LOOP review and #giveaway



Loop (Loop #1)
At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.


"Umm, because you smell like a wad of yummy wrapped in a layer of delicious?" -Bree

Hi, guys! I am so excited to bring LOOP to ya'll today... it was such a great, fun book, with an amusing character and intriguing take on time travel! I was actually given an eARC of this, but didn't realize that it expired by a certain date (boo), so... I had to buy my own version so I could read it in time for this review/giveaway. Which is fine, and totally worth it! (I've actually now ordered a hard copy--that's how much I loved it!) UPDATE: They sent me a hardcover. LOL! My bad! So now that I have an extra... guess I'll have to use it for another giveaway soon! :D

LOOP starts out with Bree being given an assignment to go to a particular place in time. There's a whole other thing going on that you don't fully understand until quite a bit further into the book, but let's just say that she is also trying to sneak in an "off the record" assignment at the same time, to benefit her family. Problem is, pretty much everything goes wrong, which starts a long twist of things getting more funny and wonky and confusing as she learns nothing at all is really as it seems and this might not be the first time she's been at this particular point in time.

I don't want to say much because there are layers to the plot and I might give something away, but I will say that not reading the blurb actually benefitted me a lot, because I had no idea what to expect and that made the read more exciting. 

I also loved Karen's voice. She gave Bree, her best friend, Mimi, and the rest of the characters such great dialogue, and her descriptions were seamless. I'm one of those readers who doesn't always want long descriptive parts when I'm really enjoying a book (get me to the action!), and this fit the bill with perfect laughs, set-ups, and surprises. Another quote:


Finn stared at me like I'd sprouted a third eyeball. He waited until I was done before he sat up and clapped his hands together. Again. And again. "Bravo! Did they serve a helping of brainwashing with the twigs this morning or was it beamed directly into your brain via your microchip?"

See? Those two are hilarious. And now for the fun news...

I've been given one copy of LOOP to give away! YAY! Make sure you come back and enter often, okay? It's worth it! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Add LOOP to Goodreads | Connect with Karen on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

P.S. Karen also has a fun bookplate giveaway going on at her place. You can check it out and enter it HERE

Waiting on Wednesday: Illusionarium



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine.  
  This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is Illusionarium
Illusionarium


Illusionarium

by Heather Dixon

Publication date: May 19th, 2015

From Goodreads:

From the author of Entwined, a brilliantly conceived adventure through an alternate London. This sweeping, cinematic tale of an apprentice scientist desperate to save his family—and his world—is The Night Circus meets Pixar.

Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that is breathtaking and wholly original.

October's Reader Interview with Kaitlin... part two


Welcome back to day two of October's Reader Interview with Kaitlin from Reading is My Treasure! If you missed part one yesterday, go HEREContinuing yesterday's questions... 

Name a secondary character you’d love to be friends with in real life:
Ric from Danielle Ellison’s Salt series had a great personality, so I wouldn't mind being friends with him.

Secondary character you’d like to tell a thing or two to:
I’m not really sure if she’s considered a secondary character or not, but Gerald’s sister in Reality Boy by A.S. King was a horrible person. I would like to tell her what a bad sister she was.

Villain you’d love to see in real life (even if just from afar):
I wouldn’t want to see any in real life, but the villain I would be most willing to see would have to be the Duchess of the Lake from The Jewel by Amy Ewing. She probably dresses well.


What is your favorite YA cover of all time? What made it so great?

The Heir (The Selection #4)Jessica . . . that’s such a hard question! There are so many amazing ones and I’m pretty sure my favorite changes at least every other day. That said, The Heir by Kiera Cass is my favorite at this very moment. It is beautiful. It’s definitely my favorite of the series and I just adore it.

Nice choice! It is gorgeous!


Most recent book that made you laugh:
Loop by Karen Akins was a really fun read. That one made me laugh quite a few times!


Name a character you’d never want to be stranded with on a desert island.
I’ll pick someone from a book I recently read: Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles. She is definitely not a friendly character that I’d want to be around. Plus, she would most likely take control of my mind and make me do everything for her. She would be the queen of the island and I would be her own personal slave.


Strangest storyline you’ve read lately, and why:
I read Slaughterhouse-Five earlier this year and it was definitely a strange read, mainly because there was time travel that resulted in jumps from one time to another. There was also a lot of weird things happening in the story, like an alien abduction.


Last, being a book blogger, you’re able to receive a LOT of ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). Are there any that you’re looking forward to (or really hoping to get your hands on) in the coming months?
Yes. LOTS. You know there are some seriously amazing looking books releasing in 2015, right? I’m looking forward to The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows, None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio , Denton’s Little Deathdate by Lance Rubin, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes, and so many more!


Thanks so much for being here at LMTAS, Kaitlin! :D
Thank you so much for having me! :)



About Kaitlin:  I love books (of course), gorgeous book covers, polished rocks, gemstones, food, lists, and Pepsi. My current obsessions are The Vampire Diaries and Orphan Black. I spend most of my time reading, blogging, tweeting, or just looking at books. I've never been good at introductions. Connect with Kaitlin at Reading is My Treasure | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

October's Reader Interview: Kaitin from Reading is My Treasure




October's reader is Kaitlin from Reading is My Treasure. Hi, Kaitlin! Thanks for being here!

Hi Jessica! I’m glad to be here. :)

Most readers have a specific book/series that they can pinpoint as the book that opened the door to their love for YA. What was yours, and what made it so special?
Mine was The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman! I can’t recall specifically why it opened the door to my love of YA (and reading in general). I just remember loving the characters, world, and story then starting to read more and more books than I had before that point.

You’ve been blogging for a while now. What have you seen change since you started? What’s remained the same?
I feel like not much has changed in the past 16 months I’ve been blogging. The most noticeable thing is the people I interact with in the blogosphere. Most of my regular commenters from early in the year don’t seem like the ones that comment regularly now. My fellow bloggers that I talked to the most back in January are not necessarily the same one that I talk to the most now. The love and excitement for reading in the blogosphere has remained the same, though, no matter who I was interacting with the most.

Name a favorite feature on someone else’s blog:
I love Trending Tuesday on YA Romantics! The posts are always interesting.
Ooh, yes! I love that one, too!

Name your favorite feature at Reading is My Treasure:
My current favorite is a new-ish feature called Q&A Discussion. I answer a question (submitted by one of the blog’s visitors) in a post and turn it into a discussion!

What would be the single most important advice you’d give to readers interested in reviewing and/or blogging about books?
Review and blog the way you want to review and blog. If you blog the way other people say you should blog and don’t do it the way you want to, you would probably not get as much out of it. You would probably not have as much fun either.

Favorite thing about the book blogging community, overall?
The people! Hands down.☺
Agreed!


A while back, one of my daughters left a book too close to the stove, and the spaghetti sauce I was cooking splattered all over it. We wiped the cover down, but to this day, it’s still covered with orange dots. Have you ever had anything like that happen to a book? If so, was it yours?
I can’t recall doing anything like that to my book, but my friend left one that I lent her (Dreamland by Sarah Dessen, which is really special to me) out in the rain once. It’s by far the most damaged book I own. Despite being wrinkled and water stained, it’s still very much readable (thankfully).
Okay I just checked my library because I knew I had that book, and mine is damaged, too! *sad face*

Do you ever dog-ear your pages?
NO. Just . . . no. (Like in the last question, though, I’ve had friends dog ear my books.)
Ack! I am so sorry!

Have you ever used lines from books in real life situations, and if so, did anyone notice?
That would be cool if I had done that, but I don’t remember quotes that well to do that. :(

Worst book hangover ever?
I got a really bad book hangover after finishing The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas. It was heartbreaking and actually made me very nervous about reading another book because I thought that certain events at the end of the last novella would happen in the other book I was reading.

Favorite female character, and why:
Celaena from the Throne of Glass series is my favorite right now. She is awesome. She’s grown a lot throughout the series so far and has both a lot of strength and many flaws. Plus, she’s an assassin that loves books and nice clothes. I don’t see a lot of assassins dressing up real nice in books because they actually want to and I love how comfortable Celaena is with doing that.

Favorite male character, and why:
Adrian Ivashkov from the Vampire Diaries/Bloodlines series is amazing. He’s funny, flawed, loyal, and so, so sweet. I love him!

Thanks so much for being here, Kaitlin! Come back tomorrow for part two of Kailtin's reader interview. In the meantime, connect with Kaitlin at Reading is My Treasure

Waiting on Wednesday: Red Queen



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine.  
  This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is Red Queen
Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)


Red Queen

by Victoria Aveyard
Publication date: March 26, 2015

From Goodreads:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Kitchen safety class, yummy recipe, book song + more: this week's writerly news


Heyguysit'scrazyoverheresoI'mgonnasharethisweek'sstuffrealllllfast. (Only not that fast, because you can barely even read that.)



1) Found this nifty recipe and can't wait to try it next week (Chungah's blog is quickly becoming my very very favorite): Buttermilk Banana Blueberry Bread



2) Flora series exclusive content: Along with hosting an author on their blog during last week's YA Scavenger Hunt, each participating author also had to contribute exclusive bonus content to their host/hostess. I realized I'd shared my bonus content everywhere *but* here, so here ya go: David and Dahlia's lovely uh, safety class.



*insert tons of laughing emojis here*
Also: we're going to pretend that a) I can draw
and b) I actually know how to spell forest.

3) This happened on Instagram the other day and I thought it was absolutely perfect because if you've read the Flora series you know Ambrosia is not very...erm... modern. :D (Make sure to read my comment first, then @life_love_fandoms' response)



4) I don't know why, but I never share my WoWs on Friday's posts, and I totally should...
 
about Jennifer A. Nielsen's upcoming Mark of the Thief!


5) ICY(somehow happened to)MI: This All About the Bass, No Trouble re-do is great for #booklove peeps: 




and last... 

6) Here are the winners of the OPEN THY HEART release giveaways and the exclusive YA Scavenger Hunt on my blog:

OTH's US giveaway: Cali W. (woot!)

OTH's international giveaway: CCm from the PHILIPPINES!!!! *applause*

and

The exclusive Flora giveaway during #YASH: Laura C.!

YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! (So many Cs!!!!) I'll be getting in contact with ya'll over the weekend and sending over what I need to send if I haven't already!

Have a blessed weekend, everybody!

Waiting on Wednesday: Mark of the Thief



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine.  
  This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is Mark of the Thief
Mark of the Thief


Mark of the Thief

by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publication date: February 24th, 2015

From Goodreads:

Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of the NYT and USA TODAY bestselling Ascendance Trilogy, has woven an electrifying tale of greed and power, magic and destiny, and one boy's courage at the heart of it all.

When Nic, a slave in the mines outside of Rome, is forced to enter a sealed cavern containing the lost treasures of Julius Caesar, he finds much more than gold and gemstones: He discovers an ancient bulla, an amulet that belonged to the great Caesar and is filled with a magic once reserved for the Gods -- magic some Romans would kill for.

Now, with the deadly power of the bulla pulsing through his veins, Nic is determined to become free. But instead, he finds himself at the center of a ruthless conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor War, a battle to destroy Rome from within. Traitors and spies lurk at every turn, each more desperate than the next to use Nic's newfound powers for their own dark purposes.

In a quest to stop the rebellion, save Rome, and secure his own freedom, Nic must harness the magic within himself and defeat the empire's most powerful and savage leaders.

RIVALS release #giveaway and character interview


Rivals (Skid, #2) Skid
Hey, all! Rivals, (Skid #2) released last week, and as part of the blog tour, I have Manny and Samantha here to talk a little bit about racing today. But first, a summary of RIVALS:


Last season seventeen-year-old Samantha Sutton shined as the hottest new racing star of Formula One, but her rise to the top takes a hit when her boss steals her arch-rival Emilio Ronaldo away from Ferrari and makes the sexist jerk her team's number-one driver. This sends Samantha's perfect life into a tail spin that threatens to destroy everything she's worked so hard for.

Besides her six wins last season, the best thing Samantha won was Manny, the cute German boy who saved her from herself. But Manny chafes against the self-absorbed racing star rising above the ashes of the simple girl he fell in love with. Can he save that simple girl from destroying herself again?

While Samantha's performance on the track suffers and her status on the team plummets, Emilio rises within striking distance of another championship. Is this the final wake-up call the girl needs to beat Emilio and win the world championship? Or will the pressure break her. 


Thanks for being here, guys!

Samantha: Thanks for the invite, Jess!

Manny: You're welcome.

First of all, how do people who don’t race or watch racing react when you guys start talking shop? You guys know your stuff!

Samantha: Ha! People get this real glazed look in their eyes when we talk about front wing adjustments and racing lines. They have no clue what we're talking about. I try not to talk too much about racing around other girls because they could care less. But that's okay because I like talking about stuff they're into also. Now Manny probably can't talk about anything else.

Manny: I can talk about other things beside race cars.

Samantha: Seriously? Like what?

Manny: Mechanical engineering. Cosmology. Chess.

Samantha: You never talk to me about those things.

Manny: I did try talking mechanical engineering with you once, but you fell asleep. And you did it again when I attempted to explain how the exhaust system works on your race car.

Samantha: I probably didn't have my vanilla latte yet.  

Have the two of you ever gotten into a fight about who’s a better racer? If so, who won?

Manny: I don't race cars. I work on them. But I wish I could race a car like Samantha.

Samantha: Yeah, Manny suffers from severe motion sickness. One time my sponsor gave me a free Porsche 911 and I took it on the German Autobahn. You know, the highway you can go really fast on? Well, I drove a little too fast and Manny tossed his cookies all over the dash.

Manny: Why did you have to bring that up?

Manny, I know you pretty much grew up working on cars with your uncle being head honcho and all, but was it frustrating to not be able to race, too?

Manny: I was never frustrated about it. I knew I'd never be inside the cockpit of a race car because of my motion sickness. But when I started working on the cars, I found myself enjoying that much more. The science behind car racing fascinates me.

Samantha, your father loved racing. Obviously your love of the sport comes from that, but was there anything else that grabbed you from a personal standpoint?

Samantha: Believe it or not, I was seriously shy when I was younger. I had no confidence in myself at all. I was interested in my dad's racing but he really had to coax me into my first kart race. Dad said if I didn't like it, I could quit racing all together. But something happened to me on that track. A new fire burned inside me and I went with it. I passed car after car. I didn’t know what got into me but I felt so free and like...invincible. For the first time in my life, I felt strong and confident, and I loved how racing made me feel like that. So I keep doing it. And the more and more I did it, the better I felt about myself. Racing gave me this rock that I could stand on when I felt bad about myself.  

Having a relationship with someone in the same industry as you (Formula One racing in this particular case) can add another element to the relationship mix that most couples don’t have to deal with. It’s no secret that the two of you have had your ups and downs recently, but is there anything either of you may have learned that might help others in the same situation?

Samantha: I don't know if we've learned anything because it's something we still kinda struggle with. Manny is part of the crew so when I get frustrated with the car, I try not to take it out on him. But sometimes I fail at that.

Manny: I know she doesn't mean it. She's under a lot of pressure so I don't take things like that personally. But sometimes it does hurt.

Samantha: Manny puts up with a lot of my word vomit. I'm lucky he forgives me. Some people don't want their boyfriend or girlfriend to work with them. But in my case, I'm so glad Manny does because he understands what I go through on a daily basis and I can talk to him about it. That really helps.

If one of your siblings had to fill your racing shoes, Samantha, who would you choose? Do you think they’d agree with your decision?

Samantha: Ha! None of my sisters would want my racing shoes. Seriously. My dad tried to nudge them towards racing when we were all growing up but they were never interested. My little cousin Toby might do it, but Mom would probably talk him out of it. She's still uneasy about me racing. But I wouldn't mind if Toby wanted to get into it. In fact, I'd be kinda fun to teach him everything I know.

Last, if you could TP one rival’s car and get away with it and no one would ever know (and, okay, it wouldn’t damage anything aside from their ego), whose car would you choose?

Samantha: That's easy. My teammate Emilio Ronaldo. I would LOVE to trash his car so bad that he couldn't race it. Thanks for the idea, Jess!

Manny: I believe she means a friendly prank. Your answer sounds a little too...vicious.

Samantha: I don't care. I would still love to do it. Fine. Okay. I guess I would TP Jonathan's car. He was my teammate from last season but now he drives for another team. I don't hate him, only a little jealous of his success this season.

Thanks for being here, guys! :)

Samantha: Thanks for the great questions, Jess!

Manny: Yes, it was fun!


To celebrate RIVALS' release, Doug is giving away a paperback of SKID and a paperback of RIVALS! Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Download SKID's ebook free: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Kobo | Smashwords | Nook | iTunes | 

Get RIVALS: Amazon | Amazon UK Kobo | Smashwords | Nook iTunes

About Doug: Doug began writing screenplays in 1998 and became a 2001 semi-finalist in the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. His script Father Figure was one of 129 scripts left from 5,489 entries. Doug made the switch to writing young adult novels in 2008. Skid, a young adult novel set in the world of Formula One, is his first. Doug is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Doug respects cats, loves the mountains, and one time walked the streets of Barcelona with a smile on his face.

Connect with Doug on his website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads | Google+ | Pinterest  

Welcome to the Fall 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt! (#YASH)




It's #YASH time! Woo hoo! Welcome to the Fall 2014 YA SCAVENGER HUNT. On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get their favorite number. Add up the numbers, and enter the total for a chance to win a major prize. Every team will have a winner, and that winner will receive at least one signed book from each author on that team! This means there are SIX SEPARATE GRAND PRIZES, total!!!! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon PST on Sunday, October 5th!

A few quick things: If you get lost for some reason, no worries--just go to this link: YA Scavenger Hunt: Stuck? Each team AND all of the authors are listed there, so you can pick up where you left off--easy peasy! :) And, if you've never done this before but would love to participate, check out YA Scavenger Hunt: How to Hunt.

Oh yeah, and if you've already been on the hunt for a while, here's a little something to keep you going. :D ***pours you a cup o' Joe***


Carpe Read 'Em Mug
Like this mug?
Enter to win
it in my personal
giveaway at the
end of this post!

Directions: Somewhere below you'll see that I’ve listed my favorite number (in gray). Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on TEAM INDIE, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally. Anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 5th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.


And now... *drum roll please*



I'm very excited to be hosting Kelsey Ketch and her book, Daughter of IsisDuring her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate. Daughter of Isis is her debut novel. 

In moving to Setemple, California, Natara Stone steps onto an emotional roller coaster ride filled with ancient Egyptian mythology, danger, and a sizzling romance that will grab you by the heart and won't let go. (Note: content for upper YA.) Here's a bonus scene from Chapter 14, in Seth's POV:


Advantage

Seth paced back and forth on the service line of the tennis court, his nerves as tense as coiled springs. He kept his gaze on Natti, like a hawk; the beast inside his heart tearing up his rib cage. This was likely the last point of the game before the bell, and his last chance of preventing Natti of gaining the advantage and possibly winning the bet. There was no way he was going to lose Natti. He didn’t care what he agreed to, even if he lost the game, there was no way in hell he’d let a challenge like her slip from his grasp.
He stepped into position. His knuckles popping from the death grip he had on the tennis ball. He couldn’t lose this. He just couldn’t.
Those private lessons better pay off.
“Deuce!” Seth shouted.
He watched Natti’s head jerk as if he had slapped her out of her thoughts. He didn’t care. He threw the tennis ball into the air and slammed it into her court. Natti rushed after and used a well-executed forehand to return the tennis ball over the net. Seth charged into the game, putting all his anger and determination into every stroke. Unfortunately, Natti was besting him at every turn. It was quite beautiful, actually. Her moves were perfect, calculated, natural; like she had been rehearsing for this dance all her life. Each return bringing her one step closer to victory.
It wasn’t until late in the game that Seth finally saw his opening. He sent the tennis ball spiraling toward the edge of Natti’s court, opposite of where she stood and farther back. He couldn’t wait to see her scramble. To watch her gorgeous figure panic and push itself to the brink for the save. Yet something wasn’t right. Instead of instantly reacting as she had done with every return, she hesitated. Her body jerked while she watched the ball, clearly wanting to respond, but she was holding herself back.
She was throwing the game.
Rage burned in his chest when he watched Natti’s racquet miss the tennis ball by millimeters, giving him the advantage point just as the class bell rang in the distance.
“Oh yeah!” Ky bellowed behind him.
Mrs. Kuft blew her whistle. “Mr. O’Keefe! Ms. Stone! This was supposed to be a doubles match, not a singles!”
Seth’s eyes never left Natti while she leaned her palms on her knees. Her raven hair tumbled over her shoulder in twisted waves. Despite her ponytail, wild strands fluttered gently around her enchanting face.
“Sorry, Mrs. Kuft,” she panted. “We just got caught up in the excitement. Seth’s team won two to one, not counting our last game.”
A low, threatening growl radiated from Seth’s throat. His team might have won the set, but it should’ve been Natti who won the final point.
“I should make you both run laps.” Mrs. Kuft scowled, and then sighed. “However, if we had a team, I would also sign you both up for tryouts based on that amazing display.” She scratched something into her notes and stormed off.
“Oh right!” Ky cheered. “We won, which means free lunch all next week!”
“No!” Seth snapped.
Natti turned to him for the first time since the end of the game. Her glittering amethyst eyes wide. “What?”
“All bets are off,” he snarled. “I saw you throw the game.”
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t lie! You threw the game!”
“Who cares, bro?” Ky slapped Seth on the shoulder. His extra strength making Seth’s knees momentarily buckle from the force. “We won.”
“No! She threw the last point. All bets are off.”
By the way Natti’s brow crinkled and her tempting lips puckered together, Seth recognized that she was becoming very confused and agitated. Why was she fighting him on this? This was a no win situation. Neither one of them were getting what they wanted.
“Okay, so I threw the last point.” Seth looked at her mouth as she spoke. A deep urge to consume it with his own building his frustrations. “You still won the doubles.”
“There’s no discussing this.” Seth snapped at her. “I won’t honor the bet.”
Silence passed between them as Seth attempted to stare her down, trying to make his point of who really ran the show here. Only problem was Natti wouldn’t budge. Her stubbornness obviously too great to allow her to concede. Was she serious? Did she honestly think she could challenge him? He could turn her brain into guacamole with a single touch. No matter how much she could resist him, he would eventually win.
Wanda’s tiny voice suddenly broke the silence. “Uh, Natti. I’m going to head back.”
“Um, me too, dude,” Ky said. “Let me know how this all works out, man.”
Seth nodded, but didn’t bother to turn and look at his friend as he left his side. His focus was solely on Natti while she scanned the courts, waiting for them to clear before returning her attention to him.
“Why? I thought you’d at least be happy I didn’t win. You can continue to annoy me all you’d like now. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Yes, but not like this. Not on her terms. “I didn’t want you to throw the game. You embarrassed me in front of the whole class!”
Natti laughed. “This coming from the guy who was flirting with my partner even before the game! Besides, if I let you win, I would have been stuck with you for a day!”
It felt as if a hot poker had been rammed through his chest. “Would that have been so terrible?”
“Yes, Seth! If it meant you trying to make me into one of your tarts that line up every morning, then yes!”
Her words twisted the poker and ripped it out with his heart. His grip tightened around his racquet while he tried to keep his emotions in check. He shouldn’t have felt this way. Not over a woman. He was a Son of Set, a future hem-netjer. No woman was worth this. In his world, woman were worth nothing. So why the hell was she making him feel this way?
“You want to know what’s really ironic, Seth?” Natti’s tone was low and haunting. “If you hadn’t been trying to get your leg over with me all this time, and really tried to get to know me instead, I might have actually liked you.”
A lump lodged itself into Seth’s throat. But before he even had the chance to think of something—anything to say, she turned on her heel and marched away. Leaving an empty, vulnerable feeling inside his chest.

Whew! Tension much? 

Kelsey's written/working on a total of 5 titles. Wow! You go, Kelsey! ;)

If you'd like to read more about Natti and Seth, you can find The Descendants of Isis series on Amazon and connect with Kelsey on her website.


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For the next stop on the hunt, visit Tamara Vann.