#YAIndieCarnival: Beat the heat

Today at the YA Indie Carnival we're dishing out hot summer reads! And I've got a few awesome reads for you to get your teeth into. Here are some of my favourite books that are just perfect for the beach, the pool, the terrace, outside under the shade of a tree or just snuggled up indoors out of the heat!

Hidden & Thicker Than Blood by Shalini Boland

I've read Hidden three times over the past couple of years and each time I've loved it even more. If you love vampire stories, then Hidden is a must-read! Thicker Than Blood, the sequel, came out earlier this year and it certainly didn't disappoint. I can't wait for the third book in The Marchwood Vampire series!! Oh, and once you've read those, check out Shalini's other books, A Shirtful of Frogs (I'm reading it soon!) and Outside which is, like, one of the BEST dystopian novels I've read! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

The Fairy Circle & Fairy Thief by Johanna Frappier

Johanna's imagination is just totally awesome! I love the way she writes and her main character, who goes through some crazy stuff, is just like a regular teenager, you know? She's just so cool. If you love fairy books, then you've got to try this series... it's SO different from anything else you've read, I'm sure of it! AMAZING!

The Bringer by Samantha Towle

So far this is the only book I've read by Samantha (although I have others on my Kindle, ready and waiting... !) and it was AM.A.Z.I.N.G! I loved everything about it, especially the Australia connection! Again, this book is totally unique and there is no doubt that you're gonna LOVE IT!

Rippler by Cidney Swanson

I was totally taken aback by Rippler (probably because I had absolutely no idea what it was going to be about!) because it was just so brilliant. Cidney writes beautifully and her main character's 'problem' for want of a better word, is probably one of the coolest 'problems' around (although a tad awkward at times). This book is an awesome summer read... go and get it, like now (it's FREE at the moment)! AWESOME!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Yes, I know, I know... I'm kind of behind the times. I was a late comer to The Hunger Games and my goodness, I wasn't disappointed. It was AMAZING. I'm sure you've all read it by now so how about re-reading it? You're bound to notice little bits of awesomeness than you missed the first time round! SUPER!

Paradox by Patti Roberts

Again, this is one of those books that was unputdownable. It is so unique, unlike any other books I've ever read. I love that it incorporates different worlds (I ain't giving anything away here!). Patti is a super writer and I can't wait to finally get round to reading the sequels! WONDERFUL!

Anathema by Megg Jensen

I LOVED this book, everything about it just draws you in and you end up sitting up late at night desperate to know what happens next! It's a real page-turner. You must read Anathema... it's FREE at the moment (!), you'll be totally engrossed after the first page! BEAUTIFUL!

There are so many other wonderful YA books that I could go on and on and on...! How about trying out books by all the YA Indie Carnis? There are some real gems to be found among them, for example, have you tried The Raven Saga... it's really very good ;)

To beat the heat and find out some more awesome summer reads, check out my awesome buddies, the YA Indie carnis below.... See ya next week ;) xx

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series

3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

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REVIEW: The Bringer by Samantha Towle

*****

I bought this book a couple of months ago... partly because the author, Samantha Towle, is a fellow Yorkshire lass and I wanted to support her and partly because I loved the look of the book. I never actually read the blurb!
Anyway, I finally began reading during a recent holiday and boy was I in for a surprise! The beginning hooked me in right from the first few words and I literally couldn't put it down after that. I can honestly say that I went through so many different emotions whilst reading this book - but in particular, it sucked me in and at times it literally made my heart ache.
I really loved James, he seems like such a rounded character, the way he swore just like a regular guy, made him even more real to me. And Lucyna... well, how can you not love her? What she goes through in the book (and before, for that matter) just makes you want everything to work out for her. There are times when you just want to shake her, but that makes her even more real. Well, as real as a Bringer can be of course!
All in all, The Bringer is a fantastic piece of fiction and I can't wait to read more from this debut author.

Q&A with author Samantha Towle

A very warm welcome to the author of The Bringer, Samantha Towle....

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
‘Red Dragon’ by Thomas Harris. Because it’s awesome! I sound like a broken record because I say this in every interview I do, but I love that book because it drew me in from the first line and kept me gripped until the end. It was on my mind for days after I read it. Thomas Harris is a genius writer.

Who is your favourite author and why?
I have two Thomas Harris – for all the reasons I said above, and Charlaine Harris, because she created this fabulous world with her ‘True Blood’ series. She somehow managed to bring an unbelievable world into the real world and make you it work. And also, because she has the wonderful knack of making you fall in love with the bad guy every time!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Can I say my own?! Well, aside from mine, I do love the cover for Twilight. So simple yet so effective. It’s very eye-catching.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Thomas Harris, because he’s awesome. Charlaine Harris, so I could quiz her about my favourite ‘True Blood’ characters and what her inspiration for them was. William Shakespeare, so I could ask him if he knew back then how truly great he was and what he thinks about how revered he is in today’s modern world. And lastly, Sophie Kinsella, because I think she’s fabulous and incredibly talented.

Who, or what, inspires you? 

My husband and children inspire me every day. And music. I can’t write a single word without it. The idea for ‘The Bringer’ came from a song ‘Don’t Cry’ by Guns N’ Roses.

Where is your favourite place to write?
At home, sat in my living, laptop on my knee, with a cup of coffee and a pack of biscuits sitting beside me.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I can be a bit critical when films are based on books, but for me the Harry Potter films have been done very well.

What is your book about?

The Bringer is a paranormal romance, filled with twists and turns, tons of love and other emotions all poured in there. It’s not your ‘average’ angel novel, which is what I think readers will like about it.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 

Ooh I love this question! I’d have Lyndsy Fonseca as Lucyna, Alex O'Loughlin as James, and Ian Somerhalder as Arlo.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m terrified of clowns! I literally can’t look at them on the TV, let alone have one near me.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Hull has a great history and is traditionally known as a fishing port. Many great writers, poets, politicians and musicians have all hailed from Hull.

Winter or summer? Summer
Ebook or paperback? I’ll probably get heckled for saying this but – paperback.
Favourite food? Ice cream – especially Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked.
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato
Cook or be cooked for? Cook

Link to your blog: http://samanthatowle.blogspot.com/