique and I love how it looks like a hoodie and jean jacket. You get the best of both worlds! You can find it on the website for $12.24 Click to find it on Dressink here

As a coffee lover, this shirt is definitely an essential. Look at it! It literally speaks coffee lover. You can find it not he website for $4.37 Click to find it on Dressink here

Thanks so much for looking at my Dresslink.com wishlist! Be sure to check out Dresslink.com for awesome deals and super cheap flashbuys, as low as $0.01!

GIVEAWAY - Twist My Charm: The Popularity Spell by Real Housewives Executive Producer Toni Gallagher

Hollywood producer Toni Gallagher takes a contemporary magical twist on surviving middle school in TWIST MY CHARM: THE POPULARITY SPELL (Random House Books for Young Readers | On sale September 22, 2015 | Ages 8-12)—a story about the ups and downs of being a tween. Fresh and relatable, THE POPULARITY SPELL is perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Wendy Mass. Middle school can be tough, especially when you have to go to a new school. But what if there was a magic charm that gave the wearer popularity . . . that is, until the charm gets twisted. Cleo Nelson just started sixth grade at a new school, where all the kids seem a lot cooler and older than her. But luckily she becomes fast friends with Samantha. So when a mysterious gift arrives in the mail, Cleo can’t wait to share the voodoo doll with Sam. But as the charms get bigger, the girls start to realize that happy charms can be twisted. . . . No stranger to storytelling, Toni Gallagher has worked as a producer for the Disney Channel and Bravo, and brings her TV background to bear writing accessible middle-grade books. With themes of friendship and learning how to be true to yourself, THE POPULARITY SPELL is an entertaining read for tween girls and will have a second book—TWIST MY CHARM: LOVE POTION #11—in Spring 2016.

TONI GALLAGHER earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University and has had a successful career in reality TV. She began as a story editor on the early seasons of MTV's "The Real World" (LA, San Francisco and London) and was a producer on the beloved and respected Disney Channel show "Bug Juice," about real kids at summer camp. Currently she serves as Co-Executive Producer of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" on Bravo. Toni lives in Los Angeles and loves

finding the magic in it. 

Giveaways terms and conditions:

No purchase necessary.

You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter.
Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor does not fulfill their giveaway prize.

Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize.

Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

Hot sun. Blue waves. New romances. Old secrets.Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes a sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friends (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don't hold grudges forever. Do they? Gemma intends on making amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother, Josh—to believe she's someone else. As though the summer wasn't complicated enough already. Filled with summer sun, boys, and friendships gone sour, Katie Finn's first novel in the Broken Hearts and Revenge series sizzles and delights.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

As a huge fan of Morgan Matson's books, I knew that I had to read her books as Katie Finn, and I knew that I had to read them fast. Because of my love for Morgan Matson, I think I went into Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend with too high of expecations. My expectations were definitely let down, and I was disappointed that I didn't love Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend as much as I loved Morgan Matson's other books. That being said, Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend is not a bad book at all. It was cute and kept you at the edge of your seat. I was entertained almost the entire time. I guess I didn't love it because I'm used to expecting and loving such stellar books and writing from Morgan Matson. Because of the huge cliffhanger at the end of the book, I will definitely be reading the next book. I need to know what happens to Gema and Hallie!

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

GIVEAWAY: Believarexic by J.J. Johnson

In 1988, when she was fifteen, JJ Johnson was hospitalized for treatment of bulimarexia, a combination of bulimia and anorexia. During her ten-week stay, JJ had to eat everything on her tray, and took classes like "Assertiveness Training," "Depression Management," and "Body Image Workshop." She gained weight, but her path toward health was a constant struggle. In her heart, JJ knew-she knew-that she would be a happy, healthy adult one day. But how? Instead of a clear path, there was a black abyss. She needed a guide, a mentor, someone who knew her inside and out. So, one morning, just before weigh-in, JJ closed her eyes and made a deal with herself: I promise myself that when I'm grown up, and happy, I will come back here, to these months. Healthy me will guide bulimarexic me through this. This book is that promise, kept. 

J.J. Johnson is a youth counselor turned young adult novelist. J.J. grew up in Norwich, a small town in central New York State, where she raced BMX bikes, danced ballet, worried too much, read a lot, partied at the rock quarry, and spent summers along the creek in her backyard. J.J. graduated from Binghamton University in 1996. In 2001, she earned a Master of Education from Harvard University, with a concentration in Adolescent Risk and Prevention. Before writing novels, J.J. counseled at-risk teens and coordinated youth service programs such as The Learning Web, Justice Summer, and Youth Advocacy.  She is the author of This Girl is Different (2011), The Theory of Everything (2012), and Believarexic (coming October 2015). Her books have received numerous honors and have been translated into six languages. She lives with her husband, son, and dog in Durham, North Carolina. J.J. loves echidnas, dance parties, and Star Wars.  Visit her website here

Giveaways terms and conditions:

No purchase necessary.

You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter.
Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor does not fulfill their giveaway prize.

Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize.

Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW MASHUP: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Suspicion by Alexandra Monir, The Jewel by Amy Ewing, The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau, Nil by Lynne Matson, The Secret Diamond Sisters & Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow, & Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Watch Grace's reviews (all in one video) for:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.  Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor. For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope. Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving. Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring. Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one and the same?  The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die. Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field. Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time. 

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.  The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past. 

All-access doesn't mean no problems. The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again. Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her. Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future. They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all. Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered. Love gets ugly. 

REVIEW: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Denard

Philadelphia 1876. The Dead are rising. A zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor Fitt. Whoever controls the Dead Army has her brother. She avoids her mother's choice of husband for the lab of Spirit Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel. The situation threatens her reputation, and the lives of everyone in the city.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 
I began to realize that Something Strange and Deadly was probably the book that made me realize that I really really really REALLY like steam punk. I'd always loved movies and TV that was steam punk, so I guess it makes sense that I would love steam punk novels. I loved Eleanor. She was so funny and stubborn to the point where the way she behaved around her family and friends reminded me how I act around my own family and friends. Do I get to call Eleanor a #relateableteen now?! I think yes. Daniel is either equally as stubborn and quirky as Eleanor is, or even more. It's great. Those two are quite the perfect match! If you're looking for a quick and fun read that's historical fiction with quite some steam punk, I'd definitely say that this is the book for you! I'm really glad the BookBusters decided to read this book. Thanks so much to Susan Dennard for also participating with us! (: 

 To join the BookBusters book club, click here

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: For Real by Alison Cherry

From Alison Cherry, author of Red, a novel PW declares “sparkles with wit,” comes a terrific new book about two sisters and one big question: how do you know who’s for real? No parents. No limits. No clue what they’re in for. Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister’s shadow. While Miranda’s life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality television. When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just after her college graduation, it’s Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They’ll outshine Miranda’s fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome. But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life . . . or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what’s for real?

I received a free hardcover of this book from the publisher (Random House) and e-copy of this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 
My favorite part about For Real would definitely have to be that it was original and unlike any contemporary novel I've read before. I found it super creative to have the story take place inside and outside of a reality TV show. It was great seeing main character Claire transform from a very introverted shy girl who was always shadowed by her older sister into a more outgoing and confident version of herself because of her experiences on and off the show. My biggest problem about For Real would've been Claire's older sister Miranda. Miranda was not a good sister and it bothered me a lot that she would not realize what she was doing to Claire. Other than that, this was a very cute and short read that I read in almost one sitting! It was definitely something different and I'm glad BookBusters chose to read this as one of our contemporary reads. 

 Watch the BookBusters YA/NA book club discuss For Real by Allison Cherry on my YouTube channel LovingDemBooks:

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace