Thursday, December 12, 2013

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: Storm Warning by E.Lee and C. Quinn


Happy Release Day STORM WARNING! We are here today to celebrate this exciting new collaboration by authors E. Lee and C. Quinn. We were both anxiously awaiting this release and were so thrilled when the ARC hit our inbox.
On December 6th we shared a bit about the book with a cool quest post and book trailer for the blog tour, so today we have an excerpt, each of our reviews, and of course an AWESOME GIVEAWAY. You can also find the trailer here as well.
We hope you enjoy our reviews. Please add STORM WARNING to your TBR's if you haven't already. Don't forget the GIVEAWAY! Good luck and happy reading! 
Kat and Shell


Sometimes you don’t see the storm coming until it’s too late...
Severe Storm Warning Tip #1:
Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for approaching storms.
Severe Storm Warning Tip #2:
If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.
Severe Storm Warning Tip #3:
They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

Situated just outside of Oklahoma City, Calumet County is divided into two drastically different communities: Hope’s Grove and Summit Bluffs. One is the small backward town where dirt roads lead the way to field parties and railroad tracks. And the other, a sprawling suburb where paved drives lead to the landscaped lawns of the wealthy and privileged.
For five teenagers smack in the middle of Tornado Alley, summer is heating up fast. The winds of change are blurring the invisible line that divides the rich and the rural.

One has a secret.
One has a crush.
One has been lying.
One will get caught.
And one might not make it out alive.

They’re from two different worlds…but one summer is about to change everything. 





Hope’s Grove was small. Everyone knew about her parents, and she was already dreading facing them since the news of her dad’s affair had hit. But facing them without her brother and her best friend would be her worst nightmare.
After the girls had said their goodbyes and she’d watched her friend’s taillights fade down the drive, Ella Jane scuffed her boots along the winding dirt road that led her home.
She was about halfway there, watching the sun sink low in the evening sky, when the unmistakable rumble of a pickup truck came barreling down the road behind her. She stepped aside to let it pass without looking back. But it didn’t pass. It slowed practically to a stop right next her.
She turned, wondering what the heck the driver’s deal was. There was more than enough room for him to go around. But the smiling face beneath the backwards trucker hat sent the words on the tip of her tongue swirling away with the dust the truck had riled up.
She bit her lip and grinned. Warm brown eyes gleamed in her direction. “Hey there, Ellie May. Need a ride?”
She rolled her eyes. Why Brantley Cooper couldn’t call her by her actual name was beyond her. But as long as he was talking to her, she really didn’t care much what he called her. He can call me ‘flower’ if he wants to.
He was a year older than her and a year younger than her older brother, Kyle. Smack in the middle of their ages and grades in school and usually smack in the middle of their arguments. Coop kept the peace. Balanced them out perfectly.
The three of them had met at the same time as kids but Coop and Kyle had become like brothers instantly. She’d always tagged along wherever they went. Kyle had whined about it when they were younger but Coop always made her feel welcome. He held doors open for her so she didn’t get left behind, made sure to invite her despite her brother’s protests, and lately he’d even stopped by and hung out even when Kyle wasn’t home. And this year, she’d be a junior and Coop would be a senior. With her big brother away at college, she couldn’t help but fantasize about what might happen if she and Coop spent time together alone.
“Hey, Coop. Lynlee just left so I was just…” She glanced toward home. Kyle wasn’t back from football camp yet, and her mom was baking herself to death, trying to keep her mind off of everything.
“Yeah, I heard the Wicked Witch was moving west. You up for some fishing? I have to drop my bike off at the house but we could swing by the lake after.”
She should get home. She knew she should. Should order a pizza and convince her mom to take it easy for a night. Except…it was Coop. And in all her sixteen years, he was the one boy she’d never been able to say no to.

“Yeah. Yeah I’m up for it.”




 Whether you believe in destiny, divine intervention, or just plain ol' dumb luck, several things happened in 2013 that caused E. Lee and C. Quinn's paths to cross. It may have been that the stars aligned perfectly, or the fact anytime Luke Bryan was mentioned on a social media site both of them were tagged, or maybe it was just that their small town roots and country girl attitudes were magnetically drawn together—calling out to one another, “Y'all should write a book!” Despite geography keeping them apart—Lee in Illinois and Quinn in Alabama—they did. Thanks to three-hour phone calls, ridiculous amounts of online chats, and umpteen Google Docs—Storm Warning is the first book in their edgy new Young Adult series,  Broken Heartland.









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 Talk about whirlwind romances. This story is full of them. When you aren't looking for it love has a way of finding you. And just like that *snaps fingers* it can be destroyed or taken away. But life is about taking chances. Putting yourself out there... fighting for what you believe in and what you know you deserve. With all it's twists and turns, STORM WARNING packs a powerful punch- to your heart and your gut. What these five teenagers go through is pretty normal for their age. Now some of their situations are not average, but the pressure to be what everyone expects and wants for you is universal. Trying to find yourself and what is really important to you. To discover that love is what truly matters. That family and friendship are sacred and not to be taken for granted. That's where we meet each of them. Some living a facade- dying to break away. Others picking up the pieces when their perfect lives turn out to be not so perfect. And yet another hoping it's not too late to show their true feelings and claim what was theirs all along.
Sounds like a typical coming of age story, right? In a lot of ways it is. But STORM WARNING is so much more. One of the more unique aspects is the alternating POV's. Not just with one or two leads, but each of the five main characters. Five very distinct voices. Very distinct personalities. With troubles, fears, hopes and dreams. Each chapter was told from a different characters birdseye view. You might find that a bit confusing and daunting but it was just the opposite. It actually flowed quite well and kept me fully engaged and anxious to see who I would be following in the coming pages. Where each incident led them and how they ultimately come together.
I didn't connect with every character, but I was invested in how their lives were merged and how they influenced the others desires and destinies. Throw in a tornado and you've got the perfect storm of emotional chaos; mixed signals and  feelings, discovery and loss, panic and desperation, and love and loyalty.
Can they weather the storm? Can relationships be mended. Will others grow? Will everyone survive? Just a few of the questions we're left pondering. Yes! There's a HUGE cliffhanger! Oh, my lordy. The ending leaves us hanging and as desperate as our beloved characters. The epilogue is so vague and yet profound, you find your imagination swirling with all the possible outcomes.
I'm eager to see what happens next. I've crossed my heart and fingers that my favorites are alive and well. Or at the least in one piece- ready and able to face the inevitable fallout. I can only hope our wait won't be a long one.


Storm Warning was a quick read for me.  In a few short hours I had it done and man did it left me wanting more.
Just to WARN everyone ahead of time...this book leaves you with an EPIC cliffhanger and all I could think was...NOOOO...You can't end it now!!!!
But, I am getting ahead of myself...
I didn't really know what to expect.  The title itself made me think that we were going to expect a huge storm, although it was literally taken, but metaphorically speaking, the storms in this book were grand and devastating.
Storm Warning follows 5 separate characters.  In the beginning 3 of them know each other while the other two know each other.  But, by the end, all their paths will have crossed at some time.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs.  Getting the different perspectives and being able to connect with each one on a different level was awesome, but I also feel that it was too much.
Identifying with all 5 and having to make decisions according to those is extremely hard.
My first impressions had me following my heart with Coop all the way through.  While I liked Hayden and was glad to see changes in him, I still didn't think he was worth Ella Jane's love.
This love triangle really got to me too.  I won't give details because I don't want to spoil, but there were things here that I just didn't like and couldn't agree with.  I got down right ANGRY at it and wished for a whole different outcome. 
I would probably have to say that my favorite character of the book is Kyle.  From start to finish he stayed true to himself and made me fall in love with him.  With a heart of gold, he swept Cami off her feet and while I wasn't truly fond of her either, I could see how much he changed her. 
*sighs*
All these lives experience so much in the short span of a summer.  Some face the reality of their lives, some come out of their shells, and others find what is worth fighting for. But, is it too late for them to make something of the rest of their lives?? 
For most of them, they are only 16 or 17 years old.  I had to remind myself of that several times b/c of what was happening with these individuals.  So many times I was picturing 20 year olds. This is one of the things I had problems with in this book.  I just didn't find it believable for the age group...But, maybe I am being close-minded...
Anyway, it was good read.  I enjoyed and am eager to read the next book because I do need to find out what happened at the end with this EPIC cliffhanger...




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